Death toll mounts to 1472; cases tally at 94330
Nadeem Nadu
Srinagar, Oct 30: Five more people died of COVID-19 and 566 more people tested positive for the virus across Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, officials said.
They said that the fatality count due to COVID-19 has mounted to 1472, while 94330 have tested positive for the virus till date.
Among those who succumbed to the virus today include three residents of Kashmir and two from Jammu region.
The victims from the Valley include a 55-year-old woman from Chogul Handwara, a 50-year-old man from Noorbagh Srinagar and a 60-year-old man from Krankshivan Colony Sopore.
Two of those who died in Jammu include a 66-year-old man from R S Pora and a resident from Doda.
With these deaths, the fatality count has reached 978 in Valley and 494 in Jammu region.
Srinagar district with 352 deaths tops the list followed by Jammu (253), Baramulla (145), Budgam (94), Pulwama (80), Kupwara (73), Anantnag (74), Rajouri (47), Kulgam (46), Bandipora(46), Doda (46), Shopian (35), Ganderbal (32), Udhampur (32), Kathua (31), Samba (25), Poonch (23), Kishtwar(14), Ramban (13), and Reasi (8).
566 test positive in J&K
Meanwhile, the COVID-19 tally crossed 94000-mark as 566 new infections were reported in last 24 hours in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Friday. Among the cases includes seven army personnel, two policemen and a minor besides 28 travelers
Among the cases, Srinagar reported 141 cases, Budgam 26, Baramulla 66, Pulwama 20, Kupwara 25,

Anantnag 12, Bandipora 14, Ganderbal 28, Kulgam 3, Shopian 12, Jammu 109, Rajouri 5, Udhampur 30,
Doda 14, Kathua 14, Poonch 8, Samba 6, Kishtwar 19, Ramban 7 and Reasi 7.
A number of these cases were confirmed at CD hospital’s diagnostic laboratory and include seven males (40, 27, 27, 27, 45, 25, 26) from BB Cantt Srg, male (48) from Arabal Shalimar, two males (NA, 52) from Bemina, male (31) and female (55) from Rajbagh Srg, male (29) from Maloora Srg, male (43) from Baghi Mehtab Srg, male (NA) from Wantapora Hawal Srg, female (21) from Elahibagh Srg, female (60) from Charisharief Budgam, male (70) from Tangpora Batamaloo, male (25) from Wanihama, female (65) from Zaindar Mohalla, male (34) from Bemina, male (70) from Lal Bazar Srg, male (56) from Lal Chowk Srg, female (40) from Nawakadal Srg, male (34) from NA, male (68) from Dalgate Srg, female (58) from NA, male (60) from BK Pora Srg, female (03) from Peerbagh Srg, male (26) from Zoonimar Srg, female (60) from Pulwama, male (44) from Rangreth Srg, male (27) from Natipora Srg, female (35) from Hyderpora Srg, female (NA) from Khansahib, female (38) from Barzulla Srg, male (60) and female (26) from Srinagar, male (20) from Kadi Kadal, male (36) from Lalbazar, male (54) from Beeru, female (55) from Lal Bazar, male (50) from Gulzarpora Awantipora, male (46) from Chattabal Srg, male (29) from Pattan, male (49) from Mehjoor Nagar Srg, male (NA) from Bemina Srg, male (55) from Qamarwari Srg, female (52) from HMT Srg, male (26) from Ishber Srg, male (21) from Chanapora Srg, female (75) from Kreeri Baramulla, male (50) from Kupwara, male (NA) from Buchpora Srg, male (NA) from Chakpora Budgam, female (24) from Bemina Srg, male (65) from Kupwara, male (40) from Khanmoh Pulwama, female (60) from Batamaloo Srg, female (65) from Kupwara, female (70) from Indranagar, male (60) from Parraypora Srg, male (40) from Pampore, female (30) from Wandakpora Awantipora, male (38) from M Chogal, two males (34, 31) from DPL Handwara, male (51) from Dudwan Kupwara, female (40) from Lachipora Zachaldara, female (55) from Soura Srg, male (25) from Fatehkadal Srg, male (60) from Soura Srg, three females (82, 34, 60) and two males (62, 24) from Natipora Srg, male (35) from Pampore, female (50) from Hyderpora Srinagar.
Moreover, officials said that 654 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and were discharged from various hospitals 277 from Jammu Division and 377 from Kashmir Division. (GNS)

New Delhi, Oct 30:  The Covid-19 vaccine being developed by India will go through clinical trials in Bangladesh.

Addressing the virtual weekly press briefing here, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said, “From October 17-19, a delegation of the concerned departments visited Bangladesh and had fruitful discussions with their Bangladeshi counterparts on the current stage of vaccine development in India and modalities of clinical trials in Bangladesh.”

