Srinagar: Authorities on Sunday ordered continuous closure of all school and higher educational institutions including coaching centers in Jammu and Kashmir till further orders.

The decision was taken at a reviewing meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Arun Kumar, who is also Chairperson State Executive Committee, with the additional Chief Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Principal Secretary to Government, Home, Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police and other officers of Jammu and Kashmir.

“All school and higher educational institutions, including coaching centers, shall continue to remain closed for onsite / in-person teaching, till further orders,” reads the order.

However, the educational institutions have been permitted to seek personal attendance of limited vaccinated staff for administrative purposes.

The government also reiterated that there shall be no weekend curfew in any district of Jammu and Kashmir. Also, night curfew shall continue to remain in force in all districts from 8 pm to 7 am.

“The maximum number of people permitted to attend any indoor/ outdoor gathering shall be restricted to 25,” it reads.

All Deputy Commissioners have been also asked to focus on the positivity rates of the medical-blocks under their jurisdictions.

“Intensified measures, related to Covid management and restriction of activities, shall be undertaken by the DCs in these Blocks,” the order reads, adding, “There shall be renewed focus on Panchavat level mapping of cases and micro-containment zones shall be constituted wherever unusual spike of cases is noticed.

DCs have been asked to keep active track of the positivity rates in the blocks and consider implementing stricter control measures in closed clustered spaces like public and private Offices, Community halls, Malls, Bazaars etc., in case weekly positivity rate goes beyond 4 percent in these Blocks.

“The three – “T” protocol of testing, tracking and treating, besides vaccination, needs to strengthened in these Blocks. The proportion of RT-PCR tests in the total mix should be scaled up, on best effort basis, to 70 % or more, excluding travelers.”

The District Magistrates, order said, shall strictly ensure that there is full compliance to COVID appropriate behavior and defaulters are firmly dealt with under relevant sections of the Disaster Management Act and the Indian Penal Code. “The District Magistrates shall constitute joint teams of Police and Executive Magistrates for enforcement of Covid Appropriate Behaviour.” (GNS)

New Delhi: The CID wing of Jammu and Kashmir Police has stated that security clearance required for passports and other government services will be denied for those involved in stone-pelting and other crimes against the state.

“All the field units of CID SB-Kashmir are hereby directed to ensure that during verification related to passport, service and any other verification related to government services/schemes, the subject’s involvement in law & order, stone-pelting cases and other crime prejudicial to the security of the state be specifically looked into and same must be corroborated from local police station records,” the police said in a statement here on Sunday.

The statement also said digital evidence like CCTV footage, photographs, videos and audio clips, quadcopter images available in the records of the police, security forces, and security agencies be also referred during the verification. (UNI)

London: The third wave of Covid-19 lashing countries across the world is creating fertile breeding grounds for extra infectious and probably vaccine-resistant new variants, scientists warn.

The World Health Organisation has announced an 80 per cent average increase over the past four weeks in five of the health agency’s six regions, a jump largely fuelled by the Delta variant.

According to virologists, the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19, might have already developed into extra threatening kinds which have, to date, evaded detection since they have not infected sufficient people, the Financial Times reported.

“We’ve been surprised more than once by the evolution of variants, though maybe we shouldn’t have been because the virus only recently moved into humans and is still adapting to its new hosts,” Nick Loman, professor of microbial genomics at Birmingham University in the UK, said, it reported.

“We’ve been humbled by this virus before and no one can predict confidently what will happen in the future.”

Covid infections have surged to a mean of 540,000 per day, and a mean of just about 70,000 weekly deaths, the WHO stated this week.

Faster rate of vaccination can reduce the probability of emergence of a resistant strain.

On the contrary, lifting Covid measures such as mask-wearing and social distancing at a time when over a majority of individuals of the population have already been vaccinated, the probability of emergence of a resistant strain is greatly increased, revealed a recent study by Austria’s Institute of Science and Expertise, in the journal Scientific Reports.

“The institution of a resistant pressure at the moment might result in serial rounds of resistant-strain evolution, with vaccine growth taking part in catch-up within the evolutionary arms race towards novel strains,” it stated.

