Precious Kashmir

Advisor Bhatnagar visits WTP Rangil

Jammu & Kashmir

11/09/2020

Inspects construction works on Rakh-i-Zakoora water supply scheme, asks officials to regularly conduct water testing

Precious Kashmir News

Ganderbal, Sept 10: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, visited Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Rangil and inspected ongoing construction works on Rakh-i- Zakoora Water Supply scheme.

District Development Commissioner Ganderbal, Shafqat Iqbal, Chief Engineers of R&B and PHE; MD, JKPCC; SE R&B Division Ganderbal; Executive Engineers of R&B and PHE; ASP Ganderbal and other concerned accompanied him.

During the visit to under construction Water Supply Scheme Rakh-i- Zakoora, the Chief Engineer informed the Advisor that the Scheme is approved under languishing projects at the cost of Rs 6.75 crore with capacity of 0.5 MGD which will cater 22 habitations.

While inspecting the ongoing works, the Advisor said that efforts of the Administration are to keep available potable drinking water in sufficient quantity to the common people. He directed the concerned officials to ensure that the scheme gets completed within the shortest possible time to overcome the shortage of potable drinking water.

Later, the Advisor visited WTP Rangil to review its functioning. The Chief Engineer gave a brief about the functioning of 30 MGD WTP. The Advisor was apprised that the water treatment plant feeds potable drinking water to various habitations of Srinagar and Ganderbal district.

While inspecting its functioning, the Advisor maintained that nature has gifted the valley with abundant water resources and it is our prime duty to protect and keep them pollution free. He urged upon the officials to carry out regular inspection of water tanks and asked them to keep all surroundings of Rangil WTP clean so that any possible contamination of water is avoided.

Advisor Bhatnagar stressed upon the concerned officials to ensure that quality water is supplied to the consumers besides regular water tests are done to monitor any type of contamination so that water borne diseases are controlled.

Melting Of Glaciers

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Precious Kashmir

10/09/2020

Inevitable has happened. Rather it has been confirmed. A first-of-its-kind study which used satellite data has established the melting of the glaciers at a significant the rate in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.

The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, says it used satellite data to find that over 1,200 glaciers in the Himalayan region saw an annual reduction in mass of 35 centimetres (cm) on average between 2000 and 2012.

Disturbingly, the glaciers in the Pir Panjal range are melting at a higher rate—more than one metre per year—while as the glaciers in the Karakoram range are melting relatively at a slower rate, around 10 cms per year.

In other mountain ranges like the Greater Himalayan range, Zanaskar range, Shamabari range, Leh ranges, the glaciers are melting but the rate of melting is variable as per the research.

The continued melting of glaciers as per the experts will have “significant adverse” impacts on every sector of the economy in the region and beyond, particularly in the downstream areas which are already water scarce.

Besides retreating glaciers, water scarcity and changes in traditional agricultural patterns are already having an adverse impact on this fragile ecology.

The researchers say that the glacial melt in the Himalayan region are due to increasing temperatures and decreasing snow precipitation, resulting from greenhouse gas emissions from industrialisation and increasing use of fossil fuels the world over.

The impact of climate change is bound to severely impact rare birds and animals apart from human beings. For example, few lakes in Ladakh region offer the only breeding grounds for the Black-necked Crane in this part of the globe and key species found in the region include the snow leopard, Tibetan Gazelle, Tibetan Antelope, Musk Deer and Hangul. Highly endangered medicinal plants also grow in the area.

There is a huge concern about the melting glaciers, and lack of water. Even livestock rearing is reducing now.

The scientists have time and again pointed to human activity as the major cause of climate change.

The atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide have increased immensely, more so in last few decades.

What can a commoner do? Perhaps drive less! In reality, that’s a drop in the bucket. However, people can persuade governments and corporations to ramp up their efforts as a consequence significant change can happen.

Also, local and global links need to be forged to address climate change if regions are to be rescued from their vulnerability.

