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Gurez Valley receives fresh snowfall, rain in Kashmir parts

BY: Sajid Raina

Bandipora, Mar 24: Gurez Valley in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district received fresh snowfall on Tuesday morning while as the intermittent rainfall lashed plains of Kashmir, bringing the temperature further down in Kashmir.
Gurez valley in Bandipora district recorded about six inches of fresh snowfall, while rains lashed plains intermittently, bringing the temperature down, an official said.He said that Razdan Pass connecting Gurez Valley with rest of the state has also received moderate snowfall. Meanwhile, rains lashed areas falling in the valley’s plains, including, south Kashmir and Srinagar
It is to mention that the authorities have imposed strict restrictions in wake of coronavirus to avoid the gathering in whole Kashmir—(KNO)

Covid-19: For the sake of humanity, release our dear ones

‘It’s high time GoI, J&K LG take a call and release our relatives languishing in Tihar on humanitarian basiss

Srinagar: The family members of separatist leaders have made a fervent appeal to Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah and J&K UT’s Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandera Murmu to release their relatives lodged in Tihar jail for the most over two-and-a half years on the “humanitarian basis” in the wake of emergency triggered by the deadly Covid-19.
Family members of dozens of separatist leaders said that at a time when world is fighting novel Coronavirus which has claimed thousands of lives and has made its entry into the J&K as well, they are really worried about their dear ones lodged in New Delhi’s Tihar prison since past over two and a half years.“I am worried for my husband, who is already suffering from diabetes. He has turned pale and weak over the years in Tihar. Back home, I along with my two daughters are facing tough life as one hand I can’t meet my husband and on the other hand, I have to take care of my two daughters as well. My appeal to Home Minister Amit Shah and also to the LG Murmu is to please release prisoners in Tihar including my husband keeping in view the health emergency in J&K and rest of the world,” said Nuzhat.

Some coaching centres open in Baramulla village

Baramulla, March 24: Two coaching centres continue to function in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district despite government announcing lockdown across the Union Territory till March 31 in a bid to prevent the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.
Reliable sources said that two coaching centres are running in a rented accommodation in Chalkoo village of Baramulla, thereby risking the lives of students.
The authorities have warned of strict action against those violating the government orders. In the past few days, several educational centres and business establishments were sealed and the owners booked under relevant sections of law.
The state administration has set up various monitoring and supervision teams to have a firsthand report from ground zero. However such negligence by authorities puts every stakeholder in great dilemma/
When contacted, the Chief Education Officer (CEO) Baramulla Ghulam Mohammad said he will get the details about these coaching centres.

Div Com reviews implementation of PIL directions

SRINAGAR: The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Pandurang K Pole today chaired a meeting to review implementation of the directions passed by the High Court in Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding traffic management in the capital city.

Threadbare discussion was held on matters which include identification of more parking sites in left-out areas, status of land, functioning of mechanized parking, erection of signages, procurement of Digital Time Recording (DTR) machines for hourly parking sites, and other measures for Srinagar city.

The Divisional Commissioner directed the sub-committee which comprises of RTO, Joint Commissioner SMC & DSP Traffic to visit various locations of the city for the identification of parking slots and submit the report within a week for further course of action.

For smooth traffic management, he also directed concerned officers to compile a complete report immediately for other action.

Waheed Jeelani Welcomes release of Omar Abdullah

Srinagar:  Well known Artist, cultural activist and member National conference, Waheed Jeelani in a press statement has extended his deep appreciation to the govt. for releasing National conference president Dr. Farooq Abdullah, and vice president Mr. Omar Abdullah after a prolonged detention. However I believe that the other detained mainstream leaders of all political parties must be released as soon as possible to protect their democratic rights, particularly N.C general secretary, Haji Ali Mohd. Sagar, provisional head, Nasir Aslam wani, senior leader Ab. Rahim Rather and others so that to create suitable atmosphere for due political process in Jammu & Kashmir.

