Precious Kashmir

Centaur hotel management refuses to make it quarantine center

Jammu & Kashmir

23/03/2020

Centaur hotel management refuses to make it quarantine center

BY: Irfan A Mir

Srinagar: Amid the growing numbers of Corona Virus suspects in Valley, Government is mulling to convert Centaur hotel into quarantine center. However the request was turned down on Sunday by the hotel administration due to residential accommodation of higher officials and their families in the premises.
Sources said that as hundreds of Kashmiri’s temporarily residing outside state and abroad for educational and trade purposes, are reaching Valley amid Corona Virus scare, authorities are mulling to convert Centaur hotel into quarantine center.
They said, administration has already specified sixty-four quarantine centers in Srinagar and adjoining areas where hundreds of suspected persons having travel history are kept into isolation. Sources said suspected persons are being thoroughly monitored and investigated in isolation centers by professional medical teams as per the government’s protocol.
They said as the number of suspects has gone high from couple of days, J&K administration has requested administration of Centaur hotel to vacate the premises for time being so that a full-fledged quarantine centre is established here.
An official of Centaur hotel said that the request of the administration was turned down as several families of higher officials are residing here.
“We don’t want to put lives of several families in risk. There are other pollution free areas where quarantine centers could be established”, official said.
He added, “Government should refrain from establishing quarantine centers in congested area like Srinagar city. It would be best if such centers will come up in isolated places like Gulmarg, Pahalgam and others”.
He further said authorities recently communicated us for the purpose but we rejected its request on several reasons.
“We clarified that hotel authority don’t want to put lives of families into risk and it is why plea of administration was turned down”, he said.
He added the hotel authorities put up several suggestions to government in establishing quarantine centers.
“Government should identify isolated places and refrain from congested areas which are prone for viruses like COVID-19”, he said. (KNS)

Seven flights cancelled at Jammu airport in view of ‘Janta Curfew’

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

23/03/2020

Seven flights cancelled at Jammu airport in view of ‘Janta Curfew’

Jammu : Seven flights were cancelled at the Jammu airport on Sunday in view of the ‘Janta Curfew’, an Airports Authority of India official said.These included four GoAir flights and one each of IndiGo, Vistara and SpiceJet, the official said.“A total of 21 flights were scheduled to operate from the Jammu airport today (Sunday). While seven flights got cancelled, the rest of the flights operated between 8.30 am and 3.15 pm,” the AAI official said.While GoAir had announced last week that it would voluntarily suspend all flights on March 22 when the country will observe the ‘Janta Curfew’, IndiGo had said it would operate only 60 per cent of its domestic flights.
Vistara had said it would operate a reduced number of flights.

Five of the cancelled flights were scheduled to operate along Delhi-Jammu-Delhi sector and one each on Mumbai-Jammu-Srinagar and Srinagar-Jammu-Srinagar sectors, the official said.

In a televised address to the nation on Thursday, Modi had called for the ‘Janata Curfew’ from 7 am to 9 pm on March 22, saying no citizen, barring those in essential services, should get out of their houses. He had asserted that it will be a litmus test to show India’s readiness to take on the coronavirus challenge.

Novel coronavirus cases in the country climbed to 341 on Sunday. The Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir has reported four cases so far, according to the Union Health Ministry.

Army porter injured as Pak violates ceasefire along borders: Officials

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

23/03/2020

Army porter injured as Pak violates ceasefire along borders: Officials

Jammu : An Army porter was injured and several houses were damaged in villages along the Line of Control and International Border in Poonch and Kathua districts of Jammu and Kashmir as Pakistani army resorted to firing and mortar shelling, violating the ceasefire, officials said on Sunday.Mohammad Shoukat, 26, a local youth working as a porter with the Indian Army, was injured when the Pakistan army opened fire along the LoC in Shahpur sector of Poonch around 2.45 pm, the officials said.
The Indian Army also retaliated and the firing between the two sides lasted for a brief period, he said, adding the injured was shifted to Poonch district hospital and his condition was stated to be stable .The major ceasefire violation by Pakistani Rangers was reported from Manyari in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district where the border residents were forced to take shelter inside underground bunkers for the entire night, the officials said.

