24 positive cases under treatment, recovering well: Director

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Apr 6: Expressing satisfaction that SKIMS, Soura has fairly been able to contain, control and treat COVID 19 cases, Director Dr A G Ahanger today said that out of 283 suspected patients, 238 have been discharged and 24 positive patients who are under treatment are all recovering well.

Dr Ahangar said that the very first positive case, the lady who had travel history has been already discharged after recovery and is now under administrative quarantine. Regarding the positive case of a young food vendor, he said that his situation was serious at the time of admission but now he is recovering well.

Regarding treatment of non-COVID patients Dr Ahangar said that the institute has taken many steps. “Wherever it is possible, we should try to delay or postpone hospital visit of a non-COVID patient but we continue to run all emergency services, OPDs and cancer management treatment. To avoid unnecessary visits to the hospital, we have dedicated seven telephone lines for tele medicine consultation and also get patients in touch with doctors who have been treating them,” he said.

The Director said that SKIMS has been handling life consuming ailments, be it cancer, kidney failure, heart attacks, strokes, road accidents, neuro-trauma and other end stage ailments and multi-level organ failures without a fail. He said these patients reach out to SKIMS for treatment which is largest 24×7 hrs centre in UT of J&K and the institute has 36 ventilators for such patients.

When COVID-19 epidemic started, Dr Ahangar said that the institute dedicated six ventilators and around 30 bedded facility for such patients. He said that as per the severity of the disease the patients are being treated at 1, 2, 3 and 4 levels of isolation. “For the severe level 4 patients with severe respiratory syndrome, the dedicated ventilators are used. At the same time the institute has purchased around 20 more ventilators and we are getting three more from voluntary organisations. And many other NGOs are willing to help us in these types of equipment, consumable items and disposable items and so on and so forth. We are trying to accommodate as much of material to provide better medical care to severely affected patients.”

While praising the frontline health workers, doctors, nurses and other medical staff for their dedication in these hours of medical challenge, the Director said that people of Jammu and Kashmir are also fairly disciplined, well-educated which has resulted in good understanding, cooperation and coordination. “At SKIMS we have manpower second to none in the world, we have the distinguished faculty who are leader in their own services and all of it helps in preparing the institute to deal with any kind of situation. We are blessed to have this institution and our people, by and large, understand its value. With such qualities SKIMS is a brand name all over the world,” he said.

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Apr 6: All entries and exits leading into and out of Chattabal area of Srinagar were Monday sealed. The sealing of the area comes in the wake of its declaration as containment zone after several cases of COVID-19 affected persons were reported therefrom.

District Magistrate Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary who issued an order in this regard Monday said the sealing of the area is aimed at preventing spread of the coronavirus infection out of this area having reported several positive cases.

He said it is also aimed at enabling smooth conduct of the survey in the area being a declared containment zone as ordered by the government.

It is notable that the proposed survey is aimed at determining whether the infection has spread in the area and whether there is a need for isolating any of its residents.

Dr Shahid said a plan has been formulated for ensuring smooth supplies of essential commodities and services in the area adding that the same will be done under supervision to ensure strict adherence to the sealing order. He said medical teams will also move in the area under strict supervision.

Meanwhile, soon after the order was issued the district police made announcements about it and instructions given there under in the area in order to make the residents aware about it to ensure strict adherence.

17 arrested, vehicles seized for defying Govt orders

Mubashir Aalam Wani

Srinagar, Apr 5: The restrictions continued to remain in place across Jammu and Kashmir for the 20th straight day in wake of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic, which has so far claimed two lives in Kashmir and infected over 100 people including two minors.

According to KNO restrictions under section 144 continued in Jammu and Kashmir with authorities deploying police and paramilitary troopers on the roads to enforce the restrictions and lockdown.

Witnesses said that the forces deployed on roads had also erected concertina wires on the roads, which thwarted pedestrians as well as the vehicular movement.

Besides, many of the people were arrested by Jammu and Kashmir police after they were found violating the government’s prohibitory orders issued under section 144 CrPC.

Srinagar Police have arrested 17 persons including a shopkeeper and also seized 09 vehicles for defying the restrictions imposed in view of Covid-19.

