Rehan Showkat

Srinagar, Dec 9: Police and Army on Wednesday recovered a Maruti 800 vehicle used by the militants in an attack on army at HMT Srinagar last month in which two soldiers were killed.

Official sources told GNS police and army’s 2RR launched at cordon-and-search operation at Mustaffabad HMT Srinagar and recovered Maruti 800 car (JK04A-6535) which was snatched by the militants from one civilian on 26 November after attack in which two army soldiers were killed.

When this report was filed, the searches in the area were going on and no arrest was made.

Dubai, Dec 9: In a function, the geographical indication (GI) tagged Saffron from Kashmir was launched in Al Maya Super Market, Dubai, UAE, by Principal Secretary Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare Department, J&K, Navin K. Choudhary, in presence of Director Horticulture Kashmir and other dignitaries and delegates from Kashmir.

A geographical indication (GI) tag is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. Saffron from Kashmir stall will remain available in Al Maya Supper Market, which is headed by Group Director Kamal Vachani, AL Maya Dubai, UAE.

Pertinent to mention that a delegation of farmers, growers, businessmen and government officials from Jammu and Kashmir led by Navin Chaudhary, Principal Secretary, Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare Department, J&K is participating in UAE-India Food Security Summit, 2020 with an aim to promote horticulture produce of Union Territory in the international market and tap the Gulf market.

Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, Director Horticulture Kashmir alongwith Syed Jahangir Hashmi, Additional Secretary, Horticulture, K. K. Sharma of Agriculture Department, from J&K Government are also accompanying Principal Secretary.

During the meeting with Consulate General of India, Dr. Aman Puri, he said India is on radar for import of best quality fruits and food products and formulation of trade agreements with UAE. India has large cultivated land, which is a major driver for growth and makes India Self-reliance and focus needs to be given on hydroponics farming too.

Dr. Aman Puri remarked that UAE-India partnership in food trade can strengthen food security in the entire Middle East and North Africa region.

The summit brings several key stakeholders from both the countries on one platform to share their experiences, deliberations on solutions and explore ways to further increase the collaboration in the food security.

Delegates comprising prominent businessmen, investors and representatives of the public sector organizations, business entrepreneurs from J&K- Farooq Amin, Owais Altaf Bukhari, Umer Tramboo, Shahjahan, Sanjay Puri, Kulbhushan Khajuria, Shahid Kamili, Mushtaq Chaya, Mir Khurram, Ehsaan Javid, Maajid Waffai, Shahjahan, Manan Tramboo, Izhan Javeed also attended the event and held four to five roundtable discussions with businessmen/investors tycoons of UAE for exploring opportunities of business, investment and trade agreements with J&K, which are likely to be expected.

Principal Secretary told during round table conference that Kashmiri bakery is one of the best in quality in world besides apple, cherry, walnut, basmati rice and saffron. The delegation has completed a “fruitful” meeting with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce.

Al Maya Group, UAE agreed to visit Kashmir in the month of June 2021 to see more trade agreements. The UAE and India aim to increase the volume of trade in food products mani folds in the next five years.

The summit also saw discussions and presentations on Food Processing equipment’s & technology, Dairy Product Development and infrastructure including development of logistics and integrated cold chains, infrastructure development for fishing harbours, floriculture with multi-national companies of UAE.

Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Srinagar, Dec 9: With hectic preparations having commenced to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine, the authorties here in the Union territoty of Jammu and Kashmir said that they will ensure proper “planning” to ensure no one remains deprived of the cure.
Sources told news agency KINS that the central government has asked all the States and Union Territories to prepare and maintain a database of the prioritized group of people to receive the COVID-19 vaccine during the initial stages.
Sources said that at present, 3 companies are frontrunners in developing COVID-19 vaccines in India- which are currently in the third phase of clinical trials and will be shortly available for usage.
“After so many months we are hearing good news. The vaccine will bring the much needed respite and will lead to life returning to normal,” said a top government official wishing not to be named.
According to the officials in India, vaccines are being administered against 12 preventable diseases under the prestigious ‘Universal Immunization Programme’ (UIP), which is one of the largest immunization programmes in the world. Therefore, with a strong network of 28,947 chain points for storage and distribution of vaccines, COVID-19 vaccine distribution too will be carried out in a hassle-free and time-bound manner.
An official said that the government has dropped enough hints about COVID vaccines being ready. “Now, it’s just a matter of time before the distribution starts. The vaccines have to reach everyone and a lot of people will be needed to do this job. Volunteers and NGOs have to be involved to ensure that people get vaccinated,” the official added.
An expert said, “Distribution of vaccines could prove to be a difficult task if it’s done haphazardly. A proper planning needs to be done to ensure that no one remains deprived of the COVID cure.”
He said, “There are certain apprehensions and confusions about the efficacy of the vaccines but these will get cleared soon after these doses are rolled out and people start getting injected. We don’t have many choices and will have to rely on the COVID-19 vaccine that has been approved.”
Till now the government has not given any hint about its pricing. “Ones who can afford won’t mind paying for it but the ones who cannot may remain without getting vaccinated,” said an expert.
He said, “The COVID vaccine is mandatory for all and everyone should get it. If the government cannot provide it free it should at least make it affordable for the common people. Masses are eagerly waiting for the COVID cure to come and no one can be deprived of it.”
It’s in place to mention here that Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently asked the States to remain prepared for administering COVID vaccines to the people, but he warned of the possible side effects.
An official said, “We have got the directions from the higher ups to put adequate infrastructure in place to store the COVID vaccines as these require extremely low temperatures for storage.”
He said, “We are hopeful that by early next year supply will start arriving and the wait will end. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Kashmir the administration has been on toes but we have succeeded in controlling the infection to a great extent.”
A medico said that the arrival of the vaccine will prove to be a big respite for everyone. “People have been struggling continuously for the past nine months as the virus has behaved erratically since the outbreak of the pandemic. The news about COVID vaccine being in its final stages has made people optimistic about the worst being over. But the common people should bear in mind that sanitizers, masks and social distancing cannot be avoided. These are three mantras which need to be followed even after the vaccine comes.”
Another medico said, “The guard cannot be lowered. People have to be extra cautious. It’s just a matter of one or two months before they will get the protection and can carry on with their daily chores without any fear of the virus. The cure has been found. Now, only the execution part is pending.” (KINS)

