New Delhi, July 3: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Friday announced extension of the suspension of scheduled international passenger flights in the country till July 31.

However, some international scheduled services on selected routes may be permitted on a case to case basis, the DGCA said in a notification.

On March 23, India has suspended scheduled passenger flights due to the coronavirus crisis and a subsequent lockdown in the country.

On June 26, the DGCA said it was suspending international passenger flights till July 15.

“…. the competent authority has extended the validity of circular issued on the subject cited above regarding scheduled international commercial passenger services to/from India till 2359 hrs IST of 31st July, 2020. This restriction shall not apply to international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by DGCA. However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on case to case basis,’ according to the circular.

Scheduled domestic passenger flights were resumed in the country on May 25 after a gap of two months.

Air India and other private domestic airlines have been operating unscheduled international repatriation flights under the Vande Bharat Mission, which was started on May 6 by the Centre.

Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar, July 2: Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday reported ten deaths due to COVID-19, taking the fatality count due to the virus in J&K to 117. Nine of these casualties took place in Kashmir and one in Jammu division which was actually confirmed two days after a 63-year-old from Doda died in an Army hospital.
Regarding those reported from the Valley, five were reported at SKIMS Soura, three at SMHS hospital and one at CD hospital, one of the exclusive facilities for the COVID-19 management here.
Talking to GNS, Professor Farooq Jan, Medical Superintendent SKIMS Soura, a 75-year-old man from Kawoosa area of Budgam district died at the hospital around 7:25 p.m. this evening, five days after he was admitted. “The patient was diagnosed MND with CAP and he died due to cardiopulmonary arrest,” he said.
Earlier, a said 65-year-old man from Nadigam Shopian, who was admitted in Infectious Disease Block of the hospital on July 1 as a case of Coronary Artery Disease with bilateral Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) with Type-1 Respiratory Failure, passed away at 4.45 pm, he said.
Prior to him, Professor Jan said that a 65-year-old resident of Tarigam Kulgam, who was admitted on June 23, died at the hospital. “He was referred from GMC Anantnag in view of B/L CAP with ARDS. The patient was Covid positive and died at 2:30 p.m.,” he said.
Earlier, 55-year-old and 65-year-old men from Kulgam and Baramulla districts respectively died at the tertiary care hospital.
He said that the quinquagenarian from Yaripora area of Kulgam was admitted on June 22 and died 12:10 a.m. “He was known case of hypertension with (type-2 diabetes) with multifocal Encephalopathy (brain disease),” he said.
Another patient—the sexagenarian from Baramulla’s Sopore town also died ten days after admission to the hospital.
“The patient was hypertensive, T2DM (type-2 diabetes) with Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and he had sudden cardiopulmonary arrest at 3:05 a.m.” Professor Jan said.
Meanwhile, a resident of Habba Kadal area of Srinagar, a 60-year-old man died at CD hospital. Dr Salim Tak, hospital’s Medical Superintendent said that man was admitted on June 29.
“He was diabetic, hypertensive and was suffering pneumonia and other ailments,” he added.

Dr Nazir Choudhary, Medical Superintendent SMHS hospital, said that a 65-year-old man with “bilateral pneumonia” from Kulgam district died this afternoon. “His sample was taken as soon as he was admitted to the hospital yesterday and it came out to be positive for the virus,” he said.

Earlier, Dr Choudhary said, a 75-year-old man from Wadwan Budgam district and a 65-year-old from Batamaloo Srinagar with underlying ailments including hypertension and bilateral pneumonia died at the hospital. “The woman was also suffering from Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Both of them were admitted yesterday (Wednesday),” he added.

