Category: Union Territory

Srinagar: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Sunday termed the expulsion of a government teacher from the services as an unfortunate and an avoidable decision that has deprived a poor family of its livelihood in highly pressing times.

In a statement issued To Kashmir News Service (KNS) , Bukhari said that it seems that some elements within the system have misled the Lt. Governor on such a sensitive subject which has fueled the level of insecurity and alienation among the people especially the employees working in the government sector.

He said that it is ironical that the accused teacher was not provided any opportunity to speak or defend himself against the charges leveled against him. Bukhari said that the order smacks of an autocratic tone thus eliminating all privileges enjoyed by a citizen living in the world’s largest democracy having a free and fair judicial set-up in place.

Apni Party President said that with this order not only the accused teacher has been barred from his rights to a dignified livelihood but his family including small children has been left to starve in most inhumane manner.

“Our country is the world’s biggest democracy and such a heedless decision, if not taken, would not have let the heavens fall. India is not a fragile country that a poor and hapless teacher, who has already been acquitted by the law of the land, could prove detrimental to its security concerns. So I would fervently appeal to the Lt. Governor to revisit this decision and get the poor hapless teacher reinstated,” Bukhari pleaded.(KNS) 

Srinagar: The recovery rate of Covid-19 cases in Jammu and Kashmir which once was over 98 percent has now reduced to 82 percent amid a spike in the cases on a daily basis.

As per the data available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the recovery rate in J&K has declined from 96.54 percent to 82.59 percent in the month of April alone.

The recovery rate in Kashmir division is 82.08 percent while the recovery rate of Jammu division is 83.38 percent.

In Kashmir Division, the recovery rate of Srinagar is 79.55 percent, Baramulla has 80.02 percent, Budgam 85.68 percent, Pulwama 85.49 percent, Kupwara 85.29 percent, Anantnag 79.81 percent, Bandipora 91.45 percent, Ganderbal 90.18 percent, Kulgam 71.80 percent and Shopian 87.48 percent.

In Jammu division, the recovery rate of Jammu district is 80.74 percent, Udhampur has 89.29, Rajouri 80.35 percent, Doda 91.11 percent, Kuthua 87.18 percent, Samba 78.74 percent, Kishtwar 95.06 percent, Poonch 87.41 percent, Ramban 87.31 percent and Reasi 78.83 percent.

J&K is witnessing a steep surge in positive cases while deaths are also increasing with each passing day.

Notably, the active cases in Jammu and Kashmir are around 30,000 while as in first wave the highest active positive cases in J&K were around 22,000—(KNO)

Jammu: At the time Jammu and Kashmir is facing the second wave of COVID-19, a group of people in Jammu and Kashmir has started “SOS JK”—to reach people through social media in the valley for any medical help.

A group is managed by about 10 people with more than 200 volunteers including journalists, artists, social activists, doctors, lawyers, politicians and others.

The group has got wide support from the politicians including former chief minister Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and various other officials from the government.

While sharing a link, Srinagar Mayor Junaid Azim Mattoo tweeted, “If you are a COVID Fighter, If you have defeated Corona, come forward & help others to win their battles against this Virus with your life saving #Plasma. Together we can!

“Every Plasma donor is a Life Saver” Fill up the link below & be a saviour.#SOSJK.(sic).”

Talking exclusively to KNO, Khushboo Mattoo said, “We are trying to create a one-stop-shop for all verified information and databases regarding COVID crises like hospital beds, ambulances, plasma or even medicines.”

“We are reaching out to people through social media who are stuck at home because their whole family is positive, so they can’t go out for food. We are also going to undertake a major drive for masks and sanitizer distribution among people,” she said.

Meanwhile, various verified social media accounts trend the hashtag #SOSJK and volunteers of the group try to reach out to people who require plasma or other COVID related help.

“We are staring at a complete collapse of our health system. We have seen the horrifying visuals of people dying on roads, while waiting for a hospital bed, in Delhi. But the silver lining in J&K is that we still have a precious week or so, left. That is why we at #SOSJK decided to get together & prepare for it before the Tsunami hits us. We collect verified data on Oxygen, Plasma and Bed availability & put it across to those desperately looking for it. We are a help desk for Covid patients & their families,” Ifra Jan said.

