Precious Kashmir

Leaders didn’t leave when we made them ministers, MLAs, RS members: Mehbooba

City

08/04/2021

By: Sheikh Danish

Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti Wednesday said the leaders who quit her party in the recent times preferred to stay in it when they were made ministers, MLAs and Rajya Sabha members and that those who quit would answer in a better way whether they left out of somebody’s pressure or something else.

Talking to reporters at her Gupkar residence here, Mehbooba said the question why PDP leaders were leaving should be posed to those who have left.

“How can I answer this question? Ask those who left. They didn’t leave when we made them ministers, MLAs and even Rajya Sabha members. I don’t know whether they are leaving out of somebody’s pressure or something else. PDP is facing challenging times so is the J&K,” she said. (KNO)

Omar gets 1st dose of Covid vaccine

City

United News Of India

08/04/2021

Srinagar: Former chief minister and National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah on Wednesday got the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and said that it was smooth and painless affair.

Abdullah got the first dose of vaccine at S K Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura.

“Got my 1st dose of the #COVIDvaccine this morning. It was a smooth & painless affair. I’m grateful to everyone at SKIMS, Srinagar for vaccinating me today,” Omar tweeted.

The Jammu and Kashmir government suspended all ‘close contact sports’ activities as a precautionary measure in view of surge in COVID-19 infection in the Union Territory. This decision came, a day after all educational institutes, including government and private schools, upto class 12th were closed in view of rise in COVID-19 cases in the Union Territory.

Amid a spike in COVID cases, Jammu and Kashmir government last month classified Srinagar as an orange zone while all other districts have been declared as green zones, whereas Lakhanpur was declared as a containment zone and Jawahar Tunnel area on either side as Red zones. As many as 561 new positive cases of novel Coronavirus, including 384 from Kashmir division and 177 from Jammu division, were reported on Tuesday, when two people died due to COVID-19 in the UT.

Pulwama facing dog terror

City

Jahangeer Ganaie

08/04/2021

Over 1500 people bitten by dogs treated at DH Pulwama in 2020: MSD

Pulwama: The increasing canine population in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district is posing a great risk to the lives of common people.

With the phenomenal increase in the dog population and an apparent lack of initiative by the administration in tacking the issue, people across the district is facing threat with daily reports of dog bites.

Locals said that the population of stray dogs in Pulwama has increased into threatening numbers due to which cases of dog bites are increasing in the district with each passing day

Locals said that the increasing number of dogs is making it difficult for them to walk through gardens and roads.

“The population of dogs in the district is increasing due to poor disposal of waste by the locals and poor management of the waste by the administration,” they said. “The Municipal Committees in Pulwama are hardly bothered to take cognizance of the issue.”.

Locals appealed administration that in addition to sterilization, the number of dogs can be checked if municipal agencies will modern waste disposal methods as the availability of food are also increasing the dog population.

Medical Superintendent District Hospital Pulwama Dr Jamieel said the number of stray dog bites is increasing every year.

He said that in the year 2019, 930 persons with dog bites were treated and given anti-rabies at the hospital.

“However, last year despite lockdown around 1500 people with dog bites were treated at district hospital Pulwama,” Jamieel said.

Executive officer Municipal Committee Pulwama Muhammad Iqbal, said that they did not have any mechanism to reduce the population of dogs, but appealed the people to avoid littering and throwing waste items along the roads.

Pertinently, a minor child was killed in a recent attack by stray dogs in Pinglena Pulwama. (KNO)

Bhatnagar visits Nunwan Base Camp, reviews yatra arrangements

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

08/04/2021

Anantnag: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar Wednesday visited Nunwan Base Camp, Pahalgam and reviewed the arrangements being put in place for the smooth conduct of Amarnath yatra.

The Advisor was accompanied by DDC Chairperson Anantnag, CEO, Pahalgam Development Authority, Assistant Commissioner Revenue Anantnag, Additional SP CRPF, officers and other senior officers during the visit.

Bhatnagar while speaking in the meeting impressed upon the officers to keep all the necessary arrangements in place for the smooth conduct of yatra besides other required facilities should also be made available at the camp as well as along the track route.

He directed the officers to ensure clean and hygienic toilet facilities to yatris and stressed upon all the concerned departments for ensuring proper quality sanitation facility at every camp location and maintaining cleanliness of entire track en-route to the vave. He asked them to ensure proper disposal of wastes through Solid Waste Management.

The Advisor also directed to put a mechanism to ensure quality control of all services including Langer services, bedding, tent services and other services for the Yatris. He further directed that tents should be erected as per approved layout plan and keeping into consideration all the safety standards.

