Srinagar: World famous ski resort of Gulmarg and other upper reaches in the Kashmir valley received fresh snowfall early Friday morning while plains, including Srinagar have experienced very light to moderate rain resulting in dip in the mercury.

A Met department spokesman has issued a warning of isolated heavy rain, snow and thundershowers in the Kashmir valley during the next 24 hours which could impact surface traffic. Weather will improve from March Ist.

Gulmarg received fresh snowfall early this morning.

There was light snowfall early Thursday also, a hotel owner told UNI over phone from Gulmarg.

However, this morning the Gulmarg received again light snowfall while in the higher reaches, including Seven Springs, Khilanmarg and Affarwat, the highest skiing point connected by Cable Car, experienced moderate snowfall.

Mechanical Engineering Department (MED) had pressed into service a machine rescue a bus from snow on Babareshi road in Gulmarg yesterday.

The Met spokesman said the mercury remained above normal in Gulmarg, 55 km from here in north Kashmir. Against yesterdays minimum temperature of minus 0.6 at Gulmarg, it was minus 0.8 degree, still five notches above normal. The maximum temperature yesterday was 4.6 degree which was 2.5 degree above normal.

Mercury also remained above normal at famed health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, where the water level in water bodies, including river Lidder passing through Pahalgam, witnessed increase due to melting of snow on upper reaches.

The maximum temperature yesterday at Pahalgam was 11.2 degree, 6.9 notches above normal while the minimum temperature today was 3.5 degree against yesterdays 3.2 degree which was 6.7 degree above normal.

The Srinagar, received light rain though sun was playing hide and seek. The mercury remained above normal in the city, where people could be seen wearing less warm cloths. Against yesterday’s minimum temperature of 7.4 degree it was 8 degree, which was 6.5 notches above normal today.

The Met spokesman said there could be light to moderate rain, snow and thundershowers in Srinagar and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 10 degree and 4 degree respectively during the next 24 hours.

Srinagar: Twenty-none travellers were 85 new covid-19 cases even as one person succumbed to the pestilence in the last 24 hours in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Friday.

They said that 16 of the fresh cases were reported from Jammu and 69 from Kashmir Valley, taking the total case tally to 126286. The person who succumbed to the virus belonged to Kashmir Valley.

Giving the district wise details, the officials told GNS that Srinagar reported 47 cases, Baramulla 8, Budgam 1, Pulwama 3, Kupwara 2, Anantnag 3, Bandipora 2, Ganderbal 1, Kulgam 0, Shopian 2, Jammu 12, Udhampur 1, Rajouri 0, Doda 0, Kathua 1, Samba 0, Kishtwar 2, Poonch 0, Ramban 0 and Reasi 0.

A number of these cases have been confirmed at diagnostic laboratories of SKIMS Soura, CD hospital and GMC Anantnag.

The SKIMS cases include male (64) from Kunzer Budgam, female (07) from Repora Chadoora, female (70) from Soibugh, female (63) from Hyderpora, male (55) from Pehroo Anantnag, male (38) from Kralpora Budgam, female (45) from Saidkadal Sgr, male (50) from Chewakala pulwama, female (01) from Arshipora Shopian The CD cases include male (20) (NA) from Hyderpora sgr, male (50) from Lalbazar sgr, male (70) from Tulbagh Pampore, female (40) (NA) from Tangmarg, male (20) (NA) from Brain nishat, male (NA) from Kokernag. . The GMC Anantnag case includes male (35) from Tarigam kulgam.

Moreover, the official told GNS, that 101 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and were discharged from various hospitals—25 from Jammu Division and 76 from Kashmir Valley. (GNS)

Out of 126286 cases, they said, 803 are active while 123537 recovered while 1956 have died—725 in Jammu and 1231 in Kashmir. (GNS)

Srinagar: Random and surprise searches and frisking by security forces continued for the past few days on Friday in Srinagar, where gunmen shot dead two personnel of Jammu and Kashmir police and shot at and injured a dhaba owner’s son during the past fortnight.

Pedestrain, customers and shopkeepers were taken by surprise when security forces immediately sealed the busy Hari Singh High Street (HSHS) in the heart of the city Friday.

Though women and children were allowed to go, men of all ages were asked to stand in a queue. Later, their identity cards were properly checked and bags and other articles searched before being allowed to go.

Vehicles, including private cars, two wheelers and three wheelers were also properly checked by the security forces. The identity cards of those driving the vehicles and passengers were also checked.

However, normalcy returned in one of the crowded markets in the city.

Security forces conducted similar operations in other parts of the city as intelligence inputs report that militants are trying to smuggle in arms and ammunition and sneak into city from outskirts to cause disturbance.

