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  • Raina advocates limited Amarnath Yatra

    Jammu, Jun 07: Amid Corona virus pandemic, Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina on Monday said that restricted pilgrimage should be facilitated if administration not willing to take off full-fledged Amarnath yatra.

    As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), talking to reporters, Raina said, “Shiv devotees from across the globe visit Amarnath every year for ‘darshan’’ (glimpse) during June and July in Kashmir. Because of the Corona virus pandemic, big religious gatherings are not happening in any part of the world so at least a restricted yatra should be facilitated”.

    The 56-day pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas, housing ice-Shivligum, is scheduled to start from the twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal on June 28 and culminate on August 22.

    He said if a full-fledged yatra is not possible due to the Covid situation; the prayers should be organized at the cave shrine.

    Asked if he favours a 15-days yatra, he said at least a limited number of Jammu and Kashmir residents should be allowed.

    Earlier, Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday said it was for the government of India to decide whether the pilgrimage to Amarnath cave shrine should be allowed amid the pandemic.

    Talking to media persons in south Kashmir’s Bijbehara, Mufti had stated that the decision to allow the yatra this year has to be taken by the government of India.

    However she said, “What shall I say? On one side there is COVID, people are confined to their homes and on the other hand, they want to allow the yatra. Who will stop them? They are the owners. Whatever decision they have to take, they will do it”—(KNO)

  • J&K Reports 1440 New Covid-19 Cases, 25 More Deaths In J&K, Toll 4074

    Jammu and Kashmir recorded further decline in the number of daily covid-19 cases with 1440 infections, lowest single-day tally in 52 days, in last 24 hours even as 23 people succumbed to the virus during the time, officials said on Sunday.

    They said 338 cases were confirmed from Jammu Division and 1102 from Kashmir Valley, taking the total case tally to 300490. It was on april 15 when J&K reported 1441 cases.

    Regarding the deaths, they said, eight were reported from Jammu Division and 15 from Kashmir, taking the total fatality count to 4074.

    Moreover, they said, 3099 more COVID-19 patients have recovered—920 from Jammu Division and 2179 from Kashmir. There are 26741 active cases—9620 in Jammu and 17121 in Kashmir.

    Providing district wise details, the officials told GNS that Srinagar reported 264 cases, Baramulla 136, Budgam 145, Pulwama 123, Kupwara 103, Anantnag 86, Bandipora 40, Ganderbal 45, Kulgam 140, Shopian 20, Jammu 70, Udhampur 13, Rajouri 46, Doda 47, Kathua 21, Samba 16, Kishtwar 10, Poonch 70, Ramban 27 and Reasi 18.

    A number of the fresh cases were confirmed at CD hospital and GMC Anantnag’s diagnostic laboratories.

