‘Kashmir-a green spot on India’s  map in terms of Oxygen sufficiency’

SRINAGAR: Chief Engineer, Mechanical Engineering Department, Kashmir, Rashid Ahmad Dar on Tuesday stated that Mechanical Department has played a  proactive role to make the quantity of oxygen sufficiently available to the hospitals associated with Government Medical College, Srinagar and Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir.

While giving insight about the oxygen supplied to various hospitals during the first phase of Covid Pandemic, he said that during the first phase of pandemic, Oxygen demand in hospitals was less and the department was providing 8000 LPM to the hospitals associated with Director Health Services Kashmir, while Oxygen provided to SKIMS Soura and SKIMS Bemina was 4000 LMP during the same phase.

During the second wave of covid, Oxygen demand has increased due to the surge in positive cases, Chief Engineer, said and added that to increase oxygen production Mechanical Engineering Department has added 21000 LPM of oxygen besides increased its oxygen capacity at SKIMS Soura and JVC Hospital by 3250 LPM.

As of now our capacity of oxygen production stands at 36000 LPM, said CE Rashid Ahmad Dar, which means that the department has increased oxygen supply by three times to the production in first phase.

He further added that the Industries department has revived another filling Plant to its line which now stands at 05 plants and is now supplying near 3000 oxygen cylinders in last few days.

He stated that it is due to these efforts that medical oxygen is sufficiently available in the hospitals across Kashmir Division and added that due to the abundance of oxygen our hospitals have been able to save lives of patients which has resulted in the decrease in mortality rate.

While expressing satisfaction over the decrease in covid positive cases in Kashmir Division, he said that with the collaboration of Doctors, Medical Staff and by the efforts of Mechanical Engineering Department, Kashmir would be able to flatten the curve and it is expected that worse phase would be over soon.

He added that due to the procative measures taken by the department, we have been able to overcome the crisis and stand in our fight against covid.

Regarding the preparation for the containment of prophesied third wave of covid virus, Chief Engineer said that in coming days more oxygen plants will be installed at different hospitals to increase the capacity of oxygen production to 45000 LPM.

The total potential of oxygen plants installed at Government Medical College And its Associated hospitals stood at 6000 LPM earlier which now stands at around more than 18000 LPM besides 1000 to 2000 LPM oxygen plants have been installed in District Hospitals so that the covid patients don’t have to suffer for want of oxygen and reduce the shifting of patients to Srinagar hospitals.

Moreover, he said that oxygen oxygen plants with capacity of 1000 LPM each have been installed in SMHS Hospital Srinagar during last four days. The overall oxygen capacity built by Mechanical Engineering Department at SMHS Hospital has been raised to 5600 LPM.

At Chest Disease hospital 1500 LPM plant was setup in last two days besides 1000LPM oxygen plant at JLNM Hospital.

While explaining the status of oxygen in Kashmir compared with rest of the country, he said Kashmir is the green spot on the map of India, taking the abundance of oxygen in consideration.

As the oxygen demand has reduced comparatively, the Industries department is also providing oxygen cylinders to social organizations who are supplying oxygen to covid patients in home isolation.

SRINAGAR: The Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole today said that as many as 212 Armed Forces veterans have been deployed for covid duty across 10 districts in Kashmir.

Divided into teams, the volunteers include 191 deployed for general duty and 21 as medical staff at various hospitals and Covid-19 related mitigation facilities.

After volunteering to serve humanity in these testing times, these volunteers have reported to respective District Collectors and were subsequently employed to augment the District Hospital manpower and in crowd control.

These Kashmiri heroes have come forward again to serve the AWAM and the country with utter disregard to their personal comforts.  A true testimony to their spirit which says once again on hearing the clarion call the veterans community have volunteered to re-attire themselves as COVID warriors.

Kashmir Division has a total of 8308 Ex-Servicemen (ESM), out of which 1412 ESM have volunteered to come to the rescue of already overburdened civil medical infrastructure and serve the AWAM.

SRINAGAR: The Department of School Education is going to start Radio Classes from All India Radio Srinagar from 26th May, 2021

As per the statement issued by Directorate of School Education Kashmir, the Radio Classes shall begin from 26 May, 2021 for classes 5th to 8th.

The schedule for class 8th shall be from 10:00 am to 10:30 am, for 7th the timing of class shall be from 11:30 am to 12:00 Noon, for 6th the class shall start from 12:00 Noon and end at 12:30 pm and for 5th the timing is from 03:30 pm to 04:00 pm.

Meanwhile, the Director School Education Kashmir has sought cooperation of all stakeholders for successful implementation and coordinated efforts to be put in for successful conduct of classes in the better interests of the students.

