Pune, Jan 21: A massive fire broke out at Serum Institute of India in Pune on Thursday afternoon, wire agency reported. The blaze was reported in a building near the Terminal 1 gate of the institute. Five charred bodies recovered, a fire official.

Condoling the loss of lives, Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla said, “We have just received some distressing updates; upon further investigation, we have learnt that there has unfortunately been some loss of life at the incident. We are deeply saddened and offer our deepest condolences to the family members of the departed.”

Nine persons were evacuated, police said.

Earlier, Poonawalla said there would be no loss of Covishield production due to the fire.

The Serum Institute of India has announced a compensation of Rs 25 lakh each to families of deceased in addition to mandated amount as per norm.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Namrata Patil told PTI the fire broke out at 2.45 pm on the fourth and fifth floor of the SEZ 3 building in the Serum Institute premises. “As per the primary information, nine people have been evacuated,” she said.

As many as 10 fire tenders were rushed to spot to douse the flames. Police and local administration officials immediately reached the site.

“The fire broke in a building in the premises. We have sent water tenders to the spot,” the official said.

The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, the official said.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said the state government has ordered a probe into the fire.

The Manjari facility is where Covishield vaccine, used in the nationwide inoculation drive against the coronavirus pandemic, is made.

Taking to Twitter, Adar Poonawalla wrote earlier in the day, “Thank you, everyone, for your concern and prayers. So far the most important thing is that there have been no lives lost or major injuries due to the fire, despite a few floors being destroyed.”

“I would like to reassure all governments & the public that there would be no loss of #COVISHIELD production due to multiple production buildings that I had kept in reserve to deal with such contingencies at @SerumInstIndia. Thank you very much @PuneCityPolice & Fire Department,” he added.

Cyrus Poonawalla founded the Serum Institute of India in 1966 and it is the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer. (Agencies)

New Delhi, Jan 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be vaccinated in the second phase of the Covid inoculation drive launched last week, sources said today. All Chief Ministers, MPs and MLAs above 50 will also receive vaccines.
The vaccine drive was launched on January 16 with healthcare workers and others at the frontline of the coronavirus fight receiving jabs of two vaccines – Serum Institute of India’s Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin.

Many states are struggling to meet targets and hesitancy to take vaccines and the fear of side effects are seen to be part of the reason.

In the second phase, it is the turn of those above 50 and people with comorbidities to take shots.

In his meeting with Chief Ministers before the drive, PM Modi had said they did not need to panic or rush to get vaccinated as they would get their turn in the second round.

Chief Ministers of states like Haryana, Bihar and Telangana had reportedly suggested that MLAs, MPs and other public representatives should be considered frontline workers and be vaccinated.
The PM strictly warned anyone against jumping the queue.
But days into what is billed as the world’s biggest vaccination drive, those coming forward to get shots are far short of targets.
NITI Aayog member VK Paul, who heads a government committee on vaccine strategy, said health workers who failed to take vaccine doses meant for them were not fulfilling their “societal responsibility”.
Please understand the whole world is clamouring for vaccines. If our healthcare workers, our doctors and nurses, if they are declining to take it, I feel sorry. I plead with them, on behalf of the government, because we don’t know what shape this pandemic will take going forward,” Mr Paul was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters.
The government has reported hospitalisation from side effects in only 0.002% of vaccine recipients. “Adverse events” have been reported in 0.18 per cent of recipients.
Tackling concerns over Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, which is still in Phase 3 clinical trials, the government stressed that both vaccines were safe. (Agencies)

Srinagar, Jan 21: In a bid to allay the growing apprehensions over efficacy and viability of recently introduced set of anti-COVID vaccines, doctors team at SMHS led by its Medical Superintendent Thursday came forward to get themselves vaccinated.

A medical official from the multi-speciality hospital while talking to GNS said that “SMHS, leading from the front in share of health and medical facilities in Jammu and Kashmir has been and will always remain at forefront to spread a message of ‘Hope and Positivity’ even in the tough times” adding that “getting ourselves administered with vaccine jabs is one such act to reiterate our grit and determination to standout as torchbearers through these negative times.”

