Category: Union Territory

Around 12,500 cases reported so far

3.5% mortality in last 2-3 months, de-worming process started: Officials

Srinagar: Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in domestic animals has caused a widespread panic in the valley.

People from different areas of Kashmir while talking with news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that owing to the disease they have lost their cattle’s which were their only source of income.

Ghulam Mohuidin, a resident of Pulwama, said that he lost his cow after it suffered from a disease in the mouth.

“I spent nearly six thousand rupees on medicines for the cow, but it could not recover and died,” he said.

He said that many people living in the area also lost their cows due to the mouth disease.

Farmers said the government should provide compensation to families who have lost their domestic animals in this pandemic situation.

Meanwhile, top officials of the animal husbandry department told KNO that so far around 12,500 cases of food and mouth diseases have been reported in Kashmir division since the outbreak of the disease this year.

Of 12,500, more than 11,000 animals have recovered after they were treated by the officials of the department.

Officials said that the mortality rate is just around four percent and it is generally the young animals that die, while elder ones mostly recover.

They also said that around 500 awareness camps were organised by the department in the valley to educate the people to avoid its spread.

Officials also urged people to avoid sending their domestic animals for grazing in areas where this disease has already affected animals.

“In case any domestic animal is facing any kind of illness, people can easily contact the nearest Animal Husbandry centre and within no time officials will reach to the door step to treat them,” they said.

“There is no dearth of vaccines in Kashmir and around four lakh more vaccines have been procured,” officials said, while adding that de-worming process has been started as of now so that vaccines will be more effective—(KNO)

Major shrines, Masjds remain to remain closed for prayers in wake of Covid: CEO Waqf board

Srinagar: The Eid-ul-Adha, festival of sacrifice, will be observed with religious zeal and fervor across Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. However, there will be no Eid prayers at Eidgah and other major shrines across Kashmir.

Notably, Eid-ul-Adha is being observed on the 10th of Dhu’l-Hijjah, last month of the Islamic calendar. A spiritual Muslim offers a goat or sheep as a sacrificial animal on this Eid.

Allah ordered Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail. When the blindfolded father moved the blade on his son’s throat to carry out the divine command, an animal from heaven replaced Ismail. It is to celebrate the absolute submission of Prophet Ibrahim to Allah’s command and the saving of Ismail’s life that Muslims offer animal sacrifices on Eid-ul-Adha.

Meanwhile, in wake of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, no huge congregational prayers are expected on this Eid as the majority of the shrines and Masjids including Dargah Hazratbal and historic Jamia Masjid in Old city Srinagar will remain closed tomorrow.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Wakf Board, Mufti Muhammad Farid-ud-din told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the Eid prayers would unlikely be offered at the shrines and Masjids falling under the Waqf board as most of these religious places have been closed.

The Muslims would offer mandatory Eid prayers at local Masjids in their respective localities.

In wake of the pandemic, the government has also appealed to people to avoid large gatherings to prevent the virus from spreading and also thwart the possible third wave.

As per the Islamic teachings, the Muslims across the State will start performing the act of sacrificing animals following the congregational Eid prayers as this Eid is being observed to commemorate Prophet Ibraham’s (AS) willingness to follow Allah’s command to sacrifice his son Ismaeel (AS).

Meanwhile, the markets in Kashmir especially the commercial Hub Lal Chowk and other adjacent areas in Srinagar witnessed a huge rush of shoppers from past several days, who were seen buying essentials and other food stuff for the Eid—(KNO)

Srinagar: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference vice-president, Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said that he was not surprised that governments are ”using software that exploit loopholes to spy on people”.

He, however, said what surprised and deeply disappointed him was companies like Apple make tall claims about privacy and data protection but actually have done nothing to stop spyware like Pegasus.

Reacting to alleged Pegasus row, Omar took to micro-blogging site Twitter and said: ”I’m not at all surprised governments are using software that exploit loopholes to spy on people. What is surprising & deeply disappointing is companies like @Apple make tall claims about privacy & data protection but have done nothing to stop spyware like #Pegasus.” (KNS)

China is developing an airbase for fighter aircraft operations at Shakche town in Xinjiang province, close to the Eastern Ladakh area, reports said. Quoting government sources, ANI reported that the Chinese government is upgrading the existing airbase at Shakche town for fighter aircraft operations.

