Srinagar: Kashmir experienced its third consecutive day of a heat wave on Thursday as Srinagar recorded maximum temperatures of 34.7 degrees Celsius, same as witnessed on previous day and the season’s hottest day so far.

A meteorological department official here said that day temperature of 34.7 degrees Celsius was above normal by 6.7 degrees Celsius. On Tuesday, Srinagar recorded 34.3 degrees Celsius.

Barring 3 June 2018, 34.7 degrees Celsius temperature was also second highest in more than 12 years during the month of June. On 3 June 2018, Srinagar had recorded 35.0 degree Celsius and from 2009 to 2021, it was only once that mercury rose to such level in the summer capital during the month of June.

As per the data available on meteorological department, Srinagar has recorded hottest June day ever on 29th day of the month in 1978 when mercury touched 37.8 degrees Celsius.

The heat wave also prevailed in Jammu, the winter capital of J&K, as it recorded maximum of 41.9 degrees Celsius against previous days 42.7 Deg Celsius. It was around 3 degrees above normal, the official said. It also marked season second hottest day for the winter capital which had recorded 41.6 degrees Celsius on Tuesday last.

Meanwhile, Qazigund, the gate town of Kashmir, recorded 34.3 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam 30.2 degrees Celsius while Kokernag witnessed 32.2 degrees Celsius, the official said.

The border town Kupwara recorded maximum temperature of 35.1 degrees Celsius, highest temperature in at least 12 years for the area.

World famous skiing and tourist resort Gulmarg in north Kashmir was the coldest place in Valley, recording maximum of 25.5 degrees Celsius, the official added.

The weather office has forecast mainly dry and hot weather in Kashmir Valley and “isolated light rain in Jammu division” for next 24 hours.

For subsequent two days, the weatherman has forecast “isolated very light rain and thundershowers” in Jammu and Kashmir. (GNS)

Former ministers, others call on Sinha

Srinagar: Former Ministers; VC Cluster University Srinagar and Social Activist Thursday called on Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha here at Raj Bhavan and apprised him of their concerning issues.

A delegation comprising of former Ministers- Sunil Sharma and Dr. Devinder Kumar Manyal, and former Legislator, Vibodh Gupta submitted a memorandum of demands to the Lt Governor pertaining to strengthening of PRIs, payments under MGNREGA, welfare issues of Daily-wagers, strengthening road network, extension of benefits under Ayushman Bharat in view of Covid pandemic.

The Lt Governor, while interacting with the members of the delegation, assured that the demands projected by them would be addressed on merit.

The Lt Governor observed that with the recent developments and establishment of the 3-tier Panchayati Raj system in J&K, the grassroots democratic setup has been empowered.

On the issue of MGNREGA, the Lt Governor said that the necessary directions have already been passed to Deputy Commissioners for timely release of payments under MGNREGA and other beneficiary-oriented schemes.

Meanwhile, Prof. (Dr.) Qayyum Husain, Vice-Chancellor, Cluster University, Srinagar briefed the Lt Governor about various issues of academic and administrative importance.

The Lt Governor advised the Vice-Chancellor to make innovative and strategic interventions for bridging the critical gaps in specialized disciplines, besides making e-learning an integral component in the functioning of all the constituent colleges.

Later, Fida Firdous, Writer & Social activist from Kupwara brought into the notice of Lt Governor various youth related issues.

Similarly, Emaad Makhdoomi, President, The Trailblazers Research Foundation also called on the Lt Governor and discussed Covid situation in J&K.

The Lt Governor gave a patient hearing to the visiting delegations and assured them to take up their genuine concerns for examination.

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir High Court has expressed hope that the government would advance itself to face the covid-19 third wave, if any.

For this purpose, a division bench of Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul said that care should be taken to vaccinate each and every citizen at the earliest, by carrying out fresh drive “institution wise” so that if anyone has remained unvaccinated he is also covered.

“The Government may also ensure establishment of oxygen generation plants in every Government and allied hospitals or at any other place deem fit and proper,” the court said while hearing a Public Interest Litigation.

The court underlined that there may not be any shortage of oxygen presently but for future to combat the anticipated third wave of Covid-19, it would be appropriate to have oxygen generation plants in each of the Government Medical Colleges or the allied hospitals. “This would be beneficial for the medical world for all times to come in extending medical treatment to all categories of patients.”

