Category: Union Territory

Govt suspends yatra to SMVD Shrine, inter-state buses to and fro J&K till March 31

Srinagar, March 18 (GNS): Two more person with coronavirus-like symptoms were admitted to a Srinagar hospital even as authorities suspend the yatra to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine besides suspending inter-state buses coming to and going from J&K till March 31.

HOD Chest Disease (CD) Hospital Srinagar Dr. Naveed Nazir Shah told GNS that the two were admitted in isolation ward of the hospital. “So far fourteen test reports have been received and all came out to be negative,” he said, adding, test reports of the two freshly admitted persons was awaited.

At SKIMS, no person with coronavirus-like symptoms was admitted on Wednesday and so far 40 persons, admitted earlier at the tertiary care hospital, have tested negative. Some of them have been already discharged.

Director, SKIMS Hospital Soura, A G Ahangar urged the public to exercise caution to prevent spread of the disease that has been declared a global pandemic. However he said that there was no need to panic.

“We have tested 41 samples here and 40 of them have come out as negative. There has been no positive case reported from the valley till date,” Dr Ahangar, flanked by several seniors doctors, told reporters. The result of one suspect is awaited, he added.

He said there was no need to panic or be scared about the disease. “People should follow the advisories issued by the authorities from time to time. Let us be safe, let us be wise and let us ensure that we help others to live as we live,” he said.

Meanwhile, the government ordered suspending the yatra to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine besides suspending inter-state buses coming to and going from J&K till March 31 in view of the prevailing situation emerging due to COVID-19.

Principal Secretary Planning, Development and Monitoring, Rohit Kansal, who is also the government Spokesperson told a presser that there was no cause of panic and the cooperation of citizens is must in combating the situation successfully.

Flanked by Financial Commissioner Health & Medical Education, Atal Dulloo and Director Information & PR, Dr. Syed Sehrish Asgar, Kansal said that all preventive measures are being taken by the government.

Giving a detailed break up about the Corona virus suspected cases in UT of J&K till date, Rohit Kansal informed that 2802 persons have been enlisted for observation among which 2128 have been kept in home quarantine, 28 in hospital quarantine whileas 346 are under home surveillance.

He said that 300 persons have completed their 28 day surveillance period. 145 samples of suspected cases have been sent for testing so far out of which 118 have been reported negative, 03 are positive while as report of 24 is still awaited.

Spelling out measures being taken up to control and prevent spread of this Virus, Rohit Kansal informed that the yatra to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine has been suspended till March 31,2020. He also appealed all religious leaders to suspend all kinds of religious gatherings till March 31,2020.

Appealing foreign visitors not to visit J&K, Kansal said that all the foreign tourists or visitors arriving in J&K will be quarantined besides 100% quarantine will also be enforced on all the travellers coming from Union Territory of Ladakh. Kansal added that the government has also decided to operationalise 100% checking of passengers at Banihal Railway station while as all inter-state buses coming to or going from J&K have been suspended till March 31, 2020.

Urging people not to pay heed to rumors, Rohit Kansal said that the government advises people not to panic and to rely on the information released by the government in this regard. He reiterated that citizens must take basic precautions such as personal hygiene, hand washing, coughing and sneezing etiquettes and also report any symptoms (fever, difficult breathing and cough) to the medical authorities immediately in order to contain the virus.

Addressing the Press Conference, Financial Commissioner Health & Medical Education, Atal Dulloo said that the Administrative Council of the Union Territory of J&K has decided to provide free of cost Universal Health Coverage to all the residents of Jammu & Kashmir in convergence with Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY. He added that around 15 lac additional families will be benefitted under the scheme apart from already covered 5.95 lac families.

Pertinent to mention, the scheme will provide an insurance cover of Rs.5 lakh per family annually without any restrictions on family size, age or gender. The scheme will cover all the pre-existing illnesses besides high end treatments of oncology, cardiology and nephrology. This scheme will also cover employees, pensioners and their family members. (GNS)

Says, Dr Farooq wishes “union of regional parties” during visit

Source: Kashmir News Service

Srinagar, Mar 18 (KNS): Incarcerated PDP chief’s daughter Iltija Mufti on Wednesday stated that PDP chief’s release may get prolonged as party’s stand over Article 370 is “unflinching”. She said Government of India cannot suppress aspirations of people of J&K by coercive methods.
Talking to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Iltija Mufti said that Mehbooba’s release may take further time due to her party’s stand over Article 370.

“Mehbooba Ji’s detention may get prolonged due to PDP’s unwavering stand over Article 370”, said Iltija.
She said Government of India cannot suppress people’s aspirations by coercive measures and imposing curbs and restrictions.

She reiterated that the abrogation of Article 370 on August last year was “illegal”, “unconstitutional” and “undemocratic” step by Modi led BJP government.

