Category: Union Territory

Srinagar: Three more patients who were tested positive for Covid-19 have died at SKIMS, taking the total number of  deaths in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to 174.

Officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that three patients who died at SKIMS include an 80-year-old woman from Budoo Kulgam, a 47-year-old woman from Kulgam and a 60-year-old male from Gulab Bagh Srinagar.

Dr Farooq Jan, Medical Superintendent at SKIMS said that the elderly woman from Budoo, Kulgam who was admitted on 26th June expired at 01:50 am due to Cardiopulmonary arrest.

He said the patient was suffering from Community acquired pneumonia, ADHf and other ailments.

Professor Jan added that the 47-year-old woman from Kulgam who was admitted on 10th July died at 02:20 am due to Cardiopulmonary arrest.

“The patient was suffering from hypertension, diabetes, pneumonia and other ailments,” he said.

Dr Jan further added that the elderly male from Gulab Bagh, Srinagar who was admitted on 09th July and tested positive on Saturday died at 03:25 am due to Cardiopulmonary arrest.

He said the patient was suffering from community acquired pneumonia and other ailments.

With three more deaths, the death toll related to Covid-19 has reached to 174 including 157 from Kashmir division and 17 from Jammu division—(KNO)

Srinagar: Administration on Saturday said that authorities were yet to take any decision on reimposing lock down in Kashmir.

“There is a concern for non-adherence to mask and social distance measures in cities. Many persons expressed concern, demanded lock down. Govt has seized the matter and will decide over it,” Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P K Pole told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

His late evening statement came as some people have been posting on social media that administration has announced lock down and creating panic.

“Government is considering to reimpose lockdown. A final decision will be taken within 24 hours. No decision has been taken so far,” a senior official told KINS.

Earlier during the day, District Development Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Chowdhary in a live interaction with a journalist said the government will hold a review meeting tonight.

“A decision will be taken within 24 hours over reimposing of lockdown. People have to decide whether they want lockdown or they wear masks, maintain social distancing and personal hygiene,” he said.

He however said every stakeholder is being taken on board before taking a decision.(KINS)

Five women among deceased, toll 171; 17 from Jammu region, 154 from Kashmir

Srinagar: A fresh wave of fear gripped Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday after the deadly virus claimed nine lives in a single day including five women, taking the total number of people, who died due to Covid-19 to 169 in the UT.

Officials told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that nine patients who died due to the Covid-19 include a 73-year-old male from  Pattan, Baramulla,  55-year-old man from Bari Brahmana, Jammu, 45-year-old man from Trehgam, Kupwara, 24-year-old woman from Anantnag, 50-year-old man Baghat-e-Kanipora, Budgam, 65-year-old woman from Habba Kadal Srinagar, 70-year-old woman from Nuner, Ganderbal, 56-year-old woman from Shalimar and 77- year-old man from Hyderpora Srinagar, 58-year-old man from RS Pura,  Jammu, 70-year-old female from Magam, Handwara in Kupwara district, 58-year-old male from RS Pura, Jammu.

“Among nine patients, four including 73-year-old man from Pattan, Baramulla, 77-year-old man from Hyderpora, Srinagar, 70-year-old woman from Nuner, Ganderbal and 56-year-old woman from Shalimar died at SKIMS hospital, two patients including 24-year-old woman from Hakoora, Anantnag and 50-year-old man from Baghat-e-Kanipora died at SMHS hospital, two patients including 45-year-old male from Trehgam, Kupwara and 65-year-old woman from Habba Kadal, Srinagar died at CD hospital and 55-year-old male from Bari, Brahmana Jammu died at GMC Jammu,” the officials said.

Dr Farooq Jan Medical Superintendent at SKIMS told KNO that a 73 year old Covid-19 positive male from Pattan, Baramulla, who was admitted on July 9, died at SKIMS on Saturday afternoon.

He said that the patient was suffering from COPD with Pancytopenia with bilateral lung infiltrates.

He said that a 77-year-old man from Hyderpora, Srinagar who was very sick and was on a ventilator in IDB block died at 7:45 am. “Patient was a case of Carcinoma Urinary Bladder and was admitted with bilateral pneumonia with ARDS,” he added.

