Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • The Centaur Lake View Hotel’s Management refuses to make it quarantine center

    Says it will endanger lives of officials, families

    Irfan A Mir
    Srinagar Mar 22, (KNS): Amid the growing numbers of Corona Virus suspects in Valley, Government is mulling to convert Centaur hotel into quarantine center. However the request was turned down on Sunday by the hotel administration due to residential accommodation of higher officials and their families in the premises.

    Talking to Kashmir News Service (KNS), sources said that as hundreds of Kashmiri’s temporarily residing outside state and abroad for educational and trade purposes, are reaching Valley amid Corona Virus scare, authorities are mulling to convert Centaur hotel into quarantine center.

    They said, administration has already specified sixty-four quarantine centers in Srinagar and adjoining areas where hundreds of suspected persons having travel history are kept into isolation. Sources said suspected persons are being thoroughly monitored and investigated in isolation centers by professional medical teams as per the government’s protocol.

    They said as the number of suspects has gone high from couple of days, J&K administration has requested administration of Centaur hotel to vacate the premises for time being so that a full-fledged quarantine centre is established here.

    An official of Centaur hotel told KNS that the request of the administration was turned down as several families of higher officials are residing here.
    “We don’t want to put lives of several families in risk. There are other pollution free areas where quarantine centers could be established”, official said.

    He added, “Government should refrain from establishing quarantine centers in congested area like Srinagar city. It would be best if such centers will come up in isolated places like Gulmarg, Pahalgam and others”.

    He further said authorities recently communicated us for the purpose but we rejected its request on several reasons.

    “We clarified that hotel authority don’t want to put lives of families into risk and it is why plea of administration was turned down”, he said.

    He added the hotel authorities put up several suggestions to government in establishing quarantine centers.
    “Government should identify isolated places and refrain from congested areas which are prone for viruses like COVID-19”, he said.

    (KNS)

  • Srinagar administration starts hunt for those who hide travel history

    SRINAGAR March 22 (KINS): With many people evading screening and quarantine, the Srinagar administration is making all efforts to track down local travelers who are hiding travel history.

    As coronavirus has gripped the entire world, hundreds of Kashmiri students and other people are arriving at Srinagar Airport from different countries daily.

    However, there are many who are escaping to be taken for quarantine in the valley.

    While Srinagar administration has been making efforts to ensure all those returning from abroad are tracked and taken to be quarantined. A top official said the government has directed concerned authorities to ensure no one left untraced and taken for quarantined.

    “Four passengers just reached from Mauritius, Dubai and Kazakhstan decline to declare travel history. Done quickly by IT team. My WHO guidelines wala friends can u please send a recorded sermon to help convince such people? Please? I beg. I ignore the thick skin and help,” District Development Commissioner Srinagar Shahid Chowdhary tweeted.
    In another tweet, he said, “Two brothers. Same medical college in Bangladesh. One travels by air, declares travel history lands in quarantine. Other take road goes home, probably enjoyed Wazwan. A smart neighbor informs the control room. The team got in touch. Symptomatic. WHO guidelines lecture please.”

    He further said, “A gentleman coming from Italy reaches New Delhi via another port. Takes train to Jammu and cab to home in Srinagar. Just to hide history. Traced. Need collective focus to handle it. Things are not that simple as they appear from homes and office rooms.”

    The crackdown comes amid reports of students forging their identity cards and evading screening and quarantine. “My daughter who returned from Delhi is quarantined. But few of her friends managed to escape the quarantined. After reaching Delhi, they (her friends) boarded a flight to Jammu and then to Srinagar. At the Srinagar Airport, they concede they returned from Bangladesh instead told the medical staff they were staying in Jammu,” a parent told Kashmir Indepth News Service, whose daughter is quarantined on Srinagar outskirts.
    He said some students were producing fake identity cards to escape the laid out procedures.
    A source at Srinagar Airport said there were loopholes to check the credentials of those who returning from various parts. “While some are hiding their travel history others board flight to Jammu from Delhi then Srinagar to escape to be taken to be quarantined. They hide they return from abroad,” the source said.
    Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan, who is overall in-charge of coronavirus control efforts in Kashmir has directed strict monitoring at Srinagar International Airport and Jawahar Tunnel to ensure thorough screening of passengers and travelers.

    The Advisor said that health officials must maintain a constant watch on cases and immediate reporting and shifting of those who might develop Covid-19 symptoms is of critical importance. (KINS)

  • Coronavirus: Pregnant women not at higher risk, says DAK

    Srinagar Mar 22: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Sunday said pregnant women are not at higher risk of developing severe disease from the novel (new) coronavirus than the general population.

    “Pregnant women are less likely to become severely unwell if they contract the novel virus,” said DAK President Dr Nisar ul Hassan.

    Quoting a WHO report, based on data from 147 pregnant women of whom 64 were confirmed to have the new coronavirus, 82 were suspected cases and one was asymptomatic, he said only 8% had severe disease and just 1% were critically ill.

