389 patients discharged from hospitals, 25594 recover till date

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Aug 25: As many as 701 more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday thus taking the total number of cases in the union territory to 33776, officials said.
They said that of the fresh cases 562 were reported in Kashmir and 139 in Jammu.
They said that moreover, 389 more COVID-19 patients recovered and were discharged from various hospitals, 79 from Jammu Division and 310 from Kashmir Division.
According to the daily Media Bulletin on novel Corona virus (Covid-19), out of 33776 positive cases, 7544 are Active Positive, 25594 have recovered and 638 have died; 50 in Jammu division and 588 in Kashmir division.
The Bulletin further said that out of 888127 test results available, 854351 samples have been tested as negative till August 25, 2020.
Till date 437664 travelers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been enlisted for observation which included 43416 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 7544 in isolation and 41030 under home surveillance. Besides, 345036 persons have completed their surveillance period.
Providing district-wise breakup, the Bulletin said that Srinagar has 8357 positive cases (including 208 cases reported today) with 1454 Active Positive, 6703 recovered (including 102 cases recovered today), 200 deaths; Baramulla has 2678 positive cases (including 29 cases reported today) with 574 Active Positive, 2006 recovered (including 31 cases recovered today), 98 deaths; Pulwama reported 2386 positive cases (including 56 cases reported today) with 457 active positive cases, 1883 recovered (including 25 cases recovered today), 46 deaths; Kulgam has 1868 positive cases (including 18 cases reported today) with 266 Active Positive, 1571 recoveries, 31 deaths; Shopian has 1637 positive cases (including 06 cases reported today) with 91 Active Positive, 1519 recovered (including 13 cases recovered today), 27 deaths; Anantnag district has 2146 positive cases (including 44 cases reported today) with 470 Active Positive, 1630 recovered (including 45 cases recovered today), 46 deaths; Budgam has 2207 positive cases (including 49 cases reported today) with 566 Active Positive and 1587 recovered (including 43 cases recovered today), 54 deaths; Kupwara has 1894 positive cases (including 55 cases reported today) with 604 Active Positive, 1246 recovered (including 10 cases recovered today), 44 deaths; Bandipora has 1952 positive cases (including 66 cases reported today) with 898 Active Positive, 1030 recovered (including 08 cases recovered today), 24 deaths and Ganderbal has 1238 positive cases (including 31 cases reported today) with 577 active positive cases, 643 recoveries (including 33 cases recovered today) and 18 deaths.
Similarly, Jammu has 2463 positive cases (including 76 cases reported today) with 697 active positive cases, 1732 recoveries (including 30 cases recovered today), 34 deaths; Rajouri has 841 positive cases (including 09 cases reported today) with 85 active positive cases, 753 recovered (including 09 cases reported today), 03 deaths; Ramban has 648 positive cases (including 06 cases reported today) with 27 active positive, 620 recoveries, 01 death; Kathua has 755 positive cases (including 11 cases reported today) with 126 Active positive, 627 recovered (including 12 cases recovered today), 02 death; Udhampur has 737 positive cases (including 06 cases reported today) with 110 active positive cases, 625 recovered, 02 deaths; Samba has 659 positive cases (including 13 cases reported today) with 210 Active Positive, 447 recoveries (including 07 cases reported today), 02 deaths; Doda has 377 positive cases (including 03 cases reported today) with 58 active positive cases, 317 recoveries (including 08 cases reported today), 02 deaths; Poonch has 376 positive cases (including 12 cases reported today) with 69 active positive, 304 recoveries (including 06 cases recovered today), 03 deaths; Reasi has 360 positive cases (including 02 cases reported today) with 187 active positive, 173 recoveries (including 04 cases recovered today) and Kishtwar has 197 positive cases (including 01 case reported today) with 18 active positive cases and 178 recoveries (including 03 cases reported today) and 01 death .
According to the bulletin, of the total 33776 positive cases in J&K 6075 have been reported as travelers while 27701 as others.
The Bulletin said that the breakup represents districts from which the patients have been traced or are ordinarily residing.
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”.
Advisory has further exhorted upon the people not to step out of home, unless absolutely necessary. “If you have to move out for unavoidable reasons, ensure that you wear a mask and practice social distancing, personal hygiene and frequent hand washing with soap and water.”
In case of any emergency people can avail free ambulance services 24×7 at their doorsteps by calling on toll-free number 108 while as pregnant women and sick infants can avail free ambulance services by dialing toll-free number 102.
People can also call on toll-free national helpline number 1075; J&K COVID-19 Helpline Numbers 0191- 2549676 (UT level Cell), 0191-2520982, 0191-2674444, 0191-2674115 (For Jammu Division), 0194-2440283 & 0194-2430581 (For Kashmir Division) for support, guidance, and response to health-related queries on Novel Corona virus Disease (COVID-19).
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-tussive, bronchodilator, etc properties during the COVID-19 pandemic. The department so far has provided medicine to 8.27 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 ensued during this pandemic.
Public is advised to strictly follow the advisories issued by the government from time to time and rely only on the information released by the government through the daily media bulletin to print and electronic media.
People are also advised to refrain from spreading rumours and pay no heed to them at the same time.

