Total lockdown in Srinagar, Kashmir after 1st positive case of COVID19 was confirmed yesterday.
Markets & shops completely shut. No mass gatherings or crowds allowed in public spaces.
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Strict action will be taken against those found disclosing identification
Coronovirus: DM Srinagar warns against disclosing identification of quarantine facilities and those kept therein
Quarantine facilities and quarantined persons are confidential; strict action will be taken against those found disclosing identification
SRINAGAR, MARCH 18: District Magistrate Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal
Choudhary Wednesday warned against identification of quarantine and isolation facilities established for suspected cases of coronavirus in
Srinagar.He said that these facilities and the persons kept therein are confidential and that those found disclosing identification or location thereof will be taken strict action against under the law.
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Suspicious object found on B’pora-Sgr highway
Bandipora, Mar 19: Vehicular movement on Bandipora-Srinagar highway has been halted after a suspicious object was found on the road on Thursday morning, prompting authorities to call a bomb disposal squad.
Army officer told wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that the Bomb Disposal Squad has been called after a suspicious object was found along the highway.
“The suspicious thing was found near Nadihal higher secondary on Highway,” he said, adding that the traffic has been stopped on the stretch as a security measure—(KNO) -
Urge for all residents who might have come in contact with the COVID-19
We urge all residents who might have come in contact with the COVID-19 positive case in Srinagar to report to their nearest health facilities or contact our control room at:
0194 – 2457552
0194 – 2457543
9419028251
9419028242
9419014723
This is urgent and cannot be ignored
J&K Administration
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JK open for tourists, shut for militants: Union minister
Government on Wednesday rejected claims of opposition parties in Lok Sabha that Jammu and Kashmir has been converted into an “open jail”, asserting that the newly created union territory is open for tourists and shut for militants.
Intervening in a discussion on budgetary allocations for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said the Modi government wants the youth of the UT to hold the national tricolour and computers, instead of Pakistani flags and stones.
He said misinformation is being spread that Jammu and Kashmir has been converted into an “open jail”.
He said it is incorrect. “It is not an open jail. It is open for all today. It is open for tourists. It is shut for terrorists,” he said.
The minister said he takes the opportunity to assure the people of Jammu and Kashmir that various central schemes such as Ujjwala and Indradhanush would be implemented there in the next two to three months.
Taking a swipe at the opposition parties, Reddy said while in their hearts they support abrogation of Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, they prefer not to acknowledge it openly. He also said that casualties among security forces have come down as militant networks have been smashed
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US Imposes Fresh Sanctions on Iran Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
Washington: The United States has announced a new round of sanctions against Iran as part of its so-called “maximum pressure” campaign against the Islamic Republic.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday that Washington had blacklisted three Iranian entities for engaging in what he called “significant transactions” to trade in Iranian petrochemicals.
While he did not name any firms or individuals, Pompeo said the measure included blacklisting Iran’s armed forces social security investment company and its director for investing in the sanctioned entities.
In a separate statement, the US Commerce Department also said it would boycott a number of entities, including five Iranian nuclear scientists, for aiding Tehran’s nuclear program.
President Donald Trump reinstated US sanctions on Iran in May 2018 after he unilaterally left the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed between Iran and major world powers.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) — known as the World Court — has ordered the US to lift the sanctions it has illegally re-imposed on humanitarian supplies to Iran.
Over the past weeks, calls have been growing on the world stage for the US to lift its illegal sanctions, which have severely affected Iran’s healthcare systems at a time when all countries are trying to join forces against the pandemic.
The new sanctions come as China and Russia, in particular, have urged the US to remove its sanctions on Tehran since the restrictions could interfere with Iran’s efforts to contain the coronavirus outbreak in the country.
The coronavirus, which causes a respiratory disease known as covid-19, emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in Hubei Province late last year and is currently affecting more than 160 countries and territories across the globe. It has so far infected over 180,000 people and killed more than 7,400 others.
In Iran, the total number of infections has reached 16,169. Also, the fatality count increased on Tuesday to 988, with 135 news deaths, according to the latest figures provided by the Health Ministry. A total of 5,389 patients have fully recovered.
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Corruption ended, true democracy placed in JK post Article 370 abrogation: FM
Taking on the Opposition over the abrogation of Article 370, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday said there is no corruption in the valley now and a “transparent, true democracy” is in place in the erstwhile state.
Replying to the debate on budgetary proposals and demand for grants for the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in the Lok Sabha, she said many positive developments have taken place since the abrogation of Article 370, including a rise in exports.
“What was different before August 5 and what is different now. What has changed. Many changes have taken place. There is no corruption now. Before (August 5) there was rampant corruption. It’s now transparent, true democracy which is in place,” she said in the House.
The minister underlined that corruption has ended and things have become more transparent in Jammu and Kashmir post abrogation of Article 370 on August 5 last year.
