Srinagar, Nov 18: At least thirteen civilians, including a non-local from Uttar Pradesh, were injured on Wednesday evening after the suspected militants lobbed a grenade towards a joint team of forces in Kakapora area in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, officials said.

An official told KNO that the militants hurled a grenade towards a joint team of forces, resulting in injuries to 13 civilians.

He added that the injured civilians have been shifted to a nearby hospital while the area has been condoned off to nab the attackers.

An official identified the injured as Raja Begum and Suhail Ahmad—both residents of Naman Kakapora, Adil Ahmad of Samboora, Amir Ahmad of Uttar Pradesh, Ghulam Mohi-ud-din of Laribal Kakapora, Mushtaq Ahmad of Anantnag, Bashir Ahmad Dar, Habib Ulla Shiekh, Ghulam Nabi Sheikh, Abrar Dar, Bashir Ahmad, Muhammad Ayoub Digo and Shabir Ahmad—all residents of Kakapora.

Block Medical Officer (BMO) Pampore, Dr Gulzar Ahmad said that all the injured civilians were taken to PHC Kakapora, wherefrom four were referred to Sub District Hospital Pampore and two to Bone and Joint Hospital in Srinagar.

He said most of them have received splinter injuries and all of them are stable.

Meanwhile, police in a statement issued here stated that today at 05:45 PM, Pulwama police received information from Main Town Kakapora area of Pulwama where militants had hurled a grenade upon a CRPF bunker.

Senior police officers reached the spot, the statement said, adding that preliminary investigation revealed that militants had hurled a grenade upon a bunker of 41 Bn CRPF at Main Town Kakapora area of Pulwama. “However, the grenade missed the target and exploded on the road,” it said.

“In this incident, twelve civilians received injuries. All the injured have been evacuated to a nearby hospital for the treatment of their injuries,” police said, adding that a case has been registered in this regard under relevant sections of law.

Srinagar, Nov 18: Union Home Ministry has ordered the deployment of 49 additional battalions of paramilitary CRPF to Jammu and Kashmir in wake of the ensuing Panchayat election, officials sources said Wednesday.
They said the deployments are being moved from various states to J&K and concerned quarters have been asked to make the arrangements including the desired scale of arms and ammunitions, special anti-riot equipments and winter clothing.
Special emphasis has been laid on providing protective body gears in wake of cold climate in the Valley, the sources told GNS.
State Election Commission has already announced an eight-phase poll to 20 District Development Councils (DDCs) and vacant Panchayat and municipal seats, in the first major electoral exercise since the effective nullification of Article 370 in August last year amid massive security and communication clampdown which saw detention or arrest of thousands of people including former three chief ministers and members of erstwhile state legislature besides snapping of landline and mobile telephony and internet which was eased to large extent since.
The government had in October amended the J&K Panchayati Raj Act to provide for setting up of District Development Councils in each district which will have directly elected members, marking the implementation of the entire 73rd Constitutional Amendment in the J&K.
While votes in first phase would be cast ballot on November 28, the last phase of polling would take place on December 19 and the counting of votes would take place on December 22.
While the election to DDCs and panchayat bypolls will be through ballot, byelection to municipal seats will be conducted through electronic voting machine (EVM).

All mainstream parties in Kashmir have announced to take part in the electoral exercise and most of them are fighting under the banner of People’s Alliance for Gupkar declaration. While DDC polls are being held on the party basis, panchayat bypolls are on non-party basis. The PAGD has said that its candidates would use symbol of respective party.
Besides 20 DDCs—10 each in Jammu and Kashmir, elections for 12,153 vacant panchayat seats and 234 urban local wards are being held across J&K.

