Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • Many Covid-19 deaths go unreported in Kashmir

    Srinagar: The Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Saturday said that official figures of Covid-19 deaths are an underestimate as many deaths due to the virus go unreported in the valley.

    “The actual number of people dying from Covid is higher than what is reported,” said DAK President and influenza expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan.

    “The reported death toll is an undercount and only provides a snapshot of the true toll virus has taken,” he said.

    Dr Hassan said only those deaths make it to the official count that have been confirmed as Covid-19 through RT-PCR testing.

    “But the test can miss more than 30 percent of positive cases,” he said.

    “We see many patients who test negative on RT-PCR test, but show CT features consistent with Covid-19 disease, but they are not reported,” he added

    Dr Hassan said that while elderly people have the highest rates for hospitalization and death, many are not tested for Covid in hospitals.
    “Older people don’t develop typical Covid symptoms. In them, feeling weak or confused may be the only sign of having the infection,” he said.
    “When patients lack classic signs, health professionals are less likely to think of the diagnosis. This means many patients die undiagnosed,” he added.
    The DAK President said that many Covid deaths are hidden among other diseases.

    “Many patients with heart or lung disease die of Covid, but their death is attributed to their underlying condition,” he said.

    Dr Nisar said that many people with Covid symptoms don’t get tested for the virus because of the fear of stigma and quarantine of family members.

    “Social stigma makes people hide their illness and keep them away from seeking health care,” he said.
    He said that people fear that if they die of Covid-19, they will not get the decent burial and only few will come to their funeral.

    “As a result, people are choosing to die at home, unrecorded,” he said.

    “Accurate data is vitally important for appropriate response which is key to mitigate further disaster.

    To deal with the problem, we must understand how bad it is.

    Poor quality data equals poor decision which in turn leads to lost opportunity to improve population health in a crisis.

    Without accurate tallies, response won’t be enough to defeat the outbreak,” said Dr Nisar.

  • J&K Reports 34 More Covid-19 Deaths, Toll Crosses 3000 Mark

    Srinagar, May 14: At least 34 persons, including a 39-year-old woman, succumbed to covid-19 since last evening so far, taking the fatality count to 3001, officials said on Friday.

    18 deaths were reported at GMC Jammu while sixteen persons died at various hospitals and make-shift facilities for covid-19 management in Kashmir
    Valley, the officials told GNS.

    Among others, they said, the victims include a 60-year-old from Gagoo Humhamma Budgam who died at SKIMS Bemina, 11 days after he was admitted to SKIMS Bemina.

    A 65-year-old woman Nowgam Srinagar who died three days after she was admitted to the SKIMS Bemina facility, they said.

    A 56-year-old man from Chake Badernath Pulwama died at SKIMS Soura, soon after he was admitted, they said.

    A 39-year-old woman from Dalgate Srinagar died at SKIMS Soura where she was referred from JLNM today, they said.

    A 90-year-old man from Lar Ganderbal died three days after he was admitted to the SKIMS Soura, they said.
    A 50-year-old man from Ladhoo Pampore died at SMHS Hospital Srinagar, they said.

    Three patients died at a facility set up at Indoor Stadium Baramulla and include 70-year-old from Nowgam Kandi Sangrama Baramulla, 57-year-old from Kanispora Baramulla and 75-year-old woman from Sherwani Colony Baramulla.

    Two patients died at GMC Anantnag –85-year-old from Srangsoo Ashmuqam, 70-year-old man from Khanbal.

    The other victims include 52-year-old man from Wudhpora Handwara died at SDH Kupwara, 70-year-old from Buran Pattan died at SDH Sopore, a 56-year-old man from Barzulla died at SKIMS Soura (four days after he was admitted) a 50-year-old man from Batmaloo died at SMHS and a 70-year-old man from Katapora died ten days after he was admitted to SMHS. (GNS)

  • Shawaal Moon Sighted, Eid Tomorrow: Grand Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam

    Srinagar: Kashmir’s Grand Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam has said that Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated across Jammu and Kashmir tomorrow – Thursday – as witnesses have been on record on sighting of the Shawaal moon.