After spurt in activities, political parties go silent

Anchor stories

Afaq Bhat

10/09/2020

After spurt in activities, political parties go silent

Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Sep 9: Political activities in Kashmir which had seen a sudden spurt last month seem to have lost the tempo.
Regional parties in Kashmir after signing the “Gupkar Declaration” to seek restoration of Articles 370 and 35-A have once again gone into oblivion. On the death anniversary of National Conference founder late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah evaded the query of reporters on Articles 370 and 35A and spoke about other things.
A Kashmir watcher said, “Regional parties in Kashmir seem to have realized that after August 5, 2019 (when Centre abrogated J&K’s special status and bifuricated it into two union territories), they have lost their bargaining power. New Delhi appears to be in no mood to listen to them. Nor are the leaders, who ruled J&K for so long being taken seriously anymore.”
He said, “Sooner or later assembly elections will be held in Jammu and Kashmir and if Kashmir based parties have to survive then they will have to contest the polls. These political formations cannot turn their backs and leave the field open for the Bharatiya Janata Party.”
An analyst while talking to Precious Kashmir said that Dr Farooq Abdullah maintaining silence over Articles 35A and 370 could be a hint that NC wants to move on and is “no mood” to follow the footsteps of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
It’s in place to mention here that former J&K chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti continues to be under house detention and she is the only politician in the Valley who has not been released since August 5, 2019.
“At present PDP is at the crossroads as only a few people have been left in the party. Others have already said goodbye to it. Politicians cannot survive without power, and if they don’t follow the new political rules they will turn into spectators, who will have no role other than watching the developments from outside,” the analyst added.
An observer said that Dr Farooq Abdullah not talking about Articles 35A and 370 is a clear hint that NC wants to remain relevant and its leaders have realized that “sitting on the fence” won’t serve any purpose. “But we cannot read too many things between the lines. Maybe for time being the NC wants to avoid controversies as party leaders know that they have an uphill task at their hands,” he added.

‘India-China face-off can take any trajectory’

Front

Precious Kashmir

10/09/2020

‘India-China face-off can take any trajectory’

New Delhi, Sep 9: The Chinese deployment in eastern Ladakh right now is non-tactical, but India is “fully prepared” if talks don’t work out, news18 quoted top government sources as having said.

“It is difficult to predict the trajectory of the face-off, but we haven’t reached the threshold of war. Things do build up to a full-blown conflict, but so far there have been only pinpricks. The Chinese deployment right now is non-tactical,” sources said.

So how will things play out in the next few weeks and months? The reading within the government is that there will be minor escalations like the one on August 29-30 when the Chinese army tried to occupy Indian heights at the South bank of Pangong Lake. There is also complete clarity that the face-off and what direction it takes is not being controlled by local commanders or by the Western Theater Command, but by the top leadership in China.

“You just cannot trust the Chinese. On the morning of the 29th, the Chinese Commander in Chushul had spoken to his Indian counterpart about following established protocol and not doing any movement at night. And yet, the same night, he moved his men towards our posts,” sources added.
In eastern Ladakh, both the North and South banks, Rezang La and Rechin La remain on knife’s edge.

India in Dominating Position

India is now in a dominating position at Finger 4 in the North bank. A “significant number” of Indian troops are sitting at heights overlooking Chinese posts, rattling the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

At the ridge, Indian and Chinese troops are eyeball-to-eyeball, barely a few 100 metres apart. At the shoreline, they are a couple of kilometres apart.

At South bank, India is dominating strategic heights, but Black Top is not one of them. Government sources clarified that Black Top has always been with the Chinese, who continue their daily intimidating tactics in the South bank.

New Red Line

“The Chinese move troops and tanks, and try to close in on Indian positions. We ask them not to cross the line, after sometime they go back. They know if they move further, they will have a military cost to pay,” said the source.

To avoid a Galwan Valley type of clash, the Indian Army has made it clear to the Chinese that their perimeter which is defined by barbed wires cannot be breached. If the Chinese troops do cross it, then they will have to be ready for a “professional response” from the Indian Army, which means the possibility of shots being fired cannot be ruled out.

But how did such a large build-up of Chinese troops take place without the Indian Army noticing it? Government sources deny intelligence failure.

“We knew the PLA had come in with large numbers, but we assumed this was their regular deployment for the campaigning season. What we didn’t realise is that they would come in suddenly and occupy areas,” the source said.

50,000 PLA troops in Ladakh

The Chinese have 50,000 troops, 150 fighter planes, surface-to-air ballistic missiles and rocket forces deployed in eastern Ladakh. The Indian Army is looking at nothing short of a complete disengagement, where all additional deployment “goes back to the barracks”.