She also said, “You however will not need us if you wear a mask, meet people only in open/well ventilated spaces. But we need your support irrespectively. Please donate plasma if you’re a recovered Corona patient & send to us verified information on Oxygen availability in your area. Together, we shall overcome. We can be reached on twitter by using the hashtag #SOSJK.”

One of the core member of #SOSJK Mohit Bhan said, “We have formed an apolitical group of volunteers preparing a database. Anyone from J&K looking for Oxygen cylinders, Hospital beds, Ambulances, Plasma etc, or are aware of chemists , distributors selling Oxygen and meds or plasma donors, please tag message or call us at +918800002158.”

J&K records 2,283 deaths so far while more than 176,083 cases have been recorded till Friday in which 28,359 are active—(KNO)

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Union territory on Saturday witnessed 47 deaths due to Covid pandemic while as 3,832 fresh positive cases were also reported, taking the number of total active cases in the UT to 28359.

The 47 deaths includes a retired doctor, who was tested positive a few days ago. 

[the_ad_placement id=”w”]

With 47 more deaths, the death toll in the UT has reached to 2,330 and the active cases continue to increase and the recovery rate decreases with each passing day. 3,832 fresh positive cases reported on Saturday pushed the tally of positive cases to 179,915. Today figure of mortality and fresh positive cases is highest ever since the outbreak of pandemic in J&K last year.

Of the exact number of 179,915 cases, 109,160 are from Kashmir and 70,755 from Jammu division. Officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that among 3,832 new cases, 2,601 belong to Kashmir division while as 1,231 are from Jammu division, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir division have reached to 109,160 including 88,578 recoveries and 1,411 deaths while as total number of positive cases in Jammu division have reached to 70,755 including 58,664 recoveries and 919 deaths.

[the_ad_placement id=”w”]

The officials said that the total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir are 39,343 including 19,171from Kashmir division and 11,172 from Jammu division.

With 1,801 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in Jammu and Kashmir has reached 147,242 which is 81.84 percent of the total cases.

[the_ad_placement id=”w”]

“Cases tested positive in J&K include 1,084 from Srinagar, 309 from Baramulla, 291 from Budgam, 70 from Pulwama, 122 from Kupwara, 286 from Anantnag, 77 from Bandipora, 94 from Ganderbal, 221 from Kulgam and 47;from Shopian in Kashmir division while as 1,231 from Jammu division include 504 from Jammu, 141 from Udhampur, 96 from Rajouri, 42 from Doda, 120 from Kathua, 137 from Samba, 15 from Kishtwar, 64 from Poonch, 60 from Ramban and 52 from Reasi,” officials disclosed.

[the_ad_placement id=”w”]

Out of 47 deaths reported today, 13 died in GMC Jammu, 03 in GMC Rajouri, 02 in GMC Kathua, 01 in AKG Kathua, 04 in ASCOMS, 01 in CD Hosp Jmu, 01 in CHC Bhaderwah, 01 in PGI Chandigarh, 01 in DH Udhampur, 01 in CHC Ramnagar, 05 in Home (Brought Dead), 02 in JLNM Sgr, 05 in SKIMS Soura, 05 in SMHS, 01 in CHC Sopore, 01 in GMC Anantnag.

[the_ad_placement id=”w”]

As per officials figures, 43,522 positive cases including 546 deaths and 35,104 recoveries are from Srinagar, 13,268 including 199 deaths and 10,585 recoveries are from Baramulla, 10,912 including 9,171 recoveries and 132 deaths are from Budgam, 7,233 including 6,159 recoveries and 101 deaths are from Pulwama, 7,189 including 102 deaths and 6,078 recoveries are from Kupwara, 7,285 including 5,627 recoveries and 111 deaths are from Anantnag, 5,531 cases including 5,015 and 64 deaths are from Bandipora, 5,536 including 4,960 recoveries and 50 deaths are from Ganderbal, 4,577 including 3,177 recoveries and 64 deaths are from Kulgam and 3,107 including 2,702:recoveries and 42 deaths are from Shopian.

