Jammu, Dec 18: Jammu and Kashmir on Friday recorded seven deaths due to COVID-19, taking the toll of deaths due to the virus to 1,833. The government informed that 388 new positive cases of novel Corona virus (COVID-19), 163 from Jammu division and 225 from Kashmir division, have been reported today thus taking the total number of positive cases in Jammu and Kashmir to 117705.
“07 COVID-19 deaths have been reported; 04 from Jammu division and 03 from Kashmir Division,” the Government` said in a statement.
Moreover, 464 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and discharged from various hospitals including 213 from Jammu Division and 251 from Kashmir Division.
According to the daily Media Bulletin on novel Corona virus (Covid-19), out of 117705 positive cases, 4244 are Active Positive, 111628 have recovered and 1833 have died; 669 in Jammu division and 1164 in Kashmir division.
The Bulletin further said that out of 3475137 test results available, 3357432 samples have been tested as negative till December18, 2020.
Till date 840991 persons have been enlisted for observation which included 19491 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 4244 in isolation and 27343 in home surveillance. Besides, 788080 persons have completed their surveillance period.
Providing district-wise breakup, the Bulletin said that Srinagar has 24620 positive cases (including 82cases reported today) with 990 Active Positive, 23189 recovered (including162 cases recovered today), 441 deaths; Baramulla has 7807 positive cases (including 14 cases reported today) with 186 Active Positive, 7451 recovered (including 13 cases recovered today), 170deaths; Pulwama reported 5392 positive cases (including 33 case reported today) with 194 active positive cases, 5110 recovered (including 31 cases recovered today), 88 deaths; Kulgam has 2637 positive cases (including 04 case reported today) with 64 Active Positive, 2520 recoveries (including 02 cases recovered today), 53 deaths; Shopian has 2444 positive cases (including 03 case reported today) with 78 Active Positive, 2329 recovered and 37 deaths; Anantnag district has 4729positive cases (including 36 cases reported today) with 144 Active Positive, 4503 recovered (including 07cases recovered today), 82 deaths; Budgam has 7401 positive cases (including 15 cases reported today) with 251 Active Positive and 7044 recovered (including 19 cases recovered today), 106 deaths; Kupwara has 5426 positive cases (including 13 cases reported today) with 177 Active Positive, 5161 recovered (including 11cases recovered today), 88 deaths; Bandipora has 4591 positive cases (including 07 cases reported today) with 100 Active Positive, 4434 recovered, 57 deaths and Ganderbal has 4402 positive cases (including 18 cases reported today) with 123 active positive cases, 4237recoveries (including 06 cases recovered today and 42 deaths.
Similarly, Jammu has 22660positive cases (including 92 cases reported today) with 807 active positive cases, 21511 recoveries (including 114 cases recovered today), 342 deaths; Rajouri has 3755 positive cases (including 07 cases reported today) with 238 active positive cases, 3463 recovered (including 11 cases recovered today), 54 deaths; Ramban has 2060 positive cases (including 05 cases reported today) with 52 active positive, 1987 recoveries(including 21 cases recovered today) and 21 deaths; Kathua has 3078 positive cases (including 16 cases reported today) with 99 Active positive, 2932 recovered (including 26 cases recovered today), 47 deaths; Udhampur has 4002 positive cases (including 10 cases reported today) with 186 active positive cases, 3761 recovered (including 17 cases recovered today) and 55 deaths; Samba has 2663 positive cases (including 11 cases reported today) with 200 Active Positive, 2429 recoveries and 34 deaths; Doda has 3331 positive cases (including 08 cases reported today) with 109 active positive cases, 3162 recoveries (including 07 cases recovered today), 60 deaths; Poonch has 2426 positive cases (including 02cases reported today) with 25 active positive, 2379 recoveries(including 07 cases recovered today)and 22 deaths; Reasi has 1581 positive cases with 122 active positive, 1446recoveries and 13 deaths while Kishtwar has 2700 positive cases (including 08 cases reported today) with 99 active positive cases and 2580 recoveries (including 10 cases recovered today) and 21 deaths.
According to the bulletin, among the total 117705 positive cases, 11074 have been reported as travellers while 106631 as others.
The Bulletin said that the breakup represents districts from which the patients have been traced or are ordinarily residing.
The bulletin added that there are 1321 COVID dedicated beds, 1185 Isolation beds with 1049 vacant beds and 136 ICU beds where 88 beds are vacant in Jammu division while there are 2345 COVID dedicated beds, 2197 Isolation beds where 1882 beds are vacant and 148 ICU beds where 121 are vacant beds in Kashmir division. There are a total of 3666 COVID dedicated beds, 3382 Isolation beds with 2931 beds vacant and 284 ICU beds with 209 vacant beds in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Central Government is continuously monitoring the evolving situation of Covid-19 in the Union Territory and is providing all necessary support towards effective containment of the spread of Covid-19 and better clinical management of positive cases. (KNO)

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Dec 18: The Valley is all set to brace for harshest period of winter – the Chilai Kalan, which will commence on December 21 and last until the end of January.

