Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday said 44 new positive cases of Novel Coronavirus (08 from Jammu division and 36 from Kashmir division) were reported, taking the total number of positive cases in the UT to 124550.

Moreover, 83 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and discharged from various hospitals including 19 from Jammu Division and 64 from Kashmir Division.

According to the daily Media Bulletin on Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19), out of 124550 positive cases, 709 are Active Cases, 121905 have recovered and 1936 have died; 721 in Jammu division and 1215 in Kashmir division.

The Bulletin further said that out of 4562133 test results available, 4437583 samples have been tested as negative till February 1.

Till date, 1128787 persons have been enlisted for observation which included 34497 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 709 in isolation and 98571 in home surveillance.

Besides, 993074 persons have completed their surveillance period.

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir State Election Commission Monday overruled all objections and representations filed against its draft reservation order for offices of District Development Council last week, clearing the decks for elections to DDC chairpersons for 20 DDC in J&K.

In an order, the State Election commission today rejected the objections/ representations filed against draft reservation of offices of chairpersons of DDCs.

“It was found that none of the objections/representations so received had any merit. No infirmity, leave alone irregularity was brought out in the draft notification for reservation dated 25th January, 2021,” reads the order.

The SEC had invited objections/ representations, if any, after unveiling draft reservation of offices of chairpersons of DDCs.

According to the order, six seats have been reserved for women and two each for SCs and STs.

While Baramulla, Ganderbal, Shopian, Ramban and Kishtwar have been reserved for women, Poonch has been reserved for women from Schedule Tribe category.

According to the order, Anantnag and Rajouri have been reserved for STs while Jammu and Udhampur seats have been reserved for SCs.

With unveiling of reservation for the posts of DDC chairpersons, elections would be held within next 20 days for these offices.

The DDC elections were held in the month of November- December after the Union Home Ministry amended Jammu & Kashmir Panchayat Raj Act-1989 under the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act-2019. (KNO)

Jammu: Schools in Jammu region reopened on Monday for formal physical classes for the first time after remaining closed since March 2020 due to COVID-19 outbreak.

Students of 9th to 12th standard were welcomed with sanitizers, masks and warm wishes by faculty and staff members.

Administrative Secretary, School Education Department, B K Singh, who  visited various schools, interacted with the media at  GHSS Bakshi Nagar and divulged that the students as well as parents are enthusiastic about reopening of schools. This decision to reopen schools has been taken after taking various factors into account and due deliberation.

Director School Education, Jammu, Anurdha Gupta said all the SOPs and guidelines are being followed and every care has been taken to ensure safety and security of students and staff members.

“Every crisis comes with an opportunity. While we missed on lot many things, a lot can be achieved in this year that was lost to Covid. The department, taking optimum advantage of closed school buildings, initiated several infrastructural development measures and beautified the campuses making these learning centers vibrant and student friendly”, she said.

A student said, “It has been almost a year now since the students have experienced the physical academic activity.”

“From onscreen and online classes, the students can’t get such an exposure as we experience in physical attendance,” she said.

Kupwara: In a tragic incident, a family on their way towards Srinagar to visit an ailing young relative met with an accident near Kralpora in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, resulting in the death of a teenage girl and an aged.

Officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that a vehicle bearing registration number HR51-7420 skidded off the road due to slippery condition at Kralpora bridge and fell into a Nallah, resulting in the death of two including a 19-year-old girl and injuries to three other family members.

He said that the injured were immediately shifted to a nearby hospital while the girl succumbed to her injuries on her way to the health care facility while the 55-year-old succumbed at SMHS Srinagar late in the afternoon.

The deceased were identified as Usma Iqbal (19) daughter of Mohammad Iqbal Bhat, and Mohammad Maqbool Bhat (55) son of Mohammad Abdullah Bhat an employee of the Food and supplies department both residents of Rashanpora.

The injured were identified as  Bashir Ahmad Beigh (45) son of Ghulam Hassan Beigh, a driver by profession, Asif Ahmad Bhat (20) Mohammad Maqbool Bhat, and Jabeena Belgium wife of Farooq Ahmad Bhat—all residents of Rashanpora.

The injured were initially treated at SDH Kralpora where-from they were shifted to Srinagar for advanced treatment—(KNO)

Baramulla: The first Igloo cafe at famous ski resort Gulmarg has fascinated the tourists and skiers who are having a memorable time while enjoying hot food and drink on tables made of ice and snow.

The Igloo is the first of its kind in the valley with goat and sheep hides used for seating arrangements to ensure the comfort for customers.

The tourists while talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that the Igloo cafe has surprised them and people must visit the place to experience it.

Ishika Mehra, a resident of Dehradun, said that she enjoyed and experienced skiing in the Gulmarg for the first time.

“The trainers were very professional and the arrangements are satisfactory. This is no less than heaven for skiers,” Ishika said.

Mannat Jamwal, a resident of Bengaluru said, that this is her second visit to Kashmir in the recent past, and both the visits have been a good experience.

“No doubt Kashmir is a heaven on this planet. But Gulmarg has surprised us all with this amazing Igloo cafe. It is truly getting all our attention,” Mannat said.

Varsha another Bengaluru resident said that the memories in Kashmir have always been beautiful and full of energy.

“This Igloo concept is very new for all of us. This is quite nice and enjoyable since our group witnessed it for the very first time, “she said.

Rahul, a skier said that “We had heard about the beauty of Gulmarg from friends only but to experience this amazing place is something else. Great atmosphere with natural beauty. And the cold is quite pleasant.”

The excited tourists while sharing their experiences said that the people living outside Jammu and Kashmir must Kashmir as it has the potential to fascinate anyone.

“People must visit Kashmir and Gulmarg in particular, and experience the true beauty with a great surprise of igloo this year,” they said.

Srinagar: Demanding travel documents to visit their families, scores of Pakistani women Monday staged a protest at a press enclave in the city.

Holding placards and raising slogans “we want justice, we want travel documents” the protesters said they have been protesting and demanding the issuance of travel documents for a long now, “but to no avail”.

“We want the Government of India to confirm our identity. If we are Indians then give us a passport to travel, and if we are not Indians then send us back from where we have come,” they said.

“We are living a prisoner’s life here. Today we are facing the nationality issues, tomorrow it could be our children, their future is at stake,” Saira, a protester told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

The protesting women said counting of DDC candidate Somia Sadaf was stopped by government, but there are other women who are currently appointed as Panch and Sarpanch and are delivering their duties.

“Government has adopted a dual approach towards us, by not issuing us the travel documents,” they said.

Pakistani women married to former Kashmiri militants, who had returned to the Valley under government’s rehabilitation, have held similar protests and press briefings in the past demanding full citizenship rights and issuance of travel documents.

In 2010 then state Government led by Omar Abdullah in consultation with central government had proposed a rehabilitation policy for the men who had crossed to another side of the border for arms training.