Srinagar records highest spike with 5 deaths  

Jahangeer Ganaie

Srinagar, July 16: The COVID-19 claimed 14 more lives in Kashmir on Thursday, the highest ever spike in 24 hours since the outbreak of virus, taking the total number of people who have died due to the the deadly virus to 222 in J&K.

Officials told KNO that 14 deaths included 65-year- old man from Khawjabagh, Baramulla, 65-year-old man from Sirhama,Anantnag, 60-year-old woman from Sanbari, Kokernag, 67-year-old male from Bathra, Budgam, 75-year old male from Batamaloo, Srinagar, 60-year-old male from Karnah, Kupwara, 75-year-old male from Nishat Srinagar, 62-year-old male from Khanka-e Moula, Srinagar, a woman from Shopian, 75-year-old woman from Sonwar, Srinagar, 62-year-old male from Mallabagh, Soura, 50-year-old woman from Banglow, Bagh Srinagar, 62-year old male from Baramulla and 80-year-old male from Sopore.

Officials from Baramulla said that a 65 year old man from Baramulla who was suffering from Hypertension, B/L CAP, type l Respiratory failure, severe ARDS died at SKIMS at 6:40 am.

Officials from Anantnag said that a 65-year-old male from Sirhama, Anantnag having multiple problems died at SKIMS today.

They said a 60-year-old woman from Sanbari, Kokernag was tested positive three days after her death. Officials said that 67-year male from Bathra, Budgam who was admitted on 28 June at the hospital and was suffering from community acquired pneumonia died at SKIMS today.

They added that a patient from Batamaloo was admitted on July 11 and was suffering from multiple ailments died at CD hospital while as patient from Karnah was suffering from bilateral pneumonia died at SMHS

The officials said that a 75-year-old patient from Nishat, Srinagar was admitted on 12 July and was suffering from bilateral pneumonia and he died at SMHS while as 62-year old chest infection patient from Srinagar was admitted on July 13 who also breathed his last today morning at SKIMS.

The officials said that a woman from Shopian was admitted on 11 July and was suffering from bilateral pneumonia. “She breathed her last at SMHS in the morning. Similarly, a patient from Sonwar who was admitted on July 13 also succumbed to Covid at SMHS” he said.

The officials said that a 62-year-old male from Mallabagh, Srinagar which was admitted on 06 July died at CD hospital while as 50 year old woman from Banglow Bagh Baramulla who was admitted on 14 July died at GMC Baramulla and patient was suffering from bilateral pneumonia, they added.

A 62-year-old male from Baramulla was admitted in the hospital on 09 July and was suffering from Bilateral pneumonia with diabetes mellitus died at SMHS and 80 year old male from Sopore who was admitted on 10 July was suffering from bilateral pneumonia, ADRS, type 1 respiratory failure, Rh Arthritis at SKIMS.

With 14 more deaths, the death toll in J&K has reached to 222 which include 18 from Jammu division and 204 from Kashmir region—(KNO)

COVID-19: 86 prisoners test positive in Anantnag jail

Umaisar Gul

Srinagar, July 16: As many as 89 persons including 86 prisoners have tested positive for COVID-19 in district jail Anantnag so far, officials said.

A senior official told KNO that out of 239 samples taken so far from Anantnag Jail, 89 samples have tested positive for COVID-19

“Of them 86 are prisoners,” he said, adding that the first case in the jail was detected on Friday. Those who have tested positive include Mohammad Rafiq Ganai, General Secretary of Muslim League, religious cleric and vice-president Jamiat-I-Ahle Hadees, Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat (Veeri) religious cleric and vice-president Jamait-ahli-hadees and Zahoor Ahmad Bhat of proscribed Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front.

These cases have raised questions on measures initiated by the Jammu & Kashmir government to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in prisons of the Union Territory.

It is worthwhile to mention here that the Prisons department of UT had repeatedly maintained that they are taking adequate measures to prevent the spread of the virus in jails.

According to details collected by KNO, the occupancy in jails of J&K presently is 12% more than their normal capacity.

As many as 3628 prisoners are house in 14 jails of J&K against their overall capacity of 3234.

J&K crosses 12000 mark; 6446 recover

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, July 16: As many as 490 more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir, taking the total number of cases in the Union Territory to 12156, officials said.
They said that 428 cases were reported in Kashmir while 62 tested positive in Jammu.

Moreover, 109 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and discharged from various hospitals, 34 from Jammu Division and 75 from Kashmir Division.