Prof. Jan said that a 70-year-old woman from Nuner Ganderbal who was admitted on Friday died at SKIMS on Saturday at 12:30 pm and was tested positive after death. He said that the patient was suffering from bilateral pneumonia, type 1 respiratory failure and other ailments.

Jan further added that a 56-year-old woman from Shalimar who was admitted on 06 July and tested positive for Covid-19 died on Saturday at 05:10 pm due to cardiopulmonary arrest. “He said that the patient was suffering from bilateral pneumonia, hypertension and diabetes,” he said.

Dr Nazir Choudhary, Medical Superintendent at SMHS said that a 24-year-old woman from Hakura, Anantnag who was admitted on 03 July died at SMHS on Friday late night.

He said that the patient was referred from Lal Ded hospital after she had caesarean delivery and the patient was kept on ventilator, however, she had intracranial hemorrhage due to high blood pressure and died while her male baby is fine.

He said that a patient from Baghat-e- Kanipora died a few hours, he was admitted at SMHS and was tested positive after death. “Patient was suffering from bilateral pneumonia and other ailments,” Dr Choudhary said.

Dr Salim Tak, Medical Superintendent at CD hospital told KNO that a 45-year-old man from Trehgam, Kupwara, who was referred from SMHS after testing positive for Covid-19 on 04 July died at CD Hospital on Saturday.

The patient was very sick and was suffering from bilateral pneumonia, hypertension and other ailments, he said. He said that a 65-year-old woman from Habba Kadal who was admitted on 08 July died at CD hospital on Saturday afternoon.  “The patient was suffering from bilateral pneumonia, hypertension and ailments,” he said.

Dr Dara Singh Medical Superintendent at GMC Jammu said that a 55-year-old man from Bari Brahmana, who was admitted on June 29 died at GMC on Saturday afternoon. He said that the patient was suffering from diabetes, Carcinoma bladder and other ailments. The 10th death was reported late evening at SMHS Srinagar 70-year-old female patient from Magam, Handwara, Kupwara,who was admitted on July 9. “Her sample was taken on July 09 and she died today morning. Her samples returned as positive for the virus,” Dr Nazir, Medical Superintendent SMHS told KNO.

The 11th death was reported from R S Pura, Jammu. A doctor at GMC Jammu said that the 58-year-old male from RS Pura, Jammu, was suffering from hypertension, liver disease and repiratory problem. “He was tested positive for the Covid-19,” said a doctor at GMC Jammu.

With 11 more deaths, the death toll related to Covid-19 has reached 171 in J&K including 17 from Jammu division and 154 from Kashmir division. Srinagar district with 43 deaths has the highest fatalities followed by Baramulla (32), Kulgam (18), Shopian (16), Anantnag (14), Budgam (11), Jammu (10), Kupwara (10), Pulwama (5), Bandipora (3), two each in Doda and GAnderbal while one death each has been reported from Poonch, Udhampur, Rajouri and Kathua—(KNO)

Srinagar: Amid spike in the number of COVID cases in Srinagar, a high-level meeting was chaired by the district administration on Saturday wherein the surge in the Coronavirus cases was discussed.

The meeting was attended by the administrative, police officials and other stakeholders.

Reliable sources told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a high-level meeting was chaired by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary.

Sources said that it was told during the meeting that the contacts of positive cases, which are being tested positive, have also gone up. “During the period of lockdown, one or two contacts of any positive case were being tested positive. But, after the relaxation in the lockdown, at least 15-20 contacts of a positive case are being detected positive in many instances ,” the meeting as per sources discussed.

They further said that the meeting also stated that the cases are witnessing a surge in the district as being the busiest place, people from other districts also visit here and majority of the people are not following the health advisories.

Srinagar’s high number of cases also includes huge numbers from other districts referred to tertiary care hospitals for advance treatment and testing positive here during mandatory testing before medical procedures, the meeting as per the sources said.