The 40-day period of chilly winter in Kashmir is known as ‘Chillai-Kalan’ in local language which began on December 21, 2020 and it will end on January 31, 2021. This is the favourable period for upper reaches of valley to receive snowfall. During this period intensity of western disturbances are usually very high. Heavy to very heavy snowfall leads to subzero temperatures across the valley. Chillai-Kalan period is known for freezing temperatures, lakes and river get frozen.

During these 40 days, chances of snowfall are highest, and the maximum temperature drops significantly. During Chillai-Kalan, the weather in Kashmir valley continues to remain very cold and minimum temperatures usually hoverers below freezing point and the snowfall during this 40-day period is much heavier and lasts longer.

When Chillai-Kalan ends, the cold wave continues even after that. Chillai-Kalan is followed by a 20-day-long period called ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) that is between January 31 and February 19 which is followed by 10-day-long period ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) between February 20 to March 2.  (KINS)

Srinagar, Dec 18: A youth, who had gone missing from the summer capital, Srinagar on Monday, has reportedly joined militant ranks.
This was claimed in an audio clip which has gone viral on social media, including whatsApp, Facebook and twitter.
Official sources said that a missing complaint was lodged in Police Station Chanapora that a youth, identified as Irfan Ahmad Sofi, was missing from his residence in Natipora from Monday. “A missing complaint was lodged and investigation was taken up,” they said.
They said the youth went missing on the same day militants attacked Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader’s residence in the area that left a policeman dead.
Meanwhile, an audio clip in which Irfan is reportedly claiming to have joined militant ranks and asking his parents not to search him went viral on social media on Thursday evening.
A police officer said that the authenticity of the audio clip is being ascertained. “It is not clear if he has joined militant ranks. We are confirming the authenticity of the audio clip,” he added.

Sajid Raina
Bandipora, Dec 18: To attract the attention of higher authorities and the outside world for promoting winter sports, youth in Dawar village of Gurez has organised a snow cricket tournament on a frozen snowfield.
According to the locals, the remote valley has a great potential for winter sports as it remains covered under heavy snow which the tourism and sports authorities have failed to recognize.
The locals said like in Gulmarg, similar games can be held in Gurez as well, as the area has great potential for winter sports.
“The serene and mesmerizing beauty of this small valley, mostly during winters when it’s covered with heavy snow, attracts the attention of many,” said Irshad Ahamad one of the players.
He said the successive governments have failed to recognize the potential the Gurez valley has for winter sports.
The locals said that the area lags far behind as it remains cut off from rest of the valley and outside world for about six months due to the closure of Bandipora-Gurez road during winter months.
“The closure is due to least importance paid towards this road, that is why we have been demanding a tunnel to provide round the year connectivity to this picturesque valley,” Javid Bhat, local resident said.
The locals said that youth have now turned to snow cricket at the foothills of famous Habba Khatoon peak to promote winter sports in Gurez and also beat the winter chill.
“If authorities will promote this place as a winter destination and organise winter games, the area will be economically uplifted and, moreover, it would also, help the residents to overcome weather vagaries,” they said.
“The area has the potential for winter games like snow skiing, ice hockey and various other games,” they said.
Pertinently, the Gurez valley which is located on the line of control witnesses’ heavy snowfall during the winter season and remains cut off from the rest of the valley and the outside world for more than six months due to the closure of Bandipora-Gurez road. (KNO)

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Dec 18: Police on Friday claimed to have busted a gang of car lifters and arrested three person and recovered stolen vehicles in south Kashmir district of Pulwama.
A police spokesman said this afternoon that police at Awantipora in Pulwama received a tip off that some persons are involved in selling. The accused were luring customers by selling cars at very low prices against actual rates of the vehicle.
He said upon this information, a preliminary investigation was carried out which revealed that some persons in the Awantipora area are involved in selling stolen vehicles, including from other states of the country, to the customers at cheaper rates.
A case under FIR number 188/2020 under section 379,420,467,468,471,120 B IPC was registered at police station Awantipora.
He said three persons who were arrested in the case and have been identified as Mohammad Shafi Dar resident of Lethpora, Shameem Ahmad Bhat resident of Lethpora, and Abdul Rashid Bhat resident of Lelhar Kakpora.
“Three stolen vehicles were recovered from the arrested persons,” he said and added that the modus operandi of the arrested persons was to get vehicle lifted. Later they were using fake number plates on the vehicle which normally is existing number plate of a genuine vehicle and to misguide the law enforcing agencies as well as general public.
Spokesman said further investigation into the matter is in progress and more arrests are expected.
Police have requested the general public not to buy any suspicious vehicles from unauthorized dealers or persons and buy only after proper verification from the police and Regional Transport Officers (RTOs) concerned.