Srinagar, Mar 26 :The grandmother of wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) correspondent from South Kashmir, Jehangeer Ganaie passed away on Thursday morning.KNO management expressed grief over the demise of its correspondent’s grandmother and prayed for her eternal soul.
The Management including its Editor-in-Chief Nasir Azam expressed solidarity with the bereaved family and prayed for their courage to bear this irreparable loss
KNO Correspondent bereaved
PSAJK condoles the tragic demise of Haji Mohammad Ashraf Anim of Sopore
Srinagar: Private Schools’ Association of Jammu & Kashmir (PSAJK) today expressed its profound condolence on the tragic demise of Haji Mohammad Ashraf Anim of Sopore. The deceased was a highly reputed religious and social personality of the area, lived an exemplary life and had dedicated his whole life for the cause of Islam. He was a generous businessman and was always at the forefront of public service. He was a messiah to the poor and needy. His death is a great loss not only to the family but entire society. While condoling the sad demise President Private Schools’ Association, G N Var, Vice President Anayatullah Hajni, District President Prof G M Malik, District Secretary.
Cross LoC firing rattles Uri
BY: Arshad Farooq
Baramulla: Pakistan troops on Thursday violated ceasefire and resorted to indiscriminate shelling and firing at forward posts in border town of Uri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, officials said.
They said that Pakistan troops resorted to unprovoked shelling and firing, targeting forward posts and civilian areas at Hajipeer area in Uri sector. “Appropriate response was given by Indian soldiers in both the areas. However, the damage suffered by Pakistan troops was not immediately known,” officials added.
In Valley of unease, ‘Covid bomb’ triggers fresh mental trauma
BY: Al-Misda Masoon
Srinagar: The invisible tentacles of Covid-19 continue to throttle physically the human race throughout the globe and Kashmir is no exception. What has added more to the problems of people of Kashmir is that the place was already plagued by the perpetual strife of past three decades leaving a large chunk of population in various mental ailments.
As per the doctors, Covid-19 has tripled the level of stress among the people which has resulted in the sudden increase in the mental trauma in the ailing Kashmir. The lingering shadows left by the strife over the years have witnessed therefore a phenomenal increase in psychiatric morbidity.
According to a 2015 survey by Medicines Sans Frontiers, nearly 1.8 million adults in Kashmir that is 45 per cent of the population have shown symptoms of mental distress. More than 41 per cent of the population showed signs of depression, 26 per cent showed signs of anxiety and 19 per cent showed probably symptoms of post –traumatic stress disorder.
Kashmir has already seen one death that of an middle aged man while as two minors including an infant were tested positive taking the total positive cases registered in the Valley to 10.
Amidst lockdowns and social distancing coupled by the rumour mongering, increasing number of positive Covid-19 cases, the fear of death and now death of a positive case in the valley, these figures are sure to increase.
Dr.Yasir Wani, a prominent pediatrician in Kashmir said that Kashmir already has a history of mental illness which can shoot-up in situations like Covid-19 that can also lead to suicidal tendencies.
“With proper knowledge about Covid-19, we can decrease risk of mental illness in Valley. We should stop taking Covid-19 as a death sentence as it has the mortality rate of only 2 per cent,” he said.
The current mental health scenario of Kashmir is bound to get ugly by day since Kashmiris have a habit of being reluctant in accepting their mental illness because of the social stigma attached, resulting in their delayed treatments.
Kashmir’s leading psychiatrist Dr Arshad Hussain also acknowledged this behavior of Kashmiris and said, “Stigma is a big impediment to treatment and might be catastrophic if we continue with othering and mental isolation instead of physical isolation”.
Release Mehbooba, others immediately: Omar
Srinagar: Reiterating his demand that former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and other detainees should be released immediately, National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah on Thursday said till then let’s not make it tougher for her and her family by believing stories planted by people who don’t have a clue about what’s happening.Omar was reacting to some news reports, claiming that Mehbooba, who is the PDP president, would be released. “@MehboobaMufti & all the others in detention MUST be released immediately. Till then let’s not make it tougher for her & her family by believing stories planted by people who don’t have a clue about what’s happening,” Omar, who is also a former chief minister, wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.Responding to Omar’s tweet, Iltija Mufti, daughter of Mehbooba Mufti, said, “That’s very kind of you. Speculations don’t help anyone. On a lighter note, most said ‘She’s already at Fairview’ with such conviction, I thought she was hiding at home,”
In a series of tweets, Omar said it’s difficult enough for the families to deal with the detention of their loved ones without getting well intentioned but misplaced and incorrect messages of congratulations because of these planted release stories. “What some journalists did to @MehboobaMufti & her family yesterday was so unfair. When will these people learn that their
Don’t upload photographs of Covid-19 affected: J&K police
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday warned those uploading the photographs Covid-19 affected people.
“It is ethically and morally wrong to upload the photographs of those who are affected with Covid-19 on social media platforms. We will take action against them as per law,” In- Charge Kashmir Cyber Police, Tahir Ashraf Told KINS over phone.
Kashmir on Thursday, registered first Covid-19 death in a hospital that of a person who was part of Tableegi Jamaat and had a great travel history outside J&K.