Citing the various initiatives taken by the Centre for development for the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, she said the block development council elections were successful. “Now people approach concerned ministers, Governors, Lt governor or advisers there directly. Yesterday only, many businessmen met ministers including Home Minister. They were overwhelmed by the fact that they can now reach the Centre. This is the welcome change. Prior to August 5, they could not reach Srinagar,” she said.
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‘Affected passengers from Ladakh may risk lives of others’
SOURCE: GK NEWS NETWORK
Bar association files plea before HC; prays quarantine for suspected, affected cases in Leh, Kargil be set up there only
D A Rashid
Bar Association Srinagar Wednesday moved J&K High Court with an application seeking direction upon the authorities for taking preventive measures against Covid-19 in J&K and Ladakh, even as pleading that “over 100 suspected coronavirus affected passengers” who have reportedly travelled to Srinagar from Ladakh may “risk” lives of others.
The plea by the J&K High Court Bar Association Srinagar through its Vice President Aijaz Bedar prayed that it be taken up with the Public Interest Litigations seeking directions for taking up measures to prevent spread of coronavirus in J&K and Ladakh.
Notably, two public Interest Litigations including the one which the court has initiated on its own motion are listed on March 20 before a division bench, which will hear the matter through video conference.
“It is apprehended that if these passengers are affected or require further medical investigation, they are likely to endanger all other persons who will come in contact with them which includes airline staff and security personnel,” the Bar’s plea reads.
While the lawyers’ body sought a direction to prevent entry of the residents of Leh to Kashmir both by air as well as road, it suggested that quarantine facilities need to be set up at Leh and Kargil itself, where treatment can be provided to the affected persons.
“It becomes necessary that the travel to the valley is subjected to serious medical checks at airports, bus stations, railway stations, etc,” the Bar said.
In order to verify the travel of “more than 100 passengers” to the valley today morning by Air India flight, the Bar said, immediate reports be obtained from the authorities concerned. “And based on such reports, directions as warranted in the facts and circumstances of the case may be issued.”
The Bar submitted that it will be highly appreciated if quarantine and other facilities are urgently set up at Leh and Kargil to make available medical facilities to the affected persons or suspects before they are certified to travel out of Leh and Kargil by any mode of transport. “Both Leh and Kargil have low level of density of population as compared to the Kashmir valley or Jammu”.
The Bar prayed that its application may be allowed and in the light of the submission made, further directions be passed in the interests of justice.
(This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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COVID 19: All ongoing JKBOSE examinations for classes 10th, 11th and 12th postponed
In view of outbreak of COVID 19, as a precautionary measure, all the ongoing examinations of JKBOSE for classes 10th, 11th and 12th being held across JandK between 19/03/2020 to 31/03/2020, both dates included, are being postponed.
Rescheduled dates will be communicated Separately.
Veena Pandita
Chairperson
JKBose -
Italy coronavirus deaths rise by record 475 in a day
Source: BBC World News
The number of people dying from coronavirus in Italy has risen by 475 in one day to nearly 3,000 – the biggest increase since the outbreak.
There are a total of 35,713 confirmed cases in the country, with more than 4,000 having successfully recovered.
Lombardy, the worst-hit region, recorded 319 deaths in one day.
Italy is the world’s worst affected country after China, where the virus originated last year. At least 8,758 people have died, most in China.
The vast majority of the more than 200,000 confirmed cases – 80% – have occurred in Europe and the Western Pacific region, which includes much of Asia, the World Health Organization (WHO) says.
Many countries have taken drastic measures, including social distancing and cancelling major events to help slow transmission and reduce pressure on the health systems.
“But to suppress and control epidemics, countries must isolate, test, treat and trace,” the WHO chief said on Wednesday.
Italy has been on lockdown for almost two weeks as authorities try to halt the progress of the virus.
People have been asked to stay indoors – but the number of deaths has continued to spiral.
The WHO’s emergencies director, Mike Ryan, said this was probably due to the “astonishing” number of cases within the health systems, as well as the high number of elderly people in the population at large.
Dr Tedros hailed the beginning of the first vaccine trial so soon after the emergence of the virus as “an incredible achievement”.
How bad is the situation in the rest of Europe?
Spain now has 598 dead and 13,716 infections. An inquiry is to be launched into the deaths of at least 17 residents of a nursing home in Madrid, where dozens of cases of Covid-19 have been reported.
In France, the number of confirmed cases grew by more than 16% on Tuesday, reaching 7,730, while the death toll rose to 175, with 7% of the dead aged under 65.
In the UK, the number of dead has reached 104.
Germany has 12 deaths and 8,198 cases. Chancellor Angela Merkel is to make the unusual step of speaking to the nation in a TV address later on Wednesday. She is not expected to announce new measures, but rather appeal to citizens to help fight the virus.
Belgium has 14 deaths and 1,486 cases.
What’s happening across Europe’s borders?
Travellers from outside the EU are being turned away from airports and borders after the 27-country bloc imposed a 30-day ban to halt the spread of coronavirus.
EU leaders agreed that internal borders that have been erected in recent days should come down.
(This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)