Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Jan 11: The 271 kms Srinagar-Jammu Highway Monday remained closed for traffic movement in view of the damage to a bridge near Kela Morh in Ramban district of Jammu division while as authorities stated that the crucial-surface link connecting Kashmir with rest of the world, will remain shut for the next five days.
ADGP Traffic T. Namgyal said a bridge at Kela Morh in Ramban was damaged and it will take at least five days to restore the highway for traffic movement.
A portion of the road near Kela Morh, about four km ahead of the Ramban district headquarters, sank after a concrete retaining wall of the bridge collapsed, leading to the sinking of the road on Sunday evening, the officials said.
A 16-metre retaining wall of a bridge collapsed, which led to the sinking of a 15-metre road, rendering the highway unsafe.
“There was no traffic movement on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway today in view of the damage caused to the bridge at Kela Morh in Ramban,” said a traffic control room official.
In a fresh communiqué by Traffic Police headquarters J&K which reads; “Jammu-Srinagar NHW is closed due to sudden damage of bridge at Kela Morh, Ramban. It will take at least 05 days to repair the damaged bridge as stated by NHAI. However, Jammu-Doda-Kishtwar, Jammu-Ramban, Magerkot-Banihal and Banihal-Qazigund stretches are through for traffic.”
The officers of the Ramban district administration along with officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) rushed to the spot, which is located adjacent to an under-construction tunnel, to devise a strategy for an early restoration of the highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with rest of the country.
The traffic police official said the restoration work is going on in full swing and all out efforts are being made to ensure the traffic operation on the highway is resumed early.
The highway was opened for traffic only on Sunday after remaining closed for seven days following heavy snowfall and multiple landslides triggered by incessant rains.
Over 3000 vehicle, including those carrying passengers and trucks loaded with essentials are stranded on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway which was closed after retaining wall of a main bridge at Kela Morh collapsed last evening, official sources told UNI.
Sources said after the traffic was resumed after remaining suspended for over four days, over 5000 vehicles, mostly trucks carrying essentials and oil tankers, arrived in the valley.
The traffic on the highway plies alternatively from the twin capitals of Jammu and Srinagar to facilitate a smooth movement of vehicles in view of the ongoing work on the four-laning highway project.
Meanwhile, Mughal road continues to remain closed due to snow accumulation.
However, flight operations remained smooth today at the Srinagar Airport.
Santosh Dhoke, Director Srinagar Airport said the flight operations at Srinagar Airport were smooth and no flight was cancelled today.
“There were total 28 flight movements,” he said. (Additional inputs from KNO, UNI)
Highway to remain closed for five days
Day chill further intensifies; Gulmarg freezes at minus 9.6 degree
Srinagar, Jan 11: The chilly weather conditions have further intensified in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir due to overcast conditions though the night temperature improved and settled above normal.
Meanwhile, world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, was the only place in the valley where the mercury dipped about 2 degree from Sunday and settled at minus 9.6 degree.
A Met department spokesperson told UNI that weather will remain dry during the next about three days. “The dry weather will result in considerable dip in the night temperature though the maximum temperature is expected to improve due to sunshine,” he said.
He said a fresh Western Disturbance (WD), which will originate in Arabian Sea and would approach the region though Afghanistan and Pakistan, would hit the region on Thursday.
“It would be a weak current and would result in light snowfall at some places in the valley,” he added.
After witnessing an improvement of over a degree in the night temperature, people woke up to a chilly Monday morning in Srinagar due to overcast conditions, coupled with ice cold winds. The weather remained chilly throughout the day due to overcast conditions. Against minus 2.6 degree recorded on Sunday, the night temperature in Srinagar was minus 0.2 degree, which is over a degree above normal. Mechanics and drivers would be seen early in the morning burning wood on roadsides to keep themselves warm in Srinagar, where interior roads and by-lanes remained under show which has now frozen due to sub-zero temperature. The maximum temperature recorded on Sunday was 2 degree below normal.
Gulmarg, where the ski slopes are covered under several feet of snow, was the coldest place in the valley at minus 9.6 degree, which is 2 degree below normal. “Despite chilly weather conditions, the tourists are out on ski slopes enjoying different snow related activities. All the ski slopes have been thrown open for tourists,” a hotelier from Gulmarg said.
The night temperature at world famous health resort of Pahalgam improved about a degree from Sunday and settled at minus 4.6 degree, which is 2 degree above normal.
The mercury at Qazigund, gateway to the valley, Kupwara in north Kashmir and tourist resort of kukernag settled at minus 0.2 degree, minus 1 degree and minus 2 degree, respectively.