Srinagar: The result of Class 10th board examinations, which was conducted by the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (BOSE), was on Friday declared with an overall pass percentage of 75 per cent.

Ironically, over a dozen government schools recorded zero pass percentage in the valley, where 18626 students failed the board examination that was held last year.

An official said that the overall pass percentage in the class 10th regular examination was 75 per cent. “The pass percentage of boys stood at 74.04 per cent while it was 76.09 percent for girls,” he said.

He said as many as 75132 students, 36792 girls, had appeared in the annual regular examination. “Out this, 56,384 students have been declared as qualified,” he said, adding 18626 students have failed the examination.

There are about 15 government schools which witnessed zero pass percentage. “Due to non-availability of smart phones, many of these students, who come from economically weaker sections of society, were unable to study during the COVID-19 lockdown,” they said.

Anantnag:  In a world where even healthy people find excuses to sit home and do nothing, a 17-year-old Tabia Iqbal, a specially-abled girl qualified class 10th exam with 452 out of 500 marks and is earning appreciation for braving all odds.

Tabia Iqbal from Shangus ,Nowgam area of Anantnag, was born with a disability and her both legs were crippled. Initially, she was not able to walk properly. However, she decided not to let her health condition hamper her dreams.

Although her family was supportive at every stage, she had to fight ‘taboo’ and ‘prejudices’ prevailing in the society.

Speaking in a sign language explained by her mother Muneera Akhtar, Tabia said: “I am deaf and dumb and has not attended any school since last seven years because I am suffering from arthritic condition and I am on wheel chair.”

Tabia while giving message to the young generation of Kashmir, particularly those from South Kashmir, said that “Everyone must chase their dreams with positive intentions in their mind, which will help them a lot literally.”

Her father Peer Mohammad Iqbal said she never attended school since class 3rd and since then a teacher was coming at her residence to teach her, adding that for the treatment of girl “we shifted her in many hospitals but all goes in vain.”

He thanked Principal of the local private school namely Fayaz Ahmad for helping his daughter in studies—(KNO)

Srinagar: At least 17 students shared the first position after securing 100 per cent marks in this year’s 10th standard examination conducted by Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education, the results of which were declared Friday.

Toppers who belong to different areas of Kashmir said that they faced various issues during Covid-19 lockdown and in absence of 4G internet services.

Seventeen students who secured first position include Rutba Javeed, Toiba Showkat, Noor‐Us‐Sabah, Gousia Farooq, Tayibah Anjum, Ibtisaam Naseer Tahir, Rounaq Dilshad, Tabasum Gulzar, Seerat Bashir, Jazib Javeed, Umer Manzoor, Tabiya Fayaz, Sadaf Rashid, Khujasta Younis, Anas Amin Mir, Suhaib Ahmad Reshi and Aatiq Javed Khan.

Officials said that 73 students shared second position with 498 marks while 13 shared the third position with 497 marks.

Toiba Showkat, a resident of Sarnal, Anantnag, a student of Radiant Public School who secured 500 out of 500 said that she was expecting above 490 marks but she never expected 500 out of 500.

“I was studying for just few hours on daily basis but never during night,” she said while thanking her teachers and parents for their support. “I want to become a doctor as it is the dream of my parents and I want to fulfill the dream of my parents. Marks doesn’t matter, what matters ultimately is how you serve the society.”

Tabasum Gulzar, a student of high School Watlar Lar in Ganderbal district who also secured 500 out of 500 said that she worked very hard for the examination but slow internet speed created lot of problems for her.

She requested all students that never ever try to put yourself in pressure, keep every challenge as simple as “you can and you will succeed only through your hard work and consistency.”

“The aim of my life is to become a doctor and through this profession I want to make my parents proud by serving to our society in a unique way,” she said. (KNO)

New Delhi: Assam will go for Assembly elections in three phases on March 27, April 1 and 6, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in one phase on April 6, while West Bengal in eight phases on March 27, April 1,6,10,17,22, 26 and 29, with counting in all states and the UT on May 2, the Election Commission of India announced here on Friday evening.

With the announcement, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force, Chief Election Commission Sunil Arora said in a presser at Vigyan Bhavan here.

The constituencies at stake are 294 in West Bengal, 126 seats in Assam, 234 in Tamil Nadu, 140 in Kerala and 30 in Puducherry. The term of Assemblies ends in May-June.

The striking part is West Bengal where polling is spread in eight phases. In 2016, the elections in the eastern state were conducted in six phases with the last phase divided into two parts.

In Assam, in phase one polling on March 27, a total 47 constituencies will go for voting while 39 on April 1 and remaining 40 on April 6.