    Witnesses have been on record on sighting the Shawal moon at several places, leading to the conclusion that Eid will be celebrated tomorrow, Islam told Srinagar-based news agency Global News Service (GNS).

    “I felicitate the people of J&K on the auspicious occasion of Eid and pray to Almighty Allah that this auspicious occasion be the harbinger of peace and prosperity for the entire J&K”, the top-cleric said. “We all should seek intervention from Almighty Allah to eradicate us this ongoing Covid menace, wrecking havoc across the globe for two years now”, Islam added.

    Earlier, the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee in Pakistan after hours of clamour announced that the Shawal moon has been sighted in the country and that Eid would be celebrated tomorrow. (GNS)

  • No curfew relaxation on Eid eve in Kashmir: Div Com PK Pole

    Says COVID-19 doesn’t stop with any special occasion, 40% surplus oxygen available in Valley hospitals, situation under control, Cases may shoot up in coming day, no need to panic

    [the_ad_placement id=”w”]

    Kupwara, May 12: The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P K Pole Wednesday said that there won’t be any relaxation on Eid-ul-Fitr eve in Kashmir given the steep rise in COVID-19 infection cases while the overall situation is under control in the Valley. He was quick to add that 30-40 per cent of surplus oxygen was available in Kashmir as of now.

    [the_ad_placement id=”w”]

    Pole was on a visit to the border district of Kupwara along with other administrative officials to review COVID preparations put in place by the health authorities and district administration.

    [the_ad_placement id=”w”]

    Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the visit, Divisional Commissioner as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that the overall situation in Kashmir is under control while the preventive restrictions put in place up to May 17th will remain in place.

    “There won’t be any sort of relaxation on Eid eve in Kashmir,” he said, adding that Covid 19 does stop on any special occasion.

    [the_ad_placement id=”w”]

    He said that around 175 oxygen-supported beds are available in Kupwara and a plant of 1000 LPM has been made functional at SDH while the occupancy of beds is below 40%. “The Covid situation, however, is good and the cases have started to decline,” Pole said.

    [the_ad_placement id=”w”]

    He said: “We hope that the COVID ends soon but there won’t be any laxity from the administration side and preparations are in full swing to contain the spread,” he said.

    About the situation in Kashmir valley, the Divisional Commissioner said that the overall situation is definitely under control.

    [the_ad_placement id=”w”]

    “The cases will increase in the coming days in Kashmir and that shouldn’t be a source of panic for people,” he said. The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir urged the people to stay away from any such information that leads to health issues mainly mental problems saying that people must stick to things that don’t impact stability.

    [the_ad_placement id=”w”]

    Asked about the oxygen refilling issue faced in Kupwara, he said that the 1000 LPM oxygen plant is already functional here and the cylinders won’t be of that use besides concentrators have been made available.

    Pole said that oxygen is being monitored scientifically outside the states like Maharashtra. “Doctors have conducted the oxygen audit in J&K and stated that around 40% of the oxygen is surplus and there is no question of shortage at any point,” he said.

    [the_ad_placement id=”w”]

    He assured that there is no shortage of vaccines for people aged above 45-years across the valley and the drive is being carried out as per the schedule while the registrations are underway for individuals above 18 years.

    The Divisional Commissioner said that that the COVID-19 situation has not worsened that much in the northern belt of Kashmir and the administration is ensuing preparation while people must cooperate with the government to fight this deadly pandemic and adhere to precautionary measures and not come out unnecessarily—(KNO)

    [the_ad_placement id=”w”]

  • Kashmiris express solidarity with Palestine people, condemn civilian killings by Israel forces