She also said though some PDP leaders and activists got released by authorities but they are unable to carryout political activities as authorities have imposed curbs over their movement and have taken them into house arrest.

According to Iltija, Government of India has considered people of J&K as “bugs” and “beggars” and it knows only muscle power to deal with the opponents.

She indirectly hinted out at some political figures and said New Delhi is fetching timely interest from some “blue-eyed” politicians who have been allowed to carry out political activities freely amid chocked situation.

When asked about visit of Dr Farooq Abdullah, She said the visit was purely humane and far from politics.
Iltija said, NC president while visiting our residence, expressed sympathy with me and my grandmother.
“At the occasion, Dr Abdullah exhorted upon joint effort and unity among regional parties to deal with the current political situation”, Iltija added. (KNS).

(This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

MHA Says Taking All Preventive Measures, 4040 Drug-Related Arrests Made In Last 3 Years

Aqib Ahmad

Srinagar, March 18 (GNS): Is government aware that a large number of youths addicted to drugs have reached at near “death condition” and some of them have died in Jammu and Kashmir?

This was among four questions posed to the government in parliament on alarming use of drug addiction amongst youths in Jammu and Kashmir.

The other questions by Congress parliamentarian and former Madhya Pradesh minister Motilal Vora includes whether Government was aware that the business of drugs is spreading quickly in Jammu and Kashmir and a large number of youths have fallen to this menace. Besides, he had sought details of measures taken against it.

Responding to these questions, Minister of State G Kishan Reddy on Wednesday said 2855 drug seizures cases were registered and 4040 drug-related arrested made under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act in last three years.

Quoting Narcotics Control Bureau, the minister said that last year 975 drug seizure cases were registered and 1425 drug-related arrests made. Both seizure as well as arrests was higher than last two years. In 2017, he said, there were 960 seizure cases and 1330 persons arrested. In 2018, 910 seizure cases were registered and 1330 persons arrested.

He said the Government of India and the Government of Jammu and Kashmir are taking all preventive and enforcement measures to curb drug addiction.

“The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE), Government of India is implementing a National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) for 2018-2025,” he said, according to GNS. The Plan, he said, aims at reduction of adverse consequences of drug abuse through a multipronged strategy.

“The activities under the NAPDDR, inter-alia, include awareness generation programmes in schools, colleges, universities, workshops, seminars , with parents, community based intervention programmes for vulnerable adolescent and youth in the community, provision of treatment facilities and capacity building of service providers.”

Under the scheme of ‘Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drugs) Abuse’, MoSJE is also providing central assistance for one de-addiction centre in Jammu & Kashmir namely, ‘Society for the Promotion of Youth and Masses’.

“With financial assistance from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC), of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi has started mentoring and supporting the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Srinagar in providing drug addiction treatment services as part of the Drug Treatment Clinic (DTC) scheme,” he said.

Further, he said, as per the Jammu and Kashmir Drug De-addiction Policy (11 January 2019), many steps have been taken to address the menace of drugs.

Amongst other things, he said, de-addiction centers have been established in existing facilities.

“The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has five full-fledged de-addiction centers running in five medical colleges, which provide both outpatient and inpatient de-addiction services. These de-addiction centers are located in Government Medical Colleges (GMC) Srinagar, Jammu, Baramulla, Anantnag and Kathua.”

Besides, he said, 10 Police Drug de-addiction centers are also functional in Jammu and Kashmir, where a large number of drug addicted patients are being treated.

In order to train, sensitize and raise awareness, the minister said, the Department of Health and Medical Education of Jammu & Kashmir also conducts several programmes for youths. (GNS)

Srinagar, Mar 18: As many as five restaurants were sealed by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) on Wednesday after being found violating the orders issued in wake of the deadly coronavirus epidemic.

According to wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Deputy Mayor SMC, Parvez Qadri said that five restaurants were sealed today after a drive was launched today in Srinagar.

He added that most of the restaurants had followed the orders, adding that some among them who were found violating the norms were sealed.

Qadri further stated that an order for the restaurants was already made public, adding that this all is being done to ensure safety of people – (KNO)

Srinagar: Despite ban on foreign tourists from entering Kashmir, the Government Wednesday allowed the entry of at least four foreign tourists including a couple from Italy into Kashmir Valley.

The entry of foreign tourists has been banned in Jammu and Kashmir as a precautionary measure to slow the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The order to ban the entry of foreign tourists was recently issued by Baseer Khan, the Adviser to the Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chanra Marmu.

Highly placed sources told Kashmir News Trust that four tourists landed at Srinagar Airport on Wednesday. Among those who arrived in Srinagar were a couple from Italy, a citizen from United States and one from Russia. Ironically, the authorities didn’t deport these tourists and allowed them to enter into Kashmir Valley.

Sources added that all the four tourists hired a cab outside Srinagar Airport and are staying somewhere in a house boat (name withheld) near Nehru Park.

