Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Jan 7: Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education, Atal Dulloo, today chaired an officers meeting to review de-notifying of Covid-19 dedicated hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by Director General Planning, Satvir Kour Sudan; Director Health Services Jammu, Dr Renu Sharma; Principal, Government Medical College Jammu, Shashi Sudan Sharma; while Director SKIMS Srinagar Dr. A. G. Ahangar; Mission Director, National Health Mission, Bhupinder Kumar; Director Health Services Kashmir Dr Samir Mattoo; Principal Government Medical Colleges Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramulla, Kathua, Doda, Rajouri, Bemina and other concerned officers participated through video conferencing.
Threadbare discussion was held on details of logistics present in COVID-19 care institutions in J&K, district wise isolation beds in Jammu /Kashmir divisions, dedicated COVID-19 hospitals (Category-I, II, III) and related issues.
During the meeting, Financial Commissioner took stock of facilities being provided to COVID-19 patients and their subsequent recovery from the disease. He also asked for detailed report on COVID-19 patients from district hospitals regarding the number of cases reported on daily basis and the trend with respect to the disease.
It was informed that SMGS hospital Jammu, DHs of Reasi and Ramban, CHCs Surankote, Mendhar, Ramnagar and Chenani, SDH Katra and Accidental Hospital Ghagwal Samba would be declared as non-COVID-19 centres as these hospitals and health centres are receiving less number of COVID-19 patients.
Similarly, in Kashmir division, it was given out that SKIMS Medical College & Hospital Bemina, Super Speciality Hospital Srinagar, District Hospitals of Pulwama, Ganderbal, Kulgam, Budgam and Shopian, CHC Kupwara and Tibiya College Shivanth Bandipora would be declared as non-COVID-19 centres.

Jammu, Jan 7: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday conducted searches at six locations, five in Jammu district and one in Tarn-Taran district of Punjab, in connection with investigation of a Narco-militant module related to seizure of about 61 Kgs of Heroin along with arms and ammunitions at International Border at Arnia, Jammu.
An official here said: “Originally registered as case FIR number 65/2020 dated 20.09.2020 at Police Station Arnia, District Jammu, under sections 307, 120B & 121 IPC and 7 and 25 Arms Act in connection with unprovoked firing at a police patrolling party from Pakistan side to provide cover for the smuggling activity, sections 8 r/w 21 & 29 NDPS Act and 13, 17 & 18 UA (P) Act were added subsequently during investigation.”
He said that the case was re-registered by NIA on 26.11.2020 and taken up for investigation.
The searches were conducted at the residences of six accused persons namely Jasraj Singh, Sham Lal, Bishan Dass, Ajeet Kumar, Gurbaksh Singh and Gurpartap Singh.
These accused persons were arrested for hatching a criminal conspiracy for carrying out anti-national and unlawful activities, and to help the terrorist organisations by collecting funds and channelizing the proceeds of drugs for furthering the activities of such terrorist organisations like Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), he said.
The official added that Gurpratap Singh of Tarn-Taran district is the kingpin of this module.
In the second week of September, 2020, Gurpratap Singh had received 10 Kg of Heroin from Pakistan-based handlers through his associates.
The consignment in the instant case was also intended to be received by Gurpratap Singh to fund the activities of BKI in Punjab.
It said that during the searches conducted today, digital devices and other incriminating documents having financial details and accounts numbers have been seized for further scrutiny and analysis.

