Srinagar: The owner of Crown India Raj Gas, Manu Rana has thanked the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha for mentioning them in the monthly Radio programme ‘Awaam Ki Awaaz’ and recognizing their efforts in fighting the pandemic COVID-19.

Last week, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha in his monthly Radio talk dedicated the programme to corona warriors who are at the forefront in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic across the Union Territory and appreciated their efforts in dealing with the situation while putting their lives at risk.

Lieutenant Governor during the programme recognized the work of Crown India Raj Gas and appreciated them for their services in present times.

“The approach of Lieutenant Governor and his office, asking for our well being and any kind of facilitation has doubled our energy in fighting this virus”, owner of Crown India Raj Gas, Manu Rana said.

He added that the genuine and humane approach of the Lieutenant Governor has boosted the morale of our staff and we will work with more enthusiasm on the ground and we will certainly win this battle against covid-19.

The company has kept a simple procedure for filling of gas as well as cylinders, he says. “One needs to get registered at our control war room and after registration we give them cylinders or fill old cylinders and those who are unable to pay we provide them free cylinders”, Manu Rana said.

Our company provides constant services of fitting, filling as well as repairs, he adds. “We provide services through video calling also so that the distressed families do not have to come out in these present times”, he remarked.

Srinagar: The Crime Branch (CB), Kashmir, of Jammu and Kashmir police has warned people not to reply to emails and Short Message Service (SMC) talking about coronavirus vaccination.

“Beware, do not click or reply as they are out to steal your information, the CB has warned.

Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter CB, Kashmir said, “ A high number of phishing emails and SMS are being reported that seemingly talk about #coronavirus vaccination. Beware. Don’t click or reply. They are out to steal your information”.

By: Jahangeer Ganaie

Srinagar: Health experts on Saturday said that Covid patients can contract black fungus disease two to three weeks after their recovery from the Covid and that such patients should avoid self-medication.

Dr Parmod Kalsotra and Dr Padam Singh, two prominent doctors at Shri Maharja Gulab Singh (SMGS) hospital Jammu, said that on Friday another suspected case of black fungus was admitted at the hospital while one patient has already died of the black fungus.

“Cases of black fungus were reported earlier here as well but such cases were very rare. But cases have increased manifold in India and the whole world,” the doctors said. “The symptoms of mucormycosis depend on where in the body the fungus is growing and patients must contact doctors if they have symptoms related to mucormycosis.”

They said that symptoms of mucormycosis include one-sided facial swelling, headache, nasal or sinus congestion, black lesions on nasal bridge or upper inside of mouth that quickly become more severe, fever, abdominal pain,  nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding, cough, chest pain and shortness of breath.

The doctors said that whenever anybody develops any symptoms, they should avoid self-medication as early detection of mucormycosis is a must. “Otherwise its fatal rate is very high. Patients should not waste time in self-medication,” they said.

The patients, who are at high risk are those using steroid drugs for long-term, uncontrolled diabetes, cancer, have gone through transplantation and other immunocompromised patients, the doctors said. “Patients, who are on oxygen must use distilled water in the oxygen pump and change oxygen tubes frequently,” the doctors said. (KNO)

Jammu: Head of Medicine at Government Medical College & Hospital, Dr Vijay Kundal has said, “The age old adage ‘prevention is better than cure’ has the greatest relevance to Covid-19 infection as there is no better protection against it than to adopt Covid appropriate behaviour.”

The appropriate behaviour, he explained, includes wearing a mask, frequent hand sanitisation and keeping social distance and avoiding crowded places.

The doctor reiterated the government’s instructions of going out only if necessary, self hygiene, wearing a mask and avoiding crowds. He also requested the people to ‘teach social distancing to others around’. Timely vaccination is another major defence against the virus, he added.

So what if one is already infected, To this, the doctor said, ‘Still there is no need to panic as most of the Covid cases fall under the mild category who recover easily. Such people develop symptoms like cough and cold’. They should immediately isolate themselves and eat healthy food, he advised.

Elaborating further, Dr Kundal said that Covid patients without any comorbidity recover easily in most of the cases. ‘In any case’, he reminds, ‘if one’s oxygen saturation level falls below 94 percent, the patient, whether comorbid or not, should immediately consult a doctor’.

The Head of Department warned against self medication, use of anticoagulants and steroids without a doctor’s prescription and said the Steroids are ‘two edged swords’. ‘On one hand they help Covid patients, and on the other they may weaken one’s immunity’, said Dr Kundal.

Dr Kundal suggested taking the Six Minute Walk Test, a rudimentary exercise to judge if one needs medical help or not. In the test, the subject walks for six minutes, and if his oxygen saturation level falls, either by three percent or below 94, it is time to consult a doctor. Such patients must lie in a prone position to restore oxygen saturation quickly, he advised.

In prone-position the patient is made to lie facing down, with arms bent comfortably at the elbow and positioned forward.

In any case, if Covid symptoms persist even after four to five days, one must immediately seek medical help. ‘Please do not delay hospitalization.  Many of Covid deaths are due to delay in reporting by the patients’, informs Dr Kundal.

