Category: Union Territory

Srinagar: With world health organization cautioning about the possible second peak after the decline in coronavirus cases, the medical experts in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Tuesday said the resurgence are based on past pandemics and that could be more deadly than the first wave.

Medical experts believe that evacuation process during which the large number of people was brought back from other parts of the nation and globe proved positive which also led to the spike in number of cases.

Talking exclusively to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), valley’s renowned flu expert Dr. Nisar ul Hassan said that the second wave may be possibly during winters as it starts early in Jammu and Kashmir and is very long and harsh so that way it could be more deadly and lethal here than any other part of the world.

He said second peak is said on the basis of past pandemic experiences and those second waves have been and could be deadly than the first wave. “It’s sort of resurgence when it seems the cases have declined or its over doing away with necessary precautionary measures people rejoice in that phase after few weeks or months there is a second wave which can be more lethal.”

Citing an example about the past pandemic, he said the 1918 ‘Spanish Flu’, the most notorious infection which engulfed the one third of the world’s population, killing 50 million people and people said it was the second wave that killed the most number of people and it happened only after people and administration started to rejoice and thought that this pandemic has gone away while giving away with the necessary protocols.

Dr Nisar said “We certainly believe that there could be second wave in this virus though it’s very new and we don’t know how it will behave since it’s the virus so the fundamental principles will remain the same. There is possibility that once the cases start declining and people and administration start rejoicing, this virus like others can also mutate and we can have deadly and lethal results in times to come.”

Talking about the prevailing pandemic, he said the virus witnessed resurgence in China, South Korea and Singapore where highest number of people have died. “Pandemics are like fire we should not care about the economic aspect only but the lives are more important.”

He also said that the cases are rising in Jammu and Kashmir and it has compounded due to the returnees and the administrative quarantine facilities are not scientific also. “They put number of people in a single hall, building or hotel that could possibly be an important factor in the increase in number of cases.”

He said that the necessary precautionary measures being followed should not go away which include social distancing, intense surveillance, contact tracing and quarantine.

He also suggested that the immune tests must be conducted stating that it will help in easing out the restrictions gradually with time—(KNO)

Pulwama: A massive cordon and search operation has been launched in picturesque Aharbal area of Southern Kashmir.

Sources told News Agency KNT that the operation was launched after the inputs about the movement of militants in the area.

The operation was underway till the filing of this report.

Police sources said that soldiers from 44 Rashtriya Rifles, 183 Battalion CRPF and Special Operation Group personnel from Pulwama are on job and conducting searches.

Latest reports said that more reinforcement rushed towards the area that has been brought under siege. (KNT) (File Photo)

The first phase of the Army Commanders Conference is scheduled from May 27 to 29 and the second phase in the last week of June

The biannual Army Commanders Conference, postponed in April due to COVID-19, will be organised in two phases, the Army said on Tuesday. It comes amid the standoff at several points on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China in Eastern Ladakh which is likely to figure prominently.

“The first phase of the conference is scheduled from May 27 to 29 and the second phase in the last week of June,” the Army said in a statement.

The leadership will brainstorm on the emerging security and administrative challenges and chart the future course, the Army said. To ensure due diligence, decisions are taken through collegiate system comprising commanders and senior officers.

During the first phase to be organised at the South Block, aspects pertaining to operational and administrative issues including studies on logistics and human resources will be discussed, the statement said.

With inputs from The Hindu

Announcement comes day after release of 100 Taliban prisoners during rare holiday truce

Kabul, Afghanistan: As a rare cease-fire draws to an end, the Afghan government on Tuesday announced it will free 900 more Taliban fighters, hoping to extend the truce and push forward the peace process.

Javed Faisal, spokesperson of the National Security Council, said the release process had started and the government was keen to start the long-due direct talks with the Taliban.

The announcement came a day after Kabul released 100 Taliban prisoners as a goodwill gesture, following the Taliban’s unexpected three-day truce declaration for the Muslim holiday festival of Eid al-Fitr.

On Sunday, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani ordered the start of the process to release up to 2,000 Taliban prisoners and said his government was ready to begin the long-awaited talks with the insurgent group.

“The winner of peace will be the Afghan people. War only brings destruction and misery, especially to Afghan women, who suffer the most,” the president said in an address outside the presidential palace’s mosque on the first day of Eid.

The international community welcomed the unexpected cease-fire, which was only the second such brief truce in the otherwise deadly insurgency, now in its 19th year.

Zalmay Khalilzad, US envoy for Afghanistan reconciliation, and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg advised both sides to use the opportunity to move the peace process forward.