New Delhi, Aug 25: The country prepared itself to fight the dreaded Novel Coronavirus with three vaccines, which were currently in different stages of human trials in the country, even as the total number of COVID-19 cases reached 31,67,323, after the addition of 60,975 fresh patients on Tuesday.
According to the Union Health Ministry, the cumulative testing reached 3,68,27,520. With 9,25,383 tests conducted in the past 24 hours, the Tests Per Million have seen a sharp rise to 26,685.
A total of 66,550 Covid-19 patients have recovered and been discharged in the past 24 hours — the highest recoveries in a single day — taking the total number of recoveries to 24,04,585.
The number of recovered patients has outpaced the 7,04,348 active cases by more than 17 lakh. In fact, the recovered patients are 3.41 times the active cases, as on date, an official statement said.

With this, the country’s Recovery Rate among the COVID-19 patients reached nearly 76 per cent (75.92 per cent). There has been more than 100 per cent hike in the recoveries in the past 25 days. The steadily falling Case Fatality Rates stood at 1.84 per cent.
Promoting self-sufficiency (Atmanirbhar) in medical equipment manufacturing, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has so far recognised a total of 382 corona test kits, of which 249 are indigenously manufactured.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Aug 25: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole on Tuesday chaired a weekly COVID-19 review meeting with all Deputy Commissioners, health officers and other concerned here.
At the outset, the Div Com stressed on proper monitoring of Covid- 19 positive patients who are in home isolation and directed concerned to make all facilities including pulse checking oximeters and medicines available to them.

He instructed concerned to ensure prompt response to these patients in home isolation in case of any emergency, besides as mandatory all of them have to download Aurogya Setu app on their phones.

He said that concerned should make sure that these patients are following Covid-19 protocol and SOPs religiously.
The Div Com instructed DCs to ensure village and block level meetings are being conducted and action taken reports are submitted as per these meeting from all the districts.
He emphasized that reporting of antigen rapid tests is being done through authorized persons only.
Asking DCs to raise the number of daily antigen testing, the Div Com said that some districts faced shortage of antigen testing kits due to quality and packaging issue, however he said kits shall be made available to all districts as per the requirement.
The Div Com maintained that there has been improvement in the decongestion of tertiary care hospitals as there was only 30 per cent bed occupancy in these hospitals presently.
Emphasizing on timely denotifing of red zone areas, the Div Com stressed on proper monitoring of all red zone areas.
The Div Com further called upon aggressive contact tracing of contacts and their proper isolation.
He also took a detailed review of availability of Covid medicines, oxygen cylinders, beds, daily testing including antigen as well as RTPCR, positivity rate, IEC activities and other related facilities.
Among others, the meeting was attended by Principal GMC, Director Health Services Kashmir, SP Headquarter, ADC Srikant Balasaheb Suse, Administrator Associated Hospital Srinagar, Incharge Covid Control Room, Lab Coordinator J&K, Divisional Nodal Officer ISM Covid-19 Kashmir and other concerned.
Director SKIMS Soura, DCs and SSPs of all districts and other concerned attended the meeting through video conferencing.