Takes stock of snow clearance, functioning of hospitals, restoration of essential services
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Jan 7: The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Pandurang K Pole Thursday conducted an extensive tour of Srinagar to take stock of snow clearance work and restoration of essential services.
The Div Com also visited SKIMS Soura and JLNM Rainawari hospitals to take firsthand appraisal of functioning of health care and availability of medicines.
He was accompanied by Director Health Kashmir, Commissioner SMC, CE R&B, Director SKIMS Soura and other concerned officers.
Emphasizing on providing hassle-free health services to the general public, the Div Com instructed concerned to ensure that healthcare system functions smoothly and better patient care is provided at all health institutions.
The Div Com also visited Srinagar International Airport and took stock of the resumption of flight operation which remained suspended for past 3 days due to heavy snowfall.
Taking on spot stock of snow clearance work in city and old quarters of Srinagar, the Div Com visited Regal Chowk, Khanyar, Rainawari, SaidaKadal, Hazratbal, Lal Bazar, Soura, Safakadal, Karanagar, Jahangir Chowk and other adjoining areas.
He also inspected the snow clearance work in Rambagh, Hyderpora, Peerbagh, Humhama and Airport Road and took stock of restoration of road connectivity and restoration of essential services across these areas.
Deputy Commissioner Budgam, ADC Budgam also accompanied the Div Com on this leg of the tour.
The Div Com stressed on speedy snow clearance work in all areas of Srinagar and Airport Road to ensure smooth and hassle-free travel to the people.
He emphasized upon all concerned departments to work in tandem and in cooperation and ensure snow is cleared from all link, interior roads, lanes, bylanes, pavements and footpaths so that people do not face any inconveniences.
He called for carrying out the snow clearance operation continues day and night for immediate relief to the public.
The Div Com instructed on maintaining smooth flow of vehicular movement on all main roads and directed concerned to ensure people do not indulge in roadside parking as cause for traffic jams.

Thanks residents for their patience, cooperation
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Jan 7: Snow clearance was stepped up in Srinagar on Thursday when the main focus of the operation was link roads and lanes.
Services of the Mechanical Engineering Department and the Public Works Department were utilised to aid efforts to clear the snow from interior roads and lanes across Srinagar. Large number of machines – including those hired – and men were involved in the massive effort.
To clear link roads and lanes, the R&B Department had pressed over 110 machines – including 48 JCBs and 64 Tractors – into service. Over 900 kilometers of road length – put together – were snow-cleared in the effort.

Smallers lanes where machines could not reach were cleared manually. Thousands of men were pressed into service for manual snow-clearance — these included hundreds deployed by the R&B alongside some 3000 SMC workers.

The Mechanical Engineering Department carried out widening of clear corridors on main roads across Srinagar. By 6 pm, over 1100 out of 1300 kilometres of main road length were widened.

Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary spent the first half of the day out on the ground monitoring snow-clearance and inspecting essential services and supplies.

He visited areas across Downtown Srinagar and those in rural Srinagar including Khonmoh, Check Sangri, Zevan, Balhama, Sempora, Pandrethan, Dhara and Harwan. He also visited several areas in Chanpora and Shalteng Tehsils.

Speaking on the occasion, he thanked residents of the district for their patience and cooperation with the district administration. He said most of the affected services have been restored and assured of earliest possible clearance of snow from all remaining lanes and by-lanes across the district.

With regard to power scenario, it was informed that all of 36 33kV feeders and 254 out of 258 11kV feeders in the district were charged as on Thursday evening. It was informed that 10 of 6505 transformers damaged in the snowfall were being replaced.

Snow-clearance and restoration of still-affected other services will continue tomorrow when most to all thereof will be targeted for coverage.

Washington, Jan 7: Four people died, including one woman who was shot by a police officer, amid protests and rioting on Capitol Hill by supporters of Donald Trump who swarmed inside the building amid a session of Congress to certify Joe Biden’s election win, triggering unprecedented chaos and violence at the heart of American democracy and accusations the outgoing president was attempting a coup.
In a late-night news conference, Metropolitan Police Department Chief Robert J Contee said that 52 were arrested over the violence that saw pro-Trump rioters breaking windows, climbing on rafters, ripping down U.S. flags and roaming the Senate chamber. Lawmakers were told to grab gas masks as police deployed tear gas inside the Rotunda, the ornate area under the dome that connects the House and the Senate, according to the Washington Post.
Both the House and Senate and the entire Capitol were placed under a lockdown. Vice President Mike Pence and lawmakers were evacuated to safe locations.
Security forces fired tear gas in a four-hour operation to clear the Capitol.