“We want talks to succeed. After Galwan (clashes) and before the August 29 aggression, we were confident that talks would succeed. The sense we got from the defense ministers’ meet was that the Chinese don’t want a war. We have asked for another round of Corps Cdr-level talks. They have agreed. But we are fully prepared if things don’t work out.”

The build-up on the Indian side has been going on for the last three months. The army is almost completing its advanced winter-stocking. It’s going to be a long, hard and tense winter in eastern Ladakh. But there is one question that has still not been answered. Why did the Chinese pick a fight with India in the middle of a pandemic?

“I wish we knew. We ask ourselves that question everyday.”

COVID-19: J&K witnesses highest single-day spike of 1617 cases, 17 more die

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Nadeem Nadu

10/09/2020

Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar, Sep 9: Jammu and Kashmir recorded the highest single-day jump of 1617 new COVID-19 cases in last 24 hours, taking the J&K tally to 47542, while as 17 more people died due to the virus taking the death toll in the Union Territory to 835, officials said.
They said of the fresh cases 894 were reported from Jammu Division and 723 from Kashmir. This is for the seventh day in a row now that the J&K has reported over 1000 COVID-19 cases.

Giving district-wise break up, they said, Srinagar reported 260, Baramulla 85, Pulwama 37, Budgam 69, Anantnag 69, Bandipora 75, Kupwara 51, Kulgam 16, Shopian 23, Ganderbal 38, Jammu 583, Rajouri 71, Kathua 36, Udhampur 77, Samba 30, Ramban 18, Doda 31, Poonch 11, Reasi 28 and Kishtwar 9.

A number of these cases in the Valley were confirmed at CD and SKIMS diagnostic laboratories.

The CD cases include Male (49) (NA) from BB CANTT Sgr, Male (75) (NA) from Baramulla, Female (90) (NA) from Magam, Female (60) (NA) from Sumbal, Male (52) (NA) from Natipora Sgr, Female (50) (NA) from SMHS, Male (47) from Monghal, Male (45) from Hiller Kokernag, Male (40) from Arampora, Female (35) from Agnoo, Male (19) from Poshkari, Male (40) from Khiram, Female (45) from Achabal, Male (45) from Achbal, Male (42) from Achabal, Male (45) from Achabal, Male (21) from N.B pora, Male (32) from Panzgom, Male (36) from Panzgom, Male (24) from Panzgom, Male (45) from Naina, Male (58) from Naina, Male (34) from Railway station Panzgam, Male (40) from Khanpora bala, Male (82) from Kreeri, Male (32) from Fatehpora Baramulla, Male (58) (NA) from K. Colony Sopore town, Male (44) (NA) from Badambagh Sopore, Male (23) from RR camp Sopore, Male (28) (NA) Sopore Baramulla, Female (35) (NA) from Model town D, Female (50) (NA) from Ashpeer Sopore, Male (26) from Samboora, Male (17) from Samboora, Male (60) from Samboora, Male (30) Ratnipora, Male (31) from Narwa Pulwama, Female (70) from Madina Pulwama, Male (45) from Mandina Pulwama, Female (42) from Mandina Pulwama, Male (16) from Mandina Pulwama, Female (20) from Rakh lajoora, Female (18) from Rakh Lajoora, Male (75) from Bandarpora, Female (54) from Ratnipora Pulwama, Male (25) from Bihar, Female (22) from Bihar, Female (85) from Shahabad, Male (23) from Balapora Camp, Female (23) from Mitrgam, Male (60) from Mitrigam, Male (35) from Lasidaban, Male (27) from Rajpora, Male (25) from Delipora, Male (34) Puchul, Male (70) from Kupwara, Female (69) (NA) from Chadoora, Male (75) (NA) from Budgam, Male (50) (NA) from Panzipora, Male (80) from Chadoora, Male (56) from Chanpora Sgr, Female (75) from HMT Sgr, Female (75) (NA) Buchoo Budgam, Male (43) from PL / Reshipora, Male (35) (NA) from Mattan Anantnag, Female (40) from Amira Kadal Sgr, Female (40) (NA) Peerbagh Sgr, Male (23) (NA) from Eidgah sgr, Male (34) from Lalbazar, Male (21) (NA) from Lalbazar Sgr, Male (30) from Batamaloo Sgr, Male (35) from Noorbagh Sgr, Female (53) (NA) from Bemina Sgr, Male (40) (NA) from Dalgate Sgr, Male (30) from Lalbazar Sgr, Male (62) from Itchgam Budgam, Male (40) Zakoora Sgr, Male (37) from BB CANTT, Male (26) from Pattan Baramulla, Male (24) from Panzgam redzone, Female (20) from Kangan, Female (28) from Gangoo.
Male (26) from Awantipora Pulwama, Male (27) Awantipora Pulwama, Male (29) Awantipora Pulwama, Male (46) from Awantipora Pulwama, Male (32) from Awantipora Pulwama, Male (43) from CH BSF Humhama sgr, Male (51) CH BSF Humhama Sgr, Male (44) from CH BSF Humhama Sgr, Male (30) from CH BSF Humhama Sgr, Male (51) from CH BSF Humhama Sgr.

