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‘Rise of Covid cases in China, other countries not worrisome’

Srinagar, Mar 23: A senior medico and flu-expert, Dr Nisar ul Hassan on Wednesday said that the Covid-19 cases on rise in China and other countries is not worrisome and that Jammu and Kashmir is unlikely to witness 4th wave of the deadly virus.

Dr Nisar while talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that there has been a massive surge in Covid-19 cases in China and other countries like Hongkong, South Korea but it is not a cause of concern for Jammu and Kashmir as in China, the people are getting affected with the Omicron variant.

Omicron triggered a third wave in J&K, which has ended and in fact, the Covid has likely entered from pandemic to endemic zone, he said.

“Omicron infected almost everyone here, which basically happened for the good of people because it was milder but Covid is going to stay with us but like other respiratory viruses and it won’t trigger wave now like it did in the past,” he said, adding that it has settled with Omicron and went to endemic state now.

“There are speculations about fourth wave but most of the experts believe that modelling is just a guess and I also firmly believe with the vaccination and natural immunity, it is unlikely that we will have fourth wave now,” he said.

“It is mostly unlikely that Omicron will be replaced by any other variant and there can be mild changes but not to the extent that we will have surges like we witnessed in the past,” he said—(KNO)

Srinagar, March 23 : In a first of its kind in Jammu and Kashmir, the department of Pulmonary Medicine, Government Medical College Srinagar, has added facility of laser to the armamentarium of interventional pulmonology.
“Laser is a useful tool for interventional pulmonologist.

It is helpful in management of various respiratory diseases like central airway obstruction (malignant or benign) and haemoptysis (coughing of blood) of varying aetiologies (causes,” a senior doctor at GMC here told GNS. The facility is set up at the CD hospital here.

Prior to this, a large number of patients had to be referred to higher centres outside J&K for management of such respiratory diseases.

Officials said that the procedure was performed by experienced interventional pulmonologists headed by Professor Naveed Nazir Shah using ND-YAG Lumax 1320 nn laser with the support of an anaesthesia team headed by Professor Rukhsana Najeeb.

“Two cases were performed today. First one was performed under general anaesthesia using rigid bronchoscopy and second one under conscious sedation using flexible bronchoscopy,” Professor Dr Naveed Nazir Shah when contacted told GNS.

“We are highly thankful to Professor Samia Rashid principal GMC Srinagar and Medical Superintendent Dr Saleem Tak for their efforts in starting this facility,” he said.

The leading pulmonologist of the Valley, he said that addition of Laser will definitely improve the patient care and reduces the economic burden to the patient. (GNS)

RIYADH: The Ministry of Health on Monday lifted restrictions for travelers arriving in the Kingdom which included the requirement to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Other Restrictions which were lifted included PCR tests, and Quarantine upon arrival. The Ministry also lifted ‘all restrictions related to the Corona virus for arrivals into the Kingdom’.

Earlier the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah scrapped the Vaccination mandate in order to enter the Two Holy Mosques or obtain an Umrah Permit

Jammu, Mar 22: J&K BJP President Ravinder Raina today said his party is ready for assembly polls and that it will form the next government.

According to a press note, Raina was addressing All Marchas’ Sammelan of Jammu rural organised by BJP at Domana.

“Bharatiya Janata Party is ready for assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir. With the dedicated efforts of dedicated activists, BJP will form the next government in J&K,” said the BJP president for J&K.

Raina, in his address, focused on the further strengthening of party’s Morchas and said that they must reach the ground level within stipulated time frame. He said that Morchas of the party work in a two way manner. “ While they ensure that the party policies are reaching up to every community, they also serve the important purpose of informing the party leadership of their community’s concerns,”he said.

According to him, the Morcha activists have the double responsibility on their shoulders before the approaching assembly elections and hence must be working with added dedication.

Raina also highlighted various public welfare schemes initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi led union government and asked the Morcha activists to work for their implementation at the ground level to gain people’s trust and ensure party’s victory in elections. Sham Lal Sharma, Rajinder Singh Chib, Karan Singh and other senior BJP leaders also spoke on the occasion.

Srinagar, Mar 22: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday promised “global standard end-to-end facilities” for the businesses in Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing the Gulf Countries investment summit at Srinagar, Sinha said that he highlighted the scope for J&K and GCC companies’ economic cooperation to make “this paradise on earth as the most beautiful investment destination in the world.”

He said the visit of CEOs of top companies, entrepreneurs, start-up representatives, exporters in J&K was an expression of confidence of the industry leaders in the potential for business cooperation between J&K and Gulf countries.

“India’s relationship with Gulf countries is being translated into a vibrant, revitalized economic partnership with J&K that will not only diversify our export basket but will also create a conducive environment for expansion of the existing trade,” he said as per GNS, adding, “We have worked with a coherent framework in last 2 years to harness immense natural resources,economic potential of J&K.”

He said that government has worked out a blueprint to “unlock investment flows.”

