Srinagar: A woman was found hanging on Monday in central Kashmir district of Badgam, official sources said.
They said panic gripped in Charar-e-Sharief area in the Badgam district when a woman was found hanging from a tree this morning.
Police was immediately informed, they said adding the body was taken away by police.
The actual case of her death was being ascertained, they said adding police has registered a case and started investigation.
Patna: Bloated, decomposing bodies washed up this morning on the banks of Ganga at Bihar’s Buxar in frightening new visuals that expose the scale of India’s Covid crisis. Dozens of bodies were seen floating in the river at Chausa town – on Bihar’s border with Uttar Pradesh — and later piling up on the banks, to the horror of residents.
People woke up early this morning to the grotesque sight and raised an alarm. The local administration believes the bodies floated down from Uttar Pradesh and belong to Covid patients whose relatives may have been unable to find space to cremate or bury them.
“Some 40-45 bodies were seen floating,” said Chausa district official Ashok Kumar, standing at the site of the horror, Mahadeva Ghat in Chausa. He said the bodies seem to have been thrown into the river. By some accounts, there could be closer to 100 bodies.
“They are bloated and have been in the water for at least five to seven days. We are disposing of the bodies. We need to investigate where they are from, which town in UP – Bahraich or Varanasi or Allahabad,” said another official, KK Upadhyay.
“The bodies are not from here as we don’t have a tradition of disposing of bodies in the river,” Upadhyay said.
There is panic in the town and others nearby about infection from the bodies and from the river water. Dogs were seen wading near the bodies, an image that played into fears of an explosion in Covid cases.
“People are terrified of getting Covid. We have to bury the bodies,” said Narendra Kumar, a villager.
“A district administration official came and said they would pay ₹ 500 for cleaning up the bodies,” he told reporters.
The bodies have led to a blame-game between UP and Bihar.
On Saturday, several partially burnt bodies were seen floating in the Yamuna at Hamirpur town.
The Congress alleges these bodies are proof of the untold hidden Covid deaths. (NDTV)
By: Tasaduq Hussain
Baramulla: A 34-year-old government teacher from north Kashmir’s Baramulla has completed handwritten Holy Quran in 20 months on 850 pages after getting inspiration from his great grandfather and family members.
Syed Faisal Geelani, a government teacher by profession resident of Dazna Rafiabad a remote village in Baramulla started to write the Holy Quran of his hands back in 2019 and completed in the holy month of Ramadan in the ensuing month.
Faisal said he got inspiration from the family members who have served the education department for decades and especially great grandfather who wrote the entire Holy Quran of his hands some 250 years back which is still lying with them.
Terming it as his carrier’s biggest achievement, Faisal said the youth these days are least interested in this since they spend most of the time on the internet and even read Holy Quran on mobile phones only.
“Reading a book, Islamic literature, or Holy Quran has got a separate charm and feel, but this writing is even rarer,” Faisal said.
Apart from teaching, Faisal said he prefers mountaineering and spending time in isolated places.“Our entire family has mostly been in the education department which is also a source of inspiration since the educational environment gives a much-needed boost,” he said.”I have pursued PG Zoology but this thing has kept attracting me for a long now,” he said.
“The completion of the Holy Quran took 850 pages for which I used simple bond paper and a fountain pen,” he said.
About his future plans, Faisal said, “I choose to teach as a profession after dropping many other job opportunities. I enjoy it since it is a job by choice.”— (KNO)
Srinagar: “Wearing masks below the chin doesn’t serve its purpose, venturing out unnecessarily is affecting the management and containment of virus. The general public needs to understand that efforts are being made to break the chain of transmission of corona virus disease and there is no need to create panic. More and more people should come forward to get vaccinated. Besides, repeated testing after asymptomatic person has recovered is also not required”, said Dr Khurshid Ahmad Bhat, Consultant, Endocrinologist in Super Speciality Hospital Srinagar while making fervent appeal to the people to follow the new guidelines and SoPs.
Dr Khurshid said diabetes and thyroid related problems are also common in J&K but diabetics as such are not more prone to getting infected with Covid-19 when compared with non-diabetic patients. “However, in case diabetes is not under control then there can be severity in disease. Besides, stress in infected patients can lead to increase in sugar level and diabetic patients must monitor their sugar levels during the course of infection. Steroids given during severity of disease can also increase blood sugar levels and patients need to do frequent monitoring of their sugar level so that dose of insulin can be modulated,” he said .
“The diabetic patients in general need to continue with their medicine properly and check fasting blood sugar and post-breakfast blood sugar at least once in a month”, he added
Dr Khurshid cautioned that venturing out unnecessarily will leverage the spread of virus. He maintained that during the first wave of Covid-19, there was fear among people and they avoided going outside their homes which is why the cases were less but now people have been moving out freely without fear or concern of getting infected which has resulted in increase in the number of cases, morbidity and deaths.
He said this second wave contained healthcare and people should behave properly. He read that maintenance of distance, washing hands frequently, use of mask and sanitizers will help to break the chain.