In West Bengal, polling will be held in 30 seats each in phase 1 and 2 on March 27 and April 6, as many 31 seats in third phase on April 10, forty-four seats in fourth phase on April 10, forty-five in fifth phase on April 17, forty-three in sixth phase on April 22, thirty-six in seventh phase on April 26 and remaining 35 seats in eight, last phase.

As per the official data, 2.32 crore voters are registered in Assam, 6.28 cr in Tamil Nadu, 7.34 cr in West Bengal, 2.67 cr in Kerala and 10 lakhs in Puducherry.

The number of polling stations have been increased by over 34 pc in Assam and Tamil Nadu, 31 per cent in West Bengal and whooping 89 pc in Kerala and 67 pc in Puducherry.

The ECI reasoned increase in the number of polling stations with restricting 1,000 voters per station due to the pandemic and rise in the number of voters since 2016.

This will be the second large scale election in India in the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic after Bihar Assembly, which went to polls last November.

The ECI stated that the polling will be conducted with COVID-19 guidelines in place which mentions restricting the number of people accompanying the candidate in filling nominations to two and in door-to-door campaigning to five and holding rallies or meetings after taking permission from district authorities.

The polling, like in Bihar, has been extended by one hour, with postal ballot facilities being extended to voters above 80 years of age, benchmark disabilities and those engaged in essential services.

The COVID-19 patient, who is quarantined, will be allowed to cast the vote in the last hour of the voting, the guidelines said.

The ECI will use Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) along with Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) at every polling station to enhance the transparency and credibility of the election process as VVPAT allows the voter to verify the vote.

The EVMs and VVPATs are randomized twice using “EVM Management System (EMS)” while being allocated to an Assembly and then to a polling booth ruling out any fixed allocation, the ECI mentioned.

For the first time, the ECI said, it has directed to establish one polling station in every constituency, to be fully managed by women staff.

In Assam, eight are reserved for SCs and 16 for STs; Tamil Nadu–44 seats for SCs and two for STs; West Bengal–68 for SCs and 16 for STs; Kerala–14 seats for SCs and two for STs while five seats are reserved for SCs and nil for STs in Puducherry.

In Bengal, the ruling Mamata Banerjee-led All India Trinamool Congress is being challenged by the BJP and the alliance of Congress and Left parties. In 2016, TMC was re-elected after sweeping 211 of 294 seats in six-phase elections. The BJP, for the first time in Bengal in 2019 Lok Sabha, bagged 18 out of 42 seats contested.

In Assam, the BJP, elected in 2016 after winning 86 seats in 126-member Assembly, will fight against grand alliance of Congress and five other parties—the CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML), AIUDF and the Anchalik Gana Morcha—and the alliance of newly formed regional political party Asom Jatiya Parishad (AJP) and Raijor Dal.

In Tamil Nadu, ruling AIADMK re-elected in 2016 after winning 136 seats of 234 in 2016 under the leadership of late chief minister J Jayalalithaa, will be challenged by Stalin-led DMK, having alliance with Congress. The BJP has sided with AIADMK while Tamil cinema star Kamal Hassan, who has floated a new party– Makkal Neethi Maiam (MNM)–will contest from third front.

In Kerala, the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), which won 91 seats in 140-member Assembly, will be challenged by Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the BJP.

The Puducherry government, led by Congress, collapsed this week after its strength from 15 in 30 member-House reduced to 12. The UT will see a contest between Congress and AINRC.

Centre deputes multidisciplinary committee to ascertain reasons

Srinagar: The Covid-19 positive cases in Jammu and Kashmir has once again started to surge from the past few days.

Officials said that on 9 February the active cases of Covid-19 in Jammu and Kashmir were below 600 while in the last 15 days, the cases have surged to over 800.

The centre has taken notice of the surge has deputed a high-level multi-disciplinary team to ascertain the reasons for the spike.

A top health official said that the Centre has deputed high-level multi-disciplinary teams to 10 states for supporting them in public health measures for targeted COVID response and management.

“The centre has taken up the issue that if J&K is witnessing a rise in Covid cases, then why there is a decrease in the proportion of RT-PCR tests,” officials said.

Officials said that three-member multi-disciplinary teams headed by Joint Secretary, level officers in the Health Ministry have been rushed to the states including Maharashtra, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, where they will work closely with the state and local administration in order to ascertain reasons for a recent surge in the number of COVID-19 cases.

Officials also said that the Centre has also written to Maharashtra, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab and Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir which have been witnessing a rise in daily COVID cases, along with decreasing proportion of RT-PCR tests.

He further added that Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has exhorted the J&K UT administration should work along with other 10 states to focus on undertaking aggressive measures to break the chain of transmission and to ensure amplification of RT-PCR tests.

