Poonch: 71.62%
Doda: 70.95%
Rajouri: 70.83%
Jammu: 60.24%
Samba: 69.47%
Udhampur: 68.27%
Kishtwar: 67.11%
Ramban: 69.15%
Reasi: 62.36%
Kathua: 62.36%

Kashmir records 33.57% polling  

Bandipora: 56.40%

Kupwara: 52.35%
Budgam: 45.65%

Ganderbal: 37.47%
Baramulla: 44.31 %
Anantnag: 21.89%
Kulgam: 26.94%

Pulwama: 8.12%
Shopian: 5.52 %

Precious Kashmir News
Bandipora, Dec 10: Braving the biting cold and traversing few kilometres on foot to reach the polling station, Kudara villagers in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district Thursday queued up in large numbers to cast their votes during fifth phase of the District Development Council (DDC) and Panchayat by-polls in the Valley.
A 55-year-old Shams-ud-din Gojjar, who walked more than a kilometre on foot through snow-clad passes reached the polling station located at Government High School Kudara early morning to exercise his right to franchise with the hope that his village is able to see the dawn of development, which according to him has been neglected by the successive governments and representatives.
Shams said he came to vote to see development, particularly mobile network connectivity in his area as the village has no mobile connectivity, thereby making them suffer immensely.
He said in the age of technology, his village is struggling to get mobile network and for that, they have made several pleas before the concerned authorities but to no avail.
Kudara village is located on the foothills of famous Harmukh mountains and is at a distance of around 18 kilometres from district headquarters.
Shams said that the village is also struggling for even basic facilities like better roads, water supply and health care facility.
Seconding his views, a group of voters, who had queued up outside the polling station in Kudara, said that they came to vote to get better road connectivity and mobile network.
“We always fulfil our duties by casting our votes during every election-be it parliament election, assembly election or local body polls, however, we don’t get anything in return,” said Noor Jahan, who herself is a Deputy Sarpanch from Kudara village.
She said the village has no mobile network connectivity and she herself contested the last Panchayat election with the aim to get her village mobile phone connectivity, however, authorities never paid any heed to her repeated pleas.

Sajid Raina

Bandipora, Dec 10:  A 105-year-old woman voter was among the voters who exercised their franchise in Arin block of Bandipora district on Thursday during fifth phase of DDC elections held across Jammu and Kashmir.

The aged woman voter Saja Begum’s son, Ayaz Lone, who carried her to the polling station at Arin, said: “My mother told us in the morning that she will cast her vote for the benefit of her family members and people in general.”

Saja Begum said she has been a regular voter and didn’t want to miss her chance even today. “I would appeal to all voters to come out and cast their votes,” she said. “Peoples’ problems will be solved only when they cast their votes otherwise there will be no representative here and we cannot complain to anyone.”

“We have hundreds of young educated youth and their parents have spent a lot of money to educate them but still looking for the jobs especially because of this I came here and cast my vote,” she said.

“I want to tell these leaders. Now we are tired while people here also seem upset now as all the politicians have failed to address the issues of people,” she said.

The elderly woman voter said when the young people are deprived of their rights it will definitely have a negative impact on their minds and they would loose faith in the system.  (KNO)

Lulu group inks MoU with Fruit Master Agro Fresh J&K
Precious Kashmir News
Dubai, Dec 10: In a significant meeting between a delegation from Jammu and Kashmir led by Navin Choudhary, Principal Secretary Agriculture and Horticulture and top management of Lulu group led by its Chairman and Managing Director, Yousuf Ali, several decisions were taken to promote export of Agriculture and Horticulture products from Jammu and Kashmir to entire gulf region using stores of Lulu group.

During B2B sessions in the Summit, group of leading entrepreneurs from Jammu and Kashmir made representation to potential UAE importers where they showcased export capabilities in food and agriculture sectors and also displayed agricultural and food products from the Union Territory.

Principal Secretary appreciated the commitment and concrete steps planned by the CMD of Lulu group for promoting J&K as an important export destination from India so far as fruits, vegetables, saffron, honey, spices and other products like trout fish etc are concerned.

Chairman Lulu Group said that his team will soon visit J&K to start setting up of an office at Srinagar besides identifying location to establish ware houses and packaging facilities.

Principal Secretary assured all help to Lulu group for setting up logistic facilities and offices at identified facilities in UT of J&K.

