Category: Union Territory

Srinagar: A bird flu alert has been sounded by Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) in Jammu and Kashmir, after many states including Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat have reported avian flu. The avian flu have left several states baffled as lakhs of birds have been found dead in the last 10 days.

President DAK, Dr Suhail Naik said that as bird flu cases have been reported from Himachal Pradesh and Haryana, it is high time to sound an alert and take optimal preventive measures.

Dr Naik further added that bird flu or avian flu viruses can infect domestic poultry and other birds and can jump to animal species. The disease is “zoonotic” and transmission of virus to humans can prove disastrous.

General Secretary DAK, Dr Owais H Dar said that there is possibility that the avian flu might jump to humans and then it will be very difficult to break the chain of transmission. The bird flu may come as a double whammy for us as we are already fighting a long drawn battle against covid 19 Pandemic. He further added that unexplained deaths of birds in any locality need to be reported to the concerned Veterinary and Health authorities immediately so that optimal preventive measures are taken.

Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) advised people to stay alert and recommended that people should maintain good hygienic practices to reduce exposure to the virus. People are advised not eat raw poultry parts and or raw eggs. Though cooking poultry meat thoroughly at temperatures more than 70 degree centigrade will inactivate the virus, it is better to avoid poultry and its products till flu is eliminated in birds.

Many states have already imposed a ban on the sale and use of poultry meat and other related products in the regions where bird flu deaths have been detected. Government authorities are requested to take optimal precautionary steps and keep close vigil on the emerging situation.(KNS)

The farmers from different parts of the country camping at various border points of Delhi for more than a month now have been given around 50 Kangris brought by a Delhi-based NGO from Jammu and Kashmir to give some respite to elderly farmers from the chilling cold.

Kangri is an earthen pot woven around with wicker, filled with hot embers, and it is used by Kashmiris under the traditional long cloth Phiran or inside a blanket to warm the body.

“Last week, I was approached by some people that they need Kangris. They were in hurry. I am not dealing with the Kangri trade. I am in the business of handicrafts. I was surprised why someone in Delhi needs such a number of kangris. Initially, they were reluctant to say anything but I insisted and they said they need them for farmers. I thought I should help them. I feel for farmers particularly elderly farmers and got Kangris from different traders against reasonable cost and dispatched them to the concerned NGO in Punjab,” says the trader, whishing anonymity.

He said buses directly don’t go to Punjab from Jammu. “Due to the Covid-10 restriction the buses usually change at Madavpur in Punjab and it became one of the hurdles. It took time to find a bus that was directly going to Delhi. Once I found it, I dispatched Kangris to them it,” he said.

He said the first consignment was about 50 kangris which would be used on an experimental basis. “The concerned NGO informed me elderly farmers are suffering from chilling cold and they need something to warm themselves. They were informed by some Kashmiris that Kangri could help,” he says. The NGO also said if the farmers could feel better using Kangri, they would get more from Kashmir.

With inputs from Outlook

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

Jammu: As neighbouring Himachal Pradesh reported cases of bird flu, Jammu and Kashmir has sounded an alert and started collecting samples to check the health of the winged guests flocking the Union territory during winters, officials said.

The joint teams of Animal Husbandry and Wildlife departments on Tuesday visited Gharana wetland in the outskirts of Jammu and collected 25 bird droppings for testing to ascertain whether any of the birds is infected with the dreaded avian influenza, the officials said.

The J&K government has sounded an alert following reports of bird flu cases in Himachal Pradesh and issued certain guidelines as a precautionary measure, Wildlife Warden, Jammu, Anil Atri told PTI.

Atri, who along with Dr Ranjit Katoch of the Wildlife department joined the Animal Husbandry team at Gharana wetland, said all the birds present in the wetland looked healthy.

Gharana Wetland Conservation Reserve in R S Pura sector near the International Border was notified in 1981 and is home to more than 170 species of birds like bar-headed geese, gadwalls, common teals, purple swamp hens, Indian moor hens, black-winged stilts, cormorants, egrets and green shanks.

During the winter, the wetland is visited by thousands of birds from Central Asia and some of the migratory bird species visiting this wetland are endangered.

The team of Animal Husbandry Department, Jammu collected the bird dropping samples for testing, he said, adding there is no need for alarm as this is being done just as a precautionary measure in view of reported cases in HP, Rajasthan, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh to keep the wetlands safe and check the spread of the H5N8 virus.

We have alerted our staff and the public in accordance with the government guidelines like avoiding touching any animal with symptoms and wearing of proper personal protective kits. They were also asked to report immediately if they see any change in the behavior of the birds, Atri said.

Asked about the number of birds present at the wetland, he said the figure fluctuates between 1,000 and 2,000.

The number does not remain static and keeps changing as the migratory birds move from one wetland to another including those across the border. Bar-headed geese outnumber other migratory birds at the wetland,” he added.