He asked the officers to expedite the pace of work on the Civil Hospital as the place has a limited working season. He also discussed the requirements for effective traffic and Yatri conduct as well as security augmentation measures.

The Advisor also impressed upon the officers that deworming facilities for animals especially ponies should be put in place at designated locations besides Power backup for smooth functioning of STP at base camp should also be made available.

He asked the officers for improved teamwork and coordination within the Departments to deal with contingencies on the ground.

He also resolved many issues on the spot and also took cognisance of issues raised by the DDC Chairman.

Traffic remains suspended to dozens of far-flung, remote areas in Kashmir

Jammu & Kashmir

United News Of India

08/04/2021

Srinagar: Dozens of far-flung and remote villages — including border towns of Keran, Karnah, Machil and Tanghdar — remained cutoff for the second successive day on Wednesday due to slippery road conditions in north Kashmir following moderate snowfall.

Meanwhile, fresh snowfall has once again delayed the reopening of road that connects the border town of Gurez and other remote villages in north Kashmir district of Bandipora with the rest of the valley.

“Traffic continued to remain suspended to dozens of far-flung and remote villages, including those near the Line of Control (LoC), due to slippery road conditions following moderate to heavy snowfall during the last 24 houts,” an official of Police Control Room (PCR), Kupwara, told UNI over phone on Wednesday.

He said Sadhna top, Phirkiyan pass and Z Gali received about a foot of fresh snowfall. “Traffic to these areas will be restored only after clearing snow from the roads and getting a green signal from the officials deployed on the ground,” he said.

Official sources said that Gurez remained cut off from its tehsil and district headquarter in Bandipora from last over three months. “The snow clearance operation was almost complete and the repair work was to be started on Bandipora-Gurez road. The road was likely to reopen for traffic on April 15 after remaining closed since January 1,” they added.

But, they said the road opening date would most likely be postponed as the Razdan pass and adjoining areas on Bandipora-Gurez road received about 9 inches of fresh snowfall during the last 24 hours. “There is a wet weather prediction till Thursday. So the snow clearance operation is again expected to be affected during that time,” they added.

HC quashes 3 PSA detention orders

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

08/04/2021

Srinagar: The High Court has quashed PSA detention orders against three persons and ordered authorities to set them at liberty forthwith provided they are not required in any other case.

A bench of Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul quashed District Magistrate, Pulwama order dated 31 August last year by virtue of which Manzoor Ahmad Bhat of Chersoo Katipora was placed under the preventive detention. He was lodgement in District Jail, Baramulla,

“Based on the above discussion, the petition is disposed of and Detention Order no. 24/DMP/PSA/2020 issued by District Magistrate, Pulwama is quashed. As a corollary, (officials) are directed to set (him) at liberty forthwith provided he is not required in any other case,” the court said.

The court also quashed detention order by District Magistrate, Pulwama whereby Mohammad Iqbal Hafiz of Prichoo Pulwama was placed under preventive detention.

The court also quashed District Magistrate Shopian’s order, placing one Shakir Ahmad Mir of Zainapora, District Shopian under preventive detention in terms of J&K Public Safety Act on 10 August 2019. (GNS)

Effective vaccination programme needed to contain Covid, Tarigami

Jammu & Kashmir

United News Of India

08/04/2021

Srinagar: Demanding effective vaccination programme to contain COVID-19, Communist Party of India (M) Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami on Wednesday said the recent surge in positive cases across the country, including J&K is worrisome as even the figures of last year’s positive cases have been breached in recent days.

He called for building a fairer and healthier world, where everyone has living and working conditions that are conducive to good health.

The Covid-19 pandemic has undercut recent health gains, pushed more people into poverty and food insecurity, and amplified gender, social and health inequities, he said in a statement this afternoon.

He said there is a need to have an effective vaccination programme which requires a robust public health system. Unfortunately, there are insufficient numbers of skilled and practiced personnel to administer the vaccine in J&K.

Since these are sensitive vaccines, preparation and administration of the vaccine must be done by trained public health workers to ensure it is delivered optimally and to prevent side effects. There is also a need to have well-developed systems to monitor the impact of the vaccines and it requires long-term follow-up, former MLA said.

Closing schools only will not help: NC

City

Precious Kashmir

08/04/2021

Srinagar: Alleging that government is conveniently overlooking unmanaged rush at public places and parks, the National Conference (NC) said closing schools only would not help to curb emerging COVID-19 second peak.

The NC on Wednesday rued the government for failing to take quick and decisive steps to check the emerging second peak of COVID-19, saying the selective approach in terms of closing schools alone won’t help stop the viral sprawl.