CMD Lulu group immediately accepted the request made by the Principal Secretary to export extremely perishable products like cherry , plum and pear through charted cargo planes.

Chairman Lulu group also offered to host a “J&K special’’ fortnight in all super markets of its group across the gulf region on the occasion of Republic Day -2021. This fortnight celebration will begin on 24th January, 2021 and will showcase all of J&K’s famous products like its cuisine and cultural heritage.

It was agreed that there is tremendous scope to increase apple export from J&K. It was also agreed upon to approach relevant quarters for starting direct passenger as well as regular cargo flights between Srinagar and Dubai.

On this occasion, the largest retail store of Lulu group in Dubai was decorated in Indian colours and large number of Indian products including those from J&K were showcased giving them place of prominence.The success of sale of Kashmiri apples and saffron in particular was widely appreciated. The super market also offered Kashmiri cuisines.

Meanwhile, an MoU was also signed between Lulu group and Fruit Master Agro Fresh J&K for supply of apple and other fruits for super markets of Lulu group across the Gulf Countries.

Principal Secretary expressed happiness and satisfaction over the outcome of this meeting. He said that this signifies the potential and strength of products of J&K with opportunity to grow leaps and bounds and that all the stakeholders must participate wholeheartedly in this significant endeavour.

J&K death toll mounts to 1775, total cases at 114773
Nadeem Nadu/Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Dec 10: Jammu and Kashmir reported eight more COVID-19 deaths in last 24 hours, while 366 more people tested positive for the virus, officials said on Thursday.
They said that fatality count due to COVID-19 in the union territory has mounted to 1775, while 114773 have tested positive for the pestilence in J&K till date.
Officials said that five among those who succumbed to the virus today include five from Kashmir and three from Jammu.
The victims from Valley include a 75-year-old man from Awantipora Pulwama, a 70-year-old man from Dadoora Khag Poshkar Budgam, a 70-yearold man from Zakura Srinagar, an 80-year-old woman from Khawaja Bazar Hawal Srinagar and a 75-year-old man from Pethbugh Anantnag.
Regarding the deaths from Jammu, they said, two were reported from the winter capital of the J&K and one from Udhampur district.
With these deaths, the total fatality count in the Valley has reached 1141 and 634 in the Jammu region. Srinagar district with 430 deaths tops the list followed by Jammu (320), Baramulla (165), Budgam (105), Pulwama (87), Kupwara (87), Anantnag (82), Doda (58), Bandipora (56), Udhampur (53), Kulgam (52), Rajouri (50), Kathua (44), Ganderbal (40), Shopian (37), Samba (34), Poonch (22), Ramban (21), Kishtwar(20), and Reasi (11).

JK reports 366 new cases
Meanwhile, the government on Thursday informed that 366 new positive cases of COVID-19, 170 from Jammu division and 196 from Kashmir division, were reported today thus taking the total number of positive cases in Jammu and Kashmir to 114773.
Moreover, 526 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and discharged from various hospitals including 331 from Jammu Division and 195 from Kashmir Division.
According to the daily Media Bulletin on novel Corona virus (Covid-19), out of 114773 positive cases, 4848 are Active Positive, 108150 have recovered and 1775 have died; 634 in Jammu division and 1141 in Kashmir division.

The Bulletin further said that out of 3269517 test results available, 3154744 samples have been tested as negative till December10, 2020.

Till date 818187 persons have been enlisted for observation which included 21359 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 4848 in isolation and 27714 in home surveillance. Besides, 762491 persons have completed their surveillance period.

Providing district-wise breakup, the Bulletin said that Srinagar has 23974 positive cases (including 63cases reported today) with 1140 Active Positive, 22404 recovered (including 83 cases recovered today), 430 deaths; Baramulla has 7674 positive cases (including 29 cases reported today) with 177 Active Positive, 7332 recovered (including 03 cases recovered today), 165deaths; Pulwama reported 5249 positive cases (including 19 case reported today) with 179 active positive cases, 4983 recovered (including 14 cases recovered today), 87 deaths; Kulgam has 2623 positive cases (including 05 case reported today) with 67 Active Positive, 2504 recoveries (including 02case recovered today), 52 deaths; Shopian has 2397 positive cases (including 02 case reported today) with 82 Active Positive, 2278 recovered and 37 deaths; Anantnag district has 4646 positive cases (including 11 cases reported today) with 124 Active Positive, 4440 recovered (including 07cases recovered today), 82 deaths; Budgam has 7219 positive cases (including 28 cases reported today) with 291 Active Positive and 6823 recovered (including 39 cases recovered today), 105 deaths; Kupwara has 5322 positive cases (including 20 cases reported today) with 189 Active Positive, 5046 recovered (including 20 cases recovered today), 87 deaths; Bandipora has 4513 positive cases (including 11 cases reported today) with 110 Active Positive, 4347 recovered (including 15 cases recovered today), 56 deaths and Ganderbal has 4316 positive cases (including 08 cases reported today) with 160 active positive cases, 4116recoveries (including 12 cases recovered today)and 40 deaths.