Meanwhile, officials told KNO that the people need to follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) in letter and spirit to help in reducing the number of positive cases. “The people have two options. Either to follow the health guidelines in spirit or to witness another lockdown, which will be for a longer period,” they said.

Officials said if the people follow the health guidelines in spirit, the cases will go down in the district, but if they will not follow the advisories, the administration will be compelled to announce a lockdown for a longer period to prevent the deadly virus from spreading.

Pertinently, Srinagar has topped the list of COVID cases as the toll of active cases has gone up to 1012. From Sunday, the district has recorded 456 COVID cases in Srinagar—(KNO)

Srinagar: Kashmir Valley on Saturday reported four more deaths including three from Srinagar and one from Ganderbal districts on Saturday. In all nine covid-19 patients have died in Jammu and Kashmir today, taking the fatality count due to the deadly virus in J&K to 169.

The fresh deaths include 45-year-old and 65-year-old men from Kanipora and Habba Kadal areas of Srinagar respectively. The others include women, both aged 56, from Nunar Ganderbal and Shalimar Srinagar.

Medical superintendent SKIMS Dr Farooq Jan told GNS that the woman from Shalimar was admitted on July 10 and had bilateral Community acquired pneumonia and T1RF. “She was in ward 2A and died at 12:30 p.m. “Her test came positive for covid-19 later,” he said.

Regarding Shalimar woman, Professor Farooq said that she died at 05:10 p.m. with cause of death being cardiopulmonary arrest. “She was admitted on July 6 and was known case of B/L CAP with HTN with DM.”

Meanwhile, a 65-year-old man from Srinagar’s Habba Kadal area died at CD hospital here. “The patient was diabetic, hypertensive and had bilateral pneumonia,” Dr Salim Tal, Medical Superintendent CD hospital told GNS.

The 45-year-old man from Kanipora Srinagar died at SMHS hospital. “He had bilateral pneumonia,” Dr Nazir Choudhary, Medical Superintendent SMHS hospital, told GNS.

Earlier, a 73-year-old man from Pattan area of Baramulla district died SKIMS, two days after he was admitted. The septuagenarian was suffering “COPD with pancytopenia with B/L lung infiltrates”, Professor Farooq told GNS.

Prior to him, a 55-year-old man from Bari Brahmana died at Government Medical College Jammu.

Medical Superintendent of GMC Jammu, Dr. Dara Singh told GNS that the quinquagenarian had comorbidities like “CA bladder and diabetes.” He was admitted on June 29 and died today, he added.

Previously, three persons including a 45-year-old man from Kupwara district died here due to the virus.

A resident of Trehgam, the quadragenarian succumbed at CD hospital, one of the exclusive facilities for the management of the covid-19 patients here.

“He was having hypertension, diabetes and bilateral pneumonia. The patient was on ventilator,” Dr Salim Tak told GNS. “He was shifted from SMHS hospital on July 4 and died this morning,” Dr Tak added.

A 25-year-old woman, resident of Hakura Anantnag, died at SMHS hospital while another fatality, a 77-year-old man from Hyerpora, was reported at SKIMS Soura here.

“The woman was having high blood pressure. Later a caesarean section was done in emergency (at LD hospital on June 27) and a male baby was born who is safe,” Dr Choudhary said. “The woman (admitted to the hospital on July 3) had intracranial hemorrhage due to high blood pressure and she was put on ventilator and died last night,” he added.

A 77-year-old man from Hyderpora Srinagar died At SKIMS Soura and according Professor Farooq Jan, the septuagenarian was “a case of Carcinoma Urinary Bladder and was admitted with Bilateral Pneumonia With ARDS.”

“He was very sick and was on ventilator (Under Double Pressor Support) in IDB Block,” Professor Jan said, adding, “He expired at 7.45 a.m., today.”
With these deaths, 153 people in Kashmir and 16 in Jammu division have died so far due to the virus.

Srinagar district with 43 deaths has the highest fatalities followed by Baramulla (32), Kulgam (18), Shopian (16), Anantnag (14), Budgam (11), Jammu (10), Kupwara (9), Pulwama (5), Bandipora (3), two each in Doda and GAnderbal while one death each has been reported from Poonch, Udhampur, Rajouri and Kathua. (GNS)

PTI

Jammu: Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire by resorting to unprovoked firing that continued overnight along the International Border (IB) in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Saturday.