The scientists noted that evolutions of the virus are inevitable due to the best way the genetic code may be altered by errors within the copying mechanism throughout replication. Most mutations are impartial, however, sometimes one will increase the “health” of the virus, enabling it to contaminate human cells extra simply, the Financial Times reported.

“We’re making an attempt to know why Delta is extra transmissible,” said Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s Covid-19 technical lead. “Among the mutations permit the virus to stick to the cell extra readily and due to this fact infect it.”

“The extra the virus circulates, the extra it’s going to change,” she warned. “Delta won’t be the final variant of concern you hear us speak about.” (IANS)

New Delhi: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandviya on Sunday advised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi “to feel proud at the tireless efforts” of health workers who have administered over 13 crore vaccine doses in July.

In a series of tweets, he also said that the vaccination drive will get accelerated from August and “we must feel proud of our health workers” for this feat, asking the Congress leader to express similar sentiments.

Earlier on Sunday, Gandhi took a dig at the alleged deficiency of Covid vaccines and slammed the government for not providing adequate stocks to the states and UTs. In a tweet in Hindi, he said: “July is gone, and vaccine shortage hasn’t gone away” and used the hashtag ‘WhereAreVaccines’.

To this, Mandviya responded: “India has administered over 13 crore vaccines in July. The vaccination drive against corona will be expedited from this month. We are proud of our health workers for this achievement. You also feel proud of India and health workers’ achievement.”

“I have heard that you are one in those 13 crores people who were vaccinated in July. But you did not speak a word for our scientists, did not appeal to the public to vaccinate. It means you are doing petty politics in the name of vaccination.”

“Actually there is no lack of vaccines, you lack maturity,” he claimed.

Meanwhile, Health Ministry data showed that a total of 60,15,842 Covid vaccine doses were administered in the last 24 hrs, taking the total to 47,02,98,596 so far. In a tweet, the Health Ministry said that India has achieved the landmark in vaccination drive against the Covid pandemic, successfully having administered the vaccine to over 47 crore people across the nation. (IANS)

Says will be voice of moderation

New Delhi: India on Sunday took over the Presidency of UN Security Council for the month of August and said it looks forward to work productively with the other members, and will always act as a “voice of moderation” on the global stage.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in a tweet, said that India will look forward to work productively with the other members. “India will always be a voice of moderation, an advocate of dialogue and a proponent of international law,” he averred.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi termed it as a momentous day for India. “A momentous day! India takes over the Presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of August. A world view anchored in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” the spokesperson wrote on Twitter.

France and Russia, too, expressed similar sentiments and congratulated India on the occasion.

“Delighted that India is today taking over UNSC presidency from France. We are committed to working with India on strategic issues as maritime security, peacekeeping and counter-terrorism, and upholding a rules-based, multilateral system to face today’s many ongoing crises,” tweeted Emmanuel Lenain, the Ambassador of France to India.

The Russian Ambassador, Nikolay Kudashev, said he is truly impressed with the agenda, which embraces pressing global issues including maritime security, peacekeeping and counter-terrorism. “Expecting fruitful and effective work. Wishing many happy returns and all the success!,” the envoy tweeted.

Former Permanent Representative of India to the UN, Syed Akbaruddin, delighted over the development, said that an Indian Prime Minister may perhaps preside, albeit virtually, a Council meeting for the first time on August 9, 2021.

Union Minister Hardeep Puri, a former Permanent Representative of India to the UN, shared moments of 2011 when India had last assumed presidency of the UNSC.

“I was privileged to preside over the horseshoe. We specifically cautioned against ‘use of force’ in Libya and failure to act in Syria. Results are staring us in the face and continue to haunt the UNSC,” the Minister tweeted. (UNI)

Jammu: Border Security Force (BSF) troopers on Sunday recovered a landmine along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district.

BSF sources said a team of BSF along with specially trained sniffer dog ‘Juliet’ was on area domination patrol near the LoC when the sniffer dog sat over a piece of land, which created suspicion about the presence of explosive material at the site in the Mendhar area of Poonch district.

“The site was immediately cordoned off and searches were launched at the suspected piece of land where a landmine was detected.

“Disposal of the landmine was done as per the standard operating procedures,” sources said, adding that the investigation is going on to ascertain how this landmine reached the area.