    The CD cases include female (60) (NA) from Khaniyar, male (65) (NA) from Bandipora, female (75) (NA) from Budgam, female (45) (NA) from HMT, female (22) (NA) from Shalimar, female (22) (NA) from Qamarwari, male (25) (NA) from Sopore, male (47) from Noorbagh, male (22) from Noorbagh, male (29) (NA) from Sangam, male (50) (NA) from Nawakadal, female (40) (NA) from Noorbagh, male (45) (NA) from Goripora, female (28) (NA) from Rainawari, male (52) (NA) from Parimpora, male (25) from Popin plywood sidco, male (18) from Popin plywood sidco, male (30) from Popin plywood sidco, male (22) from Popin plywood sidco, male (25) from Popin plywood sidco, male (16) from Popin plywood sidco, male (15) from Popin plywood sidco, male (16) from Popin plywood sidco, male (16) from Allied plywood sidco, male (19) from Jk plywood sidco, male (16) from Lassipora, male (45) from Lassipora, male (18) from Lassipora, male (16) from Lassipora, male (18) from Lassipora, male (18) from Lassipora, female (60) from Zaffron colony, male (50) from Konibal, female (30) from Namlabal Pampore, male (45) from Pahoo, male (38) from Drangbal Pampore, female (55) from Rainawari, female (80) from Hatiwara, female (55) from Frestbal Pampore, male (26 Prisoner) from Kakapora, male (50) from Sangrwani pulwama, male (48) from Gusoo, male (29) (NA) from Tengwani Shopian, female (35) (NA) from Kalampora Rajpora, female (70) (NA) from Shadimarg pulwama, male (22) (NA) from Dangerpora, male (32) (NA) from Shadimarg pulwama, male (35) (NA) from Dangerpora pulwama, male (08) (NA) from Gabbarpora pulwama, male (74) (NA) from Gabbarpora pulwama, female (38) (NA) from Gabbarpora pulwama, male (60) (NA) from Rajpora, female (27) (NA) from Arihal pulwama, female (55) from Amlar, female (37) from Amlar, male (25) from Amlar, female (22) from Amlar, male (19) from Amlar, female (13) from Amlar, male (65) from Amlar, female (55) from Amlar, female (28) from Amlar, male (20) from Chandergam, female (55) from Chandergam, male (18) from Gamraaj, female (40) from Batagund, male (60) from Lurgam, female (15) from Lurgam, female (09) from Lurgam, male (40) from Laam, male (55) from Larnoo, male (31) from Latapora, male (55) from Goripora, female (20) (NA) from Habakadal, female (37) (NA) from Natipora, male (30) (NA) from Alochibagh, male (18) (NA) from Rasai, male (35) (NA) from Batamaloo, male (61) (NA) from Batamaloo, male (67) (NA) from Batamaloo, male (47) (NA) from Alochibagh, male (25) (NA) from Mehjoor Nagar, male (47) (NA) from Natipora, female (22) (NA) from Eidgah, female (27) (NA) from Parimpora, male (56) (NA) from Dalgate, male (66) (NA) from Bemina, female (22) (NA) from Narwara, male (33) (NA) from Chanpora, male (63) (NA) from Nowgam, male (41) (NA) from Bemina, female (35) (NA) from Bemina, male (71) (NA) from Batamaloo, male (32) (NA) from Jawaharnagar, male (38) (NA) from HMT, male (19) (NA) from Batamaloo, female (34) (NA) from Natipora, male (62) (NA) from Bemina, male (28) (NA) from Karnah, male (37) (NA) from Malura, female (23) (NA) from Sumbal, female (14) (NA) from Malura, female (15) (NA) from Malura, female (11) (NA) from Malura, male (28) (NA) from Tankipora, male (44) (NA) from Hyderpora, female (44) (NA) from Hyderpora, female (13) (NA) from Hyderpora, male (16) (NA) from Sonwar, female (75) (NA) from Sonwar, female (44) (NA) from Batamaloo, male (30) (NA) from Batamaloo, female (50) (NA) from Batamaloo, male (62) (NA) from Bemina, female (54) (NA) from Bemina, female (32) (NA) from Batamaloo, female (11) (NA) from Batamaloo, female (52) (NA) from Tankipora, male (38) (NA) from Nowgam Bypass, female (35) (NA) from Nowgam Bypass, male (05) (NA) from Nowgam Bypass and male (70) (NA) from Tangdhar.

    The GMC cases include female (59) from Narpora, female (60) from Kachwan, female (41) (NA) from Verinag, female (24) (NA) from Nowgam, male (23) (NA) from Nowgam, male (31) from Mattan, female (35) from Nanil, female (27) (NA) from Hakhura, female (33) (NA) from Hakhura, female (26) from Nowgam Anantnag, male (28) from Laram, male (62) from Dialgam, male (65) (NA) from Banihal, female (31) from Sarnal, female (22) from Cheeni Chowk, male (75) from Botingoo, male (55) from Anchidoora, male (45) from Shairbagh, male (25) from Sadoora, female (65) from Verinag, male (63) from Janglat mundi, male (31) from Cheeni Chowk, male (06) from Mominabad, female (42) from Nanil, male (31) (NA) from Chontipora, female (22) (NA) from Verinag, male (65) (NA) from Nowgam, female (56) (NA) from Gucchan, female (51) (NA) from Bragam, female (40) (NA) from Kokagund, male (25) (NA) from Verinag, female (65) (NA) from Meer Maidan Dooru, male (32) (NA) from Changoo, male (47) (NA) from Hallan, male (21) from Mattan, female (22) from Mattan, female (25) from Hakhura, male (49) from Soaf, male (44) from Narpora, male (27) from Sagam, female (45) (NA) from Verinag, female (32) (NA) from Dooru, male (63) (NA) from Manzgam, male (28) (NA) from DK Marg, male (40) (NA) from Badijahalan and male (45) (NA) from Badroo. (GNS)

  • Eve Teasing CCTV footage from Sanat Nagar area of Srinagar city.

    Watch Video:

    Eve Teasing CCTV footage from Sanat Nagar area of Srinagar city.

  • LG meets Home Secy, discusses Amarnath Yatra, security situation

    Srinagar, June 6: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today discussed upcoming Amarnath Yatra and security of J&K with Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla in New Delhi.

    Shri Amarnath yatra was scheduled to begin on June 28 and last till August 22 but Govt has yet to decide whether to carry whether to go with it as per schedule.

    Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB) had earlier announced annual pilgrimage will be held for 56 days this year starting June 28 and conclude on August 22.

    However as Covid positive cases showed hike, on April 22, the SASB had ordered suspension of registration for Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrimage which had started on April 1st.

    Sources told KNS that Lieutenant Governor and the Union Home Secretary held detailed discussions whether to hold Shri Amarnath Ji yatra in view of decrease in Covid19 cases.