Similarly, Jammu has 21853 positive cases (including 99 cases reported today) with 806 active positive cases, 20727 recoveries (including 105 cases recovered today), 320 deaths; Rajouri has 3659 positive cases (including 15 cases reported today) with 234 active positive cases, 3375 recovered (including 11 cases recovered today), 50 deaths; Ramban has 2017 positive cases (including 06 cases reported today) with 83 active positive, 1913 recoveries (including 15 recovered today) and 21 deaths; Kathua has 2954 positive cases (including 06 cases reported today) with 110 Active positive, 2800 recovered (including 13 cases recovered today), 44 deaths; Udhampur has 3896 positive cases (including 12 cases reported today) with 401 active positive cases, 3442 recovered (including 23 cases recovered today) and 53 deaths; Samba has 2600 positive cases (including 07 cases reported today) with 190 Active Positive, 2376 recoveries (including 80 cases recovered today) and 34 deaths; Doda has 3264 positive cases (including 10 cases reported today) with 172 active positive cases, 3034 recoveries (including 08 cases recovered today), 58 deaths; Poonch has 2415 positive cases (including 01cases reported today) with 37 active positive, 2356 recoveries, 22 deaths; Reasi has 1552 positive cases with 95 active positive, 1446 recoveries (including 35 recovered today), 11 deaths while Kishtwar has 2630 positive cases (including 09 cases reported today) with 201 active positive cases and 2408 recoveries (including 41 recovered today) and 21 deaths.

According to the bulletin, among the total 114773 positive cases in J&K, 10944 have been reported as travelers while 103829 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 1020 vacant beds and 136 ICU beds where 66 beds are vacant in Jammu division while there are 2345 COVID dedicated beds, 2197 Isolation beds where 1867 beds are vacant and 148 ICU beds where 121 are vacant beds in Kashmir division. There are total of 3666 COVID dedicated beds, 3382 Isolation beds with 2887 beds vacant and 284 ICU beds with 187 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.

The government has also started free tele-consultation general OPD services by Specialists/MBBS Doctors for the residents of J&K under National Tele-consultation Service. People can avail these services from Home by registering online on web portal https://esanjeevaniopd.in/. The services are available on Monday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. People can also download and install e-sanjeevani OPD app from google play store.

Besides, 24×7 Rapid Antigen Testing facility for COVID-19 has been started outside the emergency of GMC Hospital Jammu. The facility will be very useful for segregation of patients in emergency wing of GMC Jammu.

Meanwhile, a 24×7 COVID Control Room has been set up for redressal of the grievances related to COVID-19 positive patients admitted in the Associated Hospitals of Government Medical College, Jammu and Government Hospital, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu. Patients or attendants can call at 0191– 258 5444 (Control Room), Exchange: 0191-258 2626 / 258 5542 / 258 4290 /258 4291 / 258 4292 / 258 4293/ 258 4294 for assistance.

The bulletin has informed the people that, the best way to protect themselves from COVID-19 is by maintaining physical distance of at least 2 meter from others, frequently cleaning hands with an alcohol based hand sanitizer or washing them with soap and water and following good respiratory etiquette and hygiene.

As a measure for social distancing in public places and workplaces wearing a face cover is compulsory.

The bulletin again explained that early detection of COVID-19 can prevent the spread of disease so we need to be responsible for the well-being of ourselves and everyone around us. “Not disclosing symptoms could put life of individuals and their families at risk. In case of symptoms like fever, cough and difficulty in breathing report early. Do not fear, call COVID-19 helpline numbers and seek medical advice”.