Abid Bashir
Srinagar, Nov 18: With first ever District Development Council (DDC) elections round the corner in J&K, Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, B R Bhatnagar Wednesday said that it is not for the first that any election is taking place in J&K and that the administration has put in place all the security arrangements to foil any attempt by militants that is aimed at disrupting the poll process.
“See elections are not taking place for the first time in J&K,” Advisor Bhatnagar told KNO over phone. “All the arrangements are place including security arrangements to deal with the possible attempts by militants that may be aimed at disrupting polls.
A senior security official said that all the polling stations will be provided with the proper security cover. “All the polling booths will be secured and staff will be provided adequate security cover,” he said, wishing not to be named.
While security arrangements are in place, the State Election Commission (SEC), has put in place all the arrangements for the smooth conduct of DDC polls and by elections for Panchayat polls.
“We have finalized the voting lists. As far as the remote areas that remain cut-off like Machil in Kupwara, Gurez in Bandipora, special air sorties will transport election material to these areas,” the official said.
He said that polling staff will also be air-dropped to inaccessible areas of Kashmir and Chenab Valley of Jammu region. On the security front, he said that LG Manoj Sinha has already chaired a high level security meet and all arrangements in place as far as security of polling booths and hypersensitive and sensitive areas is concerned.

Pertinently, J&K Election Commission has announced eight-phased election for DDC and –simultaneously by elections for the vacant panchayat seats from November 28.

Death toll mounts to 1613, total cases at 104155

Nadeem Nadu
Srinagar, Nov 18: At least five women were among nine more persons who died due to COVID-19, while 574 more people tested positive for the pestilence across Jammu and Kashmir during the past 24-hours, officials said on Wednesday.
They said that fatality count due to COVID-19 in J&K has mounted to 1613, while 104155 have tested positive for the virus till date.
Among the fresh COVID victims, official said that five were from Kashmir and four from Jammu division.
As regards the victims from the Valley, they said, two were from Srinagar and one each from Baramulla, Pulwama and Budgam.
The victims include a 54-year-old woman from Miskeen Bagh Khanyar, a 59-year-old woman from Batwara Srinagar, a 70-year-old woman from Wuyan Pulwama, a 65-year-old woman from Haroon Khanshab Budgam, and 59-year-old woman from Palhallan Pattan in Baramulla district.
The victims from Jammu region include two from the J&K’s winter capital—a 58-year-old man from Bagga R S Pora and a 46-year-old from Narwal Rajeev Nagar. The two other victims were from Doda district, they added.
With these deaths, the total fatality count in Kashmir has reached 1068 and 545 in the Jammu region.
Srinagar district with 401 deaths tops the list followed by Jammu (285), Baramulla (159), Budgam (98), Pulwama (86), Kupwara (78), Anantnag (76), Doda (52), Bandipora(49), Rajouri (48), Kulgam (48), Ganderbal (37), Shopian (36), Udhampur (36), Kathua (34), Samba (26), Poonch (22), Ramban (18), Kishtwar(16), and Reasi (8).