Male (68) from Narpora Nagam Budgam, Male (29) from Narpora Nagam Budgam, Male (29) from Narpora Nagam Budgam, Male (42) from Hafroo Nagam Budgam, Male (36) from Badipora Nagam Budgam, Female (26) from Jamia mohalla Magam Budgam, Male (66) from Dangerpora Magam Budgam, Female (21) from Hapat Chinaar Magam Budgam, Female (17) from Budgam main Budgam, Male (45) from Itchigam Budgam, Male (45) Mahwara Budgam, Male (19) from Itchgam Budgam, Male (25) from Lokipora Budgam, Male (57) from Poshkar Budgam, Male (35) from Hayatpora Budgam, Male (25) Hariwan Budgam, Female (14) from Nowgam Sheik-ul-Alam colony Budgam, Male (57) from Kulbagh Chadoora Budgam, Male (38) from Kushroo Chadoora Budgam, Female (35) from Kushroo Chadoora Budgam, Male (55) from Zaloo Chadoora Budgam, Female (34) from Shumnaj Chadoora Budgam, Male (15) from Gowharpora Chadoora Budgam, Male (45) from RTC CRPF Humhama Budgam, Male (40) from RTC CRPF Humhama Budgam, Male (35) from 54BN CRPF Nishat Sgr, Male (49) from 54 BN CRPF,

Male (46) from Zangli Kupwara, Male (29) from Zangli Kupwara, Male (27) from Zangli Kupwara, Male (22) from Zangli Kupwara, Male (22) from Zangli Kupwara , Male (28) from TGM Kupwara, Male (44) from Kandi Kupwara, Male (16) from Kandi Kupwara, Male (33) from Kandi Kupwara, Female (50) from Kandi Kupwara, Female (50) from Kuligam Lolab Kupwara, Female (25) from Kuligam Lolab Kupwara, Female (55) from Magam Kupwara, Male (46) from Tiker Kupwara, Male (13) from Dolipora Kupwara, Male (50) from Kukroosa Kupwara, Female (48) from Kukroosa Kupwara, Male (18) from Kukroosa Kupwara.

Samples received from BB CANTT

Male (45) from BB CANTT Sgr, Male (29) from BB CANTT Sgr, Male (35) from BB CANTT Sgr, Male (34) from BB CANTT Sgr, Male (30) from BB CANTT Sgr, Male (25) from BB CANTT Sgr, Male (33) from BB CANTT Sgr, Male (41) from BB CANNT Sgr, Male (39) from BB CANTT Sgr.