The bulletin has informed that the Directorate of Indian Systems of Medicine, J&K is distributing AYUSH Medicines having immunity boosting, immuno-modulator, anti-oxidant, rejuvenator, anti-stress, metabolism regulator, anti-allergic, anti-pyretic, anti-tussives, bronchodilator, etc properties during the COVID-19 pandemic. The department so far has provided medicine to 11.61 lakh people that include various frontline workers, senior citizens, PRIs, police/paramilitary personals and general masses. Moreover, preventive measures and Yoga therapies are also being advised to the people to take care of lifestyle/mental disorders so that physical and mental health is ensured during this pandemic.

New Delhi, Dec 10: India on Thursday clocked a fresh spike of 31,522 fresh nCoV cases pushing the country’s overall tally to 97,67,372, the Union Health Ministry update said.

With 412 more lives lost due to COVID in the past 24 hours, the country’s pandemic death toll has now mounted to 1,41,772, the government data said.

Active case load on the country has taken a dip by 6,616, as there were more recoveries than new cases since Wednesday, and presently the figure stands at 3,72,293.

Meanwhile, there were 37,725 patients who recovered from the viral infection since past one day, taking the total number of recoveries till date to 92,53,306.

According to the ICMR , 15,07,59,726 cumulative samples have been tested so far , for the virus spread till date.

In percentage, active cases are 3.81 per cent, discharged cases 94.74 per cent, and deaths 1.45 per cent of the total case count so far.

New Delhi, Dec 10: The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to interfere in the appeals in connection with the multi-crore Roshni land scam till the Jammu and Kashmir High Court decides the review petition filed against it’s October 9 order on the scam.

The apex court bench, comprising Justices NV Ramana, Surya Kant and Aniruddha Bose, was hearing pleas against the JK High Court order of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged scam.

The bench observed that various review petitions were already pending before the HC and parallel proceedings on the same matter cannot be entertained now.

‘Let the review be decided by the JK High Court on December 21,’ it added.

The Court also adjourned the case to be heard in the final week of January, 2021.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the J&K Union Territory, assured that no coercive action will be taken against the appellants, during the time period.

The land grab happened over several decades in Jammu and Kashmir, but it was validated between 2001 and 2007.

Earlier, the Jammu and Kashmir administration had sought a review of the October 9 HC judgement, which had declared the 2001 J&K State Land (Vesting of Ownership to Occupants) Act (Roshni Act) null and void.

Srinagar, Dec 10: The national highway, the only road connecting Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh with Kashmir and historic 86-km-long Mughal road, remained closed for the third day on Thursday following accumulation of snow and slippery road conditions.
However, the 270-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the only all weather road linking Kashmir valley with the rest of the country will remain closed on Friday for maintenance, a traffic police official told UNI today.
Traffic on Srinagar-Leh national highway was suspended on Tuesday morning following fresh snowfall. The road has become slippery due to accumulation of snow, he said, adding that there is also forecast for more snowfall during the next 24 hours.
He said the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has put into service sophisticated machines to clear the snow on the highway.
Traffic will be resumed only after receiving green signal, he said adding that night traffic movement from 1800 hrs to 0900 hrs next morning will remain suspended on the highway between Gagangir and Sonamarg.
This year, the government has decided to keep the highway open till December end provided. The highway remained closed during winter months due to accumulation of 10 to 15 feet of snow on the highway, particularly at Zojila, Meenmarg, Zero point, India gate and Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia.
The historic Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region, also remained closed for any traffic movement for the third due to accumulation of snow, traffic official said.
Traffic on the road was resumed recently after remaining closed for over a week due to snowfall. The road, also seen as alternative to Srinagar-Jammu highway, remains closed for six winter months due to snow and avalanches.
Traffic official said that traffic will ply from Jammu to Srinagar on the highway. However, Srinagar bound Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) will have to cross Nagrota Jammu between0500 hrs to 1100hrs and Jakheni Udhampur 0600 hrs to 1200 hrs, he said. No vehicle will be allowed after cut off timing. Commuters are advised to follow Standard Operating Procedure (SOG) issued by the government to prevent spread of COVID-19.
About Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs), he said only stranded vehicles at Nagrota and Nashree will be allowed to move towards Srinagar. However, he said, Traffic Control Unit (TCU) Ramban will coordinate for release of oil tankers and perishable carriers from opposite direction.
Security force vehicles will also ply from Jammu to Srinagar, he said.
There will be no traffic on Friday to allow National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) maintenance and repair of the highway, he said adding it has been decided to allow the NHAI to repair damaged road on Fridays.