    “Most of the pregnant women had mild to moderate disease,” Dr Nisar said adding “there have been no reported deaths of pregnant women from the disease.”

    He said there is no evidence that the virus passes to the baby during pregnancy.

    Quoting a study published in the Lancet, Dr Nisar said the infants born to women with coronavirus infection were free of the virus and appeared healthy at birth. The virus was not found in the mother’s breast milk, cord blood or amniotic fluid.

    “The studies are reassuring, but that does not mean we lower our guard,” cautioned Dr Nisar.

    “Pregnant women should take all the same precautions as the general public, such as avoiding sick people and public gatherings, frequently washing hands,” he advised.

    Dr. Nisar said pregnant women should cut down the routine visits to hospitals as much as they can and consult their health care providers on phone.

    But, prenatal care is very hands on, involving listening to the heart tones of the baby, determining the position of the baby, ultrasounds of the baby and so on. None of this can be done via a phone call,” he said.

    “In order to make hospital visits safer, we should make sure waiting rooms are not crowded, they are constantly clean, and well and ill women are separated,” he added “If you are feeding a baby and you have no symptoms hand hygiene is the key. If you do have symptoms then you need to pump the breast milk into a bottle and get someone else to feed the baby,” said Dr Nisar.

  • Kashmir will go into lock down mode from Sunday evening

    Kangan, Mar 22, KNT: Jammu and Kashmir will go into complete lockdown starting from 8 pm today till 6 am March 31 in wake of the Coronavirus threat.


    Sources told KNT that an important meeting was held in Divisional Commissioner’s office here in Srinagar today. The meeting was presided by Baseer Khan, the Advisor to Lieutenant Governor.


    Besides, Khan, all top officials including Divisional Commissioner, District Development Commissioner Srinagar were present in the meeting.

    During the meeting several decisions were taken with regard to curb the spread of Coronavirus. It was decided that Jammu and Kashmir will go into lock down mode from today evening till March 31.


    Soruces said that an official order in this regard will be issued shortly. (KNT)

  • Coronavirus: Out of frying pan into fire for Kashmiris who arrive from outside nations?

    Srinagar, March 22 (GNS): Bushra Bazaz (named changed) arrived in Srinagar on March 16 from Saudi Arabia after performing Umrah. She and her husband besides other family members were in the same flight which was boarded by 67-year-old woman from Srinagar’s Khaniyar area who tested positive for coronavirus on March 18.

    Having stayed at home for six days, the administration summoned them along with others persons from Srinagar, 29 in all, who had boarded the same flight.

    They were later taken to hotel in Srinagar and kept along with a group of students who arrived from Bangladesh.

    As they protested against “lack of amenities” at the hotel, otherwise known for better services, the administration removed them to a hotel in Gulmarg, over 50 kilomters from Srinagar, in a bus.

    “After travelling together in a bus to Gulmarg which is very far away from our residence, we have been kept in a hotel which seems is not dusted for ages. There are no facilities for us,” Bushra says.

    “When we arrived at Srinagar airport on March 16, we were made to fill up a form and were told to report if there were symptoms like cough or difficulty in breathing etc,” she said and “later we were allowed to go home.”

    All of a sudden, she says, the family members and others on board the flight were summoned after six day long delay.

    “We were kept in a hotel along with students who arrived from Bangladesh and apparently from other countries. The hotel offered no facility and its staff kept running from us,” she said, adding, “now we have been taken to Gulmarg which is very cold and chances are we may develop other diseases.” The hotel where they have been kept, she says, has “no facilities at all.” On top of it, she some staff in the hotel has left as they came to know that “we are being kept for quarantine.”

    “If God forbid”, she says, any one of those kept in hotel was suffering from coronavirus, they all would contract the disease which has already claimed over thirteen thousands lives globally.

    “The condition of the hotel is obnoxious with dust and only dust around. There are no facilities,” she said, adding, “The government claims that it is following WHO guidelines and nobody in wild imagination would image such a compliance with these guidelines.”

    A woman, whose relatives were kept in the Srinagar before they were removed to Gulmarg, protested earlier in the day and alleged that “they were not given any food for entire night nor was the family allowed to provide them food.”

    District administration Srinagar claimed to have requisitioned 65 “well-equipped” hotels and government accommodations for quarantine purposes.

    “1166 citizens arriving back from Bangladesh and other countries – so far – have been shifted to 20 to these facilities.”

    District magistrate Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said that officers have been asked to ensure comfortable quarantine of returnees from outside countries. “Lapses (will) lead to strict action against the concerned. Meanwhile more funds released for the purpose,” he tweeted. (GNS)

  • Don’t and won’t agree with quarantine protocol: SMC Mayor

    Srinagar, Mar 22: At a time when District Development Commissioner Srinagar is appealing all to follow quarantine protocol and is claiming that all the required facilities have been put in place at quarantine centres, Srinagar Mayor says he doesn’t agree with quarantine protocol.