As of now, ten persons have tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the Kashmir Valley while the tally of such patients in the entire J&K has gone up to 11. Three cases were reported from Jammu earlier this month.(KINS)
14 persons arrested in Awantipora for violating restriction orders
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday claimed to have arrested fourteen persons in Awantipora of south Kashmir district Ananatnag for violating the prohibitory orders issued by the government to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.A police spokesman in a statement said, “In order to control the spread of Covid 19, Awantipora Police today arrested fourteen persons who were offering Zuhr prayers in Gade Mohalla Masjid Awantipora despite clear orders of District Magistrate Pulwama as well as various announcements made by Awantipora Police for offering prayers at home only.”“Today during patrolling police found 14 persons have assembled at Gade Mohalla Masjid for prayers. No sooner they came out of masjid sharif they were arrested and taken to Police Station for legal action,” said the spokesman.Case FIR number 38/2020 under section 188,270 IPC stands registered at Police Station Awantipora, he said.People of Police District Awantipora are requested to follow various Government advisories to control the spread of Covid-19. People are also requested to stay at their respective homes and offer prayers at their homes, said the spokesman in a statement.
Families worried over safety of Kashmiri students, businessmen stranded outside valley
SRINAGAR : Families of hundreds Kashmiri students and businessmen, are worried over their safety who are stranded in various countries and states in India.
There are hundreds of Kashmiri students in Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and several other countries, who are stranded there because of travel ban in view of coronavirus.“My nephew is studying in Kyrgyzstan. We don’t know how he lives there. We are worried over his safety,” said Javid Ahmad, a resident of Baramulla said
He said students studying there are living under fear that they may get infected. “They want to return because of travel ban they are now allowed. My nephew told us that they are running short of money. We don’t know who will feed them there,” he told Kashmir Indepth News Service.
One of the students studying at Medical University Kyrgyzstan said their hostels have been turned into quarantine centers.“There are over 800 Kashmiri students here. We don’t know where to go. We are being asked to leave hostels. We have been left at the mercy of God,” the student said.Similarly, Kashmiri students have been stranded in Bangladesh due to the sealing of borders amid the 21-day lockdown announced to combat Covid.“We were asked to vacate hostels by the college administration in Bangladesh, but were not allowed to go India,” one of the students said.
On March 17, the central government temporarily banned the entry of passengers from various corona affected countries as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the virus.To stop the spread of Covid, a 21-day lockdown had been announced in the country, with all flights cancelled and borders with other countries sealed.Similarly, thousands of Kashmiri students, vendors and businessmen are stranded in various parts of the country as domestic flights have also been suspended and bordering of states sealed.“We had tickets from Bangalore to Srinagar on March 25 but could not travel. We are now stuck in a hotel room and as running short of money,” Mohammad Rafi, a student studying in Bangalore said
On right track
In keeping with what some state governments as well as global economies, the Jammu and Kashmir government has announced cash grant of Rs 1000 each to 3.50 lakh workers registered with Building & Other Construction Workers Welfare Board.
It has also decided to request Banks to allow facility of overdraft, which is granted on person’s request, to all persons with Jan-Dhan accounts. There are 22.10 lakh Jan-Dhan accounts in J&K, out of which 16.05 lakh accounts are with J&K Bank and rest of 6.05 lakh accounts with other banks.
Also, the government has requested Regional Director Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), to provide 2.26 lakh workers registered with ESIC, to ensure that all ESIC hospitals and employers extend relief, compensation including wages as envisaged in the ESIC scheme, promptly to all the insured persons as per directions of Central Government.
Besides, the government has ordered payment of two instalments of pension relating to old age, disability and women in distress for nearly 7.7 lakh persons including 1.7 lakh pending cases.
Rs.45 crore have been also released for the purpose of covering cost of quarantine, cluster containment operation, food, lodging etc. for management of COVID-19 under Disaster Response Fund. Apart from it, under Disaster Response Fund, government has ordered free ration to destitute, daily wage earners under distress, slum dwellers etc.
The administration has also decided that the process of providing two months ration to all persons covered under PDS and children covered under Mid-Day Meal scheme shall be completed immediately.
In a relief regarding entertainment of bills which could not be presented in Treasuries during 2019-20, the government has said that there are nearly 6500 DDOs attached with 121 Treasuries. In view of lock down, many bills will not get presented as DDOs may not be able to function fully. Therefore, it has been decided that all bills pertaining to authorized works or procurement of goods and services as per rules that could not be presented due to lock down, shall be entertained during 2020-21.
These measures are beyond doubt important and in right earnest. The government would do well to use the crisis as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address public’s well-being.
Covid-19: Kashmir reports first death after 65-year-old patient dies at Srinagar hospital
Srinagar: Kashmir valley reported ist death due to the coronavirus as the 65-year-old man from Sopore (Presently living in Hyderpora) died at Chest Disease hospital Srinagar on Thursday morning.
Officials to wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that the person has died due to cardiac arrest and he had a long medical history of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity.
He had a travel history of New Delhi and UP where he was part of the Tablighi Jamaat, attended by people from Malaysia and Indonesia.
Pertinently he had close contact with the four persons from Hajin Bandipora who were tested positive for Coronavirus on Wednesday. He has also come in contact with a large number of people in Kashmir after arriving from Delhi.
Notably, so far 11 persons have been tested positive for Covid-19 in Jammu and Kashmir with one death and one recovery.
Dr. Naveed Shah head of the Department chest Disease hospital Srinagar confirmed to –KNO that a man who had a long medical history died at CD hospital on Thursday morning—(KNO)