Germany, Indonesia, Norway, Uzbekistan, and Qatar also voiced their support and urged Kabul and the Taliban to pursue the proposed intra-Afghan peace talks without further delay.

As per the US-Taliban peace deal signed in Doha earlier this year, the release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners and 1,000 government personnel is a requisite for the intra-Afghan talks.

According to official sources, there are some 12,000-15,000 Taliban fighters, including militants from Pakistan, Central Asia, and Gulf countries, in government prisons across Afghanistan.

No figures are available on captives held by the insurgents.

With inputs Anadolu Agency News

Srinagar: Body of a Jammu and Kashmir youth, who died eight days before in Kuwait, reached his home in Poonch district on Tuesday.

This is for the first time when a dead body from any J&K resident has been brought to his home from abroad during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Zahoor Ahmad, 28, son of Maqbool Hussain resident of Kandi Gulthain Mendhar area of Poonch district died in Kuwait eight days before due to cardiac arrest.

“He was working there in a private company. Eight days before, he died due to cardiac arrest. After which the family approached the authorities to bring his body home for last rites from Kuwait,” one of the relatives of deceased told news agency KINS.

He said his body had been packed in a coffin by a courier company in Kuwait and was dispatched for New Delhi in a plane. “Divisional Commissioner Jammu had issued movement passes to two family members of the deceased who went to Delhi and received his dead body. Tuesday morning, they along with the dead body reached Mendhar in an ambulance where authorities collected their samples for COVID-19 testing. The family members have been sent to home quarantine as their reports are awaited,” he said. He said the ambulance has charged over Rs 43,000 to the family.

Government has allowed various courier companies to resume their services and deliver service for Indians living abroad.

The repatriation process in various countries like in Kuwait is a long process involving various departments with multiple documentations.

There are some people and NGOs who are helping grieving families of the deceased to get their loved ones back from there.

Block Medical Officer Mendhar Dr Parvaiz Ahmed Khan confirmed to news agency KINS that they collected samples of all three for COVID-19 testing.

“After dead body reached here, samples were taken for all including two persons who carried the body from Delhi Airport. Both persons have been kept under home quarantine,” he added.(KINS)

Srinagar: Chief Medical Officer Bandipora Dr Tajamul Hussain lost his cool when he was stopped by police near Nusoo village while on way to visit quarantine centres in the district.

Watch Video:

Sources told news agency KNT that Chief Medical Officer was in his official vehicle to visit the quarantine centres when in Nusoo area his vehicle was stopped. CMO alighted from the vehicle and rebuked the cops.

“Don’t you know we are playing with our lives for you people and you are stopping us from performing our duties. Yesterday too, you manhandled a doctor in Srinagar city,” CMO while arguing with cops told them.

In a video that is viral as well, CMO can be seen telling the cops can’t they see the vehicle belongs to Health Department.

Eyewitnesses told KNT that CMO called Deputy Commissioner Bandipora and some top cops who resolved the matter amicably.
Yesterday as well, a cardiologist accused SHO Zadibal of harassment. Police Chief Dilbagh Singh has already ordered inquiry into the incident.

The Srinagar incident sparked a protest at Government Supper specialty hospital Shereen Bagh today. Doctors and Para-medical staff staged a silent peaceful protest, carrying placards seeking end to harassment on roads.

With regard to today’s incident, Chief Medical Officer Bandipora, Dr Tajamul said that it was a sheer harassment. “Due to intervention of DC Bandipora, and DSP Headquarters Bandipora, I was allowed to go,” he said.

When contacted SSP Badnipora, Rahul Malik told KNT that District Development Commissioner in a meeting had directed to contain traffic from Nowpora to Nusu and police was only following directions. “It was a routine check, but unfortunately, CMO got agitated. He was however pacified and matter was resolved amicably,” SSP said. (KNT)

National Conference is waiting for the release of its political leaders to take a stand on the evolving political situation in Jammu and Kashmir post abrogation of Article 370.

On a day when National Conference (NC) working president Omar Abdullah flew to Delhi, a write-up by his political secretary Tanveer Sadiq, which calls for reconciliation without mentioning Article 370, has created rumblings within the party. Party’s chief spokesperson and senior leader, Ruhullah Mehdi, has objected to such overtures from the party leader.