“Involvement of militant outfit to carry out an explosion to target LoC guarding troops cannot be ruled out”, sources said. (IANS)

New Delhi: The Indian Army and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) have established a hotline in the North Sikkim region on Sunday to avoid any kind of skirmishes along the Line of Actual Control.

The Indian Army in a statement said that a hotline was established between Indian Army in Kongra La, North Sikkim and PLA at Khamba Dzong in Tibetan Autonomous Region to further the spirit of trust and cordial relations along the borders.

“The event coincided with the PLA Day on August 1, 2021,” the Indian Army stated.

The force stated that the Armed forces of the two countries have well established mechanisms for communication at ground commanders level. These hotlines in various sectors go a long way in enhancing the same and maintaining peace and tranquillity at the borders.

The inauguration was attended by ground commanders of the respective armies and a message of friendship and harmony was exchanged through the Hotline.

Earlier this year on January 20, Indian and Chinese troops physically clashed in the high-altitude area of Naku La in north Sikkim with several soldiers being injured on both sides after Indian troops repelled an attempt by the Chinese troops to enter Indian territory.

The PLA has been showing assertiveness all along the Line of Actual Control even as Indian Army remains in a state of high alertness to respond to aggressive actions. The minor face-off was resolved by local commanders as per established protocols.

Last year on May 9, both the countries troops had also clashed at Naku La, which had left several soldiers on both sides injured.

It happened just after the violent clashes on the north bank of in eastern Ladakh on May 5-6 when PLA was making multiple attempt of incursions into the Indian territory.

Later, a deadly physical clash at Galwan on June 15, 2020 night claimed 20 Indian lives and four Chinese soldiers.

For India, the Sikkim border, including the tri-junction, is extremely critical and sensitive. It is because if a Chinese breakthrough happens here, they can reach, and block, the Siliguri corridor — a narrow, 27-km wide strip of Indian territory that connects India’s entire northeastern region with the rest of the country.

The Chinese control over the Siliguri corridor could cut off the entire northeast. To prevent this, India guards Sikkim heavily with two mountain divisions.

The Indian army has safeguarded the Sikkim border, even through a major firefight in the nearby Nathu La in 1967. (IANS)

By: M S Nazki

Poonch: With rescue operations continuing on Sunday for the fifth consecutive day at Honzar village in Kishtwar district, which was devastated by cloudburst and subsequent floods on intervening night of July 27 and 28, there is still no trace of the 19 missing persons who went missing during the calamity.

Success has been eluding the search teams after seven bodies were recovered and seventeen persons rescued in injured condition after the calamity on Wednesday last.

Authorities say they inducted additional rescue teams of NDRF and SDRF for carrying out the rescue operation.  Several teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) with “sophisticated equipment” were earlier involved in the operation along with other rescuers from police, Army and local volunteers, the officials said.

The missing persons include Saja Begum (60) wife of Ghulam Mohidin, Khursheed Ahmed (31) son of Mohammad Iqbal, Fida Hussain (26) son of Mohammad Ramzan, Mohammad Sharif  (40) son of Ghulam Rasool, Almina Tasbassum (22) daughter of Mohammad Iqbal, Mata Begum (45) wife of Lala Tantry, Ghulam Mohammad (70) son of Ghulam Rasool, Fazal Hussain (18) son of Rustom Ali Chopan, Tariq Hussain (50) son of Nazir Ahmed, Zarina Begum (40) wife of Tariq Hussain, Mata Begum (45) wife of Ghulam Rasool, Fatima Begum (56) wife of Ghulam Ahmed, Bashir Ahmed (45) son of Rustum Ali, Begum (45) wife of Abdul Rehman, Sharifa Begum (38) wife of Ghulam Mohammad, Shakir Hussain (22) son of Ghulam Ahmed, Ghulam Ahmed (65) son of Abdul Aziz, Zubaida Banoo (25) daughter of Ghulam Ahmed and Khalid son of Haji Gami.

The police on Saturday also started a community kitchen to provide meals to affected people of village Hounzar. The police said to have erected tents to provide the temporary shelter at the site.