50 students quarantined at picturesque Pahalgam: DC Anantnag

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

23/03/2020

ANANTNAG: District administration, Anantnag, has put 50 students in quarantine—who have arrived here from Bangladesh, Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, Bashir Ahmad Dar informed on Sunday.
The quarantine facility has been set up at a picturesque spot of Pahalgam in highly hygienic conditions. All the students after screening have been put under medical surveillance as a precautionary measure as per the protocol observed for the people reporting in India from abroad.Divulging details, the Deputy Commissioner, said that the district administration has geared up to contain the COVID- 19 outbreak, adding that 16 locations have been identified for quarantine in the district.He said fumigation and sanitation drives are being taken at all public places across the district with focus on towns.
He said district and block level control rooms have already been set up for carrying out IEC activities. He said efficient system is in place for identification of the persons reporting from covid-19 affected countries for which 12 rapid response medical teams along with 10 dedicated ambulances are being made use of.The Deputy Commissioner hailed people for their co-operation in observing the Janta Curfew—adding that public lockdown and social distancing are the most effective measures to contain the progression of covid-19 outbreak. He appealed media and other stakeholders to support the district administration in augmenting preparedness by way of following health advisories strictly.
Meanwhile, the district administration has devised a plan for distribution of essentials among the consumers at their door steps.

Srinagar admin starts hunt for those who hide travel history

City

Precious Kashmir

23/03/2020

Srinagar admin starts hunt for those who hide travel history

SRINAGAR : With many people evading screening and quarantine, the Srinagar administration is making all efforts to track down local travelers who are hiding travel history.

As coronavirus has gripped the entire world, hundreds of Kashmiri students and other people are arriving at Srinagar Airport from different countries daily.

However, there are many who are escaping to be taken for quarantine in the valley.

While Srinagar administration has been making efforts to ensure all those returning from abroad are tracked and taken to be quarantined. A top official said the government has directed concerned authorities to ensure no one left untraced and taken for quarantined.

“Four passengers just reached from Mauritius, Dubai and Kazakhstan decline to declare travel history. Done quickly by IT team. My WHO guidelines wala friends can u please send a recorded sermon to help convince such people? Please? I beg. I ignore the thick skin and help,” District Development Commissioner Srinagar Shahid Chowdhary tweeted.

In another tweet, he said, “Two brothers. Same medical college in Bangladesh. One travels by air, declares travel history lands in quarantine. Other take road goes home, probably enjoyed Wazwan. A smart neighbor informs the control room. The team got in touch. Symptomatic. WHO guidelines lecture please.”

He further said, “A gentleman coming from Italy reaches New Delhi via another port. Takes train to Jammu and cab to home in Srinagar. Just to hide history. Traced. Need collective focus to handle it. Things are not that simple as they appear from homes and office rooms.”

The crackdown comes amid reports of students forging their identity cards and evading screening and quarantine. “My daughter who returned from Delhi is quarantined. But few of her friends managed to escape the quarantined. After reaching Delhi, they (her friends) boarded a flight to Jammu and then to Srinagar. At the Srinagar Airport, they concede they returned from Bangladesh instead told the medical staff they were staying in Jammu,” a parent told Kashmir Indepth News Service, whose daughter is quarantined on Srinagar outskirts.

He said some students were producing fake identity cards to escape the laid out procedures.

A source at Srinagar Airport said there were loopholes to check the credentials of those who returning from various parts. “While some are hiding their travel history others board flight to Jammu from Delhi then Srinagar to escape to be taken to be quarantined. They hide they return from abroad,” the source said.

Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan, who is overall in-charge of coronavirus control efforts in Kashmir has directed strict monitoring at Srinagar International Airport and Jawahar Tunnel to ensure thorough screening of passengers and travelers.