[the_ad_placement id=”w”]

In Jammu division, 35,123 including 28,426 recoveries and 496 deaths are from Jammu district, 6,193 including 5,433 recoveries and 67 deaths are from Udhampur, 4,973 including 3,926 recoveries and 66 deaths are from Rajouri, 3,846 including 3,474 recoveries and 67 deaths are from Doda, 4,652 including 3,986 recoveries and 65 deaths are from Kathua, 3,778 including 2,867 recoveries and 54 deaths are from Samba, 2,974 including 2,813 recoveries and 22 deaths are from Kishtwar, 3,020 including 2,587 recoveries and 37 deaths are from Poonch, 2,686 including 2,293 recoveries and 26 deaths are from Ramban and 3,510 including 2,859 recoveries and 19 deaths are from Reasi.

As per the daily information bulletin 1,814,821 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while 95,997 persons have been kept under home quarantine besides that 30,343 persons are in isolation.

According to the bulletin, 1,565,155 persons have completed surveillance period and 120,996 persons are under home surveillance besides that so far results of 7,312,926 samples are available. Out of 7,312,926 the number of samples tested negative stands at 7,133,011 while as 179,915 have tested positive, among them 30,343 persons are active, 147,242 persons have recovered and 2,330 persons have died—(KNO)

The Corona Curfew ending at 7 am on Monday, 3 May 2021 stands extended till 7 am on Thursday, 6 May 2021 in the 4 districts of Srinagar, Baramulla, Budgam and Jammu.

#IndiaFightsCorona #JandKFightsCorona#WeShallOvercome #StayHomeStaySafe
*Extension of COVID control measures*
The Corona Curfew ending at 7 am on Monday, 3 May 2021 stands extended till 7 am on Thursday, 6 May 2021 in the 4 districts of Srinagar, Baramulla, Budgam and Jammu.

— Information & PR, J&K (@diprjk) May 1, 2021

Labour Day reminds us of their great sacrifices

SRINAGAR: Jammu & Kashmir RTI Movement has urged the Health Department to adhere to the Minimum Wages Act (MWA) as many need-based, consolidated employees particularly the sweepers are not paid wages as per the act.

In a statement Chairman RTI Movement Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat said that Labour Day reminds us of the fact that the world is built on their contribution and all of them deserve equal respect from us and paying Rs 500 per month to health workers who are COVID warriors is an insult and injustice to them.

“ We must salute to all the workers who work tirelessly for us especially the frontline COVID warriors of the J&K Health Department like consolidated and part-time sweepers, attendants, drivers, HDF workers who are not even paid wages as per Minimum Wages Act (MWA). These people are risking lives in this dreaded pandemic and the Govt is paying them wages as low as Rs 500 or Rs 800 per month. This is complete injustice with these people ” said Dr Raja Muzaffar

He appealed to authorities particularly Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Secretary to come to the rescue of these workers of the health department.

“ I also urge upon Govt to confirm the services of NHM employees as well whose future seems to be bleak as they have no job security at all even after rendering their services for Govt from last 15 years or more” reads the statement .

Jammu:The Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industries on Saturday said that they are going support the lockdown call of government wants to extend it.

A leader of the Chamber said that it is matter of life and death and they are going to support the lockdown call of government wants to extend it.

Jammu and Kashmir is under 84 hour long strict curfew which started on Thursday evening in 11 districts and was extended in rest districts on Friday evening.

‘Cases of Kashmiri prisoners be reviewed for release on parole in view of deteriorating pandemic situation in India’

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association Saturday urged the Government of India and the J&K Union Territory administration to shift Kashmiri prisoners lodged in various jails of India back to the Valley in view of the massive spike in Covid deaths and cases across the country.

In a statement issued to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the HCBA spokesman said that in an extra ordinary meeting chaired by the Bar chairman Advocate Nazir Ahmed Ronga, serious concern was expressed on the health conditions of the hundreds of Kashmiri prisoners lodged in different jails in India who were already in outside jails post 5 August, 2019.

“It was urged upon the Government of India and the and J&K UT administration to shift Kashmiri prisoners from outside jails to the nearest jails in Kashmir in view of the disastrous wave throughout India which is consuming thousands of lives per day,” the statement said.

It said that the family members of these prisoners are seriously concerned about the health and lives of their loved ones.

“In Tihar Jail, New Delhi, Kashmiri prisoner Shahidul Islam is Covid infected. Brain tumor patient Bashir Ahmad Bhat is very sick in prison. Health condition of other prisoners that include Muhammad Yaseen Malik, Shabir Ahmed Shah, Nayeem Khan, Asiya Andrabi, Nahida Nasreen, Ayaz Akbar, Parvaiz Mir and Ferooz Ahmad Bhat is deteriorating fast,” the statement said.