SKIMS offers 24×7 consultation for cancer patients

Srinagar : In view of the current situation amid coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura here will provide round-the-clock consultations to the cancer patients.The senior faculty and the senior residents of Department of Radiation Oncology, SKIMS would be available 24×7 for consultation on the following dedicated number 9697863173.Head, Department of Radiation Oncology, SKIMS, Prof Muhammad Maqbool Lone said, “we have created elaborative measures as far as the cancer patients are concerned.” He said that amid the health advisories, the department would also provide round the clock consultations to the cancer patients of Jammu and Kashmir on the dedicated phone number.It may be recalled that more than 5700 cancer cases have been recorded in hospitals across Kashmir in 2019 with figures revealing that the incidence is on a rise in the Valley.

Bizzare! North Kashmir hospitals has only 2 ventilators for 23 lakh people

Baramulla: Comprising of a population of over 23 lakhs the northern belt of Kashmir has only two ventilators in Kupwara while Baramulla and Bandipora have zero ventilators at all despite having a full-fledged government medical college in Baramulla the medical practitioners aren’t equipped with necessary equipment and gadgets amid the mounting fear of novel coronavirus with a huge dearth of medical staff in almost all the health centers.
Health department officials from all the three districts said that Kupwara has only two ventilators while Baramulla and Bandipora don’t have a single ventilator to combat the increasing threat of novel Coronavirus with dearth of medical staff especially doctors.
As per the census of 2011 Bandipora district in north Kashmir has a population of about four lakhs but has no ventilator to combat the mounting threat of COVID-19 in the district despite having huge population residing in offsite areas.
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Bandipora Dr. Tajamul Islam said that we don’t have any ventilator in the entire district but we have in past sent requisition to concerned deputy commissioner and director health services Kashmir (DHSK) but so far nothing has been done in this regard.
He said that “in past requisition was sent but no ventilator was made available for Bandipora in the entire district, even if there is shortage of doctors of anywhere we immediately appoint a medical officer”.
Baramulla is one of the most densely populated district with around 10 lakhs of people as per the census, it has a government medical college (GMC) functioning for several years now with number of students enrolled for different various medical courses.
In Baramulla we have dearth of doctors always but these dyas the medical staff including doctors have started to overtime amid the ongoing quarantine period, even doctors don’t leave back but remain on duty whole night, Dr. Deeba said . She said that “There is not a single ventilator at district hospital Baramulla not even at any other sub district hospital, many of the times issue was raised with the higher ups but there was no proper response from them, there is a vehicle ventilator available with us but that can be used only to shift the patients during some medical emergency”.
Kupwara one of the most frontier district in Kashmir has a population of over 8.5 lakhs but has only two ventilators with a huge population of masses living in offsite areas even there are sectors those remain cut off from the main headquarter for almost six month harsh winter season including Keran, Karnah, Machil and Nowgam.
Kupwara alone is short of 120 doctors, and there are about 50 posts from National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) lying vacant also across the district, Chief Medical Officer Kupwara Dr. Ab Gani Dar said.He said that “ we have only two ventilators in the entire district at District hospital Handwara while Kupwara headquarter has no ventilator at all there is one available with us but that’s for kids only and that’s a portable ventilator”.The entire population of north Kashmir is gripped with the fear of Corona-virus that has engulfed the whole globe including union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, people in trying times are more concerned about the preparation of health department as how prepared they are in absence of sufficient number of doctors, paramedical staff and equipment especially arrangements and ventilators to combat the COVID-19—(KNO)

Pensioners to get pension home delivered

Baramulla: The authorities in Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir have decided to home deliver the pension of pensioners entitled with India post and keep five of its units functional for the consumers across north Kashmir amid the outbreak of novel Corona-virus.
According to an official said department will home deliver the pension and keep five units functional in north Kashmir.
An official of the India post said that the department has unanimously decided to home deliver the pension of all the pension holders who avail it from different central government schemes.
The official said that the spots chosen across north Kashmir include, Kupwara, Pattan, Sopore, Baramulla and Bandipora, all the selected offices will remain functional for important queries only. To make sure people don’t come out of their homes we have constituted some teams those will home deliver the pension to all those enrolled with India post, he said. He said that there are hundreds of people across the northern belt registered with India post who avail different benefits of centrally sponsored schemes.
Moreover, the official said that the move to home deliver the pension is amid to contain the spread of novel Corona-virus. He furthermore said that if there is any query to be addressed people can contact our higher ups of the department—(KNO)