According to the daily Media Bulletin on novel Corona virus (Covid-19), out of 12156 positive cases, 5488 are Active Positive, 6446 have recovered and 222 have died; 18 in Jammu division and 204 in Kashmir division.

The Bulletin further said that out of 481452 test results available, 469296 samples have been tested as negative till July 16, 2020.

Additionally, till date 323038 travelers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been enlisted for surveillance which included 38581 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 13 in Hospital Quarantine, 5488 in hospital isolation and 43875 under home surveillance. Besides, 234859 persons have completed their surveillance period.

Providing district-wise breakup, the Bulletin said that Bandipora has 421 positive cases (including 02 cases reported today) with 105 Active Positive, 313 recovered (including 17 cases recovered today) and 03 deaths; Srinagar has 2345 positive cases (including 259 cases reported today) with 1724 Active Positive, 566 recovered (including 17 cases recovered today), 55 deaths; Anantnag district has 939 positive cases (including 06 cases reported today), with 284 Active Positive, 638 recovered,  17 deaths; Baramulla has 1399 positive cases (including 18 cases reported today) with 774 Active Positive, 577 recovered (including 05 cases recovered today), 48 deaths; Shopian has 972 positive cases (including 42 cases reported today) with 235 Active Positive, 720 recovered (including 13 cases recovered today) and 17 deaths; Kupwara has 818 positive cases (including 03 cases reported today) with 282 Active Positive, 523 recovered (including 01 cases recovered today) and 13 deaths; Budgam has 662 positive cases (including 34 cases reported today) with 306 Active Positive and 340 recovered cases (including 09 cases reported today) and 16 deaths; Ganderbal has 222 positive cases (including 11 cases reported today) with 118 active positive cases and 100 recoveries and 04 deaths; Kulgam has 1097 positive cases (including 21 cases reported today), with 395 Active Positive and 679 recoveries and 23 deaths and Pulwama reported 774 positive cases (including 32 cases reported today) with 378 active positive cases and 388 recovered (including 13 cases recovered today) and 08 deaths.

Similarly, Jammu has 553 positive cases (including 14 cases reported today) with 176 active positive cases and 366 recoveries (including 22 cases reported today) and 11 deaths; Udhampur has 307 positive cases (including 03 cases reported today)   with 21 active positive cases, 285 recovered (including 06 cases recovered today) and 01 death; Samba has 301 positive cases (including 08 cases reported today) with 155 Active Positive and 145 recoveries (including 01 case recovered today) and 01 death; Rajouri has 321 positive cases (including 33 cases reported today) with 222 active positive cases and 98 recovered and 01 death; Kathua has 328 positive cases (including 02 cases reported today) with 97 Active positive and 230 recovered (including 01 case reported today) and 01 death; Kishtwar has 58 positive cases with 31 active positive cases and 27 recovered; Ramban has 277 positive cases with 68 active positive and 209 recoveries; Reasi has 60 positive cases with 21 active positive and 39 recovered; Poonch has 148 positive cases with 26 active positive and 121 recoveries and 01 death while Doda has 154 positive cases (including 02 cases reported today) with 70 active positive cases and 82 recoveries (including 04 cases recovered today) and 02 deaths.

According to the bulletin, of the total 12156 positive cases in J&K 3061 have been reported as travelers while 9095 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 metre 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 handwashing 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 dialling 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 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).

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.

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, July 16: Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam while taking stock of efforts toward mitigating the COVID-19 threat, reiterated that perimeter control and complete lockdown in red zones and containment zones should be strictly enforced.

The Chief Secretary impressed upon Deputy Commissioners to cautiously declare an area/cluster as a red zone on scientific basis, and ensure strict adherence of SOPs thereafter. “Aggressive testing in the red/containment zones, especially of vulnerable patients including children, old aged, pregnant ladies, patients with Influenza like Illness (ILI), Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI),  co-morbid conditions, service providers, healthcare professionals and police personnel; has to be ensured”, he added.

Laying stress on the importance of early detection of infection, Chief Secretary directed intensifying the efforts towards smart and targeted contact tracing by utilizing information from NHM data, Swasthya Nidhi survey and Arogya Setu app.

With regard to capacity enhancement of hospitals for accommodating higher numbers of symptomatic patients, it was directed that positive but asymptomatic patients be immediately shifted to COVID care centres whereas, only moderate and severely affected patients be admitted in COVID hospitals.