According to the news agency, the base is coming up between the airbases of Kashgar and Hogan and that the new base will fill up the gap for Chinese Air Force in this region. The new base would be ready for operations in the near future.

India is keeping a close watch on the developments as the military disengagement in the border areas after a prolonged face-off between the two countries is yet not complete.

According to ANI, the Chinese Air Force has been traditionally weak in this region of the LAC while India has a number of airfields in the relatively short distance.

China has recently strengthened its air defence in the area with the deployment of s-400 air defence system which they imported from Russia. India also has deployed a large number of systems along the LAC.

India and China were locked in a military standoff at multiple friction points in eastern Ladakh since early May last year. However, the two sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of Pangong Lake in February following a series of military and diplomatic talks.

The two sides are now engaged in talks to extend the disengagement process to the remaining friction points.

There was no visible forward movement in disengagement of troops in the remaining friction points as the Chinese side did not show flexibility in their approach on it at the 11th round of military talks.

Last wee, India reiterated that only early completion of disengagement in the remaining friction points could pave the way for both Indian and Chinese troops to consider de-escalation and ensure full restoration of peace and tranquillity in the border areas.

With inputs from The Week

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) 

Srinagar, Jul 20: In the past five years, at least eight percent of the female population in Jammu and Kashmir suffer pregnancy loss, reveals a survey conducted by Government of India (GoI).

The official figures of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) states that the region has witnessed at least eight percent of foetal wastage in the backdrop of abortion, miscarriage and stillbirth in the past five years.

“At least 92 percent of last pregnancies in the five years preceding the survey ended in a live birth, and the remaining 8 percent terminated in foetal wastage (abortion, miscarriage, or stillbirth),” reads the survey.

It also states that the miscarriage was most commonly reported type of foetal wastage, accounting for at least five percent of all pregnancies, and abortions accounted for 2 percent.

“The three main reasons for abortion reported by women were complications in pregnancy with 26 percent, health issues with 19 percent and 17 percent of unplanned pregnancy,” reads the GoI survey.

It also states that the 69 percent methods used for performing abortions was done through medicines, Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) was conducted to one percent and other 23 percent surgical methods were also used.

“A large majority of at least 79 percent of abortions were performed in the public health sector, and 14 percent were performed in the private health sector,” it reads.

“Thirty-seven percent of women reported having complications from the abortion. Most abortions in Jammu and Kashmir with 82 percent are performed by doctors,” the survey reads—(KNO)

Srinager, July 19: The Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference Monday said that they does not expect the ruling party to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s special status as abrogating Article 370 was an ideological plank of the ruling government for 70 years.

“Abrogating Article 370 was an ideological plank of this government for 70 years, ” the People’s Conference Tweeted on its official Twitter handle.

PC also said that they wouldn’t expect them to give it back. “But that doesn’t stop us from going to the courts, which we have, or waiting for a liberal government at a future date to give it back.”

In another Tweet, PC said: “We should not allow the issues of Articles 370 and 35A to be an impediment in delivering other things which are more achievable in the short term like full statehood.”

MeT Issues Amber Warning For ‘Isolated Heavy Rain’ On July 20

Srinagar, July 19: Jammu and Kashmir received moderate to heavy rain with Kathua district receiving over 121mm downpour since overnight, officials said on Monday.

The weatherman has forecast more rain “in spells” till July 21, with main activity on Tuesday.
“As expected, light to moderate rain occurred at most places of J&K especially since late night. More rain in spells is likely till (July) 21st with peak on (July) 20th,” Director local Meteorological Department Sonam Lotus said.

A meteorological department official here told GNS that Srinagar received 1.8mm of rain till 0830 hours while the summer capital of J&K recorded maximum temperature of 27.3 degrees Celsius which is 2.5 degrees Celsius below the normal for the season.

The Capital city on Sunday recorded hottest July day in eight years as mercury shot up to 35.0 degree Celsius.