Expressing concern over the increased viral cash load and new infections, NC spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said, “As COVID cases surge to fearsome levels across the country, the positive rates in Jammu and Kashmir are also picking up exponentially. Setting off a shutdown of the public, and private school system is what the government has come up with, while as government functions continue unabated. This is not a uniform answer to the emerging situation. It is not just the gathering in schools children which is stocking community transmission of the coronavirus; the unmanaged rush at public places including parks and gardens in Kashmir is also a point of concern which the incumbent administration has conveniently overlooked. It goes without saying that the approach is flawed and inconclusive”.

2nd Covid wave: New symptoms baffle Indian health fraternity

National

Indo Asian News Service

08/04/2021

By: Vivek Singh Chauhan

New Delhi: As India witnesses a sharp second wave of Covid-19 pandemic after a brief lull, health experts on Wednesday warned that the virus and its variants may hit people really badly as it is now more lethal with several new symptoms not observed before.

According to the experts, joint pain, body ache, abdominal pain and ulceration in the stomach are among the new symptoms. They also found the absence of cough and fever, and yet people being tested Covid positive.

“The patients in the second wave of coronavirus in India are having unusual symptoms such as loss of appetite or anorexia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea,” Saumitra Rawat, Head of Department of Surgical Gastroenterology and Liver Transplant, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, told IANS.

“The patients are even developing runny noses and cold. Other symptoms increasingly seen also include joint pain and myalgia (muscle pain),” he added.

In the second wave, patients are also facing other issues as the novel coronavirus is now bypassing the mouth and saliva and directly reaching the lungs, affecting the organs badly, according to experts.

“Even patients who are recovering from Covid are experiencing massive gastrointestinal bleeding. This is due to clotting in the vessels, which is leading to ulceration and necrosis and GI bleeding,” Anil Arora, Chairman, Institute of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Pancreatobiliary Sciences, at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, told IANS.

In the last 24 hours, India recorded 1,15,736 new Covid-19 cases, the biggest-ever single-day surge since the onset of the pandemic early last year, which has made the condition grimmer.

On Tuesday, the Health Ministry warned that the next four weeks will be “very critical”.

Some reports claimed that the viral load, the amount of virus in an infected person’s blood, can be blamed for the second wave of Covid.

However, Manoj Sharma, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Fortis Hospital Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, said this is not the case.

“When we are talking about viral load, we are talking about a person and not the entire community. When the viral load is higher, we may potentially infect more individuals at a faster rate but primarily the rate of infection which is prevalent in the community these days is because of the irresponsible behaviour of people rather than the viral load,” he said.

“The irresponsible behaviour of people like not wearing masks, not maintaining social distancing, not following health hygiene are the main reasons to blame behind this second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic,” he added.

Active cases crossed the 800,000 mark in the last 24 hours and now stand at 843,473, comprising 6.59 per cent of the total infections.

Reports suggest that India is now the fourth most affected country in the world in terms of active cases.

What Does Warning Means?

Edit
Oped

Precious Kashmir

07/04/2021

The Central government has warned that covid-19 is increasing at a faster pace than last year and that the next four weeks are very critical.

NITI Aayog Member (Health) Dr V K Paul said the pandemic situation in the country has worsened with a “sharp rise” in cases and a large part of the population is still “susceptible” to contract the disease.

While Maharashtra continues to remain the worst-hit state with more than half of country’s total cases daily, the state has now been forced to imposed night curfew and announce weekend lockdowns to get a handle on the runaway infection. More states have followed the suit as pathogen is also spreading through states like Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.

While the economy is hardly emerging from the slump, the government can hardly afford to undermine the recovery. From economical point of view, one more lockdown will thus be disastrous. However, in comparison, saving life is more precious than anything else. While situation is moving to such a pass quickly, the way forward for the government in contemporary times is to strict implement the Standard Operating Procedure in public places, something that has started to happen but the pace with which it ought to be taken remains abysmally slow. One expects Prime Minister Nadrenda Modi to stress the enforcement of the SOPs by the governments during his meeting with CMs on Thursday. Times also demands governments themselves have to lead by example and can’t be selective about enforcing the rules, much like in Jammu and Kashmir where gardens are open and more counters are being open to cater crowds while schools have shut and indoor sports halted.

It is pertinent to note that while Serosurveys indicated lesser immunity amongst large population, the vaccination drive remained slow. In between containment methods such as testing, monitoring and contact tracing was also given a miss. At the same time, there is absolutely no time to lose in reining in the virus that is threatening to rip open the social and economic scars of last year. The synergies between policymakers, medical experts and the public at large, built last year must be renewed with vigor.

The contemporary situation is a reminder that the battle against the raving virus will have to be fought on multiple fronts and complacency has proved only detrimental. The vaccination drive must be intensified along with SOPs strict implementation to arrest the spread of the virus.

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