J&K reports 574 new cases, total 104155
As many as 574 new novel COVID-19 cases were reported in Jammu and Kashmir in last 24 hours, taking the total count to 104155.
Among them, 241 were reported from Jammu Division and 333 from Kashmir Valley, officials said.
They said Srinagar reported 136 cases, Baramulla 50, Budgam 46, Pulwama 17, Kupwara 24, Anantnag 12, Bandipora 17, Ganderbal 28, Kulgam 1, Shopian 2, Jammu 96, Rajouri 7, Udhampur 50, Doda 25,
Kathua 16, Poonch 6, Samba 9, Kishtwar 20, Ramban 10, and Reasi 2.
A number of cases were confirmed at diagnostic laboratories of CD hospital and SKIMS Soura including 11 CRPF personnel and two soldiers, they said.
The CD cases include male (20) from Skylark Pmi Pulwama, female (55) from Machpuna Pulwama, male (35) from Balhama, male (40) from SDH Pampore, female (16) from Rawalpora Srg, two males (40, 38) from BB Cantt Srg, male (20) from Chanapora Srg, male (NA) from Srinagar, male (38) from Batamaloo, male (42) from Munwarabad, male (65) from Khanda, male (60) from Nowhatta, female (NA) from Ajas Bandipora, female (NA) from Bemina Srg, male (60) from Gojwara, female (65) from Ganderbal, male (56) from Karnah, female (52) from Badshah Nagar Srg, male (65) from Telbal Shalimar Srg, male (70) from Rainawari Srg, male (55) from Yakrajpora, male (38) from Kathidarwaza, three females (07, 40, 30) from Rainawari, male (21) from Hajin, female (48) from Boniyar, male (60) from Budshah Nagar, male (29) from UP, male (22) from Basant Bagh, female (20) from Budgam, female (26) from Zainakadal, male (24) from Narwara, NA (20) from Narwara, male (50) from Srinagar, male (75) from Eidgah, female (48) from Aalibagh, female (75) from Baghat, female (42) from Nowpora, female (55) from Kadalbal Pampore, male (45) from Nowhatta, male (12) from Bemina, female (42) from Bandipora, two females (20, 25) from Nowgam, male (32) from Kaksarai.
SKIMS cases
The CRPF cases include two females (43, 50) from 213 Bn Cqc Budgam, two females (30, 29) from 135 Bn Cqc Budgam, male (27) from D 5 Signal Cqc Budgam, male (36) from 628 Eme Bn Niyari Kupwara, male (30) from 28 Div Camp Niyari Kupwara, male (24) from 428 Fd Hosp Niyari Kup, two males (26, 35) from 528 Asc Bn Niyari Kup, male (25) from 28 Div Pro Unit Niyari Kup, male (28) from 28 Div Niyari Kup, male (31) from 28 Idsr Niyari Kup, male (40) from 357 Asc Trehgam Kup, male (24) from 33 Fdw Trehgam Kupwara.
The Ganderbal cases include female (35) from Saloora, male (28) from Bamloora, male (59) from JK Bank Gbl, male (70) from Kangan, male (25) and female (42) from Reshipora, male (45) from Prang, male (03) from Saloora, male (70) from Sumbal, male (87) from Reshipora, female (70) from Safapora, male (70) from Lar Ganderbal.
The Anantnag cases include female (58) from Bijbehara Anantnag.
The Srinagar cases include male (47) from Baghi Mehtab, female (21) from Natipora, male (50) from Nal Bal, male (63) from Soura, male (60) from Malaratta, male (72) from Buchpora, female (11) from Ahmadnagar, two females (70, 24) and three males (19, 57, 34) from Ahmadnagar, female (60) from Lal Bazar, male (NA) from Nishat, female (70) from Baghi Mehtab, male (55) from Lasjan, male (70) from Buchpora, male (63) from Burzuhama, male (55) from Qamarwari, male (70) from Tailbal, female (65) from Nawakadal, male (55) from Bemina, male (42) from Saidakadal, female (38) from Lal Bazar, male (NA) from Alamgiri Bazar Srinagar.
The Shopian cases include male (40) from Ladi Imam Shopian.
The Pulwama cases include female (70) from Tral Pulwama.
The Bandipora cases include male (70) and female (70) from Kunan Bandipora.
The Jammu cases include male (62) from NA Jammu.
The Baramulla cases include male (55) from Sopore, male (70) from Uri Baramulla.
The Ramban cases include male (48) from Ramban.
The Budgam cases include male (35) from Ompora Budgam.
Moreover, they said, 580 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and discharged from various hospitals 234 from Jammu Division and 346 from Kashmir Valley. (GNS)

Tally crosses 89 lakh mark, death toll at 1,30,993

New Delhi, Nov 18: India on Wednesday clocked a fresh spike of 38,617 cases of COVID-19, taking the country’s overall tally to 89,12,908, the Union Health Ministry said.

Talking of deaths due to the pandemic, 474 more lives were lost in the past 24 hours, pushing the toll so far to 1,30,993.

Active caseload on the country , however, has further witnessed a dip by 6,586 since Tuesday, and currently the nation is home to 4,46,805 active case.

Meanwhile, 44,739 more people have defeated the virus since yesterday and the overall COVID recoveries in the country now stand at 83,35,110, the government data added.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research , till date, 12,74,80,186 COVID tests have been conducted across the country.

With nCoV cases witnessing a sharp surge in Delhi, COVID tests of random commuters from Delhi to Noida were being done at one of the borders of Delhi with Noida, local reports said.