Meanwhile sources said that a swab sample reports of a 63-year-old man from Doda returned positive for the virus. He was actually admitted to GMC Jammu on June 20 and later shifted to Udhampur army hospital. Having suffered the brain hemorrhage, the sexagenarian died on June 30, the sources added.
With the deaths, 117 people so far have succumbed to the virus in J&K— 103 from the Valley and 14 from Jammu division.
Srinagar district with 27 deaths has the highest fatalities followed by Baramulla (18), Kulgam (16), Shopian (13), Budgam (10), Anantnag (9),  Jammu(8), Kupwara (6), Pulwama (four), Doda (2) while one death each has been reported from Bandipora, Poonch, Udhampur, Rajouri and Kathua.

Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar, July: At least 28 army and paramilitary personnel besides a senior National Conference leader were among 154 new covid-19 cases reported from Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. The cases which also include five service providers take the overall tally of the covid-19 cases in J&K to 7850.

Sources said while 20 cases are from Jammu Division, bulk, 134 are from Kashmir Valley.

Giving the district wise details of the news cases, officials said that 51 were reported from Srinagar followed by Baramulla 19, Anantnag 17, Kulgam    15, Budgam 12, Pulwama 10, Ganderbal       7, Doda 6, Samba 5, four each in Jammu and Udhampur, Bandipora 2 and Ramban 1.

Of all the cases, 65 were confirmed at SKIMS, CD and SKIMS Bemina laboratories besides others.

Dr. G H Yatoo, Nodal Officer Coronavirus Control Measures at SKIMS Soura told GNS that out of the 2569 samples were processed at the viral diagnostic laboratory of the hospital, 65 returned positive for the virus.

Professor Farooq Jan, Medical Superintendent SKIMS Soura, said that 16 each of them are from Anantnag and Srinagar, 13 from Kulgam, eight from Rashtriya Rifles and CRPF, two each from Pulwama, Ganderbal and Budgam besides one each from Kupwara, Shopian, Bandipora, Baramulla, Udhampur and Jammu.

The cases from Anantnag include female (26) from Shirpora , two males (36, 14) from Eidgah Bijbehara , female (59) from Akingam , male (50) from Sofi Mohallah , female (40) from Vail Nagbal , male (38) from Nambal, two males (18, 15) and two females (49, 32) from Dirhama,  male (25) and female (50) from Srigufwara , male (37) from Shangus , male (58) from Ara Kodhpora , male (26) from Dalvach Qazigund , female (24) from Sangdan Qazigund and male (NA) from Dailgam.

The Srinagar cases include male (16) from Natipora , two males (38, 58) and female (58) from Zakura , male (28) from Peerbagh , two males (42, NA) and two female (35,11) from Harwan,  male (36) from Saderbal, female (39) from Bota Kadal , male (19) and female (26) from 90-Feet Soura , female (NA) from Habba Kadal , male (77) from Hyderpora and female (70) from Dalgate

The cases from Kulgam include male (32) and female (30) from Gudder, female (28) from KB Pora , female (33) from HM Guri , female (25) from Watoo , male (39) from Chahmullah , female (28) from Sangus, female (30) from Brazloo Buchroo , male (38) from Devsar , male (39) from Bihar Hablish  and female (25) from Durhama Nihama.

Eight cases from Rashtriya Rifles and CRPF include five males (30, 36, 27, 33, 33) from 42 RR Rajpora Pulwama besides male (52) from 182 Bn CRPF Pulwama, male (28) from 61 Bn CRPF Srinagar, and male (43) from 40 Bn CRPF Anantnag.

The two cases from Pulwama include male (48) from Tral  and male from Washbugh while Budgam cases include female (40) from Magam and female (27) from Budgam. The Kupwara case include male (21) from Handwara, that of Shopian: male (20) from Rawalpora while two cases from Ganderbal include male (27) from Woyil and male (65) from Alastang  while Bandipora cases is female (50) from Mader Bandipora, one from Udhampur—male (41) from Udhampur , Jammu one is male (29), Baramulla one— female (29) from Sopore.

Dr Riyaz Untoo, Principal SKIMS Bemina, said that out of  503 samples processed at the hospital’s lab, 27 tested positive for COVID-19— 23 from Budgam and 12 from Srinagar.