Chief Secretary informed that to augment the shortage of medical equipments, the Government is procuring nearly 700 ventilators from Government of India, which will arrive shortly. In this regard, he asked the DCs to ensure their timely installation and commissioning, besides ensuring availability of oxygen cylinders and intensive care equipment.

He further informed that wearing of masks by all and ban on spitting at public places are being included as statutory provisions in the Epidemic Diseases Act, with stringent penalties and directed the DCs/SSPs to ensure strict implementation of the same.

Chief Secretary directed promotion of good habits in people by undertaking Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities regarding precautionary measures and health related assistance in the times of COVID-19. It was decided that local level quarantine centres be established under the control of concerned  Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).

Chief Secretary impressed upon the DCs/SSPs to promote the use of Arogya Setu App by people to further facilitate contact tracing. He further said that unnecessary movement should be discouraged and proper social distancing norms be observed in public places/transaction points.

Chief Secretary entrusted upon Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir to ensure collection of 4000 and 6000 samples per day, respectively through daily monitoring.

During the meeting, it was informed that about 35000 brick kiln labourers are returning to Kashmir Valley, who should invariably be tested at Jawahar Tunnel before being sent to quarantine facility at respective destinations.

He directed DCs of Kathua, Jammu, Udhampur and Reasi to ramp up the testing capacities at all the arrival points including airport and railway stations in view of expected increase in tourist footfall.

The Chief Secretary called for efficient coordination between various implementing agencies viz. District Administration, Police, PRIs and Health Department for mitigating the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

Administrative Secretaries of departments of Health & Medical Education, Home, Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction and Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM) participated in the meeting.

Divisional Commissioners of Jammu, Kashmir and all Deputy Commissioners, Senior Superintendents of Police, attended the meeting through video conference.

Tally nears 10 lakh mark;  606 fresh deaths, toll 24915

New Delhi, July 16:  India recorded its highest ever single-day spike of 32,695 cases in the past 24 hrs that shot up the coronavirus tally to 9,68,876 on Thursday, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in its daily update.

The death toll went up to 24915, including 606 fatalities since Wednesday.

Out of the total cases, 6,12,814 have been cured, while 3,31,146 are currently active. In past 24 hours, 20,783 patients were declared cured, taking India’s recovery rate to 63.25 per cent.

Meanwhile, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research, a total of 1,27,39,490 samples have been tested for COVID till Wednesday.

New Delhi, July 16: The Centre on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that a committee has been formed to consider the issue of restoration of 4G Internet services in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

A bench headed by Justice N V Ramana was hearing the petition filed by the NGO, Freedom for Media Professionals (FMP), seeking a direction to initiate contempt of court proceedings for not complying with its earlier order of May last year.

High speed Internet in Jammu and Kashmir has been suspended since August 5, 2019 when the Centre announced revocation of its special status pertaining to Article 370 and bifurcation of the state into union territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.

The Top Court asked the Centre to file an affidavit detailing the Union Home Secretary headed high powered committee’s decisions reviewing the orders banning 4G internet services in India.

The Court, however, did not issue formal notice to the Centre or J&K on the contempt petition against the Centre.

It also asked and questioned the Centre as to why it had not made it public it’s funding to the issue.

Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta, senior law officer appearing for the Union of India (UOI) told the Apex Court that a high powered committee had been constituted and a decision has been taken in the light of the May last year’s judgement of the SC.

New Delhi, July 16: A limited number of international passenger flights will start operating through ‘air bubble’ with select countries — from July 17 for the US and July 18 for France, the government said on Thursday.

In a press conference here, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said America’s Delta Airlines will operate flights from Delhi to Newark and San Francisco on July 17 to 31.

There will be daily flights to Newark while there will be three flights a week to San Francisco.

Similarly, agreements have been signed with Air France for flights from Paris to Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.

The airline will operate 28 flights from these Indian cities to Paris between July 18 and August 1.

Negotiations with German airlines Lufthansa are also in the advanced stage, the minister said.

He said that on behalf of India, the state-run Air India will fly under the ‘air bubble’ and hoped that in the coming times, private airlines will also show interest in this.

Puri clarified that these would not be regular international flights and that regular flights are unlikely to start at the moment.

He said, “My guess is that international flights will operate under air bubble for some time, which will be replaced by regular service later. I do not know when the regular international flights will start. ”

Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola said that international flights are currently being launched within the limits of the rules and health procedures of the ‘bubble’, hence the name ‘air bubble’.

He said there are three important things in this — There should be a demand for travel between the two countries, the rules of the two countries allow the movement of each other’s passengers and the readiness for airline companies to operate flights.