Nasir Azam
Srinagar, Aug 25: The administration of Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory would soon start an exercise to prepare budget estimates for next financial year and revised budget estimates for ongoing fiscal soon.
Authoritative sources told news agency—KNO that Finance Department would soon set the ball rolling for preparation of budget estimates for 2021-22 and revised budget estimates for 2020-21.
“The process is expected to commence from next month,” they said, adding that Finance department will initiate the exercise by writing to all departments.
“The budget preparation is a hectic exercise. It involves preparation of estimates and discussions of different departments with the Finance department.”
The budget for next fiscal would also be tabled in the Parliament since Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory is presently without its Legislative Assembly
On March 18, 2020, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented Rs 1,01,428 crore budget of J&K UT in the Parliament. Of which developmental expenditure was Rs 38,764 crore, an increase of 27 per cent than allocations made in 2019-20.
It may be mentioned here that in the year 2006, then chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had started the practice of bringing the annual budget quite early—in the beginning of January, owing to special geographical and climatic conditions of Jammu and Kashmir.
The practice ensured that the procedural formalities after the budget announcement in January are completed by April 1, when the new fiscal begins, and the snow melts in higher reaches of the UT including Chenab Valley, Gurez, Karnah and Kupwara, thus not hampering the developmental works.
The practice was followed by the succeeding government led by Omar Abdullah.
However, the PDP-BJP government failed to continue with the practice for first two years, before turning the clock back with 2017-18 and 2018-19 budgets announced in the month of January for those two years.
After the fall of last ruling dispensation, the State Administrative Council (SAC) headed by last Governor Satya Pal Malik had walked the extra mile by approving the 2019-20 budget in the December 2018.

New Delhi, Aug 25: JeM chief Masood Azhar and his brother Rauf Asghar have been named as the key accused behind the 2019 Pulwama attack, in a charge-sheet filed on Tuesday by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The 13,500-page charge-sheet lists 19 accused and details how the planning and execution of one of the deadliest attacks in Kashmir was done from Pakistan, where Masood Azhar’s Jaish-e-Mohammad is based. Six of the militants named by the NIA were killed, seven have been arrested and five are still missing, of which three are Pakistanis, according to the NIA.
Over 40 paramilitary CRPF men were killed when a suicide bomber rammed a car full of explosives into a security convoy at Pulwama on February 14 last year. The attack resulted in the Indian Air Force carrying out airstrikes in Pakistan’s Balakot, and an air battle along the Line of Control a day after – events that took India and Pakistan to the edge of war.
The main conspirator, the NIA claims, was Jaish militant Mohammad Umar Farooq, the son of Ibrahim Athar, the main accused in the IC 814 hijack of 1999. Ibrahim Athar is older brother of Masood Azhar, investigators say.
The charge-sheet says 20 Kg of RDX was brought from Pakistan via Samba in Jammu by Umar Farooq, who was killed by special forces in Kashmir in March this year.
Other explosives like ammonium nitrate were procured through an e-commerce platform. The bulky NIA document includes call recordings and WhatsApp chats with photos of explosives, including RDX, being transported, found on Umar Farooq’s phone. For the first time, photographs of three militants fabricating the bomb used in Pulwama are revealed.
The charge sheet claims that after Pulwama, the Jaish militants had planned to carry out another attack. They had even arranged a car and had Fidayeen or suicide bombers ready but were thwarted by India’s air strikes in Balakot.
The NIA’s case rests on technical and material evidence to establish the link between local Jaish operatives and their handlers in Pakistan.