The concerned officials of the two sides have had a virtual interaction on Myanmar’s interest in cooperation on Covid-19 vaccines.

As the situation with respect to vaccine development evolves, the sides will discuss and decide on modalities of cooperation.

On trials in other countries, Srivastava said, “In due course, depending on the trials in India, we propose to expand our cooperation with other countries also in clinical trials and capacity building for vaccine development, production and delivery.”

On September 26, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly had said India’s vaccine production and delivery capacity will be used to help all humanity in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.

“India will also help all the countries in enhancing their cold chain and storage capacities for the delivery of vaccines,” he had said.

India’s indigenous Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin being developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – National Institute of Virology (NIV), has received approval for conducting final phase trials.

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) permitted the Hyderabad-based firm to initiate Phase 3 trials.

The Phase 3 trials for Covaxin are likely to start next month.

Applying for approval on October 2, Bharat Biotech told DCGI that the study will involve 28,500 volunteers from ten states.

The subjects will be given two doses of the experimental vaccine within a gap of 28 days.

New Delhi, Oct 30: The Centre has asked states to constitute committees for coordination and overseeing COVID-19 vaccination drive while ensuring minimal disruptions in other routine healthcare services, and stressed early tracking of social media to dispel rumours which could impact the community acceptance of coronavirus inoculation.
Stating that COVID-19 vaccine introduction will span over a year with multiple groups being included “sequentially starting from health care workers”, the Health Ministry has sought constitution of committees at state and district levels which will review preparatory activities in terms of cold chain preparedness, operational planning, strategies for state-specific challenges in terms of geographical terrain and hard-to-reach areas, etc.
In a letter to states and union territories, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has suggested setting up of a state steering committee (SSC) chaired by the chief secretary, a state task force (STF) led by additional Chief Secretary or principal secretary (health), and a district task force (DTF) to be headed by the district magistrate.
An annexure attached with the letter outlines the terms of references for the committees according to which the state steering committee will ensure active involvement of all departments concerned and devise innovative strategies for improving community engagement (‘Jan Bhagidaari’) for improved coverage of COVID-19 vaccine once it is available.
“Ensure early tracking of social media and other platforms for possible misinformation and rumours around COVID-19 vaccine that could impact the community acceptance for the vaccine,” it said.
The state steering committee will also have to institute a reward/recognition mechanism for achievement of best performing district/block/urban ward, etc.
“The COVID-19 vaccine introduction will span over a year with multiple groups being included sequentially starting from HCWs. Therefore, it is important to create strong advisory and coordination mechanism at state and district level to guide the process of COVID-19 vaccine introduction while ensuring minimal disruption of other routine health care services including immunisation,” the letter issued on October 26 stated.

‘Vehicle used by militants seized, search operations on at 8 places in South Kashmir, will investigate why trio had come to a far off place’

Jehangeer Ganai

Kulgam, Oct 30: Inspector General of Police Kashmir range, Vijay Kumar Friday said that Lashkar-e-Toiba and TRF militants are involved in the killing of three BJP men, including a youth leader at South Kashmir’s Kulgam district and the police have seized the vehicle used by militants while all attackers have been identified. The IGP said that police will investigate as to why the trio had come to a far off place late evening.
Talking to reporters at the site of the incident, the IGP said yesterday at around 8 pm, militants from the LeT and TRF came in a vehicle and resorted to indiscriminate firing at the BJP youth leader Fida Hussain and his two colleagues.
“Then the militants fled in the same vehicle. We seized the vehicle near Achabal area of Anantnag. With the help of our technical and human intelligence, three militants who carried out the act include a local militant Nisar Ahmed Khanday, Abbas Shiekh, who was earlier with Hizb and later joined LeT, and third one may be a foreigner,” he said.
He said police had provided protection to slain BJP youth leader Fida Hussain and he was lodged at Hotel Dolphin, Pahalgam. “Recently, he gave undertaking that he can roam around without security. Now we are investigating what they were doing in Kulgam area,” he said, adding that at least 1690 BJP workers, leaders, activists were lodged in various hotels while 157 were provided with security cover on the basis of threat perception.
“We urge BJP leaders, workers, activists not to venture out without their security guards and don’t go to areas that are far,” he said. The IGP while replying to a query said that operations are on at seven to eight places across South Kashmir. “We will get the militants involved in the act soon,” he said.

Naveed Ul Haq

Budgam, Oct 30: Suspected militants on Friday evening lobbed a grenade towards Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp in Namtehal area of Chadoora in Budgam district. However, no loss of life or injury was reported in the incident, officials said.
Officials said that two bike-born militants lobbed a grenade towards 43 BN CRPF camp.
A police officer said that no injury or loss of life was reported in the incident, adding that the area has been cordoned off to nab the attackers. (KNO)