Kashmiris offer helping hand in times of distress

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Srinagar :At a time when entire world is gripped under coronavirus, Kashmiris are coming forward to help people in times of distress.
One such example is CEO of Kashmir’s Own Padman Peerzada Aaqib. He has provided 700 boxes of sanitary pads to all quarantine facilities housing female students in Kashmir.
“After going through a Tweet of SMC Mayor Junaid Mattu that some quarantined female students are in desperate need of sanitary napkins, I felt an urgent need to step forward and extend my helping hand to those in need. Stigma already stops people who menstruate from asking for period products. As we are practicing social distancing, it was even more difficult to provide pads to those in need of them. But Alhumdulillah I with the help of Junaid Mattu managed to deliver 700 boxes of sanitary pads to all the quarantine facilities housing female students,” Aaqib told Kashmir Indepth News Service.
He said the fight against coronavirus is a shared responsibility and everyone has to play due role in tackling the contagion.
“I would love to provide transportation facility to SMC or some volunteers agencies as well. I have a mini truck and if they need it to deliver basic necessities to the needy people or for some sanitization and sterilization they can contact me,” he added.
SMC Mayor Junaid Mattu has expressed his gratitude to him. “A total of 700 boxes of sanitary pads are being delivered to all quarantine facilities housing female students free of cost – as promised. Thank You to Mr. Aqib from Seha for prompt volunteer action,” the Mayor posted on Twitter.
Similarly, Gulshan Books Kashmir, a publishing house in Srinagar has donated 1,000 books to various quarantine centres.
“We really feel happy that we have donated 1000 books for those who have been kept in quarantine centres,” Gulshan Books Kashmir owner Sheikh Aijaz Ahmad said.
Several hoteliers have also kept their hotels available for those who are to be quarantined.
“Tiger Zinda Hai lets clap for mr Irshad (owner of Shah Abbas Hotel) who came all the way to offer keys of his hotel to help us,” Tweeted District Development Commissioner Srinagar Shahid Chowdhary.
In another Tweet he wrote, “Tiger zinda hai II: Friend Mr Suhail Bukhari just handed over keys of his luxurious 48 bedded hotel for putting in any use.”
Kashmir’s prominent businessman Abdul Hameed Bhat has decided to donate Rs 10 to help strengthen the medical sector and also kept an ambulance available.
He has also made his generator available for any quarantine centre with free of cost. “I am not only a businessman but also a responsible citizen. I appeal our business community to come forward and help people in these tough times,” he said.
Amid this crisis NGOs and other organizations are also helping out people in distress times. Help Poor Trust is helping people who cannot afford their medicines and provide them medical assistance.
“The patient inflow is less in the hospital due to the COVID-19 but people who need any kind of medical assistance we are available round the clock,” said Ali Mohammad Lone, founder of the Help Poor Trust.

Shaheen Bagh protest site cleared in wake of corona curfew

New Delhi: While the Shaheen Bagh protesters were cleared by the police on Tuesday, the two Supreme Court appointed interlocutors, Sanjay Hegde and Sadhana Ramachandra, called for “continued dialogue” to find a way out.Senior top court lawyer Sanjay Hegde and well-known mediator Sadhana Ramachandran on Tuesday called for the continued dialogue without being bugged with the sense of win or loss.The interlocutors in a statement said that they have submitted two reports to the court giving details of the efforts made by them. “Our process of interlocution has reinforced many valuable lessons, including the need for continued dialogue at all times”, said Hegde and Ramachandran, who were on February 17, 2020, asked by the top court to talk to anti-CAA and NRC protestors at Shaheen Bagh and persuade them to shift to an alternate place to ease the difficulties being faced by the commuters.“We believe that the Supreme Court mandated interlocution, kept Shaheen Bagh protests peaceful even while violence erupted in other parts of Delhi”, said Hegde and Ramachandran, pointing out that their interaction with the protestors helped in relaxing some rigours of the blockade leading to clearing of the some of the peripheral roads.Urging for a continued dialogue, the two mediators said, “We request everyone to see the issue not as a question of win or lose.” Pointing to the “grave pandemic” threatening the country and currently that must receive priority, the statement said,