Firing on the border outpost in Kotha area started around 10.30 pm on Friday, drawing effective retaliation by the Border Security Force guarding the IB, they said.

The officials said the exchange of fire between the two sides continued till 4.15 am but there was no report of any casualty or damage on the Indian side.

However, it caused panic among the border residents who were forced to spend the night in underground bunkers, the officials said.

Srinagar: A top Army officer Saturday said that 250-300 militants are waiting at launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC) to infiltrate into Kashmir.

As per KINS Correspondent addressing a press conference at Baramulla GOC Maj Gen Virendra Vats, GOC 19 division said “Militants are trying hard to infiltrate into Kashmir from across the LoC. There are 250-300 militants waiting at launch pads. They are trying hard as they have four months left to infiltrate before the winter begins. But our Army is ready to tackle them,”.

He said Pakistan was resorting to ceasefire violations to divert the attention of the Indian army posted at LoC. “This won’t affect us,” he added.

Pertinently, In early hours of Saturday morning, the army claimed to have killed militants in Naugam Sector of north Kashmir who was trying to infiltrate into this side.(KINS)

PTI

Jammu: The All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) Friday requested the Centre to order a comprehensive security audit of Panchayat members in all vulnerable areas.

The killing of political workers and elected Panchayat members is a matter of concern for all. Family members of our Sarpanches and Panches are living under constant fear in such a hostile atmosphere. We appeal to the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister to direct the UT administration for early conduct of a security audit so that all Panchayat members in vulnerable areas are provided adequate security, Anil Sharma, UT president of AJKPC told a press conference.

The AJKPC leader, who was on a week-long visit to different Panchayats and Blocks in Kashmir Valley, said every Panchayat member wants to contribute more for the development of his village and Panchayat, but their movement and activities are confined due to security reasons.

Blasting the Pakistani Army, the ISI and their nurtured terrorists’ organization, Sharma said they are unable to face the brave armed forces of India, so they target innocent civilians and PRI members.

PTI

Srinagar: The election for the Mayor of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) will be held on July 14, officials said on Friday.

The secretary of the SMC on Thursday issued a notice for a meeting of the general council of the corporation for electing the new mayor, they said.

Junaid Azim Mattu was removed as the Mayor of the SMC after a no confidence motion against him was passed by the corporation last month.

Controversial businessman Sheikh Imran, who has changed his loyalties several times since getting elected as the corporator, was seen as the key man behind the removal of Mattu from the post.

It is believed that Imran himself is vying for the Mayor’s post.

Interestingly, he was removed as deputy mayor of the corporation in December last year.

India Today

The viral claim says that police caught these Kashmiri girls from Kulgam area of Jammu and Kashmir for running a sex racket.

An image of a few men and women with their faces covered, along with police personnel has gone viral with the claim that police have caught these Kashmiri girls from Kulgam area of Jammu and Kashmir for running a sex racket.

Several Facebook users have posted this image claiming it to be from Kulgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

India Today Anti Fake News War Room (AFWA) found the viral claim to be misleading. The incident is over four years old and it took place not in Kulgam, but in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. In December 2015, Dehradun police arrested eight people, including six women, for running a sex racket.

Multiple Facebook users have posted the same content, which can be seen here.

With the help of reverse image search, we found that this viral image has been used repeatedly over the years since 2015 in various online articles and websites.

We found a news report published on the news website “The Tribune” in December 2015.

According to the news report, the Clement Town police of Dehradun arrested eight persons, including six women, for their alleged role in running a sex racket. The photo was taken by the Tribune news service.

It was revealed during investigation that the sex racket was being run on a rented accommodation of a retired Army officer.

Earlier in 2018, there were news reports regarding a sex racket in Kulgam involving local Kashmiri girls and high-profile people.

But the viral picture showing men and women in covered faces is not from Kulgam but from Dehradun. The picture was taken in 2015.