“Amid growing apprehensions about the efficacy of vaccination, we want to embue and instill a confidence among medical fraternity and people alike that it is safe and there is absolutely nothing to be worry about”, the medical official said.

Earlier in the day, Medical Superintendent, Nazir Chaudhary while speaking on the occasion said that he wants to be the first person in the Hospital to get vaccinated. “I want to be the first person in the Hospital to be vaccinated followed by my team of doctors as to instill a sense of confidence among people.”

Remarking about the efficacy of introduced vaccine(s), the Medical Superintendent said that “Vaccine is the only wayout to free us from this pandemic crisis, going on for a long time now.”

Besides Medical Superintendent, his deputy Dr. Munir Ahmad Mir including all RMOs and CMOs working in the hospital received the jabs, as per the scheduled vaccination programme. (GNS)

117 test positive
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Jan 21: Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday recorded one more death due to COVID-19 taking the death toll to 1,924 in the Union Territory while as 117 positive cases were reported taking the tally of positive cases to 123,764 in J&K.
Of the exact number of 123,764 cases, 72,445 are from Kashmir and 51,319 from Jammu division. Officials said that among 117 new cases, 75 belong to Kashmir division while as 42 are from Jammu division, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir division have reached to 72,445 including 70,514 recoveries and 1,207 deaths while as total number of positive cases in Jammu division have reached to 51,319 including 50,215 recoveries and 717 deaths.

The officials said that total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir are 1,111 including 724 from Kashmir division and 387 from Jammu division. With 104 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in Jammu and Kashmir has reached to 120,729 which is 97.55 percent of the total cases.

“Cases tested positive in J&K include 46 from Srinagar, 02 from Baramulla, 04 from Budgam, 08 from Pulwama, 04 from Kupwara, 03 from Anantnag, 01 from Bandipora, 03 from Ganderbal, 01 from Kulgam and 03 from Shopian in Kashmir division while as 42 from Jammu division include 33 from Jammu, 05 from Udhampur, 00 from Rajouri, 00 from Doda, 03 from Kathua, 00 from Samba, 01 from Kishtwar, 00 from Poonch, 00 from Ramban and 00 from Reasi,” officials disclosed.

Notably, in the last 24 hours one person belonging to Jammu division who was tested positive for COVID-19 has died.

As per officials figures, 25,949 positive cases including 453 deaths and 25,217 recoveries are from Srinagar, 8,074 including 173 deaths and 7,844 recoveries are from Baramulla, 7,733 including 7,564 recoveries and 115 deaths are from Budgam, 5,686 including 5,532 recoveries and 88 deaths are from Pulwama, 5,635 including 94 deaths and 5,488 recoveries are from Kupwara, 4,861 including 4,727 recoveries and 84 deaths are from Anantnag, 4,683 cases including 4,595 and 61 deaths are from Bandipora, 4,581 including 4,468 recoveries and 46 deaths are from Ganderbal, 2,686 including 2,595 recoveries and 54 deaths are from Kulgam and 2,557 including 2,484 recoveries and 39 deaths are from Shopian.

In Jammu division, 24,776 including 24,207 recoveries and 368 deaths are from Jammu district, 4,191 including 4,097 recoveries and 57 deaths are from Udhampur, 3,864 including 3,804 recoveries and 55 deaths are from Rajouri, 3,427 including 3,356 recoveries and 64 deaths are from Doda, 3,252 including 3,196 recoveries and 51 deaths are from Kathua, 2,826 including 2,708 recoveries and 40 deaths are from Samba, 2,731 including 2,707 recoveries and 22 deaths are from Kishtwar, 2,484 including 2,431 recoveries and 24 deaths are from Poonch, 2,130 including 2,096 recoveries and 21 deaths are from Ramban and 1,637 including 1,613 recoveries and 15 deaths are from Reasi.