COVID-19 has been declared an epidemic in Jammu and Kashmir, and surveillance personnel have been authorized to enter any premises to look for suspects infected with the Coronovirus.

District Development Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Chowdary said that all these tourists will be sent back from tomorrow. “There is nothing to worry. The advisory we issued last night but these tourists were already present in India and they have toured to Rajsthan and other areas. We have done proper screening but they will be sent back tomorrow,” District Development Commissioner told KNT.

‘Authorities asked to educate people on hygiene standards’

Srinagar, Mar 18: Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan Wednesday said that Regular hand washing with soap is vital to fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) disease.
He said that it has been agreed by all, that personal hygiene is most reliable way to prevent the deadly Coronavirus.
In a brief chat with Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) the health minister said, “People must use hand wash or soap to clean hands. They should clean hands multiple times a day if they are outside, at work or are involved in physical activity,” he said.
He said that directions have been issued to all the states including the authorities in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir to educate people on hygiene standards.
The minister who is also a physician by profession said that it is advisable to all those who have low immunity, coughing and sneezing problems should cover their mouth with a mask and keep a distance with other people so that their mouth droplets do not infect other people.
“People should not panic. Simple hand hygiene by cleaning hands multiple times can work to curtail the spread of the disease.” the minister said.
It is to mention here that Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan also took to micro-blogging platform Twitter to encourage people to wash their hands as frequently as they possibly can throughout the day.
He wrote “I request all citizens to take the safe hands challenge. Washing hands thoroughly with soap and water kills# Coronavirus”
Meanwhile the doctors across the India are of the opinion that that sanitizers and handwashes have similar properties to kill the germs. “The difference is only that hand sanitizers contain alcohol and do not require water while soaps and handwash have ingredients like hard chemicals that kill germs and require water,” one of the doctors told KINS.(KINS)

SRINAGAR, March 18: Around two years after being sacked for a controversial remark, former Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu prefers to remain silent over the Kashmir politics.
Drabu was sacked in 2018 over a controversial comment that Kashmir is “not a political issue”.
Around two years down the line, Drabu said he wanted to remain silent over the Kashmir politics. “I have left Kashmir in July. I don’t want to talk on Kashmir politics. I prefer to remain silent,” Drabu told Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) over phone from Mumbai,when asked about the developments that took place post August 5 in Jammu and Kashmir.
Drabu, an economist, is known to have been pivotal in the crafting of a common agenda for the PDP-BJP alliance in the erstwhile state.
Drabu was sacked from the then Mehbooba Mufti-led cabinet when he said, “Those who see Jammu and Kashmir as a conflict state, as a political issue …it’s a society which has social issues right now…It’s not a political issue as far as I can see, I think we are barking at the wrong tree for the last 57 years by talking about the politics of it, that the political situation has never improved. We seriously need to look at in terms of how it is a society that is in search for itself.” Subsequently, he left the PDP. Months later BJP also withdrew support from the Mehbooba Mufti-led government.(KINS)

All 11 cases from Pulwama test negative

Srinagar, Mar 18: At least five suspects having travel history with high fever and flu have been identified and admitted in hospital in Kashmir Valley. However, duo from Central Kashmir’s Budgam district is evading the screening after returning home from Saudi Arabia two weeks ago.

Official sources told Kashmir News Trust that two persons (name withheld) who hail from Khanpora Budgam returned from Saudi Arabia two weeks ago. They added that both are feeling unwell and have symptoms of fever.

Administration informed Block Medical Officer about the duo and directed him to locate them and get them screened. Sources, however, added that duo have gone into hiding and are not ready to visit the hospital.

Similarly, a youth from Ganderbal after showing symptoms of fever and throat infection has been admitted in the isolation ward at SKIMS Srinagar. The youth (name withheld) from Kurhama Ganderbal who had arrived in Kashmir on March 15 from Maharashtra developed symptoms of fever and throat infection.

The family approached District Hospital Ganderbal where he was examined and referred to SKIMS Soura for further evaluation, said sources.

His brother confirmed that he is undergoing treatment at SKIMS where he is quarantined.

“Authorities in Kashmir are not taking chances as for as Coronavirus infection is concerned. Every suspect having travel history is being monitored and isolated,” said an official.

Similarly, from past 3 days a woman is under observation at NTPHC Panzgam area of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district. The woman had returned from Punjab recently.

The woman hails from Kachhama, Thregam.

” She is running with fever and heavy flu. She is under observation in an Isolation ward,” the official said.

Official sources said that a person (name withheld) from Rakh Liter Pulwama, with recent travel history to Saudi Arabia has been admitted in SKIMS Srinagar. The person is suffering from severe flu and fever.

An official from district Pulwama said that so for 11 persons have been tested for Coronaviurs and all of them have tested negative. (KNT)