“We promise to provide global standard end-to-end facilities for the businesses, skilled workforce, transparent and hassle-free regulatory mechanism and creation of necessary infrastructure wherever required.”

He said since his Dubai Expo visit earlier in January this year, many foreign companies from UAE have announced long-term plans for J&K. “We are ready to take relationship to a qualitatively new level and strengthen our economic partnership,” he added. (GNS)

Srinagar, Mar 21: A number of people visited practitioners of ‘leech therapy’ on the occasion of Novroz on Monday as the therapy is believed to be more effective on this particular day.

Scores of people were seen standing in queues, waiting for their turn to go through the procedure, at many places in the valley, especially at Dargah Hazratbal in Srinagar.

It is believed that leeches can cure frostbite, skin diseases and other blood infections, as they suck out the impure blood from the body.

Wali Mohammad, a practitioner of leech therapy, told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), “I am doing this practice for the last 40 years and as per my experience, people are getting cured with this therapy. People understand that this therapy is the best cure for their illness which they don’t get from other medications.”

Manzoor Ahmad, a patient from Hyderpora, agreed. “I tried medicines of almost 10 to 20 thousand rupees but couldn’t find any relief in my pain with any medication. But later when I tried this leech therapy, I am now feeling relief in my pain,” he said.

The practice of leech therapy is very old, and the tradition is still kept alive in Kashmir, particularly on Novroz.

Practitioners earlier used to collect leeches from local water streams and rivers but now those connected with this trade get them from outside of Kashmir—(KNO)

Bhopal: An IAS officer in Madhya Pradesh has urged the makers of ‘The Kashmir Files’ to also make a film on the “killings of a large number of Muslims across several states” in India and said members of this minority community are “not insects, but citizens of the country”, evoking a sharp reply from state minister Vishwas Sarang who said the officer’s tweets are “firqaparast” (sectarian) and he should be removed from his post of the deputy secretary.
The officer, Niyaz Khan, also appealed to the film producer to transfer all earnings to the Brahmin children’s education and construction of homes for them in Kashmir.
As his tweets became viral, film director Vivek Agnihotri sought an appointment with Khan for “exchanging ideas”.
“Kashmir File shows the pain of Brahmins. They should be allowed to live safely in Kashmir with all honour. The producer must also make a movie to show the killings of Large number of Muslims across several states. Muslims are not insects but human beings and citizens of the country,” said Khan, who is deputy secretary with MP Public Works Department.
The 50-year-old officer also said that he was planning to write a book to show the “massacre of Muslims” so that a movie like ‘The Kashmir Files’ could be produced by someone to bring the “pain and suffering of minorities” before Indians.
“Income of Kashmir Files reached 150 crore. Great.People have given a lot of respect for Kashmiri Brahmins’ feelings. I would respect film producer to transfer all earnings to the Brahmin children’s education and construction of homes for them in Kashmir. It will be a great charity,” Khan said in another tweet.
Replying to Khan, Agnihotri said he will visit Bhopal on March 25.
“Sir Niyaz Khan Sahab, I am coming to Bhopal on March 25. Please give an appointment so we can meet and exchange ideas, how we can help and how you can help with the royalty of your books and your power as an IAS officer,” Agnihotri tweeted.
Speaking to reporters, Medical Education Minister Sarang said Niyaz Khan is talking about “firqaparasti” (sectarianism) and that he would write a letter against the officer to the Personnel Department.
“He has no right….The way he has started issuing statements and started a Twitter war, this is against the service rules,” Sarang said.
“He (Khan) is holding an administrative post. He should have known his boundaries. This is against the service rule. I will write a letter against Khan to the Personnel Department,” the minister said.
He said a case of misconduct should be taken up against the IAS officer and he should be removed from his post.
PTI

Lucknow: Screenwriter and director Vivek Agnihotri on Sunday said that the row over his latest film ‘The Kashmir Files’ was unnecessary and that the movie was based entirely on facts.
He alleged that certain people were running businesses by using Kashmir and the row was created by them. “Some groups have been using Kashmir as a business. Our movie has tried to put an end to this. So, those who benefited from this are trying to create a controversy. But there cannot be any controversy over terrorism,” Agnihotri told the media here.
“We have tried to show that when militancy enters a community and is given ideological support from a part of the society, it leads to disaster,” Agnihotri said, adding that his movie was based entirely on facts.
He, along with actor Pallavi Joshi, met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister-designate Yogi Adityanath earlier in the day.
“I congratulated him (Adityanath) for the victory in the elections and he assured me to expedite the work of Film City in Uttar Pradesh so that the state can be turned into a hub of filmmaking,” the director said.
‘The Kashmir Files’ has rejuvenated the business of multi-screens, shopping malls and YouTubers, thereby boosting the economy, he claimed.
“The movie has opened the eyes of the people who failed to admit the crime against Kashmiri Pandits. Now, people of the country and abroad are realising it,” Agnihotri said, adding that the movie has broken the blueprint of filmmaking.
PTI