Air travel ‘bubbles’ , on the lines of ‘air bridges’ or ‘Covid-safe travel zones’ have been conceptualised by countries that have managed to fully or partially contain the Covid-19 outbreak. They are formed by countries which have largely eliminated the virus, and trust in each other’s testing and case numbers.

New Delhi, July 16: Amid ongoing disengagement process between troops of India and China in Eastern Ladakh, the Indian Army on Thursday said that both the neighbouring countries are “committed to the objective of complete disengagement”.

“This process is intricate and requires constant verification. They are taking it forward through regular meetings at diplomatic and military level,” Indian Army spokesperson Col Aman Anand said.

Notably, India and China have been engaged in discussions through established military and diplomatic channels to address the prevailing situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh region.

On July 14, top commanders from both the armies held a 15-hour long meeting at Chushul on the Indian side for the fourth round of talks to review the ongoing process and modalities for further disengagement.

“The engagement was consistent with the consensus reached between the Special Representatives of India and China earlier, on July 5 to discuss complete disengagement,” Col Anand said.

The Senior Commanders reviewed the progress on implementation of the first phase of disengagement and discussed further steps to ensure complete disengagement, he added.

Chinese troops have pulled back from Galwan Valley, Gogra and Hot Springs and have also reduced their presence in the ridgeline of Finger Four in the Pangong Tso area.

The next phase of the disengagement process will focus on further withdrawal of troops from Pangong Tso.

Proposes privatization of J&K Cements Limited; Merger of Handloom and Handicrafts Corporations

Tasaduq Hussain

Srinagar, July 16: The Jammu & Kashmir government is mulling closure and privatization of the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs)under the administrative control of Industries and Commerce.

On the directions of Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu, the Raj Bhavan has written to commissioner secretary Industries and Commerce to prepare a roadmap for closure, privatization and merger of PSUs.

The changes, according to the letter, a copy of which is with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), are aimed at cutting the wasteful expenditure being incurred by the Industries and Commerce Department in running these loss making PSUs/corporations.

I&C department is administrative department for these PSUs. According to the communique, the Industries and Commerce department should devise a detailed road map with defined timelines for closure/ privatization/ merger of PSU/ Corporations.

“A detailed assessment of assets of the Corporations to be closed be also made for their disposal under rules. A comprehensive plan for their rehabilitation of the staff of the corporations to be closed/ merged be also worked out by the department,” the letter, available with the KNO, states.

The LG’s secretariat has proposed closure of  SICOP  which was set up in I975 for promotion and development of the small scale industries in Jammu & Kashmir.

“Jammu and Kashmir State Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCO) should manage all the industrial estates of the Union Territory to promote large medium and small scale industries. SICOP should be closed and all the industrial estates presently managed by SICOP should be transferred to SIDCO,” the communique states.

J&K SIDCO is the nodal agency for promotion & development of medium and large scale Industries in the state.

The letter also proposes closure of Jammu & Kashmir Minerals Limited which was incorporated as first PSU of Jammu and Kashmir in 1960 for exploiting  the mineral resources and to establish mineral based industries in Jammu and Kashmir.

“J&K minerals be closed and the mineral sites being managed by it be auctioned as per norms,” the letter states.

According to the letter, J&K Cements Limited be privatized after assessment of its assets in transparent manner. J&K Cements Limited was incorporated as a fully owned Government Company in December, 1974 in Jammu and Kashmir.

The LG’s secretariat has also proposed that the J&K industries Ltd. be closed and the industrial units run by it be privatized/auctioned.

Established in 1963, J&K Industries Limited is presently managing 16 manufacturing units. The Raj Bhavan has also proposed that  J&K Handicraft (S&E) corporation be merged with J&K state Handloom Development Corporation.

Meanwhile, Industries and Commerce department has constituted a committee to finalise modalities for merger of Handicrafts Corporation and Handloom Development Department Corporation.

The committee is headed by administrative secretary Industries and Commerce and comprises representatives from different departments—(KNO)

Precious Kashmir News
Kupwara, July 16: The Army on Thursday said that it foiled an infiltration bid by killing a militant in an ongoing operation along the line of control (LoC) at Keran sector in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

In a statement the army said that suspicious movement of unidentified persons was detected across the LoC at Keran sector of Kupwara this morning which was intercepted during which one militant got killed.

The statement said that “suspicious move of unidentified persons detected across the LoC at Keran Sector, Kupwara this morning.”