    Srinagar May 12: Kashmiris have shown their solidarity with the Palestine people and condemned the air strikes by Israel on civilians in Gaza, which killed 43 people and around 300 injured.
    Anger is brewing up among Kashmiris against the civilian killings in Palestine by Israel. According to news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS), Kashmiris have been taking to social media where they express their anger and denounce the civilian killings by Israel. They have also questioned the silence by several countries over these killings.
    “I denounce the killings in Palestine. Israel forces have been killing children in Gaza and the world is watching as a mute spectator. Except few Muslim countries, others are totally silent. This is pathetic,” wrote Aijaz Ahmad on his Twitter handle.
    Saudi Arabia has come under sharp criticism for not raising the voices of Palestine people.
    Meanwhile, the death toll from Israeli airstrikes on Gaza in Palestine has climbed to 43, including 13 children and three women.
    The Gaza Health Ministry, as per a report by Associated PRess, said nearly 300 Palestinians in the territory have been wounded in the strikes, which began Monday.
    The worst fighting since the 2014 Gaza war was ignited by clashes in Jerusalem in recent weeks between Palestinian people and Israeli police focused on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a site sacred to Jews and Muslims.
    Rockets streamed out of Gaza and Israel pounded the territory with airstrikes early Wednesday as the most severe outbreak of violence since the 2014 war took on many hallmarks of that devastating 50-day conflict, with no endgame in sight.
    Israeli airstrikes have leveled two apartment towers in the Gaza Strip, where 2 million Palestinians have lived under a crippling Israeli-Egyptian blockade since Hamas took power in 2007. Warning shots have allowed civilians to evacuate the buildings, but the material losses will be immense. Israel faced heavy criticism over the tactic during the 2014 war.
    Just after daybreak Wednesday, Israel unleashed dozens of airstrikes in the course of a few minutes, targeting police and security installations, witnesses said. A wall of dark gray smoke rose over Gaza City. The Hamas-run Interior Ministry said airstrikes destroyed the central police headquarters in Gaza City, a compound with several buildings.
    The death toll in Gaza rose to 35 Palestinians, including 12 children and three women, according to the Health Ministry. Some 233 people were wounded. Five Israelis, including three women and a child, were killed by rocket fire Tuesday and early Wednesday, and dozens of people were wounded.
    In a brief statement, ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said she had noted with great concern the escalation of violence in the region and the possible commission of crimes under the Rome Statute that established the court.
    The latest eruption of violence began a month ago in Jerusalem, where heavy-handed police tactics during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the threatened eviction of dozens of Palestinian families by Jewish settlers ignited protests and clashes with police. A focal point was the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a site sacred to Jews and Muslims. (KINS)

  • Youth found mysteriously dead in orchard in Delina Baramulla

    Baramulla, May 12: A youth was found dead mysteriously in an orchard in his native area in Sheepora Delina of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Wednesday morning.

    An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that some locals spotted the body in the orchard in Delina and accordingly informed the police.

    He said that a team of police from the concerned police station reached the spot and took the body into their possession.

    Official identified the deceased as Mohammad Abbas Mir son of Ghulam Mohammad Mir, a resident of Sheepora Delina.

    “The body has been shifted to a nearby hospital for postmortem and investigation in this regard has been taken up,” he added—(KNO)

  • DDMA asks for testing of Bakery workers in Srinagar after 8 test positive

    Srinagar, May 11: The district disaster management authority Srinagar on Tuesday asked for the testing of all bakery workers operating in the district after 8 bakery workers tested positive for Covid-19.

    According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), district magistrate Srinagar, Mohammad Aijaz, who is also the chairman of DDMA in a Tweet asked for the testing of all bakery workers in Srinagar.

    “DDMA Srinagar asked for Testing of all Bakery workers. Out of 99 lifted samples, 8 have tested positive on RTPCR. Mostly from renowned Bakery shops. Let’s stay indoors. #coronavirus has unique art of locating the right person,” he Tweeted.

    Notably, despite restrictions in place in view of Covid-19 situation, several areas in Srinagar on Tuesday witnessed huge rush of shoppers, thronging the market places in view of the approaching Eid-ul-Fitr—(KNO)

  • Covid-19 resurgence: In first 11 days of May claims 564 lives in J&K

    Srinagar, May 11: The second wave of Covid-19 has wreaked havoc in Jammu and Kashmir as in just 11 days of the ensuing month, 564 deaths were reported in the Union Territory.

    As per the data available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), from May 01-11 J&K has reported 564 deaths which includes 200 from Kashmir division and 364 from Jammu division.