Dr Katoch said the sampling team of the Animal Husbandry Department collected the samples which would be tested in Jalandhar.

So far, no death of any migratory or local bird was reported from the wetland. We have checked the birds and all are healthy, he said.

He added that observatory staff has been alerted to keep an eye on the birds.(PTI)

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Bank had put the hard work of hundreds of aspirants of Banking Associates in waste and their career in jeopardy by holding the exams on schedule on tuesday despite heavy snowfall which has disrupted road connectivity in Kashmir valley.

While the University of Kashmir and JK Board of School Education have postponed Tuesday’s scheduled examination due snowfall, the Bank has gone ahead with the exam.

According to news agency Kashmir Dot Com- (KDC) hundreds of aspirants from Kashmir valley are aghast at the bank for going ahead with the exams despite disruption in road connectivity due to snowfall.

The Valley has been receiving heavy snowfall since Monday which has closed highways and other internal roads of the districts.

The government has also sounded alert in hilly districts.

Aspirants said that this is callousness of the bank authorities to go ahead with the exam and it seems a way to facilitate exams of one region and deprive Valley aspirants of the opportunity.

“How can we reach exam centers on time when there is no transport due to heavy snowfall? We won’t be able to avail this opportunity despite us having spent months for preparation. It seems JK Bank is depriving Kashmiri aspirants of this job opportunity. There is a design in it,” several aspirants told Kashmir Dot Com.

The aspirants have urged LG administration to intervene and immediately defer the exams till weather improves in Kashmir. (KDC)

Appeals people to avoid crude electric gadgets, park vehicles inside premises

Srinagar: The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Pandorang K Pole on Tuesday ordered rationing of fuel, LPG and other essential commodities as “precautionary measure” amid ongoing major snowfall across valley. He appealed people not to go panic as every major snowfall doesn’t mean a call of disaster.

Talking exclusively to KNS, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Pandurang K Pole said that order has been issued as “precautionary one” even as stocks are full. “We are not low on stocks. The order is a precautionary, a preventive one to avoid any difficulty which may arise ahead in view of harsh weather”, Pole said.

He appealed people especially living in rural area not to go panic while seeing major snowfall. “Most of the populations live in rural belts who are majorly dependent on agriculture and horticulture. They too know that snowfall is in their interest which will increase their crop production in coming season”, he said.

Pole further said that people by and large should not go panic as it is not necessary that major snowfall would be a disaster. About inconveniences facing by people on ground, he appealed people to stop use of crude electrical devices in ongoing weather so that electricity could be saved.

He appealed people to park vehicles in their premises and stay away from parking it on roads as it costs heavy toll to men and machinery while snow clearance. “I appeal people to park vehicles inside their premises as it interrupts the snow clearance work if vehicles to be parked on outside”, he said an urged people stay inside and venture outside only in case of any exigency.

Divisional Commissioner also said that his office has passed strict directions to all Deputy Commissioners and asked them to ensure alertness of essential departments, besides ensure availability of supplies. “I passed direction to all DC’s and asked them to check the presence of employees of essential department including PDD, R&B, PHE, RDD, Municipal Committees etc so that people’s issues will be attended on time. Also I urged them to ensure uninterrupted supply of essentials to people on ground.

To a query, he said that authorities had already taken strong note of violations by mutton sellers who are selling it on exorbitant rates. “We had fixed price of mutton on scientific rates while discussing it to all stake holders. Many violators had been taken into task and those will not abide instructions of Government will too be booked under relevant sections of law”, he said.

The Divisional Commissioner officer earlier issued an order about rationing of fuel, LPG and other essential commodities as “precautionary measure” amid ongoing major snowfall across valley.

The order copy which lies in the possession of KNS reads that in continuation of this office communication No: Divcom/PS/Misc/2021/2610-27 dated 04. 01. 2021, the instructions are hereby issued for strict adherence by all concerned.

“The Petrol/Diesel shall be issued to the vehicles as under: Two wheeler: 03 litres; Three wheeler: 05 litres; Four wheeler (private): 10 litres; Four wheelers (commercial): 20 litres; Heavy motor vehicles/buses/trucks: 20 litres”, order reads.

According to order copy, the LPG cylinder shall be issued to the consumer only after 21-days against proper acknowledgement and record.
“All the concerned/Line Departments shall conduct extensive market checking to crack whip on the persons indulging in overcharging/black-marketing, profiteering etc. Concerned Tehsildar & TSO shall make surprise visits and ensure implementation of these directions and report through concerned by Dy. Commissioner accordingly”, order copy reads. (KNS) 

VC Prof Talat calls it great achievement in his congratulatory message

Srinagar: Days after being elected as Fellow of the Indian Society of Geomatics, Kashmir University’s Dean of Research Prof Shakil A Romshoo has been elected as Fellow of the prestigious Indian Academy of Sciences.
Prof Romshoo is the first Fellow of the Academy from Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh ever since its inception in 1934. The Academy, which plays a pivotal role in furthering the cause of science in India, has so far elected around 2000 top-notch scientists from within and outside the country as its Fellows.
Founded by Nobel Laureate Professor C V Raman, the Indian Academy of Sciences is an autonomous institution under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.