As per the daily information bulletin 1,053,059 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while 32,027 persons have been kept under home quarantine besides that 1,111 persons are in isolation.

According to the bulletin, 941,228 persons have completed surveillance period and 73,769 persons are under home surveillance besides that so far results of 4,339,419 samples are available.

Out of 4,339,419 the number of samples tested negative stands at 4,215,655 while as 123,764 have tested positive, among them 1,111 persons are active, 120,729 persons have recovered and 1,924 persons have died.

MeT forecasts ‘significant’ improvement in night temperature, fresh snowfall
Srinagar, Jan 21: Freezing cold conditions shows no signs of relenting in Kashmir as minimum temperature plummeted across the Valley, weatherman said on Thursday.
A meteorological department official said that the mercury fell by one degree Celsius in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir and recorded a low of minus 7.0°C against minus 6.0°C on the previous night. At minus 8.4°C, Srinagar witnessed season’s coldest night last week and it was chilliest night in more than 25 years. In 1991, Srinagar witnessed a low of minus 11.8°C while the lowest ever temperature was recorded on 31 January 1893 when the mercury had plummeted to minus 14.4 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, the minimum temperatures continued to remain far below than the normal in other parts of the Valley, settling at minus 9.3°C in Pahalgam against minus 8.3°C on the previous night in the world-famous health resort.
Qazigund, the gateway town of J&K, recorded a low of minus 8.8°C against 8.7°C on the previous night and was the second coldest place in the Valley after Pahalgam. Kokernag recorded a low of minus 6.9°C against 7.9°C on the earlier night.
Against minus 5.8°C on the previous night in Kupwara, the mercury settled at minus 5.9°C in the north Kashmir district, the official said.
Gulmarg, the world-famous skiing resort, recorded a low of minus 7.8°C against minus 6.5°C on the earlier night, the official said.
Kashmir is in the middle Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day winter period which commenced on December 21 and ends on January 31. The period is considered the harshest of the winter when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum.
The cold wave, however, continues even after that in Kashmir with a 20-day-long ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day-long ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold). Already, Kashmir Valley received heavy snowfall earlier this month, disrupting normal life.
The weatherman has forecast “dry and cold weather over Jammu and Kashmir” “with significant improvement in night temperature” in the next 24 hours. For subsequent two days, the MeT has forecast scattered to widespread light to moderate rain, snow and thundershowers in J&K. (GNS)

LG Sinha pays tributes
M S Nazki
Poonch, Jan 21: A soldier was killed in a sniper rifle fire by Pakistan at a forward post in Mankore area along the Line of Control in Poonch district, officials said on Thursday.

They said the soldier, Hawaldar Nirmal Singh, from 10 JAK Rifle suffered serious Injury in right side chest and was immediately removed in a chopper to command hospital in Udhampur.
However, before he could be admitted, they said, the soldier died. His body was taken back to Poonch and would be handed over to the family for last rites after postmortem at government Sub District Hospital Mendhar was done.
A defence ministry spokesman here said that Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation along the Line of Control (LoC) in Krishna Ghati Sector and Indian Army responded strongly. “In the incident, Hav Nirmal Singh of 10 JAK RIF was critically injured and later succumbed to his injuries,” the spokesman said, adding, “Hav Nirmal Singh was a brave, highly motivated and a sincere soldier. The nation will always remain indebted to him for his supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty.”
Meanwhile Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha has expressed grief over the loss of Havaldar Nirmal Singh in an unprovoked sniper fire incident by Pakistan at LoC in Krishnaghati Sector.
Paying tributes to the soldier, the Lt Governor observed that we are eternally indebted to “our men in uniform for their supreme sacrifices towards ensuring integrity and sovereignty of the country.”