Moreover, he said, “Vaccination is very important and requested all eligible people to come forward for vaccination” and he further dispelled some rumours and myths regarding vaccination and said that both vaccines covishield and covaxin are safe and minor side effects like temporary fever and body ache after vaccination can be treated with a tablet of paracetamol.
“There is no need to panic, it can only aggravate management and containment of virus”, he advised.
“Simple infection can be treated at home by taking paracetamol, drinking enough water, home isolation and following SOPs”, however decrease in oxygen saturation below 93% implies hospitalization is required said Endocrinologist Dr Khursheed.
He said that testing capacity has been overwhelmed and suggested judicious use of testing. He informed that “If a person tested positive then there is no need of repeated RT-PCR”, also, “If a person had been asymptomatic or mild symptomatic and has recovered” further testing is not advisable, he doesn’t need further testing.
Visits screening Kiosk at toll plaza Qazigund, Srinagar
Srinagar/Kulgam: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan Monday inspected Covid-19 screening kiosk at Toll plaza Qazigund and Lasjan Srinagar and took stock of arrangements put in place for detection of suspected cases.
The Advisor took detailed stock of functioning of the screening centre at Toll Plaza and directed the concerned to ensure 100 percent screening of passengers and travellers to check the spread of novel coronavirus.
He also directed the concerned to establish more screening Counters at Toll Post to ensure hassle-free screening of the passengers in view of the traffic movement on the highway. The augmentation of Counters would reduce traffic clearance time, he added.
The Advisor further directed the officers to increase the capacity of the quarantine center where the symptomatic cases are being shifted as a proactive measure to deal with any unforeseen surge in cases, besides directing that the bed capacity should also be enhanced.
The Advisor directed the medical officers present there to avoid unnecessary referrals to the tertiary hospitals in Srinagar. The referrals, in case required, should be duly certified by the CMO of the district or the medical superintendent of the hospital.
He also added that medical facilities and oxygen supply is being augmented as per requirements at all levels.
He however urged people to follow COVID related SOPs in letter and spirit to break the chain of infection. He advised people to get themselves vaccinated as per the protocol and termed it imperative and effective to combat this disease.
Additional District Development Commissioner Anantnag, Bashir Ahmad Wani , ADC Kulgam, Showkat Ahmad Rather, BMO Qazigund and several other Officers were present on the occasion.
Jammu: Ahead of verification and mopping exercise commencing across the Jammu division from Tuesday, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Anschul Garg appealed to the public to cooperate with the teams conducting door-to-door survey in view of rising cases of COVID-19.
In a message, Garg today said that as the positivity rate is high in Jammu, which is over 10 per cent and number of active cases are also rising following which all preventive measures are being taken and the restrictions have been extended till May 17.
“District Administration has appealed to people to adopt all Covid-appropriate behaviour and do not move out of your houses unnecessarily,” Garg said in a message on social media.
He further appealed that those symptomatic must get tested so that COVID SOPs can be followed and in view of that, Sub Divisional Task Force has been activated.
Accompanied by Police, Health, Urban Local Bodies, the teams have been deputed to find out emergence of rising number of cases and as a part of this exercise, from Tuesday, in Jammu door to door mopping and verification exercise is to be conducted, said the Deputy Commissioner.
He added that BLOs, Asha Workers, Anganwadi Workers, engaged into the exercise, will appeal people to provide appropriate information and aware them especially those symptomatic or others in home isolation.
“People will be made aware about the measures being taken by the government so that they can avail the facilities. With your cooperation and support, we will definitely win this fight against COVID pandemic,” he said in a message.
Earlier on May 9, Jammu and Kashmir Government directed all District Magistrates of Jammu division to constitute BLO area wise field teams to conduct an extensive mopping up exercise.
The decision has been taken in view of many instances of late reporting by patients to the COVID hospitals and even certain deaths being reported from homes.
The field teams shall essentially be constituted by local Patwari/revenue official, BLO of the area, beat Constable, and ANM/ASHA/MPHW of the health Dept. Support staff shall be drawn from the education Dept/local Anganwari worker etc.
Each team shall have an area of 200-250 households to survey. DM’s have been directed to seek help from local councillors/PRI members in this verification.
The whole field exercise shall be completed from May 11 to 13.
By: Tasaduq Hussain
Srinagar: With the resurgence of deadly Coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir, the northern belt of the valley last week reported a total of 4,545 cases and 21 deaths with Baramulla district most affected.
The fatality rate has also increased with 21 deaths compared to seven a week in between April 26 to May 2.
North Kashmir comprising three border districts including, Baramulla, Bandipora, and Kupwara are showing a regular surge in positive COVID19 cases. While Baramulla is most affected due to the virus, Bandipora is showing a gradual improvement in positivity rate.
The north Kashmir reported a total of 4,545 cases last week between Monday to Sunday of which 2868 were reported from Baramulla alone followed by Kupwara with 1028 cases and 639 in Bandipora. Besides 21 deaths with 11 from Baramulla and 5 each in Bandipora and Kupwara were also reported.