The statement said that the Bar Association expressed deep concern about the physical conditions of the Kashmiri prisoners lodged in outside jails and demanded immediate shifting of these prisoners to the nearest jails in Kashmir.

“Bar Association also demanded the cases of these prisoners /detenues be reviewed for release on parole and in view of the grave pandemic situation. In the meeting it was decided to appeal the Government of India and UT administration for review of the cases for release on parole and shifting of these prisoners to the nearest jails in Kashmir,” the statement said—(KNO)

35 patients die across UT since last night

Srinagar: Thirty-five fresh COVID-19 related deaths were reported in Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir since last night, thus taking total number of Coronavirus deaths to 2,318.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that thirty five patients who died include 50-year-old woman from Ashpeer Sopore, 52-year-old woman from Kokernag, 75-year-old man from Solina, 62-year-old man from Hyderpora, 55-year-old man from Nowgam, 75-year-old woman from Barbarshah, 73-year-old female from Sanatnagar, 80-year-old man from Lal Bazar, 25-year-old youth from Natipora, 50-year-old man from Kathidarwaza, 60-year-old man from Karan Nagar, Old aged man from Shopian, 70-year-old man from Pandach, two from Srinagar, one from Kupwara and nineteen from Jammu division.

An official said that 52-year-old lady from Kokernag, 73-year-old woman from Sanatnagar, 25-year-old youth from Natipora, 50-year-old man from Kathidarwaza, 60-year-old man from Karan Nagar and 70-year-old man from Pandach died at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute Of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) died since last night days after testing positive for COVID-19.

He added that a 75-year-old man from Solina, 62-year-old man from Hyderpora, 55-year-old male from Nowgam, 75-year-old woman from Barbarshah and 80-year-old man from Lal Bazar died at SMHS Hospital.

He further added that two patients from Srinagar died at JLNM Hospital Rainawari and one each at DH Shopian, SDH Sopore and SDH Kupwara.

Moreover, sixteen patients died at GMC Jammu since last night and three patients from Poonch also died at GMC Rajouri.

With thirty-five fresh deaths, the total fatalities count soars to 2,318, including 908 from Jammu division and 1,410 from Kashmir division—(KNO)

Srinagar: After witnessing a significant dip in positive cases and deaths in last five months (Nov-March), the intensity of Covid-19 pandemic in J&K witnessed a steep surge in positive cases and April month turned out to be deadliest so far as 289 persons died of infection while as 45123 positive cases were recorded in the month that just left.

The deaths reported in the month of April also showed a surge as compared to the deaths reported in first three months of the ongoing year.

As per official data available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), 45,123 positive cases and 289 deaths were reported in Jammu and Kashmir in month of April.

“Out of 45,123 positive cases, 28,540 cases are from Kashmir division while as 16,583 are from Jammu division and out of 289 deaths, 136 are from Kashmir division and 153 are from Jammu division,” the data states.

In ongoing year, J&K reported 3,579 positive cases and 53 deaths in January, 1,998 positive cases and 21 deaths in February and 4,456 positive cases and 37 deaths in March.

In December last year J&K reported 10747 positive cases and 189 deaths, in November J&K reported a total of 15, 439 positive cases and 216 deaths and in October last year, J&K reported 19,715 positive cases and 297 deaths

Pertinently, 37,373 positive cases and 478 deaths were reported in J&K in month of September 2020, highest in last year.

“17,339 positive cases and 326 deaths were reported in J&K in month of August 2020,” the figures suggest. Moreover, 12,862 positive cases and 276 deaths were reported in J&K in month of July 2020

As per the official data available, in the first 115 days (from March 08-June 30, 2020) 7,497 positive cases and 101 Covid-19 related deaths were witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir.

Interestingly, the first case of the COVID-19 pandemic in India was reported on 30 January 2020, originating from China.

Slowly, the pandemic spread to various states and union territories including the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir. Two suspected cases with high virus load were detected and isolated on March 4 in Government Medical College, Jammu. One of them became the first confirmed positive case on 9 March 2020. Both individuals had a travel history of outside J&K—(KNO)