Fresh avalanche warning for upper reaches
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Jan 11: A fresh avalanche warning has been issued for upper reaches in north Kashmir district of Kupwara and Bandipora during the next 24 hours.
Director of Disaster Management J&K government Aamir Ali said that there is a threat of low level avalanche warning for upper reaches in the frontier district of Kupwara and Bandipora during the next 24 hours.
He said people are advised to remain indoor and restrain their movement in avalanche prone areas.
The entire north Kashmir recently experienced moderate to heavy snowfall last week.
Bird Flu Surveillance started in Kashmir
Experts visits Hokersar wetland, collect 21 samples
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Jan 11: A squad of experts from the Institute of Animal Health and Biological Products (IAH&BP), Zakura of Animal Husbandry Department, Kashmir in coordination with the Wildlife Protection Department, Kashmir Monday visited Hokersar wetland to set in motion a sustained surveillance and Monitoring for Bird Flu (Avian Influenza) here.
The team from IAH&BP, Zakura headed by Dr Gowhar Nabi Gora (Technical Officer/Nodal Officer OIE) collected 21 samples in accordance with the laid down guidelines and SOPs for Avian Influenza to be forwarded to High Security Animal Disease Lab, Bhopal and RDDL Jalandhar for further testing.
The wildlife Veterinarian, accompanying the team informed that no deaths in birds were reported from the Hokersar wetland, the largest and most prominent of wetlands in Kashmir.
Further, the team made an awareness presentation to the staff posted at Hokersar and advised them to be vigilant for immediate reporting of any signs/symptoms of Avian Influenza or deaths in the wild birds that have migrated to Kashmir valley presently.
The Wildlife Warden for wetlands, Ifshan Dewan of Hokersar Wetland informed the team that almost 1.5 Lakh birds of different species are presently stationed at Hokersar for breeding as well as winter nesting.
Meanwhile, surveillance samples were also taken from the Dal Lake and adjoining areas.
Scores of crows, eagles found dead in Uri
Zaffer Iqbal
Uri, Jan 11: Amid bird flu scare, scores of crows and eagles were found dead under mysterious circumstances in Uri area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
According to locals, the crows and eagles were found dead in villages like Chollan, Dani Seydan and Paranpillan.
The locals urged the administration to send the teams to the villages to ascertain the cause of deaths.
Chief Animal Husbandry Officer Baramulla Dr Syed Mohammad Anwar Andrabi said there was no need to panic.
“They might have died due to starvation or cold. We are looking into it,” he said.
Andrabi said a team will be sent to these villages tomorrow to assess the situation and collect samples for testing. (GNS)
Coronavirus Pandemic: First batch of Covid vaccine reaches JK
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Jan 11: The first batch of COVID-19 vaccine was received by
Jammu and Kashmir on Monday to start vaccination programme from Saturday.
Official sources said the government has decided to give first dose of vaccine to health care workers.
For efficient vaccination programme, health Department has already fixed all modalities to roll it out.
However, the vaccines could not reach Kashmir today.
State Immunisation Officer, Dr Qazi Haroon said they were expecting 2.5 lakh vaccines today but due to some issues, vaccines didn’t reach but will be available by tomorrow.
“Vaccines will reach by air in cold storage chains,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha will kick start Covid vaccination drive from Government Medical College, Jammu on January 16.
2700 people across J&K will receive vaccination on Day one at 27 designated sites which will be subsequently raised to over 1000.
The J&K government has so far registered 1.07 lakh health workers for vaccination in the first phase.
Officials have designated 1100 vaccination sites across J&K where COVID-19 vaccine will be administered.
Government Medical College, Jammu and Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Srinagar have been identified as two major vaccination sites while almost all other major health institutions including Medical Colleges, District and Sub District Hospitals are likely to be used for giving vaccine to the people over a period of time, officials added. (Additional inputs from KNS, KNO)
JK reports 113 new Covid cases, one death
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Jan 11: Jammu and Kashmir Government on Monday recorded 113 new positive cases of novel coronavirus and one death.
Of the 113 new cases, 46 were from Jammu division and 67 from Kashmir division. The total number of positive cases in Jammu and Kashmir has risen to 1,22,651.
Giving the district-wise details, officials said Srinagar reported 42 cases, Baramulla 1, Budgam 7, Kupwara 5, Pulwama 4, Anantnag 2, Bandipora 3, Ganderbal 1, Kulgam 1, Shopian 1, Jammu 35, Udhampur 5, Rajouri 2, Doda 0, Kathua 2, Kishtwar 1, Samba 0, Poonch 1, Ramban 0 and Reasi 0.