    Sources informed that no decesion was taken regarding the holding of the Yatra and more meetings could take place between the Lieutenant Governor and Centre Govt.

    SASB had cancelled the yatra last year also due to pandemic. In 2019 also, the yatra was cut short by about 15 days ahead of Central Government’s decision to abrogate special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcation of erstwhile State into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.

    It is important to mention that Army chief Gen MM Naravane during his Kashmir visit two days before had stated that the Army was fully prepared to provide security for the pilgrimage.

    Sources told KNS that Security of J&K situation particularly killings of political leaders was also discussed.

    BJP leader and Tral Municipal Committee Chairman Rakesh Pandita was killed by the militants.

    Sources said security forces may be asked to step up anti-militancy operations which according to DGP Dilbagh Singh got hampered due to pandemic.

    The Lieutenant Governor is expected to meet more leaders and top officials of the Central Government before returning to Jammu and Kashmir on Monday. (KNS)

  • COVID-19 and Open Heart surgeries vaccination is unavoidable

    It is requisite that all patients who have under gone open heart surgery should receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine does not necessarily prevent you from catching the COVID-19 infection, but it will reduce the likelihood of serious illness which may require hospital admission, and could result in poor outcome .

    People who have undergone open heart surgery may be at increased risk of dying from COVID-19 infection , because the infection places stress on the heart through diverse mechanisms, including direct inflammation of the heart and dysfunction of valves . Therefore, it is essential that all these patients to go for vaccination as soon as possiable. The COVID-19 vaccine trials included patients with post open heart surgeries did not demonstrate any serious effects from the vaccine in such patients.

    File Photo | Dr. Farooq Ahmad Ganie

    The most common complaints with this vaccine is pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle pain or chills. The arm may be stiff and painful for a couple of days. Fatigue and chills are secondary to the effects of the immune ssystem recognising the viral proteins as foreign.

    It does not mean that the vaccine has resulted in COVID-19 infection. It is possible that, during the second shot of vaccine when the immune response to the vaccine is likely to be more exaggerated, patients who take anticoagulant medications such as warfarin or Some patients who take combined anti-platelet drugs such as aspirin, clopidogrel, ticagrelor or prasugrel.

    Such patients are at an increased risk of bleeding after trauma, including a needle inserted into the arm muscle during COVID-19 vaccination. It is anticipated that the risk of bruising or swelling around the injection site will be slightly increased in these patients.

    A fine needle (23 or 25 gauge) should be used for the vaccination, followed by firm pressure applied to the site without rubbing for at least two minutes. And is important that The patient should be informed about the risk of haematoma from the injection.

    Patients who are on anticoagulants like warfarin, are up to date with scheduled INR testing and with their INR (not more then 2.5 ) below the upper level of the therapeutic range can receive intramuscular vaccination, usually patients do not need to interrupt their anticoagulant before getting the vaccine,it has been shown that intramuscular flu shots in patients who are on full dose of anticoagulants do not increased the risk for bleeding at the site of the injection ,similarly it is predictable that the risk of significant bleeding at the site of injection is also not increased in open heart patients who are on anticoagulants.There is currently no evidence to suggest that patients who have undergone open heart surgery have any contraindication for the vaccine.

    Farooq Ahmad Ganie Assistant Professor Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Skims Soura.

  • Leopard caught alive in central Kashmir’s Budgam

    Budgam, June 05: Wildlife Department officials along with Jammu and Kashmir Police caught a leopard in Khudpora village of Khansahib in central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Saturday morning.

    An official told News Agency Kashmir Dot Com that the wild animal was roaming in the residential areas of Khansahib locality and other adjoining areas posing a threat for the locals especially children.

    He said a team of Wildlife officials armed with guns along with Budgam Police visited the area and captured the leopard alive this morning after locals of the area informed them about it.

    Mohd Shaban, a local told KDC that the leopard was spotted in the area after which they informed the wildlife officials.

    “The wild animal was captured without shooting him. The officials cast net on the leopard and caught him alive,” he said. (KDC)

  • 7 lakh Smart Meters to be installed in J&K

    SRINAGAR, JUNE 04: The Union Home Secretary, Sh. Ajay Kumar Bhalla, today chaired a high-level meeting to review the progress of Smart Metering roll out and power sector reforms in the Union Territories. Secretary, Ministry of Power, Govt. of India, Sh. Alok Kumar and Chief Secretaries of all Union Territories, participated in the meeting. Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary, J&K represented UT of J&K in the meeting.

