Kashmir.Watch

Author: hamid

  • Police taking videos through thermal based drones: IGP

    Srinagar, March 22( KNS): IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar today said police appealed public through vehicle mounted public address systems not to come out tomorrow in view of lockdown.

    According to Kashmir News Service (KNS) 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

    (KNS)

  • The Centaur Lake View Hotel’s Management refuses to make it quarantine center

    Says it will endanger lives of officials, families

    Irfan A Mir
    Srinagar Mar 22, (KNS): 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.

    Talking to Kashmir News Service (KNS), 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 told KNS 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)

  • Srinagar administration starts hunt for those who hide travel history

    SRINAGAR March 22 (KINS): 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)

  • Coronavirus: Pregnant women not at higher risk, says DAK

    Srinagar Mar 22: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Sunday said pregnant women are not at higher risk of developing severe disease from the novel (new) coronavirus than the general population.

    “Pregnant women are less likely to become severely unwell if they contract the novel virus,” said DAK President Dr Nisar ul Hassan.

    Quoting a WHO report, based on data from 147 pregnant women of whom 64 were confirmed to have the new coronavirus, 82 were suspected cases and one was asymptomatic, he said only 8% had severe disease and just 1% were critically ill.

    “Most of the pregnant women had mild to moderate disease,” Dr Nisar said adding “there have been no reported deaths of pregnant women from the disease.”

    He said there is no evidence that the virus passes to the baby during pregnancy.

    Quoting a study published in the Lancet, Dr Nisar said the infants born to women with coronavirus infection were free of the virus and appeared healthy at birth. The virus was not found in the mother’s breast milk, cord blood or amniotic fluid.

    “The studies are reassuring, but that does not mean we lower our guard,” cautioned Dr Nisar.

    “Pregnant women should take all the same precautions as the general public, such as avoiding sick people and public gatherings, frequently washing hands,” he advised.

    Dr. Nisar said pregnant women should cut down the routine visits to hospitals as much as they can and consult their health care providers on phone.

    But, prenatal care is very hands on, involving listening to the heart tones of the baby, determining the position of the baby, ultrasounds of the baby and so on. None of this can be done via a phone call,” he said.

    “In order to make hospital visits safer, we should make sure waiting rooms are not crowded, they are constantly clean, and well and ill women are separated,” he added “If you are feeding a baby and you have no symptoms hand hygiene is the key. If you do have symptoms then you need to pump the breast milk into a bottle and get someone else to feed the baby,” said Dr Nisar.

  • Kashmir will go into lock down mode from Sunday evening

    Kangan, Mar 22, KNT: Jammu and Kashmir will go into complete lockdown starting from 8 pm today till 6 am March 31 in wake of the Coronavirus threat.


    Sources told KNT that an important meeting was held in Divisional Commissioner’s office here in Srinagar today. The meeting was presided by Baseer Khan, the Advisor to Lieutenant Governor.


    Besides, Khan, all top officials including Divisional Commissioner, District Development Commissioner Srinagar were present in the meeting.

    During the meeting several decisions were taken with regard to curb the spread of Coronavirus. It was decided that Jammu and Kashmir will go into lock down mode from today evening till March 31.


    Soruces said that an official order in this regard will be issued shortly. (KNT)

  • Iran’s Khamenei rejects U.S. help offer, vows to defeat coronavirus

    Reuters

    DUBAI (Reuters) – The United States’ offer to help Iran in its fight against the new coronavirus pandemic is strange, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a televised speech on Sunday, describing U.S. leaders as “charlatans and liars”.

    Washington has offered humanitarian assistance to its longtime foe, the Middle Eastern country most affected by the coronavirus, with 1,685 deaths and 21,638 people infected.

    Tensions between the two countries have been running high since 2018, when U.S. President Donald Trump exited Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal with six world powers and reimposed sanctions that have crippled the Iranian economy.

    “Several times Americans have offered to help us to fight the pandemic. That is strange because you face shortages in America. Also you are accused of creating this virus,” said Khamenei, an anti-U.S. hardliner who has the final say in Iran.

    “I do not know whether it is true. But when there is such an allegation, can a wise man trust you and accept your help offer? … You could be giving medicines to Iran that spread the virus or cause it to remain permanently.”

    Frictions increased when Trump ordered a U.S. drone strike that killed the top commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Qassem Soleimani, on Jan. 3. Iran retaliated by hitting U.S. targets in Iraq on Jan. 8.

    “Our number one enemy is America. It is the most wicked, sinister enemy of Iran … its leaders are terrorists … Liars and charlatans,” said Khamenei.

    Iranian authorities have blamed U.S. sanctions for hampering its efforts to curb the outbreak and President Hassan Rouhani has urged Americans to call on their government to lift sanctions as Iran fights the coronavirus.

    China, a party to Iran’s nuclear deal, has urged the United States to lift sanctions on Iran immediately amid Tehran’s response to the coronavirus outbreak.

    But the United States sent Iran a blunt message this week: the spread of the virus will not save it from U.S. sanctions that are choking off its oil revenues and isolating its economy.

    Khamenei, who canceled his annual speech for Persian new year from the holy Shi’ite Muslim city of Mashhad on March 20 because of the outbreak, said Iran would triumph over the virus.