    “On first May, J&K reported 46 deaths which includes 17 from Kashmir division and 29 from Jammu and on May 02 J&K reported 41 deaths which includes 11 from Kashmir and 28 from Jammu,” the figures reveal.

    They suggest that on 03 May, J&K reported 51 deaths, 16 Kashmir and 35 from Jammu while as 04 May, J&K reported 37 deaths which includes 12 from Kashmir and 26 from Jammu.

    “On 05 May, J&K reported 52 deaths which includes 24 from Kashmir and 28 from Jammu division and on 06 May J&K reported 52 deaths including 18 from Kashmir and 34 from Jammu,” the figures state. “On 07 May, J&K reported 50 deaths including 21 from Kashmir and 29 from Jammu division while as on 08 May, J&K reported 60 deaths including 18 from Kashmir and 42 from Jammu.”

    The figures further state that on 09 May, J&K reported 54 deaths which includes 22 from Kashmir and 32 from Jammu while as on May, 56 deaths were reported including 17 from Kashmir and 39 from Jammu.

    “On 11 May, 65 deaths were reported in the UT which includes, 24 from Kashmir division and 41 from Jammu division,” the figures added—(KNO)

  • Second vaccine dose must if you get Covid after first jab: DAK

    Srinagar, May 11: If you have received first dose of Covid-19 vaccine and got infected with the virus, you should go for the second shot soon after the recovery,” said Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Tuesday in a communiqué.

    “People who contract Covid after the first dose still need to get the second jab,” said DAK President and influenza expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan.

    “However, you shouldn’t get the vaccine while sick,” he said.

    Dr Hassan said you should get your second dose as soon as your isolation is over.

    “One should take the second shot 2 weeks after all the symptoms of Covid have been resolved,” he said.

    “I am aware of several cases where someone tested positive for Covid-19 after getting their first dose,” Dr Hassan said.

    “They should get their second dose of the vaccine after they get over with their quarantine to gain its full protective benefits,” he said.

    The DAK President said you are fully protected against the Covid only after the second dose.

    “It is vitally important to get both doses for best protection against the Covid,” he said.

    “First dose primes the body with an initial immune response,” Dr Nisar said.

    “Second dose is the one that really gives the boost to the immune system. It induces a level of virus neutralizing antibodies about 10-fold greater than the first dose,” he said.

    “Also, second dose induces cellular immunity, which predicts not only longer protection, but better protection against variant strains,” he added.

    Dr Nisar said there are two Covid-19 vaccines that are being used in Kashmir right now – Covaxin and Covishield which have two-dose schedule.

    He said doses are spaced depending on which vaccine you get.

    “The time interval between two doses of Covaxin is 4-6 weeks, while second dose of Covishield can be taken 4-8 weeks after the first. But, there is some data that delaying the second dose of Covishield up to 12 weeks gives a better immune boost,” he informed.

    “It is imperative to take the same vaccine for both doses and mixing of the two should not be done,” he added.

  • Sehrai’s funeral: Police lodges FIR against 20 persons for raising pro-freedom, provocative slogans

    Case registered in police station Tekkipora-Sogam, further investigations on

    Kupwara, May 10: Jammu and Kashmir Police have registered FIR against 20 people who were found involved in raising “pro-freedom and provocative slogans” during the funeral of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat chairman Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai on May 6.

    A top police official told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that an FIR has been lodged against 20 people who were raising “pro-freedom and provocative slogans” while taking the body of Sehrai to Tekkipora-Sogam graveyard for burial at around 4 am on May 6. The video of the same had gone viral on social media sites.

    “A case has been registered against 20 people who were found raising pro-Azadi and other provocative slogans, in police station Tekkipora-Sogam (Kupwara district),” the official said, adding that further investigations are on.

    Pertinently, Sehrai was shifted to GMC Jammu on May 5 after he complained of chest pain and breathing issues. His condition deteriorated in the afternoon after which he breathed his last in the same hospital.

    His body was handed over to his family members. Sehrai’s body was taken to his ancestral graveyard at Tekkipora, Kupwara where he was laid to rest in presence of his family members and close relatives—(KNO)