Authorities also reported one more death from COVID-19 from Jammu division during the same period.
Meanwhile, 355 more COVID-19 patients recovered and were discharged from various hospitals including 169 from Jammu division and 186 from Kashmir division.
According to the daily medical bulletin regarding coronavirus, out of 1,22,651 positive cases, 1,768 are Active Positive, 1,18,972 have recovered and 1,911 have died; 712 in Jammu division and 1,199 in Kashmir division.
The bulletin further said that out of 41,12,373 test results available, 39,89,722 samples have tested negative till January 11.
Till date 9,62,197 people have been enlisted for observation which include 33,663 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 1,768 in isolation and 32,235 in home surveillance.
Meanwhile, 8,92,620 people have completed their surveillance period.
‘Worst of Covid pandemic still to come’
Sptunik
London, Jan 11: England’s top medical officer, Chris Whitty, said on Monday that the coming weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic will be worst, as the new coronavirus strain continues to spread across the country and more people are getting infected, adding more pressure on the National Health Service.
“The next few weeks are going to be the worst weeks of this pandemic in terms of numbers and to the NHS,” Whitty told the BBC broadcaster.
He said that in London alone, one in 30 people currently has the coronavirus, while in England in a whole, the figure is one in 50 people.
This is a serious problem and is rising in every part of England, the medical officer said, adding that the first thing is to understand what this new variant means in terms of numbers for the NHS.
“During the peak we had back in April last year we had about 18,000 people in the NHS as of yesterday, we had over 30,000 people in the NHS,” he stressed.
According to Whitty, the only thing people should do now is to follow current lockdown rules and minimize all unnecessary public contact, because the vaccines being roll out, he said, will “take several weeks” to have their effect.
“We’re quite a long way away from that at the moment,” the medical chief said, when asked when restrictions would be lifted.
The UK government is expecting to step up the COVID-19 vaccination campaign with the opening of the first seven large vaccination centers on Monday, as part of its target of immunize 15 million people by the middle of February with the Pfizer/BioNTech and AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccines.
As of Sunday, the UK had recorded over three million COVID-19 positive cases and 81,431 deaths.
WHO experts do not rule out Coronavirus originated outside China
Sputnik
Beijing, Jan 11: Experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) do not rule out that the COVID-19 could originate in a country outside China, but believe it is important to start the research in Wuhan, which saw the first major outbreak, Marion Koopmans, a member of the WHO delegation that will arrive in China later this week, told China’s state-run broadcaster CGTN.
In line with previously reached agreements, the WHO delegation will arrive in China on Thursday to investigate the origins of the coronavirus.
“At this stage I do not think we can rule anything out, we should not rule anything out, but it is important to start … in Wuhan where the first big outbreak occurred. We need to have an open mind to all sorts of hypothesis, and that is really what we have been asked to do but starting in Wuhan where of course we first learned about the situation,” Koopmans said.
Govt taking measures for redressal of civic issues, aspirations of recently formed municipal bodies: Sinha
Municipal heads’ association, DDC member call on Lt Governor
Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Jan 11: A delegation of municipal heads from Jammu province Monday called on Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha here at Raj Bhavan.
The members of the delegation led by Rajinder Singh Chib submitted a memorandum of demands and issues to the Lt Governor pertaining to services of engineering wing; rationalising Safai Karamcharis in all Municipal Committees/ Councils; delegation of powers and other concerning issues.
The Lt Governor gave a patient hearing to the issues and demands put forth by the delegation and observed that the UT Government is taking comprehensive measures for redressal of civic issues and aspirations of recently formed municipal bodies.
In another meeting, Er Aijaz Hussain, elected DDC member from Srinagar met with the Lt Governor and thanked the Government for the recently announced New Industrial Development Scheme for J&K and other policies, particularly benefiting the youth.
He further apprised the Lt Governor about the promotion of local industries, especially those engaged in making carpets, and pashmina shawls. He also shared various development issues of his constituency with the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor assured that all the genuine issues raised by him would be taken up for examination and urged him to continue working for the advancement of public welfare.
Meanwhile, the Lt Governor released a Book titled ‘Secrets of Scoring More Marks and Passing Any Exam Easily’ authored by Dr Abdul Ghani.
The Lt Governor complimented the author for his publication and hoped that the book helps the ambitious and aspiring students all over Jammu & Kashmir and rest of India.