    In one more tweet Srinagar Mayor Juniad Azam Matuu said that he received distress messages about the requirement of sanitary supplies at quarantine facilities. “I don’t and won’t agree with the quarantine protocol or policy,” he said added that this quarantine protocol won’t stop him helping his students and he will arrange and sent sanitary supplies to every facility free of cost.

    Earlier Junaid Azam Matuu had asked administration not to invent crisis and violate World Health Organization guidelines. He had criticized en-mass quarantine of students returning from Bangladesh in an un-scientific manner.

    In response to facilities being provided to those quarantined, District Development Commissioner Shahid Iqbal Chowdary said that they are trying their best and request people to help them improve instead of spreading false narratives. (KNT)

  • People arriving from other parts of world are not cooperating: DC Srinagar

    Says, Quarantine centers fully equipped with modern technologies

    Srinagar, Mar 22: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Chowdhary on Sunday expressed dismay over the lack of cooperation by those arriving from different parts of world to Valley.
    He said the efforts being put on by the administration is only aimed to ensure safety of entire nation.
    Talking to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Chowdhary said, “It is highly unfortunate that those coming from outside Valley are not fully cooperating with the administration”. He appealed people to cooperatein letter and spirit with administration while coming out from this uncertainty.
    He said influential and retired officials are leaving no stone unturned to get their relatives back to homes without quarantined and therefore proving impediments in the efforts of administration while dealing with Corona Virus scare.
    Chowdhary said that administration has taken steps to contain incoming passengers into quarantine which is exclusively aimed for the wellbeing and safety of entire society.
    He further added administration has established twenty-four locations in Srinagar for quarantine purpose where doctors are following medical protocol and are taking care of suspected patients professionally but unfortunately some are using influence and are creating hurdles in thework of administration. He also said that quarantine centers meant for the purpose are fully professionally equipped with modern techniques.
    He added administration will address media tonight about the arrangements done for the wellbeing of society and will update about the numbers.
    Pertinently, authorities have imposed restriction under Section 144 CrPC and have asked people to remain inside and maintain social distance as a ‘precautionary measure’ to deal with COVID-19 pandemic. (KNS)

  • 20 people under observation at SKIMS, coronavirus positive patient stable: SKIMS administration

    Srinagar March 22: At least 20 patients having symptoms of coronavirus are under observation at SKIMS Soura.

    “Twenty nine patients were put under observations who were showing symptoms of coronavirus. Nine have been discharged so far while 20 are still under observation

    Among them one is positive,” Deputy Medical Superintendent SKIMS Ghulam Hassan Yatoo told KINS.

    He said the Khanyar lady who was tested positive of coronavirus is stable.
    “She is responding well,” he added. (KINS)

  • PM Modi assured restoration of statehood after elections : Usman Majeed

    Srinagar, March 20: Usman Majid, a senior Leader of Apni Party was the part of 24 member delegation who met PM Modi & Amit Shahp last week said Prime Minister assured them statehood of J&K would be restored after assembly elections.
    He told reporters today and added Domicile law would also be implemented for J&Kafter assembly polls.

    Usman Majid also said delegation also raised with PM Modi & Amit Shah .
    Meanwhile Prime Minister also noted that the democracy in the region could be strengthened through a fast moving process of political integration, he said.

    Majeed also said Prime Minister assured the delegation that the government is committed to economic development of the region through extensive focus on infrastructure development and creating new investment opportunities in various sectors including tourism.
    “He also assured full support by the government to resolve all the issues being faced by Jammu & Kashmir.” Usman Majeed said

    Prime Minister engaged with the delegation on various issues like concerns on demographic changes, delimitation exercise and grant of state domicile. Referring to his statement in Parliament, Prime Minister underlined that the Government will work with all sections of the population to realize the hopes of state hood for Jammu and Kashmir at earliest

    The delegation thanked the Prime Minister for his support and untiring efforts towards the development of Jammu & Kashmir. They also appreciated the efforts of the government, security agencies and the people of Jammu and Kashmir towards maintaining peace and security in the region, Majeed said. (KNS)

  • Mosques, shrines suspend prayers

    Srinagar, March 21: The Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Wakf Board today ordered the suspension of congregational prayers at its mosques and shrines ahead of the Meraj-ul-Alam celebrations.

    “In view of the outbreak of coronavirus, declared as pandemic by the World Health Organisation and as a preventive measure to contain its spread in Kashmir Valley and due to restrictions under Section 144 of the CrPC by the district administration, it is hereby ordered to suspend regular prayers in shrines/mosques affiliated to the Wakf Board and displaying of Holy Relic (PBUH) on the occasion of the Meraj-ul-Alam (SAW) celebrations,” read an order issued by the Wakf Board.

    — TNS