The field officers of the department were advised to give the broadcast wider publicity to ensure the maximum coverage of the students through this initiative.

Pertinent to mention, there is a proposal to start tele classes from 9th to 12th classes from 1st June 2021 through DDK/ DD Gyan.

SRINAGAR: The office of Regional Transport Officer Kashmir as per an official communique has informed the general public that the new Series JKO1AP for Registration of Vehicles shall be started from 26 May, 2021.

In this regard, all the desirous applicants are required to submit their applications for Vanity numbers, listed below (Notified by Government Vide Order No:-19- TR of 1999 dated 26-03-1999 & Transport Commissioners order No. 13 of 2008 dated 07-05-2008) along with the registration files of their vehicles (only approved by the Empowered Standing Committee, (ESC) of UT Transport Authority, J&K to the Regional Transport Officer, Srinagar immediately.

If only a single application is received for any particular Vanity Number, the Number, will be issued or `first come first serve basis. In case more than one file is received, the vanity/special registration number will be put to ore, auction and the highest bidder will have the claim on that particular registration Number.

Baramulla: Jammu and Kashmir police on Tuesday urged people not to fall for fake news that all those who will get vaccination will die within two years.

”This is Fake. Nobel laureate Luc Montagnier has said no such thing! ADE concerns are different. Adding to vaccine hesitancy like this should be treated as abetting murder. Please vaccinate,” Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Baramulla Rayees Mohammad Bhat reacting to social media report said.

The fake news report quoting Montagnier said that all vaccinated people will die within two years. The report said that Montagnier has confirmed that there is no chance of survival of people who have received any form of the vaccine.

Bhat said this is a fake news.

Meanwhile, massive vaccination drive has been initiated from today in the Baramulla district for the age group of 18 to 45 years in the priority sector, including judiciary, tourism, journalists, shopkeepers, vendors and drivers and conductors.

Ganderbal: The three-day webinar “Coping Stress & Attaining Mental Wellness in Covid-19 Pandemic” organised by the Department of Students Welfare (DSW) Central University of Kashmir (CUK) in collaboration with Composite Regional Centre CRC), of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Bemina, began on Tuesday.

Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir inaugurated the event which was also attended online by Director PDDUIPH, New Delhi, Ms. Samita Javant, Director Regional Composite Centre (RCC), Dr. Mir Zaffar Iqbal, Registrar, Prof. M Afzal Zargar, Deans of Schools, Heads and Coordinators of departments, faculty members, scholars, students and the administrative staff of the varsity.

Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir, asked the students to continuously remain engaged and active with work, other than academic pursuits. “The students should constantly remain in touch with their family and friends and share their stress related problems so that their loved ones could help them cope up with the same,” Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir said. He asked the students and faculty members to seek suggestions from the experts for de-stressing oneself and implement them in letter and spirit. He said more such lectures would be organised in future.

In her address, Director PDDUIPH, New Delhi, Ms. Samita Javant, said that students were suffering immensely during the present situation and trying to cope with the stress. “These students need support during these trying times and the experts in the webinars would provide useful tips for managing the stress,” she said. She said that stress can manifest in students differently and can cause fear, anger, sadness, worry, changes and loss in appetite and energy level, which has to be treated immediately, before it takes a toll on their health.

Director Regional Composite Centre (RCC), Dr. Mir Zaffar Iqbal, while speaking on the occasion, gave details about the functioning and objectives of the CRC, which is to produce quality human resource for rehabilitation of the disabled people. Dr. Iqbal said that the aim of today’s webinar is to fully educate the student community about the stress and the ways and means to deal with the psychological issues arising out of the same. He said that during the three days, the resource persons would provide methods and techniques for stress management. He said the ministry has already established a mental health rehabilitation helpline wherein telephonic counselling is given to those in distress.

Registrar, Prof. Afzal Zargar in his address, said these webinars are being organised for the benefit of the students, scholars and faculty wherein they would be trained by the experts to cope with the stressful situations arising out of the prevailing pandemic. Prof. Zargar said the Covid has wreaked havoc across the globe and people across the world have been affected psychologically due to the disease and duress. He said holding such lectures was the need of the hour.

Welcoming the participants, Dean Students Welfare, Dr. Mehraj Ud Din Shah, said, the people are living in exceptionally difficult times due to Covid 19 pandemic and scores of people have lost their precious lives to this deadly virus and gory images of people struggling inside the hospitals have been flashed across the television screens. “This has caused huge stress and anxiety among the people, especially the student community who have been confined to their respective homes.

Deputy DSW, Arts Campus, Dr. Ishrat Bashir, conducted the programme proceedings and also proposed the vote of thanks. Later, technical sessions were held during the day.