Male (58) from Buchpora Sgr, Female (27) Watarkhani Kupwara, Female (38) from Wadipora Budgam, Male (50) from Hazratbal Sgr, Male (19) from Lalbazar Sgr, Female (21) from Lalbazar Sgr, Male (45) from Labartal Budgam, Female (27) from Malshahi bagh Ganderbal, Female (26) from Skims Soura Sgr, Female (47) from Soura Sgr, Male (37) from Khaniyar Sgr, Male (40) from Wayil Ganderbal, Male (55) from Hawal Sgr , Male (37) from Nowshera Sgr, Female (34) from Amirabad Pulwama, Male (52) from Hariwantoo Baramulla, Female (35) from Lalbazar Sgr, Female (60) from Malbagh Sgr, Male (30) from Malbagh Sgr, Male (37) from Sazgari Sgr, Female (27) from Soura Sgr, Female (26) from Saidakadal Sgr, Male (23) from Soura Sgr, Male (23) from Soura Sgr, Male (68) from Buchpora Sgr, Female (30) from Buchpora Sgr, Female (27) From Dorpora Ganderbal, Female (62) from Buchpora Sgr, Female (50) from Manigam Ganderbal, Female (70) from Lalbazar Sgr, Male (48) from Hazratbal Sgr, Male (46) from Budgam, Female (65) from Budgam, Female (55) from Hawal Sgr, Female (60) from (NA) Sgr, Female (60) from Safapora Sgr, Female (50) from Sopore Baramulla, Male (47) from Baramulla, Male (78) from Kupwara, Female (89) from Nishat Sgr, Male (55) from Anantnag, Female (74) from Gulbagh Sgr, Female (60) from Ganderbal, Female (60) from Baghat Sgr, Female (42) from Baghat Sgr, Female (42) from Baghat Sgr, Male (50) from Baghat Sgr.

Moreover, they said, 620 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and were discharged from various hospitals— 52 from Jammu Division and 568 from Kashmir Valley. (GNS)

COVID-19 claims 17 more lives, J&K toll 835

Front

Precious Kashmir

10/09/2020

Srinagar, Sep 9: Jammu and Kashmir reported seventeen more COVID-19 related deaths in last 24 hours, taking the fatality count to 835.
Among the victims, official sources told GNS that nine were residents of Jammu and eight were from Kashmir.
Among those who succumbed include two each from Srinagar and Baramulla besides one each from Budgam, Anantnag, Bandipora and Kupwara.
Regarding deaths from Jammu division, five of the victims were from Jammu district, two from Rajouri and one each from Kathua, Reasi and Kishtwar.
They said a 77-year-old woman from Noorbagh Baramulla, died at SKIMS Soura hospital here, day after she was admitted and diagnosed with “HTN with severe covid pneumonia with type 1 respiratory failure with encephalopathy.”
They said a 55-year-old woman from Barzulla, already battling a life-threatening disease and also diagnosed with bilateral Community Acquired Pneumonia died after remaining admitted to the hospital here for a month and five days.
A resident of Bonagam Handwara, admitted on August 29 with bilateral CAP, and a woman from Tragam Shadipora Sumbal, admitted on September 5 with bilateral CAP, died at SMHS hospital.
Also, a 65-year-old woman from Khanyar Srinagar who was diagnosed with Bilateral CAP and T2DM after her admission on September 5 also died at SMHS hospital, they said.
They said a 70-year-old man from Russu Budgam died at SKIMS Bemina, one of the exclusive facilities for the management of covid-19 patients. He was admitted on August 24, they added.
They said a 70-year-old man from Dal Patian Mohala Jammu died three days after being admitted to GMC Jammu as a case of hypertension, bilateral community acquired pneumonia.
A 65-year-old woman from Gazi Pur Kullian Jammu who was diagnosed with “type 2 diabetes mellitus, community acquired pneumonia” died at GMC Jammu, they added.
A 55-year-old man of Nai Basti Jammu, admitted on September 09 and diagnosed with “type2 diabetes mellitus and bilateral community pneumonia died at GMC Jammu, they said.
A 55-year-old woman from Bahu Forte Jammu, admitted on September 4, died at GMC Jammu and was diagnosed with hypertension, type2 diabetes mellitus and CKD died at 2.30.a.m. today, they said.
A 55-year-old man from Tindey Kalan R S PURA , they said, died two days after he was admitted in emergency ward of GMC Jammu
A 75-year-old man from Talab Tillo.Near Tange Wali.Gali, a 45-year-old man from Subash Nagar Jammu died 11 days after being admitted to MC Jammu, they added.
With these deaths, officials said, 835 people have succumbed to the virus in Jammu and Kashmir so far. Among them, they said, 712 were from the Valley while 123 others from Jammu division.
Srinagar district with 244 deaths tops the list followed by Baramulla (109), Budgam (67), Pulwama (60), Anantnag (53), Kupwara (56), Jammu (73), Kulgam (40), Shopian (29), Bandipora (26), Ganderbal (25), Kathua (11), Rajouri (12), Doda (8), Poonch (6), Samba (5), Udhampur (4), Reasi (2), Kishtwar (1), and Ramban (1).