Masood Azhar’s video and audio recordings praising the Pulwama attack are also part of the charge-sheet. Other digital imprints include a Jaish-e-Mohammed Telegram group that had a post soon after the attack claiming “100 Indian Hindu soldiers were killed and destroyed”.
Azhar is wanted in India for several attacks including the 26/11 Mumbai attack.
Key conspirators named in the charge-sheet are: Adil Ahmed Dar, the suicide bomber who rammed the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy on February 14. Umer Farooq: Jaish commander who oversaw the execution of the attack and who assembled the bomb used in the attack. He was killed in an encounter on March this year along with another bomb-making expert, Kamran.
Shakir Bashir Magrey: He allegedly drove the car used in the attack but got off around 500 meters from the attack site. His role included procuring gloves, battery and ammonium powder used to assemble the IED (Improvised Explosive Device) through an e-commerce web portal. Magrey, a furniture shop owner near the site, closely monitored the movement of security convoys and shared the details with Umer Farooq and Adil Ahmed Dar.
Mohammad Iqbal Rather: The NIA says the 25-year-old from Budgam facilitated transport from picking up Pak-based militants to bringing them into Kashmir. The NIA arrested Rather in July.
Bilal Ahmed Kuchey: Allegedly procured high-end mobile phones for Jaish, one of which was used to record a video as Adil Ahmed Dar slammed his vehicle into the CRPF convoy.
The other accused are Mohammad Abbas Rather, Waiz-ul-Islam, father-daughter duo Tariq Ahmad Shah and Insha Jan – all alleged Jaish militants.

New Delhi, Aug 25: With a prayer for awarding punishment to all of the accused for the commission of offence under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday filed prosecution complaint against 12 accused Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM)militants before the designated Patiala House Court here, an official release said.

According to the probe agency, the accused named in the prosecution complaint are Mohammad Shafi Shah alias Doctor, Talib Lali alias Talib Hussain Lali, Mohammd Yusuf Shah alias` Syed Salahuddin, Ghulam Nabi Khan alias Amir Khan, Umer Farooq Shera alias Mehboob-ul-Haq, Manzoor Ahmed Dar alias Masroor Dar, Zaffar Hussain Bhat alias Khursheed, Nazir Ahmad Dar alias Shabir Ellahi, Abdul Majeed Sofi alias Majeed Bisati, Mubarak Shah, Muzaffar Ahmad Dar alias Gaznavi and Mushtaq Ahmad Lone alias Mushtaq.
The prosecution complaint which is equivalent to the charge sheet, has also been filed with a prayer for confiscation of the attached properties totalling to Rs. 1.22 crore which have been provisionally attached.

The federal financial probe agency took up this case on the basis of charge sheet filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against Mohammad Shafi Shah, Talib Lali, Mohammad Yusuf, Umer Farooq Shera, Manzoor Ahmad Dar, Zaffar Hussain Bhat, Abdul Majeed Sofi, Mubarak Shah, Muzaffar Ahmad Darand Mushtaq Ahmad Lone under Sections 120-B read with 121-A Indian Penal Code and Sections 17, 18, 39 & 40 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Mohammad Shafi Shah and his associates were involved in execution of sensational blasts in Jammu and Kashmir and huge quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives were recovered from them.
ED investigations revealed that Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, the most active militant outfit in Kashmir, has been responsible for funding militant and secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir headed by Syed Salahuddin, its commander based at Rawalpindi Pakistan.

The funding of militancy activities on Indian soil had been organised by a trust called JKART (Jammu & Kashmir Affectees Relief Trust) which was operating in connivance with Pakistan Government and ISI, the probe agency officials said.
“It is also revealed that the funds were sent to India through Hawala channel, barter trading and human carriers. The funds were further distributed through the same hawala, human carriers and banking channels to the next of kin of active as well as dead Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militants”, they further said.