The Advisor said that health officials must maintain a constant watch on cases and immediate reporting and shifting of those who might develop Covid-19 symptoms is of critical importance.(KINS)

Police taking videos through thermal based drones: IGP

City

Precious Kashmir

23/03/2020

Police taking videos through thermal based drones: IGP

Srinagar: IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar today said police appealed public through vehicle mounted public address systems not to come out tomorrow in view of lockdown.

He added police also making videos through thermal capability based drones.

Meanwhile Kashmir Police Zone tweeted #JantaCurfew. General public are requested not to come out once #restriction is lifted out in the late evening. Otherwise purpose of #JantaCurfew would be futile. #StayIndoors, #StaySafe @JmuKmrPolice

Administration has been asking people to stay indoors for breaking the virus chain

Don’t and won’t agree with quarantine protocol: SMC Mayor Junaid Matuu

City

Precious Kashmir

23/03/2020

Srinagar: At a time when District Development Commissioner Srinagar is appealing all to follow quarantine protocol and is claiming that all the required facilities have been put in place at quarantine centres, Srinagar Mayor says he doesn’t agree with quarantine protocol.
In one more tweet Srinagar Mayor Juniad Azam Matuu said that he received distress messages about the requirement of sanitary supplies at quarantine facilities. “I don’t and won’t agree with the quarantine protocol or policy,” he said added that this quarantine protocol won’t stop him helping his students and he will arrange and sent sanitary supplies to every facility free of cost.
Earlier Junaid Azam Matuu had asked administration not to invent crisis and violate World Health Organization guidelines. He had criticized en-mass quarantine of students returning from Bangladesh in an un-scientific manner.
In response to facilities being provided to those quarantined, District Development Commissioner Shahid Iqbal Chowdary said that they are trying their best and request people to help them improve instead of spreading false narratives. (KNT)

Govt Must Act Fast

Edit

Precious Kashmir

23/03/2020

As per government, 65 well-equipped hotels and government accommodations will be used as facilities to quarantine people arriving in Srinagar, including those who might have come into contact with the COVID-19 positive cases in Srinagar and other places.
In last 3 days, government said to have accommodated 1196 people travelling from Bangladesh, Ladakh, Bangkok, Dubai, Combodia, UK etc at 24 quarantine facilities.
Also, amid scare over coronavirus, J&K government has directed all administrative secretaries and deputy commissioners to ensure quarantine of all government employees and their relatives who have a foreign travel history since March 1.
Following standard operating procedures, all these persons, mostly Bangladesh return students were isolated soon upon their arrival and then shifted to these well-equipped quarantine facilities, an official spokesperson had said.
Actually, confusion has reigned, among health care professionals and laypeople alike, over when or whether to test patients, quarantine the exposed and isolate the ailing. Part of the problem is a supply shortage that is already growing dire in some places. But another problem is the lack of consistent messages from administration that the worst is yet to come rather than using undercut by blithe assurances that everything is under control. A message was sought to be spread in this regard by deputy commissioner Srinagar Shahid Iqbal Choudhary that “if he shares the daily events none in Kashmir will sleep.” His remarks, as one may call them, came as reports of people violating mandatory screening and quarantine galore in Kashmir.
Besides using hotels and turning them into quarantine facilities, government need to augment other essential equipment such as ventilators.
Also, there is the reality that there are not enough health care workers who are trained and equipped to treat emergent, contagious lung infections in Valley. If those workers fall ill and are themselves quarantined and isolated, as some of them almost certainly will be, given the present lack of protective equipment, more will have to be trained and prepared.
Government needs to pull up socks and ensure to move at a rapid peace to meet the exigencies as also provide better facilities to the people who are now kept for quarantine. On their part, the people who are being quarantined must also need to realize that they cannot have VIP treatment where they can get everything on demand. These are testing times and we all need to stand up so as to defeat the raging enemy, the covid-19.