At the same time, the court said, the temporary arrangements so for made may not be completely dismantled and may be kept in readiness for future.

Rejecting prayer by an advocate that relatives of the covid-19 victim shall be allowed to see face and carry out religious rites and rituals, the court said that guidelines by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Directorate General of Health Service (EMR Division), take care of it.

“According to the guidelines, the dead body has to be carried to the cremation/ burial ground in a secured bag by the authorities for the performance of the last rites which shall ordinarily be in the presence of the relatives. We are informed that a maximum of 20 relatives are permitted. The guidelines also provides for viewing of the face of the deceased by the relatives and performing of rituals except for touching of the body,” the court said, adding, “In view of the above guidelines and the permission accorded to view the face of the dead body by unzipping the bag and to perform last rites and rituals without touching the body, we are of the opinion that the religious sentiments of the family members have been sufficiently taken care of by the Government.”

The court also rejected prayer for converting Government stadiums into vaccination centres.

“We do not think that such a prayer requires to be considered by the Court as it is for the administration to consider, if they are short of place for vaccination centres. If there is any shortage or need for extra place for vaccination centres, the administration would certainly evolve methods to arrange for adequate space and establish the same,” the court said, adding, “Moreover, the administration has undertaken the vaccination drive even institutional-wise, in a way converting important institutions into vaccination centres temporarily for a limited purpose.

The creation of large vaccination centres, the court said, may not be ex-facie feasible as it would result in concentration of large number of people at one place which would be very risky and may be a cause of spread of Covid-19. (GNS)

Mumbai: Union Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi held a review meeting about Haj 2021 at the Haj House in Mumbai on Thursday. He however said that “while we have done our preparations, India will go by the decision of the Government of Saudi Arabia.”

“While some countries are not able to send their citizens to Haj 2021, India has decided that we will stand shoulder to shoulder with the Government of Saudi Arabia, we will go ahead in line with the decision taken by the Saudi Government. Our priority continues to be the health and well-being of people of both nations and also of humanity,” Naqvi said at a press conference, which followed the review meeting.

According to an official statement, Naqvi said that a nationwide campaign will be launched by various social and educational institutions to “curb and crush” rumours and apprehension regarding the vaccination drive going on in India.

“State Haj Committees, Waqf Boards, their associated organisations, Central Waqf Council, Maulana Azad Education Foundation and other social and educational institutions will be part of the campaign,” he added.

Naqvi said that Women’s Self Help Groups will also be included in the campaign. These organisations and Women SHGs will also encourage and persuade the people to get vaccinated to tackle the Corona pandemic.  The campaign will be called “Jaan Hai To Jahaan Hai” and will be launched especially in villages and remote areas of the country.

Recalling his visit to some villages and the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy among people, due to lack of awareness, the Minister said “unfortunately some narrow-minded elements are creating confusion and fear on the vaccination front. They are not only enemies of the health and well being of the people but also of the country”.

Responding to a question on vaccination, the Minister assured: “whether it is in one state or another, the government is that of the people. It is our national responsibility to clear all confusion and fear and get ourselves vaccinated and encourage others too, to do the same.”

Naqvi also assured that there will be no shortage of vaccines or any other essential requirement in the country. He said already 24.3 crore people have been given vaccination.

“Even though we had fewer medical facilities in comparison to many advanced countries, we augmented our capacity of oxygen supply, ventilators and other essentials,” the Minister added.

Speaking about the country’s preparations for Haj 2021, Naqvi said that a review has been taken of the current position on vaccinations, based on directions given by the Haj Committee of India and the guidelines given by the Health Department of the Government of Saudi Arabia.

More than 2.5 million people perform the Haj pilgrimage in the holy city of Mecca every year.  It may be recalled that last year, due to Covid 19 pandemic, the Saudi Arabian Government had announced that it would hold ‘limited Haj’ confined to people of different nationalities already living in the Kingdom.

India’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Dr. Ausaf Sayeed; Consul General of India in Jeddah Shahid Alam and senior officials of the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs attended today’s meeting through video conferencing. The Haj Committee of India CEO M A Khan and other officials were also present.