Vowing not to be deterred, Congress resumed their work on certifying Biden’s Electoral College win, with debate stretching into the early hours of Thursday. After debate, the House and Senate rejected two objections to the tally and certified the final Electoral College vote with Biden receiving 306 votes and Trump 232 votes.
The chaos at the Capitol came a day after Biden enjoyed a new triumph, with his Democrats projected to win two Senate seats in runoffs in Georgia — handing the party full control of Congress and dramatically increasing Biden’s ability to pass legislation, starting with new Covid-19 relief.
Historians said it was the first time that the Capitol had been taken over since 1814 when the British burned it during the War of 1812.
Trump has only two weeks left in office but, with little on his public schedule for weeks and multiple reports he is losing his grip on reality, several news reports said his cabinet was whispering about removing him as unfit for office under the 25th Amendment to the Constitution.
“President Trump’s willingness to incite violence and social unrest to overturn the election results by force clearly meet this standard,” all Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee wrote in a letter to Vice President Mike Pence.
In an angry, rambling speech outside the White House before the violence, Trump urged his supporters to march to the Capitol and demanded that Pence, who ceremonially led the session, intervene to reverse their loss.
But Pence — dutifully loyal to Trump for four years and quiet since the election — said in a last-minute statement that he did not believe he had authority to intervene.
Thousands of Trump supporters headed to Washington at his urging in recent days, with downtown businesses boarding up in fear of violence and Mayor Muriel Bowser ordering a curfew Wednesday night.
“I can’t say I respect our election process anymore,” said Gail Shaw, 76, who drove down from New Jersey. “We will take our nation back.”
Biden won in excess of seven million votes more than Trump in the November 3 election and leads him 306-232 in the state-by-state Electoral College count that determines elections, with Republicans unable to prove in court a single allegation of fraud.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Jan 7: Jammu and Kashmir Government on Thursday banned import of poultry as bird flu spreads in neighoring states.

“In the wake of spread of bird flu in neighbouring states of J&K as a measure of abundant precaution and in view of declaration of whole J&K as “Controlled Area” for bird flu disease…. Government of UT J&K imposes complete ban on import of live birds including poultry and unprocessed poultry meet for any purpose into the union territory of J&K with immediate effect, till 14-01- 2021, reads a government order.
“The decision will be reviewed based on the evolving situtation,” the order by Navin K Choudhary, Principal Secretary to Government, added.
The order comes a day after the administration said that no cases of bird flu or avian influenza has been detected in the J&K so far even as urged people not to panic or stop using poultry products.
The government also issued an advisory to poultry owners and dealers for the prevention of the spread of the disease.
The advisory, issued by the Animal/Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries Department to stakeholders, directed the poultry farmers to improve bio-security measures in the farms and not allow any artificial ponds, small water bodies inside and around the farm premises which may attract wild birds and is a risk to the poultry.
Keep the farm premises and shed surroundings vegetation-free. Regularly clean the areas. Keep feed supplies and water for poultry protected as they attract wild birds and rodents, it said.
The advisory asked them to discourage outdoor rearing of poultry as the open type rearing of poultry will enhance the risk for introduction of avian influenza into the farming systems.
Discourage multiple species of birds rearing in the farms. Keep chicken separated from domestic ducks, geese and wild birds. Immediately report any type of sickness in birds to the nearest veterinary center especially edema in the comb and wattles, purple discoloration/cyanosis of the wattles, combs, and legs, diarrhea, nasal discharge, soft-shelled or misshapen eggs, decreased egg production, coughing and sneezing, lack of coordination, it said.
The administration asked the poultry farmers to feed better nutrition to the birds and include antioxidants, vitamin C, E and Selenium in their feed.
Dead birds should not be thrown in open and shall be burnt or buried deep in the ground. Poultry retailers are advised to dispose off poultry offals carefully and at designated places and shall not through them in open. There is no need to panic and stop eating poultry products as there is no report of bird flu in J-K, it said.
The administration also said district surveillance committees would be constituted immediately to ensure checking of all poultry units and sale points. (GNS)

M S Nazki
Jammu, Jan 7: Amid bird flu scare, some birds, mostly crows, were found lying dead near Rajouri town’s Panj Peer area, officials said on Thursday.
“A team (of experts) has been forwarded for inspection,” DDC Rajouri Nazir Ahmed Sheikh told GNS.
The administration on Wednesday said that no cases of bird flu or avian influenza has been detected in the J&K so far even as urged people not to panic or stop using poultry products. The government also issued an advisory to poultry owners and dealers for the prevention of the spread of the disease. (GNS)