The public is informed that all Covid-related queries and doubts can be cleared on helpline number 0191 2571616. Public can also call the Divisional Control Room at 0191-2520982, 2549676, 2674444, 2674115, 2674908. Moreover, J&K Government has started a live phone-in health programme on Gulistan channel which is aired twice daily- from 8:30 am to 9 am and 8:30 pm to 9 pm and can be reached through the Divisional Control Room numbers.

Srinagar: Heart disease is very common among severe covid patients said Dr  Irfan Ahmad Bhat, Consultant Cardiologist Government Medical College, Srinagar while speaking about the impact of covid infection on heart health.

He said patients with heart problems and uncontrolled blood pressure are susceptible to infection and conversely covid patients also develop heart problems.

Dr Irfan said that Covid patient having history of any heart problem like heart attack,  cardiac stent or any other  chronic heart problem shall continue to take their prescribed medicine at optimal time and  further added that no change in medicine shall be made during Covid infection. He advised heart patients to remain in touch with their personal and concerned doctors for suggestions in this regard.

He also asked Covid patients having heart issues not to pay heed to rumours regarding the ill effects of prescribed medicines during Covid infection seriously.

While emphasizing on vaccination for heart patients, he said that vaccination is very important for such patients who are  taking blood thinner drugs like warfarin, aspirin or acitrom and there is no need to panic.

He also said that it has been observed that covid virus initially affected lungs then directly or indirectly affects heart and asked people to protect themselves from catching infection.

Meanwhile, Dr Irfan said that internal stable disease of some patients gets unstable due to Covid infection which increases the chances of heart attack.

Cardiologist also stressed on observance of Covid appropriate behavior strictly to be safe from infection.

Srinagar: National Investigation Agency (NIA) Saturday chargesheeted three Hizbul Mujahideen militants in connection with the Kishtwar conspiracy case.

A spokesman said that NIA filed Charge-Sheet before the NIA Special Court, Jammu against three Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militants namely Jaffer Hussain s/o  Mohd. Ashraf Butt r/o Hunjalla,Kishtwar, Tanveer Ahmed Malik s/o Late Jamal Din Malik r/o Village Tantna, Doda, and Taraq Hussain Giri son of Ghulam Hussain, Village Pochhal Kishtwar in RC-08/2019/NIA/JMU.

“Charges will be abated against other three militants involved in the crime namely Osama Bin Javed alias Osama; Haroon Abbas Wani and  Zahid Hussain alias Zahid, who have been killed in encounters with Security Forces,” the statement said.

It further said that the case was initially registered as FIR No. 31/2019 dated 08.03.2019 at Police Station Kishtwar, District Kishtwar, J&K relating to the snatching of service weapon of the escort in-charge of DC Kishtwar. NIA had re-registered the case as RC-08/2019/NIA/JMU on 02.11.2019 and taken over the investigation.

“Investigation has revealed that the instant case was one of the several militant acts committed by Hizb-ul-Mujahideen during the years 2018 – 2019 in Kishtwar. The objective of all these acts was to revive militancy in Kishtwar by looting arms and targeting prominent persons of a particular community to create terror among the members of that community,” the statement said.

It said that the accused persons Osama Bin Javed alias Osama, Haroon Abbas Wani alias Haroon and Zahid Hussain alias Zahid were killed in encounters with security forces at different places in the years 2019 and 2020. “They were militants of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) in Doda-kishtwar belt and were involved in many militancy acts in Kishtwar.  Accused Jaffer Hussain, Tanveer Ahmed Malik and Taraq Hussain Giri were providing logistics support and organising shelter for the HM militants involved in the multiple militancy incidents,” the statement said.

Srinagar: Sentry of CRPF on Saturday evening fired few round after hearing gun shots nearby a camp of the paramilitary at Mominabad Anantnag in south Kashmir, officials said.

They said that at around at 2035 hours, the sentry heard fire shots and fired few rounds. “There was no loss of life or any injury. The situation is normal,” a police officer said. (GNS)

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday ordered transfer of two officers in the interest of administration with immediate effect.

Rajesh Sharma, JKAS, Additional Secretary in the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat, has been transferred and posted as Additional Secretary to the Government, General Administration Department, according to an order issued here.

Shabir Hussain Keen, JKAS, Additional Secretary in the J&K Public Service Commission, has been transferred and posted as Additional Secretary to the Government, General Administration Department, reads the order.

Kupwara:  Jammu and Kashmir police Saturday disengaged two SPOs from their services after brown sugar was recovered from their possession in a vehicle, they were traveling in, at Drugmulla area of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

A senior police official said that around 14 grams of Brown Sugar was recovered from the possession of the duo Drugmulla and were arrested on the spot.

He said that duo was habitual absentees and have not attended their regular duties for the last one month. “Soon after the duo was named in First Information Report (FIR), they were disengaged from their services immediately,” the official said.

He also said that a case under relevant sections of law stands registered and further investigation was underway. (KNO)

Srinagar: The University of Kashmir has extended the last date for admission to 1st-2nd Semester Choice Based Credit System Scheme for BA/B.Sc/B.ScH/B.Com/BCA /BBA/B.M.M.M.C/OCMIL (General/Honors) programme at Under-Graduate level (in respective colleges) up to and including May 31, 2021.

The eligibility and all other conditions for admission can be ascertained from the already-issued detailed notification available on the University website www.kashmiruniversity.ac.in.