COVID-19: Oxford vaccine trials put on hold

Front

Precious Kashmir

10/09/2020

India adds another 89,706 cases, tally at 4370129
New Delhi, Sep 9: India on Wednesday not only recorded 89,706 fresh COVID-19 cases and 1,115 more deaths, but also received a setback as Oxford vaccine phase III clinical trials were put on hold after a participant in UK reportedly developed an adverse reaction.

Leading pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca said the nature of the suspected serious adverse reaction was not immediately known.

The vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca in partnership with the Oxford University’s Jenner Institute and the Oxford Vaccine Group is in phase 3 trials, which is the final stage before safety and efficacy data can be submitted to health regulators for approval.

As per an update from Union Health Ministry, the total number of COVID-19 cases reached 43,70,129, highest number outside United States, while the death toll surged to 73,890.

There are as many as 8,97,394 active cases while recovered stand at 33,98,844. The recovery rate has reached 77.77 per cent while the fatality rate stands at 1.69 per cent.

Some 11,54,549 samples were tested in the past 24 hours, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

Maharashtra continued to top the charts, registering 6,517 fresh cases, taking the tally to 9,43,772, while the death toll reached 27,407, after 380 more people succumbed to the virus.

At next, Andhra Pradesh has so far registered 5,17,094 cases and 4,560 deaths. As many as 10,600 cases and 73 deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours.

Tamil Nadu registered 5,776 fresh cases, taking the total number of cases to 4,69,256, while the death toll reached 7,925, after 89 people died.

Meanwhile, the Centre have decided to reopen schools which are closed since March. As per the guidelines students from IX to XII standard can go to school for taking guidance from the teachers but only after taking consent from the parents.

COVID-19: Duloo for rigorous home to home survey

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Precious Kashmir

10/09/2020

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Sep 9: The Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education, Atal Dulloo today called for rigorous home to home survey in all red zones of Jammu and Kashmir for effective containment of spread of Covid-19 in the Union Territory.
This was said by the FC while chairing a meeting of officers here at Civil Secretariat.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole, Deputy Commissioners of all districts of UT, MD NHM, Director Health Kashmir , Director Health Jammu and concerned health officers also attended the meeting through Video Conferencing.
At the outset, Atal Dulloo was apprised on the district wise latest trend of positive cases, deaths, persons in home isolation, distribution of medicines, oximeters, coverage on AarogyaSetu app, referrals, containment zones, contact tracing and other strategies adopted for the containment of spread of coronavirus.
The FC stressed on revamping of red zone areas and strict parameters and access control on priority.
He directed all DCs to ensure increase in the Rapid Antigen testing, proper surveillance, counselling of patients, distribution of oximeters besides effective home to home survey is carried out in all districts for Covid-19 containment.
Atal Dulloo emphasized on rigorous contract tracing and effective surveillance of patients in home isolation besides rectifying of all gaps to prevent spread of the disease.
He instructed all DCs to ensure installation of Aarogya Setu app by all for easy identification of hot spots.
The FC stressed on establishment of full-fledged Call centers in all districts for prompt resolution of patient grievances.
Stressing on filling of vacancies under NHM, Atal Dulloo instructed DCs to ensure timely release of advertisement and completion of the recruitment process in all districts.