Government is coordinating with central agencies to boost the COVID fighting infrastructure of Delhi, making arrangements for necessary equipment and medical aide in view of increasing cases.

New Delhi, Nov 18: Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer on Wednesday said that its COVID-19 vaccine candidate was found to be 95 per cent effective in the final analysis of the Phase 3 trial, adding it had the required two-months of safety data and would apply for emergency US authorization within days.

The drugmaker said the efficacy of the vaccine developed with German partner BioNTech SE was consistent across age and ethnicity demographics, and that there were no major side effects, a sign that the immunization could be employed broadly around the world.

The study reached 170 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with the vaccine candidate BNT162b2 demonstrating 95 per cent efficacy beginning 28 days after the first dose, Pfizer said.

“Additionally, the safety milestone required by the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) has been achieved. To date, no serious safety concerns related to the vaccine candidate have been reported,” it said.

“Within days, we plan to submit a request to the US FDA for an EUA based on the totality of safety and efficacy data collected, as well as manufacturing data relating to the quality and consistency of the vaccine candidate,” it added.

The Pfizer vaccine, however, has been all but ruled out for use in India because it needs to be stored and transported at a temperature of minus 70 degrees celsius which is a huge challenge. The government on Tuesday said it is examining the possibilities if at all the vaccine has to be obtained.

NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr VK Paul, who also heads the National Task Force on COVID-19, said sufficient doses of the Pfizer vaccine, as required for the Indian population, will not be available, but the government is looking at the possibilities and will work out a strategy for its procurement and distribution in case it gets the regulatory approvals.

“The arrangement of cold-chains for storing the vaccine developed by Pfizer at a low temperature of minus 70 degrees Celsius is a big challenge and it will not be easy for any nation. But then, if at all it has to be obtained, we are examining what we need to do…and will work out a strategy,” he said.

The final analysis from Pfizer comes just one week after initial results from the trial showed the vaccine was more than 90 per cent effective. Moderna Inc on Monday released preliminary data for its vaccine, showing similar effectiveness.

The better-than-expected data from the two vaccines, both developed with a new technology known as messenger RNA (mRNA), have raised hopes for an end to a resurgent pandemic that has killed more than 13 lakh people globally and upended economies and daily life.

Worldwide, there are dozens of vaccine candidates at various stages of trials involving tens of thousands of volunteers. The next data release will likely be in November or December from AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford which has partnered the Serum Institute of India for large-scale production.

United Nation, Nov 18: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent a letter addressed to the Group of Twenty (G20) in which he called on the member states to collect $28 billion required to fund the G20’s global initiative to ensure universal access to COVID-19 treatments and vaccines.
“I call on the G20 to fill the financing gap of $28 billion needed to fund the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-Accelerator) and its COVAX facility, scale up essential medical commodities and provide basic health care, including in developing countries where health systems and economies are less equipped to cope with the challenge,” Guterres said on Tuesday.
Guterres called on the G20 to enable developing countries to address the COVID-19 crisis effectively and prevent the global recession from becoming a global depression. He also urged to resist any form of vaccine nationalism.
The G20 summit will be held online from November 21-22.
The COVAX initiative is aimed to facilitate the development, manufacture and distribution of coronavirus vaccines across the globe.

Srinagar, Nov 18: A soldier was killed and two others were injured when a snow avalanche hit an Army post at Line of Control (LoC) in Tangdhar sector in the frontier district of Kupwara, official sources said on Wednesday.
They said a snow avalanche swept away a forward post “Roshan” on Tuesday at 2000 hrs. “Three soldiers in the post were buried under the snow,” they said, adding rescue operation was immediately launched.
Later all the three soldiers, identified as rifleman Nikhil Sharma, Ramesh Chand and Gurvinder Singh of 7 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), were rescued and shifted to hospital, sources said. However, they said Nikhil was declared brought dead.
The Disaster Management had recently issued avalanche warning in upper reaches in Kupwara, Ganderbal, Baramulla and Bandipora after moderate to heavy snowfall for three days from Saturday.