The mastermind behind distribution of funds were Mohammad Shafi Shah along with Talib Lali, both resident of Bandipora while Muzaffar Mushtaq Ahmad Lone were from Budgam and Anantag respectively.

After identification of proceeds of crime involved in money laundering, 13 properties belonging to seven militants totalling to Rs 1.22 crore were attached under PMLA, the probe agency said.

Srinagar, Aug 25: The 270-km-long Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, the only all weather road connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country, was closed yet again on Tuesday due to fresh landslides and shooting stones.
However, the 434-km-long National Highway, linking the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh with Kashmir and historic 86-km-long Mughal road were through for one-way traffic.
The Srinagar-Jammu highway was closed again on Tuesday following landslides and shooting stone at Dalwas Ramban, where a portion of road has also been washed away, a traffic police official told UNI today.
He said National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and Border Roads Organisatiion (BRO) have already pressed into service sophisticated machines and men to remove the landslides and put through the highway. It will take several hours to make the road traffic worthy, he said.
However, he said, only stranded vehicles would be allowed to move towards their respective destinations before allowing fresh traffic on the highway.
Passenger traffic remained suspended on the highway since March 5 due to COVID-19. Passengers having valid travel permit issued by Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir were being allowed to move. However, thousands of outside workers were also brought to Kashmir in the recent months.
Today vehicles carrying essential commodities and empty trucks an oil tankers were to ply from Srinagar to Jammu.
This is the second time the highway was closed for any traffic movement due to landslides and shooting stones during the past about one week. Earlier, traffic was resumed on the highway August 22 after remaining suspended for two days.
Mughal Road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region was also through for one-way traffic. Only trucks and other load carriers loaded with fresh fruit will ply from Shopian to other side of the Pir Ki Gali, traffic official said adding no passenger traffic is allowed on the road, being considered alternative to Srinagar-jammu highway.

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Aug 25: For the convenience of all PLI/RPLI policy holders, Department of Posts has extended the last date for revival of their lapsed policies till November 30, 2020.

“As a one -time measure, PLI/RPLI policies, which have crossed the limit of 5 years since date of payment of last premium, are being provided a window for revival upto 30-11-2020. Anyone having PLI/RPLI policies (which stands lapsed due to nonpayment of premium) can visit the nearby Post Office for the revival of his/her policies” a communiqué of the department stated.
Earlier, the last date for revival of all the lapsed PLI/RPLI policies was fixed as 31-8-2020. However in view of imposition of lockdown; the date has been extended till November 30, 2020.

Baramulla, Aug 25: Over 30 passengers, including women and children, were injured when a bus in which they were travelling met with an accident in Handwara in north Kashmir district of Kupwara on Tuesday afternoon, official sources said.

They said a bud skidded off the road at Batpora, Magan in Handwara resulting in injuries to over 30 passengers, including women and children.

The injured have been rushed to hospital where the condition of three of them is stated to be critical, they said adding police has registered a case and started investigation.

Reasi, Aug 25: At least four persons including a woman were killed while several buffaloes also perished in separate landslide incidents in Reasi district on Monday.
An official told KNO that three persons were buried under the debris after a landslide hit Khour area on the intervening night of August 24-25 due to the heavy rainfall.

He identified them as Khalil Ahmed (30) son of Muhammad Rafiq of Jamlan, his wife Raksana Begam (25) and Mohammad Aslam son of Muhammad Rafiq—all residents of Mahore.
He said the bodies of all the three persons including a woman were retrieved. “Reportedly, some buffaloes have also perished after the landslide hit the area,” the official said.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a man was killed while some buffaloes were also killed after a landslide hit Khour area of Mahore sub-division in Reasi district.
Officials said that Wali Muhammad, son of Gulab Din of Upper Tuli Chassana, who had taken his cattle to Khandi Gali Dhok in Thakrakot Tehsil for grazing was killed while his buffaloes in Dhok got also perished.
“A man alongwith his five buffaloes were buried alive,” the officials said, adding that body of the man was later retrieved.