COVID-19: WHO says safety crucial as AstraZeneca halts vaccine clinical trials

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Precious Kashmir

10/09/2020

Sputnik
Moscow, Sept 9: Safety is a top priority in vaccine clinical trials and temporary suspensions are not unusual, the World Health Organization (WHO) told Sputnik after the AstraZeneca pharmaceutical, one of frontrunners in the COVID-19 vaccine race, paused its clinical trials over an unexplained illness.
Earlier on Wednesday, AstraZeneca announced it voluntarily paused its vaccine clinical trials globally to investigate an unexplained illness in a UK participant, noting that it was a routine action.
“Safety is the primary focus for vaccine clinical trials. When a potentially unexplained illness occurs in a trial participant, which may or may not be related to the vaccine being evaluated, it is rigorous, routine practice to investigate. Temporary suspensions of vaccine clinical trials are not unusual while an evaluation takes place,” the UN health agency said in an email.
WHO noted that it welcomed the fact that the vaccine developers were following standard guidelines to ensure the scientific integrity of the vaccine clinical trials.
“WHO continues to recommend strict adherence to established testing protocols in all vaccine trials to ensure the safety of volunteers, and the eventual safety and efficacy of vaccines,” it added.
The AstraZeneca vaccine is being developed in partnership with the Oxford University’s Jenner Institute and the Oxford Vaccine Group and is in its phase 3 trials, which is the final stage before safety and efficacy data can be submitted to health regulators for approval.
The pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca halted large, late-stage global trials of its coronavirus vaccine on Tuesday because of a serious suspected adverse reaction in a participant, the company said. It is not yet known whether the reaction was directly caused by the company’s vaccine or was coincidental.
The pause, which was first reported by STAT, will allow AstraZeneca, a British-Swedish company, to conduct a safety review and investigate whether the vaccine caused the illness. How long the hold will last is unclear. Drug companies are racing to complete a coronavirus vaccine that could bring an end to a pandemic that has already claimed more than 8,90,000 lives globally. AstraZeneca is a front-runner, with late-stage clinical trials underway around the world, and has said it hoped to have a vaccine ready before the end of the year. If the cause of the reaction turns out to be related to the vaccine, those efforts could be derailed.Late-stage vaccine testing remains crucial, as large trials can turn up rare but serious side effects that would surface only if many thousands of people received a vaccine.
Meanwhile, AstraZeneca may resume clinical trials of its COVID-19 vaccine early next week, after suspending it as a precaution, the Financial Times reported Wednesday, citing “people familiar with the matter.”
The UK-Swedish company reportedly froze the trials after discovering that one participant was sick with transverse myelitis. This condition results in inflammation of parts of the spinal cord and may be caused by infections, among other things.

LG Sinha visits AIIMS site, inspects pace of on-going construction work

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Precious Kashmir

10/09/2020

Directs executing agencies to stick to the timelines, completion of work within stipulated time-frame

Precious Kashmir News

Jammu, Sep 9: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today visited AIIMS site at Vijaypur and inspected the pace of the on-going construction work on the prestigious project. He directed the executing agencies to stick to the timelines to ensure the completion of work within stipulated time-frame.

The Lt Governor observed that the UT Government is aiming to make the health care system of J&K best in the country. Mega projects like AIIMS will certainly boost the health care sector in Jammu and Kashmir.

Government is working on covering various factors like upgrading health infrastructure, strengthening of human resources, rationalizing the available staff, filling up the vacancies of Doctors, nurses and other health workers, retention of Doctors especially in rural areas, availability of adequate medical facilities and bringing in new innovations, which will play a major role in achieving the objective of providing quality and accessible healthcare services to the people of J&K, the Lt Governor maintained.

He called for strenuous efforts from all stakeholders to improve health services delivery and to strengthen the patient care system.

The Lt Governor enquired about the timelines set for the completion of the mega project.

He exhorted the concerned officers of executing agencies to make sure that necessary measures are taken to ensure quality of work and asked them to work in close coordination for timely completion of the project.

While taking stock of the present progress on the project, the Lt Governor was informed that the Project with 30 months duration was awarded on 22nd February, 2020 with stipulated date of completion is 21st August 2022.

It was informed that LOI was issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW) in March-2019. Funds for establishment of AIIMS Jammu shall be made available by MoH&FW through HEFA(Higher Education Financing Agency). AIIMS Rishikesh is the Mentor Institute for AIIMS Jammu. Sanctioned cost of AIIMS (Phase-I) is Rs 1661 cr (Rs. 1404 cr for C/o Medical college and other infrastructure & Rs. 257 cr for medical equipment and furniture).

The Hospital infrastructure will have 750 Bedded capacity, G+6 storied with 1 basement, Combination of 6 Towers, 1 OPD, 2IPD, 1 Emergency, 1 Diagnostic, 1 Admin, provision of MRI, CT, Nuclear Medicine, Modular OT’s, ICU, Super Specialty departments, OPD, Trauma Beds, besides Academic Building including Medical College (100 students per year) and Nursing College (60 students per year), and1000 Seating Capacity Auditorium.

Hirdesh Kumar, Commissioner/Secretary, Transport Department; Sanjeev Verma, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu; Mukesh Singh, IGP Jammu, Rohit Khajuria, Deputy Commissioner, Samba and other senior officers were present on the occasion.

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