In the jurisdiction of Police Station Nishat and Harwan, Police have arrested three persons including a shopkeeper and seized one vehicle for violating government’s prohibitory orders. “Cases under relevant sections of law have been registered in respective police stations and investigation has been initiated,” police said.

In the jurisdiction of Police Station Ram Munshi Bagh and Nowgam, Police have arrested none persons and also seized eight vehicles for violating Govt orders issued. “Cases under relevant sections of law have been registered in respective police stations and further investigation has been initiated,” police added.

Police said that in jurisdiction of Police Station Khanyar, five persons were arrested while cases under relevant sections of law have been registered in PS Khanyar and further investigation has been initiated.

Moreover, officials said that at least six vehicles were seized by police in Tral area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama districts, adding that the vehicles were seized for defying the restrictions today—(KNO)

Ishtiyaq Ahmad

Srinagar, Apr 6:  The top officials here in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir have set an example in managing the governance related affairs with very less “human intervention” by using the technology including video conferencing and social networking site Whats App to ensure that governance doesn’t succumb to COVID-19 pandemic in J&K.

Government sources told Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS), that from Rajbhawan, where Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu stays, to civil secretariat office to heads of all important departments, like Health, Education agriculture, horticulture, floriculture etc, all are using technology like video conferencing and Whats App ensuring that governance doesn’t become the victim.

A senior official said that at a time when social distancing is need of the hour, LG Murmu takes stock of the situation emerging across J&K every day through video conferencing.

“He seeks information and passes directions to the Chief Secretary, principal secretaries, officials from the health department, Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners of every district, almost every day,” the official said, adding that important directions are passed to the officers from the crucial departments including health, medical education, Consumer Affairs and Public Administration, police, disaster management.

“LG Murmu chairs video conferencing every day twice—morning and evening with the officials concerned,” the official said.

Similarly, every Head of the Department (HoDs), Principal Secretaries, Directors and Managing directors have created Whats App groups and have added their respective employees. “Directions are being passed everyday about work to be done and to be taken up. This has reduced the human intervention to a large extent and work too hasn’t suffered,” said a top officer.

A senior employee said that they have been added by the official group and everyday, they get directions what to do for the day. “This is the easy step to stay in touch with each other,” he said.

“Work too hasn’t suffered beyond a certain limit despite the fact that J&K is fighting against the worst ever pandemic,” he said.

Jammu, Apr 6: Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu, has announced to donate 30 % of his salary for the next 1 year towards the fight against the spread of COVID-19.

The Lt Governor observed that collective effort is imperative to fight the dreaded virus, and as a citizen, it is our responsibility to contribute our bit to combat the emerging situation.

With an aim to contribute towards the steps being taken to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the country, I shall, out of my own volition, be contributing 30% of my monthly salary for a period of one year towards the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s Relief Fund, he said.

Umer Maqbool

Srinagar, Apr 6 : Amid outbreak of deadly coronavirus, the Jammu & Kashmir government on Monday revoked the Public Safety Act (PSA) detention orders of 18 persons lodged in different jails of the Union Territory.

Highly placed sources disclosed to wire-service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that government has revoked detention orders of 18 persons languishing in three jails of Jammu & Kashmir. “Of them, 16 are lodged in Central Jail Srinagar and one each in Kotbhalwal jail Jammu and special Jail (Correctional Home)Pulwama,” they disclosed.

With this development, the number of PSA detainees released after the outbreak of coronavirus has reached 65. Last week, the J&K High Court directed the High Powered Committee (HPC), convened to de-congest jails by releasing prisoners on parole in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, to examine the allegations that no detainee booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA) was being considered for any parole.

As per KNO, earlier, the HPC maintained that release of detainees under the Public Safety Act(PSA) does not fall within the terms of guidelines issued by the Supreme Court to decongest jails.

The panel is headed by executive chairman State Legal Services Authority Justice Rajesh Bindal and comprises Principal Secretary Home Shaleen Kabra and Director General of Prisons VK Singh Presently, former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, six top mainstream leaders and others are detained under the PSA. Several other mainstream leaders including Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone also continue to be under detention.

On February 5, Union Home Ministry had informed the Parliament that 389 people are in detention under the PSA in different jails of J&K and Uttar Pradesh—(KNO)