Congratulating Prof Romshoo on behalf of the university for this great achievement, KU Vice-Chancellor Prof Talat Ahmad said he was glad to see Prof Romshoo being recognised by the Indian Academy of Sciences for his profound and sustained contributions to the promotion of science in the country.

“We all need to work together to raise the stature of science across the country and inculcate scientific temper amongst our youth,” Prof Talat said.

Pertinently, Prof Romshoo has made remarkable contributions to the understanding of glacier systems of the sparsely instrumented Himalaya, and to the investigation of feedbacks between various environmental niches—from alpine glaciers to the depleting river flows in the Indus basin, which was a knowledge gap. His research has produced crucial information for choosing policy and management options for sustainable use of depleting water resources and for meeting the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) obligations, and to deal with impacts of climate change in the basin, the waters of which are shared between India and Pakistan.

Prof Romshoo has demonstrated use of satellite data for implementation of the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The knowledge outcomes from some of his research endeavours have fed into policymaking for disaster management, environmental management and climate change at the national level.

Prof Romshoo has obtained Ph.D in Civil Engineering with a major in Microwave Remote Sensing from the University of Tokyo, Japan and MS in Space Technology from the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok. With 32 years’ academic experience, he has worked, in the past, as a scientist at the Japan Space Agency Tokyo and Fellow at The Energy and Research Institute, Delhi. He has published 200 peer-reviewed articles in international journals and has mentored 19 Ph.D. students till date. He has independently handled scores of major research projects at Kashmir University and is a member of several policymaking committees and working groups on environment, water, climate change and disaster management at the UT, national and international level.

Prof Romshoo is a recipient of a dozen national and international awards and has also been elected as Fellow of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing and, recently, the Indian Society of Geomatics too. (KNS)

Altaf Bukhari demands re-examination of candidates who missed Banking Associate exams because of snowfall

Srinagar: Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Tuesday demanded re-examination for the Banking Associates aspirants who failed to reach the examination centres across Kashmir division due to heavy snowfall.

In a statement issued “Kashmir News Service”, Bukhari urged the Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha to intervene into the matter and get the JK Bank recruitment examination rescheduled for such aspirants who were stranded because of the inclement weather and could not appear at the examination centres.

“Conducting an important examination in a hostile weather condition, smacks of non-application of mind by the Bank’s recruitment authorities! When the Universities and other government recruitment agencies postponed examinations in view of the snowfall, why didn’t the JK Bank rescheduled its exams for the convenience of the aspirants and its examination staff?” Bukhari asked.

He said that hundreds of candidates from different parts of the Valley were eagerly waiting for the JK Bank examination for the last few years and many such candidates were unable to reach the examination venues because most of the roads are snowbound.

“A heavy spell of snowfall was expected and predicted by the MET department a week ago. This unprecedented situation left scores of banking associate aspirants and students, appearing in examinations, stranded. I appeal to Lt. Governor to intervene into the matter on humanitarian grounds so that these stranded candidates are not deprived of this golden opportunity,” he pleaded.(KNS)

Admin appeals people to coperate

Srinagar: As the complaints pour in about non-clearance of accumulated snow on the roads, the district administration Srinagar Tuesday said that the efforts are on to clear the road and appealed the people to cooperate with the departments on the ground.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the men and machinery has already been pressed to clear the roads.

“The vehicles on the roads delayed the process. The roads would have been cleared much time ago in case there could have been no traffic for some early hours,” he said.

He further stated that all the roads will be cleared within a shortest possible time. “It would take a few hours to clear the roads as the people now have cooperated with the administration on the ground,” he said.

Meanwhile, Srinagar administration in a tweet appealed to the residents for continued cooperation and assured round-the-clock efforts to ease disruptions resulting from the prevailing weather situation.

“We would like to request our residents for continued cooperation while our departments are out on the ground clearing the snow and restoring the affected services. We can assure of round-the-clock efforts to ease disruptions resulting from the prevailing weather situation,” Srinagar district administration tweeted—(KNO)

Further details awaited

Srinagar: Meteorological department on Tuesday said that present weather conditions are likely to continue till late night of early tomorrow and thereafter forecast “significant” improvement.

At present, heavy snowfall is going on in entire Kashmir, crippling normal life across the Valley. Most people have preferred to stay indoors even as a very minimal traffic movement was seen on road with commuters struggling to make the way.

“Present weather conditions are likely to continue till late tonight or early tomorrow,” an official of the weatherman said as per GNS. “We expect significant improvement in weather from tomorrow (January 6) in jammu and Kashmir,” he said, adding, “With that, cold wave will return from January 7th onwards with warmer days and colder night.” (GNS)