M S Nazki
Jammu, Jan 7: A 13-year-old boy killed 8-year-old cousin with the rifle of his father who is a VDC member in Kishtwar district, officials said on Thursday.
They said at about 1630 hours today, police received information that one Amit Kumar (8) son of Om Prakash was accidentally shot and killed by his cousin brother (13..named withheld)) son of Daram Singh (44), a VDC member of chudyana-A . Confirming it, SHO Kishtwar Abid Bukhari told GNS that a case (FIR No. 10/2021) under section 304 IPC & 3/25 Indian Arms Act has been registered in the police station concerned and further investigation of the case has been set into motion.

Srinagar, Jan 7: With ‘Chilai Kalan’ at its peak, the demand for sun-dried vegetables, fishes and pulses has witnessed a major surge as Kashmir valley remained cutoff from the rest of the country due to closure of Srinagar-Jammu highway and suspension of air traffic at Srinagar airport since Sunday due to heavy snowfall.
The use of dried vegetables had witnessed major decline over the years with the availability of fresh food round the year in the valley and medicos issuing warning against consumption of this traditional food.
However, since the agencies, entrusted the job of widening of the highway to four-lane, started work, it has cause more landslides and shooting stones between Ramban and Ramsu, resulting in frequent closure of the only all weather road, which connects Kashmir valley with the rest of the country.
People in Valley have again been forced to consume dried vegetables in the 21st century due to non-availability of fresh vegetables, mostly being imported from different northern state, including Punjab and Jammu due to closure of the highway.
Until 90s, people in the valley preferred to relish the taste of this traditional food due to closure of the highway for weeks and months in winter because of heavy snowfall. Though, there was no shortage of fresh vegetables in summer when local vegetables remained available, even for export to Jammu and Ladakh.
Since 2000, the highway used to close rarely with Beacon project, introducing sophisticated machines to clear the snow and landslides on the highway, particularly between Qazigund to Banihal, including Jawahar tunnel and Shaitan Nallah, which was considered very dangerous portion of the highway. Fresh vegetables used to remain available round the year though the prices of the eatables used to be very high as compared to winter capital of the Union Territory – Jammu.
ut, since the road widening started, the suspension of traffic on the highway has now become a daily routine due to disturbance caused by disturbing the local environment by blasting hills and other activities.
With the commencement of the 40-day-long Chilai Kalan, harshest period of winter, from December 21 last year, the Srinagar-Jammu highway has witnessed frequent closure despite authorities allowing only one-way traffic to avoid traffic jam and other problems.
Kashmir-bound trucks loaded with essentials, particularly vegetables and poultry products, remain stranded on the highway for weeks, leading to shortage in the valley besides massive price rise without any proper checking from the authorities.
“In winter only turnip, radish and carrot and local “Haak” (green leave vegetable) grow locally while all other vegetables are imported from outside. Villagers still bury turnip, radish and carrot in the earth only to use them in harsh winter period. The vegetables remain fresh and don’t get frozen under earth,” Shabir Ahmad, a local said.
He said frequent closure of the highway has resulted in major demand for dried vegetables in the valley, adding people consume pulses and dried fish though fresh fish is also available in the market.
The shops selling dried vegetables have witnessed rise of many folds in the business during the last couple of weeks. “The business, which had witnessed declines, has started to pick up with non-availability of fresh vegetables following frequent closure of the highway,” a dried-vegetable settler from Srinagar told UNI.
In the early 90s, people across the valley used to dry vegetables only to use them in winter. Even households in Srinagar and other parts of the valley used to stock sun-dried vegetables for winter. But this practice was discontinued to some extend with fresh vegetables remaining available during the harsh winter period.
Later, some persons started business of sun-dried vegetables though their number was very less. The sellers used to stock the dried vegetables during summer to sell them in winter. The dried vegetables available during winter included tomato, bottle-groud, brinjal, Palak, meethi, aubergines, lentils, turnips, radish leaves and dandelion greens, quince and spinach and haand.