Upscale preparatory mechanism to fight COVID-19: Lt Governor

City

Precious Kashmir

22/03/2020

Upscale preparatory mechanism to fight COVID-19: Lt Governor

JAMMU, MARCH 21: The Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu today convened a high level meeting with the senior functionaries of various departments to take stock of the preparedness in containing COVID-19.This was the second high level meeting in two days to review the status of preparedness for preventing the spread of corona virus.

Shri Kewal Kumar Sharma, Shri Farooq Khan, Shri Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Shri Baseer Ahmad Khan, Advisors to the Lieutenant Governor; Shri BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary and Administrative Secretaries of various departments attended the meeting. Director General of Police, Divisional Commissioners of both the Divisions and Deputy Commissioners of all the districts attended the meeting through video conference.

During the meeting, the Lt. Governor inquired about the arrangements made so far to tackle the threat of corona virus (COVID-19) infection and gave instructions in this regard for effective preventive and pre-emptive measures to senior officials across the UT.

The Lt. Governor asked the concerned to ensure adequate quarantine; isolation facilities and equipment to deal with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 as per the mandated protocol and SOPs.

For this, he directed for creation of adequate quarantine facility in every district of Jammu and Kashmir, especially the two capital cities having large population.

The Lt. Governor stated that raising awareness regarding the precautions in small towns and villages must be done on war footing by involving religious leaders and Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs).

The Lieutenant Governor asked the Jammu Municipal Corporation to intensify the sanitation and disinfection drive in the city so that any kind of risk in the wake of COVID-19 is mitigated.

He appealed to general public to make ‘Janta Curfew’ a success by observing it in letter and spirit on March 22, between 7 am and 9 pm during which, people should stay at home. He also urged people to encourage health care professionals, security personnel and other essential services staff fighting COVID-19, by mass clapping, ringing bells etc at 5 pm on March 22 as a mark of respect and motivation.

To avoid rush and promote social distancing, the Lt. Governor asked the concerned officers to motivate the grocers to establish a mechanism for home delivery of grocery and other necessary commodities to minimize the risk.

The Lt Governor directed for adequate storage of essential commodities and asked FCS&CA department to ensure adequate and timely distribution of food grains and other essential commodities to the lowest level.

The Deputy Commissioners were also directed to ensure smooth movement of struck vehicles on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, prioritising the vehicles carrying essential commodities and medicine facilities.

The PHE and PDD departments were directed for adequate drinking water facility and uninterrupted power supply to the hospitals and Quarantine centers.

It was informed that adequate supplies of all essentials are being maintained and public awareness through print and electronic media is a regular feature.

The Health and Medical Education department was directed to maintain regular supply of medicines in all the districts, besides ensuring maximum availability of sanitizers, masks and other medical kits in the medical shops.

He directed the administrative secretaries to suitably extend the dates of all renewable services including licenses, permits, fee etc which were due in March 2020.

Finance department was directed to release the pensions being disbursed by Social Welfare department like widow pension, old age pension and disability pension etc.

The Lt Governor exhorted upon the concerned officers to provide all requisite facilities to frontline officials including doctors, paramedical staff and security personnel for their immensely important service in the difficult time of corona virus outbreak.

The Lt. Governor was informed that COVID-19 tests are being conducted at three places of Union Territory of J&K i.e. SKIMS, Soura, GMC Srinagar and GMC Jammu. Further, an Army Laboratory has been approved for conducting COVID-19 tests, whereas Indian Institute of Integrated Medicine (IIIM) is also likely to be cleared for tests.

LG conducts extensive tour of Jammu city, adjoining areas

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

22/03/2020

LG conducts extensive tour of Jammu city, adjoining areas

JAMMU, MARCH 21: Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu today conducted a whirlwind tour of Jammu city and adjoining areas to take stock of the present status of various ongoing projects.