The Lt Governor prayed for peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family in its hour of grief. (GNS)

Nadeem Nadu
Srinagar/Jammu, Jan 21: Jammu and Kashmir Home Department has on Thursday ordered for placement of services of its two Prosecuting officers from Prosecution Service for disposal of the administration of Union Territory of Ladakh.

The order, of which a copy lies with GNS, citing the ‘terms of Section 89 of the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganization’ Act and ‘as a provisional measure’ reads that Wasiq Umer currently Assistant Public Prosecuter Court(s) of Munsiff Charar-i-Shareef/Chadoora and Ravi Kant Samyal Assistant Public Prosecuter in the Court of Munsiff, Banihal be deemed to have been relieved and shall report to the Home Department UT of Ladakh for further posting, without availing the joining time.

The transferred prosecutors have been directed to handover the cases pertaining to their respective courts to Mohammed Wajahat, Assistant PP in the court of sub-judge Chadoora and Jaswant Raj, Assistant PP in the court of CJM Ramban respectively till further orders.

Consequently prosecuting officers presently on deputation at Ladakh viz. Abdul Rashid Dar, Assistant Public Prosecuter in the Court of Munsiff Nubra, Khaltsi and Bilal Ahmad Lone Assistant Public Prosecuter in the Court of Munsiff at Sankoo/Drass are repatriated back to Jammu and Kashmir and await further orders of posting in the office of Director Prosecution, Kashmir, the order says.

The prosecuting officers repatriated to J&K have been in the meantime asked to handover the case of files to incumbents before leaving their respective stations. (GNS)

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Jan 21: Prisons Department, J&K has decided to resume mulaqat facility in Jails which was stopped as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Jails.

As per an order issued by the Directorate of Prisons, J&K, inmates shall be allowed to have one interview/mulaqat with their family members in a month and the number of family members shall be limited by the Superintendent Jail in accordance with rules.

“Jail Superintendents shall ensure that necessary COVID-19 SOP/protocol is strictly followed. Family members are advised to carry COVID-19 negative test reports (not older than 48 hours) with them for mulaqat purposes” the order stated further.

Srinagar, Jan 21: The Anti-Narcotics Task Force of J&K police on Thursday arrested a drug peddler alongwith heroin and opium worth Rs 6 crore in south Kashmir district of Anantnag.
Official sources said that following specific information, a team of Anti Narcotics Task Force of J&K police recovered a huge consignment of Afghan Grade Heroin and Opium at Qaimoh in Anantnag. “The cost of the recovered drugs is estimated to be Rs 6 crore in the international market,” they said.
They said the accused, identified as Abdul Hamid, was immediately taken into custody, adding a case has been registered and investigations has been taken up. “More arrests are expected in coming days,” they added.

Jahangir Sofi
Srinagar, Jan 21: The 270 kilometre-long Jammu-Srinagar National highway will remain closed for traffic on Friday for maintenance.
ADGP Traffic T. Namgyal while speaking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said, “the traffic will remain suspended on Srinagar Jammu highway for maintenance, and no vehicular movement will be allowed for tomorrow.”
“The work on the bridge is going on at full pace unless the concrete won’t get settled fully then only we can allow the traffic on the bridge,” Namgyal said.
In a communiqué by Traffic Police Headquarters J&K which read, “ Tomorrow on 22-01-2021, No vehicular movement shall be allowed on Jammu-Srinagar NHW in view of maintenance/repairing of the road. ”
“Mughal Road continues to remain closed due to snow accumulation”, reads the communique.
The retaining wall of the Bridge had collapsed at Kela Morh in district Ramban, after which traffic authorities suspended the traffic on the highway causing a lot of problems to the people travelling on the road.
The closure of the highway also leads to the interruption of essential supplies to the valley.
As an interim relief NHAI was roped in BRO to launch Bailey bridge at Kela Morh in district Ramban which was completed in 60 hours and on priority basis essential supplies were moved towards the valley.
Meanwhile, a top reliable source confirmed to KNO that they are expecting the bridge at Kela Morh to be operational for traffic movement by 10 February. (KNO)