    The Union Home Secretary observed that the ‘Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme’ which was announced by the Union Finance Minister during the budget speech (FY 2021-22) focusses mainly on reforms in the sector. He underscored that the scheme aims to improve quality and reliability of power supply to consumers and a financially and operationally efficient distribution sector. He said thrust on Smart Metering is one of the distinguishing features of the scheme, adding that the Smart Metering is to be rolled out in Mission mode in the Union territories, which shall eventually become a model for other states of the country.

    At the outset, Ministry of Power, gave a presentation on progress achieved on Smart Metering in the UTs. It was informed that the places where Smart Meters have been installed in the country have experienced a considerable reduction in losses due to improvement in billing efficiency and collection efficiency. It was proposed that the smart metering project in J&K shall be funded under Centrally Sponsored Schemes; DDUGJY, IPDS, and PMDP and remaining funds shall be arranged by the Implementing Agency RECPDCL under Hybrid Capex and Opex Model.

    Giving a brief on the proposal for rollout of Smart Metering in J&K, Chief Secretary Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta informed that the Government of Jammu & Kashmir would take up smart metering in mission mode. He said that the UT Government is committed to complete the said work within the stipulated time. He further informed that nearly 2/3rd of the energy consumption of the UT was in urban areas and industrial towns and the same shall be prioritized in this mission.

    Smart meters will bring about transparency in metering, billing and collection which will eventually reduce power losses and ensure quality and reliable power supply to consumers. The meters will be read remotely in Data Centre at Srinagar and Data Recovery Centre at Jammu through communication channels, which will also facilitate the distribution Corporations to know the status of power supply at consumer end and take prompt action in case there is power interruption due to system faults or some other reasons.

    Consumers will know their consumption pattern and bill on a real-time basis, by which they will be in a position to manage load and reduce their monthly bill. Since the complete cycle of meter reading and billing is automatic without human interface, the billing disputes will be eliminated.

  • Covid-19 patients testing positive after recovery can’t transmit virus to others: DAK

    Srinagar, June 04: The Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Friday said some Covid-19 patients test positive weeks after recovering from the infection.

    “RT-PCR test can detect the virus weeks after Covid patients have recovered from the illness,” said DAK President and influenza expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan.

    “That does not mean that a person is infectious and able to transmit the virus to another person,” he said.

    Dr Hassan said in most Covid-19 positive cases, the virus dies after the 7th or the 8th day of the illness. At that time virus cannot be transmitted to another person.

    “But the dead virus can still be picked up by RT PCR test and the report may still come positive, even when a person has become free from Covid,” he said.

    “RT-PCR test which is used to detect Covid-19 cannot distinguish whether the virus in the patient is dead or alive,” Dr Hassan said.

    He said virus culture can tell us whether the positive test has picked up active virus which can reproduce and spread or just dead virus which won’t transmit to others.

    Quoting a Korean study, DAK President said people who had recovered from Covid and tested positive again were not found to be contagious. That means they didn’t transmit the virus to others, based on virus culture that failed to find live viruses in recovered patients.

    “Testing positive after recovery has caused a lot of unnecessary stress and panic among recovered Covid-19 persons,” he said.

    Dr Nisar said in order to avoid unnecessary prolonged isolation and unnecessary use of laboratory testing resources, retesting is not recommended now. There is a shift from test-based strategy to time-based and symptom-based strategy to end the isolation of Covid patients.

    “Under the new guidelines, Covid patients have to remain in isolation for 10 days after the symptom onset plus at least 3 additional days without symptoms,” he said.

    “The initial recommendation to confirm clearance of the virus and thus allow discharge from isolation, required a patient to be clinically recovered and to have two negative RT-PCR test results on sequential samples taken at least 24 hours apart,” he added.

  • Missing 4-yr-old girl mauled to death by leopard in Budgam village

    Budgam, June 03: A 4-yr-old girl was mauled to death by a leopard in Ompora, area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Thursday evening, police said.

    A police official told News Agency Kashmir Dot Com (KDC) that one 4-year old girl identified as Adha Shakil daughter of Shakil Ahmad, a resident of Housing colony, Ompora area of Budgam was taken by a leopard while playing in the lawns of her house.

    He said that after receiving the information police and wildlife teams and army swung into action and launched the massive searches to trace out the missing girl adding that the body of the girl was traced in a nearby area (nursery) on Friday morning.

    However, locals said that the leopards had been roaming in the area for many weeks and some of them were even captured. (KDC)

  • CRPF opens aerial shots after stone pelting at Kralpora Budgam

    Srinagar, June 04 :Paramilitary CRPF opened few shots in air after some youth pelted stones at their Convoy near Kralpora in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Friday.

    A senior police office told GNS that the CRPF’s 29 BN was on way from Chanapora to Doonwari Chadura camp when it came under stone pelting near Kralpora. They fired few shots in air and there were no injuries to anyone in the incident.

    Meanwhile the fire created panic in the area, however situation is normal.(GNS)