SSP Kishtwar Shafqat Hussain continues to camp there at the cloudburst-hit site to supervise the ongoing rescue and relief operations being carried out by JKP, NDRF, SDRF, Army and civil administration of district Kishtwar. (GNS)

Vindyanchal, UP: Union Home and Co-operation Minister Amit Shah here on Sunday said that the Centre as well as the state government are committed for the welfare of the people without any discrimination.

Patting the back of UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, he said it is an achievement to control law and order in the state including the eradication of Naxalism from the region and attachment of the properties of criminals.

Shah was speaking at a function here at the famous Vindyavasini temple after laying the foundation of the Vindya Corridor project in presence of Adityanath.Union minister of state and Apna Dal MP Anupriya Patel and state tourism minister Neelkanth Tiwari were also present.

Shah explained in detail the schemes for the interests of poor people and appealed the masses to support the BJP government in 2022 Assembly polls.

“We are serving 135 crore people of the country and 80 crore girls and children are benefited. I am grateful to the UP government for developing Vindhyavasini Dham,” he said.

Adityanath said, “I have prayed to Maa Vindyavasini to give so much power to the PM and the Home Minister that they should continue to solve all the problems of the country.”As soon as the Chief Minister reached the stage, the slogans of Bharat Mata ki Jai and Mother Vindhyavasini ki Jai welcomed him.

Adityanath said the political implications imposed by the previous governments on the country are being resolved and with the vision of the State Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha, all the works are seen being completed by the BJP government.

He said on August 5 next, foodgrains will be distributed to one crore people by the Prime Minister, hence the day history will be written in golden letters.

With mentioning about scrapping of Article 370 from J&K on the same day, he said ,” the surgical strike was done on the same day. When leadership is weak there is selfishness”.

Taking about development of Mirzapur , CM said ,”a medical college has been built by the grace of the Prime Minister. It will become the center of education. Along with being the center of tourism, the work of making it a center of faith has started”.

He said the Prime Minister has realised Kashi in a new color. Chitrakoot and Naimisharanya have also come forward. Ropeway will be started in Ashtabhuja and Kalikhoh.

“With the power of Mother Vindhyavasini, there will be immense facilities for tourism. Employment will increase. Every household in Mirzapur, Sonebhadra and Bundelkhand will have tap facility for drinking water in rural areas,” he added.

Mirzapur MP and Union Minister of State Anupriya Patel said that the Home Minister has changed the history and geography of India by abolishing 370. The borders of the country are now more secure than before.

She said that the government has done a great job by giving 27 per cent reservation to the backward class students in the NEET examination.

During this, Anupriya Patel also raised the demand from the Chief Minister for the establishment of Vindhya University. (UNI)

Srinagar: Weatherman on Sunday said that there was possibility of brief spell of light to moderate rain and thunder at scattered places mainly towards late afternoon and evening but there’s no forecast of any heavy rain in J&K and Ladakh.

“Currently it’s partly cloudy at most places of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh,” a MeT official said here.

Regarding forecast for next one week, the MeT said: “a brief spell of light to moderate rain and thunder likely to occur at scattered places mainly towards late afternoon and evening. There’s no forecast of any rain.”

Meanwhile, the official said that Srinagar received traces of rain in 24 hours till 0830 hours while the summer capital of J&K recorded minimum temperature of 19.8 degrees Celsius which is 0.9 degrees Celsius above the normal for the season.

Jammu, the winter capital of J&K, received 21.0mm during the time and recorded minimum of 24.6 degrees Celsius against normal of 24.8 degrees Celsius, he said.

Katra recorded downpour of 22.2mm of rain while Batote had 1.2mm, Banihal 0.3mm and Bhaderwah 3.6mm, the official said.

Qazigund, the gate town of Kashmir, received no rain and recorded minimum temperature of 18.7 degrees Celsius, he said.

Pahalgam received 13.9mm of rain while the famous tourist resort recorded a low of 13.9 degrees Celsius.

Kokernag had 2.6mm of rain even as it recorded a minimum of 16.7 degrees Celsius, the official said.

The border town Kupwara received 6.2mm of rain while it recorded minimum temperature of 17.4 degrees Celsius, he said.

World famous skiing and tourist resort Gulmarg in north Kashmir had 40.6mm of rain, highest in J&K, and was the coldest place in Valley, recording minimum of 11.2 degrees Celsius, he added. (GNS)