Reviewing the pace of work on several key developmental projects during his tour of the Jammu city, the Lt Governor impressed upon the officers to work in synergy with each other to remove any difficulties coming in the way of progress of works.

Shri Sanjeev Verma, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Ms. Sushma Chauhan, Deputy Commissioner Jammu; Ms. Avny Lavasa, Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC); Ms. Babila Rakwal, Vice Chairperson Jammu Development Authority; Shri Majid Khalil Ahmad Drabu, Managing Director J&K Cable Car Corporation; Shri Ashok Sharma, Chief Engineer I&FC other senior officers and representatives of NHAI accompanied the Lt Governor, during his visit.

The Lieutenant Governor asked the Jammu Municipal Corporation to intensify the sanitation and disinfection drive in the city so that any kind of risk in the wake of COVID-19 is mitigated. He further stressed for implementation of government advisories and directions issued time to time with regard to COVID-19 in letter and spirit.

During his tour, the Lt Governor inspected General Bus Stand and took stock of the modernization project and development of multi-level car parking there. It was given out that the work on this prestigious project is near the completion stage. The Lt. Governor directed the executing agency to complete the remaining work within next ten days as per the earlier directions so that parking facility could be thrown open for the public.

The Lt Governor also visited the site of Multi level parking project at Panjtirthi. While reviewing the status of the project, he was informed that the tendering process of the project has been completed. The Lt Governor asked the concerned officers to start the execution work at the earliest.

Lt Governor inspected the sites of Jammu Ropeway Project from Peer Kho to Mahamaya (Phase-I) and from Bagh-e-Bahu to Mahamaya (Phase-II). He directed the concerned to complete the pending works on Jammu Ropeway Project without compromising the safety and security of the passengers so that the project is thrown open for general public at the earliest.

While inspecting the ropeway project, the Lt Governor on observing encroachment on Tawi river bed and along the banks, directed the officers concerned to remove the encroachments forthwith and speed up the notification of Tawi river zone as a prohibited area for any kind of construction, with penal provisions for violations.

Meanwhile, the Lt Governor visited various spots on Jammu Semi-Ring Road Project and Jammu-Akhnoor Road and inspected the ongoing works there.

The NHAI officers apprised the Lt Governor about the present status of work on the prestigious road projects. It is pertinent to mention here that the 58.25 km long, 4 lane Semi-Ring Road will start from Raya Morh of Jammu-Pathankot National Highway in Samba district and connect with Jagti on the Jammu-Udhampur National Highway. There will be 8 large bridges, 8 flyovers, 2 tunnels and 4 Viaducts on the route.

On Jammu-Akhnoor road widening project, the NHAI officials briefed the Lt. Governor about the status of the work done so far in respect of package 2 and 3. They further briefed him about the weekly targets set for the completion of entire stretch. Trees cutting and structure removal work for smooth execution of work on Jammu-Akhnoor Road project is also in progress.

The Lt. Governor asked the executing agencies to expedite the pace of work for its timely completion. He stressed upon the officers for constant monitoring of these projects so that tangible results are achieved on the ground.

He directed the officers concerned to remove all the bottlenecks, if any, through coordinated approach with the Central as well as local agencies of J&K.

He asked the officers and executing agencies to give utmost attention to each on-going project for timely completion saying that government is committed to ensuring a free flow of funds to each of these projects.

Meanwhile, the Lieutenant Governor while inspecting the ongoing work on de-silting of Ranbir canal and its distributaries, expressed dissatisfaction over the slow pace of work on de-silting of the canal. He asked the concerned to speed up the pace of de-silting and repair work so that the water is released in the canal and stressed for ensuring timely supply of irrigation water to the tail end areas of Ranbir Canal.

He directed the Municipal Commissioner to ensure installation of dustbins along the Ranbir canal and take strict action against the violators who litter garbage or any other waste material into the canal.

No: PR/DI/19/6725/

1...4,9754,9764,977...5,057 Page 4,976 of 5,057