Jammu, the winter capital of J&K, received 5.2mm of rain till 0830 hours and recorded maximum of 28.2 degrees Celsius against normal of 34.2 degrees Celsius, he said.

Kathua district recorded downpour of 121.8mm of rain while Bhaderwah had 13.7mm of rain followed by 9.2mm in Katra, 3.4mm in Banihal and 1.6mm in Batote.

Qazigund, the gate town of Kashmir, received 14.8mm of rain and maximum temperature of 28.0 degrees Celsius, he said.

Pahalgam had highest rainfall in Kashmir Valley with 26.3mm of rain till 0830 hours and 3.3mm from 0830 to 1730 hours while the famous tourist resort recorded a maximum of 23.0 degrees Celsius.

Kokernag had 9.2mm of rain even as it recorded a day temperature of 27.3 degrees Celsius, the official said.

The border town Kupwara received 2.6mm of rain while it recorded maximum temperature of 28.3 degrees Celsius against previous day’s 35.3 degree Celsius which was highest in eight years for the area, he said.

World famous skiing and tourist resort Gulmarg in north Kashmir received 2.6mm of rain and was the coldest place in Valley, recording maximum of 19.0 degrees Celsius, he added.

The weatherman has issued ‘amber/orange warning for “isolated heavy rain, thunderstorm & lightning” on July 20 and “yellow warning” for “isolated thunderstorm lightning” on July 21.

There are four types of colour codes signifying the level of caution: green which means no action, yellow—situation to be watched), amber –government agencies need to be prepared for severe weather and red –action needed by the agencies. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Strongly refuting the news report appearing in a section of media that construction work was going on without seeking NOC on wetland in Tawheed Abad Nadirgund area of Peer Bagh Srinagar, a family from Srinagar Monday clarified that they own over 28 kanals of propriety land which in no case is a wet land, but an apple orchard.

“It is a colony where number of houses and buildings comprising of hundreds of flats have come up, just adjacent to our land. We don’t know why we were singled out to be targeted, given the fact we had obtained online NOC from Assistant Commissioner Nazool that clearly states that the land we own is not a wetland and is far away from the Narkara waterbody,” the family said.

They said another misinformation was spread that SMC has put the construction work on hold while the fact is that Jammu Kashmir Special Tribunal had already stayed the impugned order in their favor.

One of the family members told news agency Kashmir News Trust that a misinformation campaign against them was spread by vested interest elements. “If we are restrained to carry out construction work, how come other buildings have come up in the same area. How Irrigation and Flood Control Department officials permitted those flats to come up in the area. We appeal Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to intervene and fix the responsibility, for us being harassed, while scores in the same locality have never been subjected to such a harassment”, he said.

“It is not agricultural land, besides getting NOC from Irrigation and Flood Control Department is not mandatory as Land Revenue Act has ceased to exit due to implementation of New Master Plan,” the family said adding that they possess all documents to prove their claim.

“We don’t know why some people want to impede the construction work and what are their interests,” the family said, adding that it was a fit case for ACB to probe and bring to fore, the real reasons behind only us being singled out to be targeted, when there is nothing illegal in the context of our case. (KNT)

Srinagar, July 19: Two days after the arrest of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Secretary Sofi Akbar in a Kashmirfight blog case has been suspended with immediate effect.

Shopian Jul 19: Two militants including police cop turned top Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander have been killed in an encounter between security forces and militants at Check Sadiq Khan area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Monday evening.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir Dot Com (KDC) that two militants have been killed, while as the search operation is on in the area.

He said the militants turned down repeated surrender offers given to them by government forces, adding that a police cop turned top commander of LeT identified as Ishfaq Dar @Abu Akram active since 2017 is among the slain, however, another identification is being ascertained.

Ishfaq has worked as constable in Jammu and Kashmir police from 2010 but he escaped in 2017 and joined militant ranks, a top official told KDC.

Earlier, an official said that a joint team of Police, Army’s 34 RR and CRPF launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) on specific information about the presence of militants in the area.

He said that as the joint team of forces approached the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them, which was retaliated, triggering an encounter.

Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure, the mobile internet services have been suspended in the district—(KDC)