New Delhi, Dec 9: Despite having one of the largest universal immunization programmes (UIPs), lack of cold chain may prove to be one of the biggest challenges for India in COVID-19 vaccine distribution, a foreign brokerage said on Wednesday.
The cold chain market with 37 million tonne capacity is very fragmented in India, and the country does not have a single cold chain operator with a capacity of over 5,000 tonne, analysts at Bofa Securities said adding very few of the 3,500 companies are ‘pharma-compliant’ as per WHO norms.
“India’s struggle with cold chain for COVID-19 vaccine stems from the fact that despite one of the large cold chain capacities in the world, there are not many large participants, they said. It can be noted that India runs the widely successful polio immunization programme, where the vaccine is transported in temperatures ranging from 2-8 degrees Celsius and there is a dedicated cold chain, which is likely to be repurposed for the COVID-19 vaccine.
However, the brokerage said the quantum of work is 16 times more than the 600 million doses under the UIP. The brokerage estimated the cost of transporting a single vaccine at around Rs 600 and assuming that up to 400 million Indians are to be vaccinated, the overall logistics market comes at Rs 21,000 crore.
However, the biggest stumbling block for investment activity is the uncertainty over which of the vaccine candidates gets approved. For overall 400 million doses forecast, India may need 30,000 tonne of transportation capacity which is about 11,500 vehicles, it said, adding as of 2018, India had 12,800 such vehicles.
Pfizer’s and Moderna’s mRNA vaccines need extreme cold temperatures for stability whereas the one from AstraZeneca (AZN)/Oxford can be stored, transported and handled at standard refrigerated conditions between 2-8 degrees Celsius, it said, adding India does not have any facilities at all for transporting vaccines at ultra-low temperatures like -80 degrees Celsius required for the Pfizer vaccine. There is also less visibility on future use of capacity which makes private players question return on investment (ROI) on such exercise, the analysts said, adding many private companies are waiting for clear directives from government and pharma companies.
Manufacturing is likely to be concentrated in Ahmedabad (Cadila), Pune (Serum), Hyderabad (Bharat Biotech, Biological E, Dr Reddy’s) and Telangana (Aurobindo), it said.

Sgr-Leh, Mughal road, Gurez-Bandipora road remain closed for 2nd day

Owais Gul
Srinagar, Dec 9: The weather conditions improved across Valley while Drass, Sonamar areas continued to receive snowfall for the second consecutive day on Wednesday. The weatherman, however, predicted fresh snow spell across J&K and Ladakh from December 11 evening.

Although the weather remained cloudy throughout the day in plains as well as higher reaches of the Valley, the officials in the Meteorological department informed that Drass, Sonamarg, Gumad and other adjacent areas received snowfall today as well.

MeT’s Deputy Director, Mukhtar Ahmad told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the weather would remain mainly dry on December 10-December 11 evening across J&K and Ladakh, adding that there are less chances of wet spell during the period in higher reaches.

He added from December 11 evening to December 12 afternoon, there is possibility of light to moderate rains, snowfall across J&K and Ladakh.

Ahmad informed that the night temperature across Kashmir has increased due to the fresh snowfall and rainfall while the day temperature has gone down in the Valley.

Meanwhile, the Disaster Management Authority has issued a high danger (Orange Alert) avalanche warning for higher reaches of Bandipora District particularly Gurez Tehsil.

“Medium Danger (Yellow Alert) avalanche warning for higher reaches of Poonch, Kishtwar, Kupwara, Ganderbal and Kargil Districts and Low Level (Yellow Alert) Avalanche warning for upper reaches of Ramban, Anantnag, Kulgam , Baramulla and Leh,” officials said, adding that the people living in these areas have been cautioned not to venture in the Avalanche prone areas for the next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, major roads and highway in the Valley continued to remain closed for the second straight day. The Srinagar-Leh highway as per the officials continued to remain closed today for the vehicular movement.

Official statement issued by the traffic department stated that in view of inclement weather prediction issued by MeT department (rain and snowfall) in J&K for next few days, there are chances of blockade of highway, thus the people are advised to avoid journey on Jammu-Srinagar highway.

However, subject to fair weather and better road condition, Light Motor Vehicles (passenger) shall be allowed from Jammu towards Srinagar tomorrow while commuters are advised to follow the SOP issued by the government to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The statement urged security forces not to ply against advisory, traffic plan in view of traffic congestion on Jammu-Srinagar highway. “They may ply from Jammu towards Srinagar,” the statement said.

Pertinently, there shall be no traffic movement on Jammu-Srinagar highway on Friday from either side in view of maintenance, repairing of the road.

Meanwhile, officials said that the Mughal road also remained closed today for the vehicular movement due to snow accumulation—(KNO)