He further added that these States/UTs have been advised to increase testing in a focused manner in the affected districts with the appropriate split of RT-PCR and Rapid Antigen Tests.

Moreover, the Centre has reminded the State and Union Territories that any laxity in implementing stringent measures to curb the spread, especially in view of new strains of virus observed in certain countries, could compound the situation.

The Union Health Secretary has separately requested the chief secretaries of 10 states and UTs to provide time to the high-level central teams to debrief the respective chief secretaries at the conclusion of their visits—(KNO)

CS chairs 19th Steering Committee meeting of CAMPA

Jammu: Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam Friday chaired the 19th meeting of the Steering Committee of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) to consider the Annual Plan of Operations (APOs) for the year 2021-22.

The Chief Secretary stressed the use of IT tools in the preparation of thematic digital maps like GIS, GPS, ICT equipment, and use of drones and mobile apps for real-time surveillance. “These interventions can potentially increase the qualitative output of Department’s efforts towards forest conservation, protection, and regeneration”, he added.

Reviewing the implementation of special projects, the Chief Secretary directed the Department to focus on catchment area treatment of the Wular Lake, rehabilitation of the Tosamaidan, and stabilization of slip areas on the NH-44 especially in the Ramban Banihal section.

He also asked the department to take up peripheral plantation in pockets of land around industrial estates, roads, and public buildings including schools, besides, developing city forests in both the divisions.

It was informed that the Department has put in place an effective monitoring mechanism to closely monitor the execution of CAMPA works.  This includes field-level inspections, Departmental Monitoring Committees, hosting of GPS coordinates/polygons on the departmental website, third party evaluation of CAMPA works and involvement of Village Panchayat Committees. J&K CAMPA is also in the process of creating a dedicated CAMPA Portal to monitor progress on a real-time basis.

The Forest Department is also undertaking path-breaking low-cost innovations in forest regeneration through the use of seed balls. The seed balls which can be made with the assistance of various Self Help Groups (SHGs) can be scattered in difficult areas such as mountains, remote areas and muck dumping sites, and do not require special care, soil work, and fencing to promote plant growth.

For effective monitoring and evaluation of CAMPA works, the Chief Secretary emphasized putting in place a rigorous monitoring mechanism by clubbing and placing suitable number of projects under the supervision of a high-ranking officer.

Directs for online monitoring system to keep track of status of equipments in District Hospitals, Health Centres

Jammu:  Continuing the weekly review meetings on progress of digital initiatives and implementation of various departmental projects, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor, Nitishwar Kumar chaired a series of meetings at the Civil Secretariat here Friday . The meetings are undertaken to fast track the implementation of Lt Governor’s directions for seamless delivery of public services.

Speaking to the Deputy Commissioners, the Principal Secretary sought details of mobile applications and web portals running successfully in their respective districts and the public reception regarding them. He said that the most successful of these projects would be implemented throughout the UT.

Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora informed that Mizan, the Revenue Courts App, has been functioning successfully since last couple of weeks and an additional feature of SMS alerts has been incorporated in it recently. The web based Panchayat Development Index measuring platform is also functioning and its mobile application is to be launched soon, informed the Deputy Commissioner.

The GPS tracking app of district Pulwama has successfully been linked to more than 30 government vehicles, live feeds of which are monitored by municipalities for rationalisation of services. Another project, Taawun, a CSR portal, has also been launched by the district administration to create a common platform shared between the district administration, NGOs, voluntary organisations and other similar bodies. GPS tracking projects are also being successfully run by districts Srinagar and Shopian. The e-Library app of district Srinagar is also ready with a huge repository of e-books as well as printed material.

Zimmedari App of district Doda was also found to be running. The app is a multifaceted platform aimed at improving education sector in the district.

Detailed information about the Applications Management System of Jammu administration was shared by Deputy Commissioner, Jammu. She informed that physical copies of application are digitised, uploaded onto Google Forms, and addressed to respective authorities. The status of these applications is then monitored by the Deputy Commissioner through an online dashboard. e-Rent Payment System  is another successful initiative of the district administration and rental compensation of around Rs 20 crore has been transferred through the medium, added the Deputy Commissioner.

The Principal Secretary was apprised that the Sukoon App of Udhampur, since its launch has successfully helped in disbursing relief to the tune of Rs 1.75 crores under SDRF. The e-Challan application for municipalities is also being used to generate revenue successfully by the district administration.

Speaking on the occasion, the Principal Secretary called for taking stern action against private companies that are causing unnecessary delays in execution of governmental projects. He also called for efficient utilisation of labour cess on welfare of labourers and their kids.

The Labour Department informed the Principal Secretary that according to directions issued, plans are being formulated for welfare of labourers and their kids. These welfare projects are to be funded by labour cess charged by the department.