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  • Only two to three young people should offer obligatory prayers in mosques: Grand Mufti

    Srinagar, March 25: Grand Mufti Of Jammu And Kashmir
    Mufti Nasir-Ul-Islam today asked the people to strictly adhere to health advisory of government and offer obligatory prayers with the association of two to three young people only.

    He in his message to people of J&K said, ” As events are unfolding extremely grim and difficult situation expected, handful of ventilators, inefficient testing facilities & over burdened medical staff are the biggest concern in Jammu and kashmir. Keeping in view of this I request Imams, Muazins to offer obligatory prayers with association of two to three young people living in the neighbourhood of mosque . while as other people should pray at home and adhere strictly to health advisory.”
    He added, “I request you to pray hand folded seeking mercy of Allah & strength to our doctors & medical staff to serve humanity.pl fallow all safety measures under present circumstances. I request all ulamas khateebs and Imams to implement it in letter and sprit.” (KNS)

  • Saudi Arabia records first coronavirus death

    Arab News

    JEDDAH: Saudi health authorities on Tuesday urged citizens to avoid “even small gatherings” which could prove “very dangerous” in spreading the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

    The warning came as the Kingdom reported its first death from the virus – a 51-year-old Afghan resident in Madinah – and 205 new cases of infection, the biggest single daily jump since the start of the outbreak.

    Ministry of Health spokesman, Dr. Mohammed Al-Abd Al-Aly, urged people to stay indoors for as long as possible to help the Kingdom’s efforts to slow the spread of the killer COVID-19.

    “We urge everyone to stay away from gatherings, whether these gatherings are of a limited number or not. Of course, gathering in larger numbers is undoubtedly very dangerous, but even in limited numbers inside houses or outside homes is very dangerous and we warn everyone of gatherings,” he said.

    Speaking at a daily press conference on the health crisis, Al-Aly pointed out that the number of reported cases of infection around the world was still rising, as were deaths.

    Of the 205 newly registered cases in Saudi Arabia, more than half (119) had been linked to travel and people coming into the country from abroad, he said, adding that all the individuals were in isolation.

    “This fact gives importance of early precautionary steps to isolate cases healthily since their entry to Saudi Arabia, and thus the emergence of these cases, is proactively controlled and monitored,” said Al-Aly.

    Officials revealed a cities breakdown of new and announced cases in the Kingdom showing Jeddah the highest with 82, Riyadh (69), Al-Baha (12), Bisha (8), Najran (8), Abha (6), Dammam (6), Qatif (6), Jazan (3), Alkhobar (2), Dhahran (2) and Madinah (1).

    “The total number confirmed in Saudi Arabia, from the beginning of case registration, is 767,” the ministry spokesman added. “Most cases are stable and reassuring. They are receiving appropriate health care in accordance with standards and treatment guides, and three cases among them are critical with one death.”

    The Afghan man who died had applied for health care at an emergency department, but his condition was already at an advanced and critical stage. “His health deteriorated rapidly, and he died last night,” said Al-Aly.

    However, nine more patients had recovered from the COVID-19 infection taking the total to 28.

    “We hope, God willing, for those who receive health care, who are infected with this virus, safety, recovery and wellness. We continue to assure everyone of the importance of adhering to health advice, instructions and guidelines,” added Al-Aly.

    He urged people to observe personal hygiene, such as frequently washing their hands, to stay at home for as long as possible, not to attend any meetings or gatherings, and to keep away from anyone in health isolation for at least 14 days.

    Citizens experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should call 937, use a medical app such as Sehha, or contact their nearest health center or hospital.

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

  • Coronavirus live updates | Tamil Nadu records first death

    According to WHO’s March 24 update, globally, over 16,000 people have died, and more than 375,000 have been infected.

    The Hindu


    Based on a combination of numbers reported by the central Health Ministry, and updates from the States, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the India on March 24 stands at 564.

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

  • What will be available during the 21-day lockdown

    Indian Government issues orders to all states to allow:

    1) Food processing manufacturing companies to function

    2) Retail Grocery, Organised Trade including Cash & Carry Wholesale and Chemists

    3) Allow workers of Retail outlets

    4) Inter State Movement of goods.

  • Kashmiri students stranded in Bangladesh, Pakistan demand evacuation

    Jahangeer Ganaie

    Srinagar, March 24 (KNO): In wake of the Coronavirus outbreak, the students from  Kashmir stranded in Bangladesh and Pakistan demanded immediate evacuation.

    According to wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the colleges and universities in Bangladesh and Pakistan have been shut and all the students have been asked to go home and they want to return home too due to fear and apprehension, the students said.

    A student stuck in Bangladesh  told KNO over phone that their tickets from kolkata to Delhi were also confirmed but still authorities are not allowing them to move ahead.

    Around a group of 70 Kashmiri students are stuck here from last 12 hours at Benapole border and there is nothing to drink or eat, but nobody cares.

    “We cannot go back now to Bangladesh as we have already reached the Kolkata border,” he said.

    Students stranded in Bangladesh and Pakistan have appealed to External Affairs Minister to intervene so that they can go home. They have also urged Jammu and Kashmir administration to intervene into the matter and ensure their safe return.

    Meanwhile, officials in Jammu and Kashmir stated that all the borders have been sealed in view of Coronavirus outbreak and it is very difficult to help those stranded at the moment—(KNO)

  • Time to restore rights of J&K people: Priyanka on Omar release

    The order comes just a day before the hearing in the apex court.

    Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday welcomed the decision of releasing former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah from the “unconstitutional detention” and said “it is time restore the rights of people of the Jammu and Kashmir too.”

    “So happy to learn that Omar Abdullah’s unconstitutional and undemocratic detention has been revoked at last. Its about time the union government restores democratic and constitutional rights to the people of Jammu and Kashmir as well,” Priyanka Gandhi said in a tweet.

    Her remarks came after the Jammu and Kashmir government revoked the Public Safety Act (PSA) of former chief minister and ended his detention on Tuesday more than seven months after he and two other former chief ministers — Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti were detained ahead of the revocation of Article 370 on August 5 2019.

    “Government issues orders revoking detention of Shri Omar Abdullah,” Government Spokesperson Rohit Kansal tweeted.

    The order comes just a day before the hearing in the apex court.

    Omar Abdullah was among the 50 odd politicians who were kept under ‘preventive detention’ after the revocation of Article 370 and bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories (UTs) on August 5, 2019.

    He and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti were slapped with PSA on February 7 after being detained under preventive detention since August 5, 2019.

    The PSA was slapped on former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on September 16, 2019, after 42 days of preventive detention.

    A few days before the Article 370 move by the Centre, Farooq Abdullah had presided over a meeting of all parties in Kashmir in which Omar also participated and had adopted a declaration – Gupkar declaration – that they will not accept any tinkering with Article 370.

  • Over 60 Kashmiri Policemen waiting to be relieved from Coronaviurs hit Ladakh

    ‘Advisory Committee to take final decision: Rigzin Samphel

    Srinagar, Mar 24, KNT: At a time when Ladakh has been hit by Coronavirus, over 60 Kashmiri Police are stranded there, waiting for the day, when they will be relieved.

    Even after the bifurcation of State of Jammu and Kashmir into two territories and according Ladakh the status of new UT, scores of policemen hailing from Kashmir Valley are still stuck in Leh and Kargil.

    They are spending their time in closed rooms while some of the cops on condition of anonymity told KNT that they are not being allowed to enter into SP office premises after the deadly Covid-19 outbreak in the region.

    Some of the relatives of these constables said despite Ladakh getting a Union Territory status, their sons who are working in Jammu Kashmir Police Department as Constables have not been relieved and sent to Kashmir. “All the Ladakhis who were posted in Kashmir and Jammu have been sent to Ladakh back but this is not the case with the policemen who hail from Kashmir,” they said. They urged upon the people at the helm of affairs to relieve these Kashmir based policemen as soon as possible.

    Ladakh was officially declared UT on October 31 with R K Mathur as its first Lieutenant Governor and SS Khandare as its first Inspector General of Police (IGP). Ladah was given a separate divisional status in February 2019.

    Administrative Secretary, Leh, Rigzin Samphel told KNT that the decision of relieving Kashmiri cops from Leh is in the hands of Advisory Committee. “Whatever Advisory Committee will decided on the issue, we will follow,” he said adding that the said Committee will meet soon in New Delhi. (KNT)

  • Non-local workforce working in Kashmir defy social distancing

    Srinagar, Mar 24, KNT: The locals from Chandrigam area of Tral town Tuesday staged a protest alleging that no action is being initiated against the house owners who have rented their houses to non-local labourers in large numbers. The protesters said that there is every possibility of Covid-19 breakout in the town as these non-local labourers are staying in dozens together at one place.

    “At one house there are 20 labourers while 30 are staying in another house. When we are laying thrust on social distancing, how that is possible if scores of labourers stay in one room. Government and police should initiate action against these landlords,” said a protester to KNT.

    Reports said that a large number of non-local labourers are staying together in rented buildings in different parts of Kashmir including Pulwama, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Srinagar, Budgam and other towns.

    A couple of days back, locals in Pulwama also staged protest against the influx of non-local workforce. They said that large number of non-local labourers is staying at a rented building.

    Locals in Nihalpora area of North Kashmir’s Pattan are too staged protest alleging that a large number of non-locals are working in a ply factory. The locals said no medical test or screening of these labourers have been done. “These people came from West Bengal some five days back and nobody asked them to undergo any medical test,” they said and sought intervention of authorities. (KNT)

  • One more test positive for covid-19, tally jumps to 4 in Kashmir

    Suhail Khan

    Srinagar, March 24 (GNS): One more person, a 22-year-old, has tested positive in Kashmir for coronavirus, taking the number of covid-19 patients to seven in Jammu and Kashmir.

    A senior doctor at SKIMS told GNS test sample of one person, admitted in GMC Baramulla, came out to be positive.

    “His sample had been sent to SKIMS for test and it came out to be positive,” the doctor said, adding, “The patient is said to have come from outside J&K three days ago.”

    Earlier, in the day two people, who had arrived from Saudi Arabia and New Delhi recently, tested positive for COVID-19.

    As of now, four persons have tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Kashmir Valley while the tally of such patients in the entire J&K has gone up to 7. Three cases were reported from Jammu earlier this month. The government informed that one among the patients has recovered. (GNS)

  • 1st COVID-19 patient treated successfully: DC Sgr

    Srinagar, Mar 24: Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Shahid Iqbal Chowdhary on Tuesday claimed that the first COVID-19 positive patient has been treated successfully at SKIMS Soura.

    Taking to micro blogging social networking site twitter, he wrote, “Srinagar’s first COVID-19 Positive case successfully treated: Director SKIMS.