“Revisit domicile law? Lift curbs on Internet? “LET” political process be run? Is that all what you are looking for in this reconciliation? If I am not reading wrong, you are basically asking for 4G and THEIR ‘PERMISSION’ to let us start the political process? & then all is well,” Mehdi tweeted in response to Sadiq’s suggestion, who called for release of political prisoners arrested on and after August 5, 2019, revisiting domicile law and lifting of curbs on internet.

On August 5, 2019, when Article 370 was removed and J&K was downgraded and bifurcated into two Union Territories, the government imposed communication blockade in J&K and arrested thousands of people. Since then, the government has released a number of political leaders including former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah and gradually restored other communication services. However, it continues with restrictions on high-speed 4G internet and has come up with a new domicile law.

Responding to Sadiq’s column for a local newspaper, Mehdi took to twitter to express his anguish, saying, “I am honestly ready to be taken to a prison after what I say. But I would never ask them to “LET” us. When you ask them to “let” us, it will naturally be on their terms.”

Talking to Outlook, Mehdi said it would be injustice to attribute Sadiq’s views as that of the party’s. “I think he expressed his personal views and I responded to that. It will be premature to say that his views are those of the party’s,” he said.

He added that he did not believe that NC’s working committee needs to sit and think whether it has to take a stand on Article 370 or not. “National Conference is all about Article 370, restoration of autonomy and constitutional guarantees to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. I personally think that we don’t need to wait for the working committee of the party to sit and decide that what happened on August 5 was right or wrong. It was wrong. The working committee only needs to sit and think about party’s future course and lay out the roadmap on how to go about it. The working committee has to talk about methodology.”

“This is my personal stand and I hope it is also the party’s stand,” he said.

National Conference is waiting for the release of its political leaders to take a stand on the evolving political situation in Jammu and Kashmir post abrogation of Article 370.

On April 1, when the government issued a midnight order spelling out new domicile law and eligibility for employment, Mehdi had strongly protested. “I have not forgotten the humiliation I felt as a citizen of a proud STATE on the day of Aug 5. How sinisterly you acted and how sinister you looked. I have not forgotten how you tossed every book of constitution out of the window while you were drunk in arrogance and power.” said Mehdi, who is in detention since abbrogation Article 370. “I have not forgotten how a coup was mounted against population of an entire state and all their democratic and constitutional rights were murdered.”

With inputs from Naseer Ganai | Outlook

The cross-border shelling between the two sides was going on

PTI

Pakistan Army on Tuesday resorted to firing and shelling on forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district, drawing befitting retaliation from Indian soldiers, a defence spokesperson said.

“Pakistan army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by small arm firing with mortar shelling along LoC in Balakote sector in Poonch district early Tuesday morning”, he said.

He said the Indian Army retaliated befittingly.

The cross-border shelling between the two sides was going on when last reports were received, the officials said.

However, there was no immediate report of any casualty during the shelling.

Testing capacity now stands at 8,100 samples per day

With a testing rate of over 10,000 per million, Jammu & Kashmir has now become “number one in the country in testing”, the J&K government said on Monday.

“The testing capacity in the Union Territory has gone up from just about 100 tests per day in March to 8,000 tests per day today. In the last one month alone, it has gone up from 1,800 tests per day to 8,100 per day, an increase of 350%,” Rohit Kansal, J&K government Spokesperson, and Principal Secretary, Power and Information, said in a press conference.

He said the “aggressive and sustained testing” is the only effective weapon against the disease and the administration shall continue to pursue it effectively.

J&K has detected 1,668 COVID-19 cases since the outbreak, with 1,374 cases reported from the Kashmir division and 294 cases from the Jammu division. So far, 23 deaths, including two deaths in the past 24 hours, have been reported.

‘Slew of measures’

“For the last more than eight weeks, the government has taken a slew of measures on the health, economic and welfare fronts. J&K was probably one of the first States or UTs to take note of the emerging situation and initiate action, and many of our interventions have not only been been fast but effective, too,” said Mr. Kansal.

Over 1.34 lakh persons have been enlisted for COVID-19 surveillance in the UT. “J&K has been able to achieve a low growth rate and a doubling rate [in infections] of over three weeks,” Mr. Kansal added.

He said over 90,000 stranded persons had returned to J&K in the last four weeks alone. “J&K has smoothly completed more than 85% of its evacuation process. The government has consciously adopted a policy of testing 100% of all returnees. It has been successful in tracing 481 positive cases so far among the travellers,” he added.

An official said 652 passengers, including students, arrived at the Srinagar International Airport on Monday under the Vande Bharat Mission by four COVID-19 special flights, while 170 persons arrived in five flights at the Jammu airport.

With inputs from The Hindu