Among the cases include 14 from paramilitary BSF personnel stationed at Sanat Nagar—men aged (50, 34, 53, 36, 43, 40, 55, 31, 53, 54, 51, 31, 40 and 30).

The other cases from Budgam include male (64) from Bunmakhama, male (65) from Batpora Chadoora, female (11) from Nayak Bagh Srinagar, four males (20, 20, 39, 24) from Batpora Chadoora and females (8 and 32) from Batpora Chadoora while Srinagar cases include two males (52 and 45) from Bishembar Nagar, female (45) from Rangpora Ellahibagh and male M (34) from Soura.   1. 01 female  (45) from Ladoora Rafiabad Baramulla

The cases confirmed at CD hospital include female (55) from Saloora, male (24) from Police line Ganderbal, male (69) from Baramulla, female (60) from Barbarshah Srinagar, female (55) and six males (30, 28, 38, 42, 25, 26) from BB CANT Srinagar, two female (78, 37) from Batamaloo Srinagar,

female (50) from Soura, male (46) from Gulburg Colony , female (age and address not available), male (50) from Sangrama , female (50) from Habkadal, female (70) from Safakadal, male (NA) from Budgam , female (60) from Baramulla , male (33) from Qazigund , male (65) from Kulgam, female (50) from Pattan , male (47) from Mominabad Batamaloo, Male (30) from Rohama Rafiabad, male (40) from Khanpora, male (17) and two female (07, 28) from Sangri Colony, male (48) from Fatehgarh, female (26) from Achabal Sopore , male (33) from Chesti Colony , female (60) from Bagh-I-Islam, two Male (33, 66) and two female (36, 65) from Srinagar, male (41) from Batpora Ganderbal, male (32) from Waskura,  female (60) from Bamloora, male (30) from Gutlibagh, two males (28, 20) from Pattan, female (14) from Chichilora, male (17) from Palhallan and male (75) from Wadwan Budgam.
Meanwhile, 118 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and were discharged from various hospitals—38 from Jammu Division and 80 from Kashmir.

New Delhi, July 2: Stressing on early hospitalization of the Covid 19 patients to reduce the mortality rate, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said that more testing of those suspected of this disease must be done to reduce infection rate in the NCR region.

Chairing a review meeting with Chief Ministers of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for a unified strategy for COVID19 in the National Capital Region (NCR) today, he further said that adoption of testing via Rapid Antigen Test Kits will help in reducing infection transmission rate below 10 percent as suggested by World Health Organization and nearly 90 percent of screening can possibly be done through these kits.

He also assured the UP and Haryana CMs that Rapid Antigen Test Kits can be provided to them as much as they want.

While emphasising on wide use of Arogya Setu and Itihas Apps to help COVID19 mapping in the NCR, Mr Shah also said that the AIIMS Delhi Telemedicine consultation model being used in Delhi for COVID patients should be replicated in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana also.

“UP and Haryana can join AIIMS-Telemedicine COVID consultation through which patients can get advice by expert doctors. The training for doctors in small hospitals in UP and Haryana can be provided by AIIMS with the help of Tele-videography”, he said.

NITI Aayog Member Dr VK Paul, also gave a presentation on the strategy of tackling COVID19 in NCR. He provided details of best practices adopted in Delhi-NCR and the way ahead.

Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Harshvardhan, the UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and senior officials of Centre and states were also present in the meeting.

Srinagar, July 2: After spurt in number of COVID cases in the area, the Shehr-e-Khaas Traders and Manufacturers Coordination Committee (SKTMCC) on Thursday appealed the traders in Budshah Tomb market in old city to follow the advisories in letter and spirit.