Figures reveal that a total of 21 Covid positive patients have died last week of which a total of 11 belonged to Baramulla and five each to Kupwara and Bandipora.
Notably, Bandipora in the earlier week up to May 3 had not reported a single death due to the virus.
The figures reveal that Baramulla started to show a steep rise in cases after Sunday and reported 232, 352 cases in consecutive days.
On May 5 a total of 511 cases were reported followed by 353 on May 6 and 496, 470 and 454 on May 7, 8, and 9 in the ensuing month.
A total of 11 deaths were reported in Baramulla district in the last week, figures reveal.
In Kupwara figures reveal that a total of 1038 cases were reported last week and a surge was witnessed since May 5 with a triple-figure of 148 cases followed by 124, 198, 131, 277 on May 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the ensuing month.
The border district reported a total of five deaths due to the coronavirus, reveal the figures.
The figure about the least affected Bandipora district reveals that a total of 639 cases were reported in the last week with a triple-figure of 107 cases reported on May 4.
The figures reveal that Bandipora had not reported any deaths due to the virus between 26 April to May 2 while it reported a total of five deaths due to the virus last week however the positive cases did not witness a huge spike-like two neighboring districts.
Meanwhile, as reported earlier over 2314 COVID-19 dedicated beds have been prepared of which 1131 will have high and low flow oxygen support while work is underway to increase the bed capacity.
Remote areas including Uri, Gurez, Machil, and Keran have also been facilitated with the oxygen-supported beds to mitigate the challenges in these far-off places.
The figures also reveal that a total of 412,939 people have been vaccinated against the COVID-19 across north Kashmir of which 2,41,097 are from Baramulla, 81,522 from Bandipora, and a total of 90,320 from Kupwara district—(KNO)
New Delhi: Interim Congress President Sonia Gandhi has decided to constitute a fact finding committee to find reasons for the partys defeat in the four states which went to the polls recently.
After the Congress Working Committee meeting on Monday, party General Secretary K.C. Venugopal said, “The committee will be constituted within 48 hours.”
“I intend to set up a small panel to look at every aspect that caused such reverses (in the elections) and report back very quickly. We need to candidly understand why we failed to dislodge the incumbent governments in Kerala and Assam, and we drew a complete blank in West Bengal,” Sonia Gandhi said in the CWC meeting, in which Rahul Gandhi was not present as he is still recovering from Covid-19.
“This CWC meeting has been convened to discuss the results of the recently-held Assembly polls. We have to take note of our serious setbacks. To say that we are deeply disappointed is to make an understatement,” she said.
“These will yield uncomfortable lessons, but if we do not face up to the reality, if we do not look the facts in the face, we will not draw the right lessons.” she added.
During the meeting, all the state in-charges presented their views on the recent poll debacle, with the party’s West Bengal in-charge Jitin Prasada saying the alliance with the Indian Secular Front (ISF), formed by preacher-turned-politician Pirzada Abbas Siddiqui, ruined Congress’ prospects in the state, sources said
Congress leader Digvijay Singh asserted that the alliance with the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) in Assam was wrong, while Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the party should have committee at the AICC level to deal with the alliances, sources said.
The party’s in-charge for Kerala, Tariq Anwar, told the CWC that Congress became overconfident which led to its defeat in the state, and by the time it realised the same, it was too late, sources said.
The party’s Assam in-charge Jitendra Singh informed that after the late Tarun Gogoi, Congress did not have a big face in the state, while smaller parties like Raijor Dal also dented the party’s vote share.
Srinagar: Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday welcomed the release of senior party leader and former minister Naeem Akhtar, after five months of ‘illegal incarceration’ and sought release of all political prisoners languishing in jails in and outside of J&K.
In a statement, party General Secretary Gh Nabi Lone Hanjura said the continued illegal incarceration of political leaders despite the raging pandemic belittles the claims of restoration of democracy in Jammu and Kashmir trumpeted by the government.
“Five months ago Naeem Akhtar and Sartaj Madni were arbitrarily picked up on frivolous grounds and put in jail without any rhyme and reason. Despite their old age and numerous underlying medical issues they were kept in detention even during the raging pandemic depicting the vindictives of the administration. Even after his release from jail Naeem Akhtar continues to be under house arrest,” Hanjura said.
He urged the government to release other political prisoners lodged in different jails within and outside of J&K on humanitarian grounds.
New Delhi: More than 1 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses (1,04,30,063) are still available with the states and Union Territories (UTs) to be administered, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said here on Monday.
States with negative balance are showing more consumption (including wastage) than vaccine supplied as they have not reconciled the vaccine they have supplied to Armed Forces.
Furthermore, more than 9 lakh (9,24,910) vaccine doses will be received in addition by the states and UTs within the next three days, the Ministry said in a statement.
The Centre has so far provided nearly 18 crore vaccine doses (17,93,57,860) to states and UTs free of cost. Of this, the total consumption including wastages is 16,89,27,797 doses (as per data available at 0800 hrs today).
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