    “The Islamic Republic has the capability to overcome any kind of crisis and challenges, including the coronavirus outbreak,” said Khamenei, who called on people to stay at home.

    While many Iranians avoided traveling during the Persian new year holiday, police said millions have defied warnings issued by officials to avoid unnecessary trips aimed at curbing the spread of the virus.

    The office of Tehran’s governor said all shopping centers will be closed in the capital from Sunday.

    “Only pharmacies and shops that provide essential goods will remain open in Tehran,” Iranian state TV reported.

    Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Catherine Evans

    (This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

  • Coronavirus: Out of frying pan into fire for Kashmiris who arrive from outside nations?

    Srinagar, March 22 (GNS): Bushra Bazaz (named changed) arrived in Srinagar on March 16 from Saudi Arabia after performing Umrah. She and her husband besides other family members were in the same flight which was boarded by 67-year-old woman from Srinagar’s Khaniyar area who tested positive for coronavirus on March 18.

    Having stayed at home for six days, the administration summoned them along with others persons from Srinagar, 29 in all, who had boarded the same flight.

    They were later taken to hotel in Srinagar and kept along with a group of students who arrived from Bangladesh.

    As they protested against “lack of amenities” at the hotel, otherwise known for better services, the administration removed them to a hotel in Gulmarg, over 50 kilomters from Srinagar, in a bus.

    “After travelling together in a bus to Gulmarg which is very far away from our residence, we have been kept in a hotel which seems is not dusted for ages. There are no facilities for us,” Bushra says.

    “When we arrived at Srinagar airport on March 16, we were made to fill up a form and were told to report if there were symptoms like cough or difficulty in breathing etc,” she said and “later we were allowed to go home.”

    All of a sudden, she says, the family members and others on board the flight were summoned after six day long delay.

    “We were kept in a hotel along with students who arrived from Bangladesh and apparently from other countries. The hotel offered no facility and its staff kept running from us,” she said, adding, “now we have been taken to Gulmarg which is very cold and chances are we may develop other diseases.” The hotel where they have been kept, she says, has “no facilities at all.” On top of it, she some staff in the hotel has left as they came to know that “we are being kept for quarantine.”

    “If God forbid”, she says, any one of those kept in hotel was suffering from coronavirus, they all would contract the disease which has already claimed over thirteen thousands lives globally.

    “The condition of the hotel is obnoxious with dust and only dust around. There are no facilities,” she said, adding, “The government claims that it is following WHO guidelines and nobody in wild imagination would image such a compliance with these guidelines.”

    A woman, whose relatives were kept in the Srinagar before they were removed to Gulmarg, protested earlier in the day and alleged that “they were not given any food for entire night nor was the family allowed to provide them food.”

    District administration Srinagar claimed to have requisitioned 65 “well-equipped” hotels and government accommodations for quarantine purposes.

    “1166 citizens arriving back from Bangladesh and other countries – so far – have been shifted to 20 to these facilities.”

    District magistrate Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said that officers have been asked to ensure comfortable quarantine of returnees from outside countries. “Lapses (will) lead to strict action against the concerned. Meanwhile more funds released for the purpose,” he tweeted. (GNS)

  • Coronavirus: Trump blames media for virus spread

    BBC World News

    The president criticised the media’s coverage of his decision to ban those coming to the US from China.

    He said that without such an implementation the situation would have been much worse: “You wouldn’t have even recognised it to where we are,” he told reporters.

    The US has more than 9,300 cases of Covid-19 and has seen 150 deaths so far, according to estimates.

    Globally there are some 220,000 confirmed cases and over 8,800 deaths.

    (This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

  • Coronavirus live updates | One dead in Mumbai, Bihar; total death toll touches 6

    According to WHO’s March 21 update, there are 267,013 confirmed cases and 11,201 deaths

    The Hindu

    At least 350 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in India as of March 22, of which around 320 are active cases. Five people have died of the COVID-19 till date. According to the Centre, there is no evidence of community transmission yet in the country.

    On Sunday, India is observing a ‘Janata Curfew’ from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., called for by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to practise social distancing in a bid to curtail the spread of the novel coronavirus.

    (This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

  • Corona: All passenger, express trains cancelled till March 31: Railways

    “Thereafter these services will also be stopped till midnight of March 31,”

    Source: GK News Network

    In view of the increasing number of coronavirus patients in the country, the national transporter on Sunday announced stopping all the trains, except the goods trains, till March 31.

    Rajesh Dutt Bajpai, Executive Director, Ministey of Railways, in a statement said, “No train except goods train will be run up to midnight hrs of March 31.”

    Bajpai said bare minimum suburban services and Kolkata metro Rail service will continue to run till midnight on March 22.

    “Thereafter these services will also be stopped till midnight of March 31,” he added.

    The national transporter’s decision came amid reports of two fresh deaths from Covid-19 in Maharashtra and Bihar.

    On Sunday, the total number of Covid-19 patients crossed 300 mark.

    In view of ‘Janata Curfew’, the Indian Railways had already decided to cancel the long distance trains originating between 4 a.m. and 10 pm. The railways has also cancelled all passengers trains across the country.

    By Saturday, the railways had cancelled 245 pairs of trains across the country and also stopped providing blankets in the air-conditioned coaches.

    (This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)