The association held a meeting today in which all the forum members including Chairman Nazir Ahmad Shah, President Bashir Ahmad Kenu, General Secretary Aijaz Pampori, Chief organizer Shafat Ahmad 90 feet, Zahoor Hussain Zadibal, Tariq Buch Chief Advisor, Sajad Khan Gojwara, Hamza Gojwara, Nazir Ahmad Wani Makdoom Kocha, Tariq Ahmad Bhat Nagbal, Afaq Ahmad Bhat Rajouri Kadal, Rameez Bhat Qamarwari, Hilal Ahmad Wacha Nawpora, Sheikh Sajad Nawa Kadal, Arif Wani, Furqaan Abbas, Rouf Rashid, Asif Alikadal and Irshad Bhandari were present.

The meeting as per a statement issued to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that following the government advisories in letter and spirit is the only way out to prevent the virus from spreading.

The other issue discussed during the meeting was water scarcity in every Srinagar area.

The meeting urged the concerned department to look in to the matter and redress the grievances of people at an earliest.

New Delhi, July 2: India’s COVID-19 tally on Thursday shot past the six-lakh cases mark, after witnessing a sharp spike of 19,148 infections in the past 24 hours, the health ministry update said here.

According to the health ministry, the number of confirmed cases stand at 6,04,641.

The death toll due to the pandemic have also surged to 17,834 as 434 people lost their lives to the virus since Wednesday.

However, on the brighter side recoveries have witnessed improvement as 3,59,860 COVID-19 patients have been cured and discharged so far, which is 132913 more as compared to the present cases under active medical supervision across the country which stands at 2,26,947.

Till Wednesday, 9056173 samples have been tested for Coronavirus , the Indian Council of Medical Research data said.

New Delhi, July 2: Amid heightened tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh, India on Thursday again asked China to ensure “expeditious restoration” of peace and tranquility in the border areas and honour bilateral agreements.

Several rounds of military and diplomatic talks were held in an effort to ease the border stalemate at multiple locations in Ladakh region.

“We expect the Chinese side to sincerely follow up and ensure expeditious restoration of peace and tranquility in border areas as per bilateral agreements and protocols,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava told reporters during the virtual weekly press briefing.

The troops of India and China have been engaged into standoff along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh.

In a violent face-off on June 15, 20 Indian soldiers were killed. However, Chinese side also suffered casualties but they have yet not give out any details.

Three times the Corps Commanders of two armies met to discuss the process of disengagement and de-escalation.

“India and China have been having discussions through established diplomatic and military channels to address the situation along the LAC in India-China border areas,” he further added.

Aiming to ensure safety and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace, the government has banned 59 Chinese apps, including Tik Tok and Cam Scanner.

India is one of the most open regimes to attract FDI. India is the world’s largest market for digital technology. World’s largest software companies are present but “they have to follow our rules on privacy,” the spokesperson added.

On being asked about the app ban, Srivastava said, “While operating in India one has to abide by our rules and regulations issued by relevant ministries and departments, including those pertaining to data security and privacy of individual data.”

New Delhi, July 2: India on Thursday said it will continue to welcome foreign investments in the country, including in the area of internet technologies, but this will have to be in accordance with the rules and regulatory framework established by the Government.

Answering a query on the banning of 59 Chinese apps, including the popular Tik Tok, External Affairs Ministry’s spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said the concerned ministry of Information Technology and Electronics would be able to answer the specifics.

In a virtual weekly media briefing, the spokesperson pointed out that India has one of the most open regimes in the world for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

“In the last few years, the Government has taken a host of measures for creating of a more investor-friendly regime. Similarly in the area of digital technology and internet, India has adopted a very open regime. India is today one of the world’s largest markets for digital and internet technologies with more than 680 million subscribers. The world’s largest software and internet applications companies are present in India,’ he said.

Srivastava said that naturally while operating in India they have to abide by the rules and regulations issued by the relevant Ministries and Departments, including those pertaining to data security and privacy of individual data.

Earlier in the day, Union IT and Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said India’s move to ban China-linked apps days after a violent face-off between the troops of the two countries in Eastern Ladakh was a “digital strike’.

The Minister said the government banned Chinese apps to protect data of countrymen.