It said that the militants trying to infiltrate were intercepted by their own troops, contact was established and the infiltration bid was foiled. “During the exchange of gunfire, one militant got killed and one AK was recovered from the site of encounter. The operation in the area is under progress,” it read.

‘Robust mechanism in place for redressal of public issues, carrying out developmental activities in right earnest’

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, July 16:  Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu today observed that the Government has put in place robust mechanism at all administrative levels for the redressal of public grievances, besides carrying out developmental activities in right earnest with active public participation.

The Lt Governor was on his visit to Shopian district where he interacted with 17 public delegations and took stock of their demands and issues. The visit is the latest in the series of regular assessment of developmental needs of the people in the districts by the Lt Governor.

He was accompanied by Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan; Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K. Pole; IGP Kashmir, Vijay Kumar; Deputy Commissioner Shopian, Choudhary Mohammad Yasin, HoDs, Chief Engineers and other senior officers. Former MLC, Zaffar Iqbal Manhas was also present on the occasion.

Earlier, the Lt Governor e-inaugurated nine developmental projects worth Rs. 44.72 cr. and also laid foundation stones of four projects worth Rs. 48.77 cr.

While interacting with the members of the delegations, the Lt Governor said that the UT Government is working on the agenda of equitable development and a proportional allocation of resources has been ensured for the welfare of every section of the society.

The process of rapid development has been set in motion with various new projects of public importance being executed to benefit the public at large, he added.

The delegations included- representatives of PRIs, Fruit growers Association, Cold Store Unit Holders, Gagren Unit Holders, Traders association, Civil Society, Non Migrant Kashmiri Pandits, NGOs, residents of villages, Sports & Youth organizations, NYC,  Gujjar-Bakarwal Community & Pahari speaking people projected various demands pertaining to empowerment of PRIs & proper security of its members; augmentation of healthcare infrastructure, irrigation facilities, power & water supply;  establishment of Women’s Degree College in Shopian;  loans to farmers at lowest interest rates; strengthening road connectivity; development of Shopian Town;  early completion of Girls Hostel, beautification of Jamia Masjid; augmentation of sports infrastructure & special relief package for artisans to compensate losses due to COVID-19 lockdown etc.

The Lt Governor observed that the government is taking comprehensive measures by reaching out to the people with a prompt public delivery mechanism to resolve their issues and meet their developmental needs. He asked the people to play an important part in the development process through their active participation. He issued on the spot directions in respect of the issues projected during the interaction and asked the concerned officers to remove the bottlenecks in a time bound manner.

The Lt Governor directed for preparing a comprehensive plan to facilitate the youth of Shopian District with augmented sports facilities. He exhorted upon the concerned officers for early completion of all ongoing developmental works & languishing projects, besides prioritizing the local issues and B2V works. He directed for completion of approach road to Mega Fruit Mandi Aglar & construction of protection wall immediately to make the said Fruit Mandi functional before the upcoming season. He further directed the concerned officers for executing the beautification work of Jamia Masjid Shopian, besides maintaining proper hygiene in and around the Masjid.

On the demands projected by former MLC, Zaffar Iqbal Manhas with regard to road connectivity of Shadab Karewa village & macadamization of roads & other developmental works, the Lt Governor directed the concerned officers for completion of the said works within the time period of two months positively.

The Lt Governor urged the religious and spiritual leaders of the district to aware the people on adopting the necessary precautions with regard to spread of COVID-19. He also asked the Police department to make announcements through their vehicles on daily basis to spread awareness among the people and further advised the people to follow all COVID related SOP’s issued by the Government.

The members of the delegations also expressed their gratitude towards the Government for commissioning of two Power Receiving Stations, one at Mastpora Keller and other at Arhama Shopian.

The nine projects worth Rs. 44.72 cr  e-inaugurated today included 12×30 Mtr Multi-span Reshinagri Bridge over Nallah Veshoo; 1×45 Mtr span Zainapora bridge over Nallah Tongri; 2.25 Mtr Span Rebon Bridge Grider Decked over Nallah Tongri; Gujjar & Bakerwal hostel Shirmal Shopian; WSS Nowgam Rangamarg; Water supply Scheme Shirmal Sherpathri; Hr Sec School Heerpora; Handicrafts Office building at Gagren Shopian and Tourist Reception Centre Padpawan.

Meanwhile, foundation stones of four projects worth Rs. 48.77 cr were laid today including- Doctors Residential quarters at District Hospital Shopian (6 Sets); transit accommodation at Degam Shopian; Shirmal to Vishroo road and Narwah-Reshinagri road under PMGSY.