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Srinagar: Eight more patients who had tested positive for COVID-19 died on Saturday, taking the total number of deaths in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to 308.

Covid is consuming lives despite stringent lockdown put in place by the Kashmir administration since July 22. Officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that eight patients who died include a 70-year-old woman from Safa Kadal, Srinagar, a 60-year-old man from Peerbagh, Srinagar, a 75-year-old man from Rawal pora, Srinagar, a 48-year-old woman from Kantbagh, Baramulla, a 72-year-old man from Brain Nishat, a 65-year-old man from Nowgam Bandipora, a 67-year-old male from Nibripora Bandipora and a 53-old-male from Pampore Pulwama.

An official from SMHS said that a 70-year-old woman from Safa Kadal who was admitted on 20 July with bilateral pneumonia died on Saturday.

An official from SKIMS said that a 60-year old man from Peerbagh who was admitted on 18 July died on Saturday.

He further added that a 75-year-old man from Hakeembagh Rawalpora who was admitted on 18 July after testing positive for COVID-19 died on Saturday.

He said that the patient was suffering from ARDS, pneumonia and other ailments.

“A 48-year-old woman from Kantbagh Baramulla who was admitted on 22 July with ADRS, thyroid and other ailments after testing positive for COVID-19 died on Saturday,”

Another health official told KNO that that a 72-year-old man from Brain Nishat who was admitted on 20 July with multiple ailments died at SKIMS on Saturday afternoon.

An official from SKIMS Bemina(JVC) said that a 65-year-old man from Nowgam Bandipora who was admitted on 23 July with multiple ailments died on Saturday.

A health official from Bandipora said that a 67-year-old man from Nibripora Bandipora who was on oxygen, died at home, where his sample was taken by a team of district hospital Budgam which came positive for COVID-19.

An official from CD hospital said that a 53-year-old man from Pampore Pulwama who was admitted on 24 July with pneumonia and other ailments died on Saturday.

With eight more fresh deaths, the total numbers of lives consumed the deadly virus have reached to 308 in J&K including 286 from Kashmir division and 22 from Jammu division—(KNO)

Baramulla: The army on Saturday claimed to have recovered a Dragunov Sniper Rifle with magazine besides other arms and ammunition at Gulmarg sector in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

Defence Spokesman in Srinagar Colonel Rajesh Kalia told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a dragunov sniper rifle its magazine and 194 AK-47 rounds , 10 Rifle Grenades and two IED Circuits were recovered in Marpathri, upper reaches of Gulamarg in Baramulla district.

He said that a search operation was launched in the morning following credible inputs regarding presence of arms cache in the forest area. Police sources said that a case has been registered in this regard in Police Station Gulamarg. Today’s arms and ammunition recovery comes just two days after army recovered a huge arms cache in Hathlangoo area of Uri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

Army’s Srinagar-based Chinar-Corps had said in a tweet that an input was received regarding weapon drop near LoC and a search operation was launched after that. The recovered items included one AK-47 rifle with magazines, five Chinese pistols with magazines, 24 grenades and other warlike stores—(KNO)

‘Rush of visitors has completely dried up in even famous parks, gardens’

Srinagar: The COVID-19 lockdown has badly hit the revenue generation of floriculture department from various famed parks located in south Kashmir, officials said.

The lockdown which has hit almost every sector in Jammu and Kashmir has cast a shadow on the revenue generated from parks maintained by floriculture department.

Officials told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that due to Covid-19 lockdown, the revenue generated from parks under floriculture sector is just around two percent as compared to last years.

Pahalgam, Floriculture department which has seven parks that include Poshwan Park, Akad Park, Ashmuqam Park, Lidder view Park, Club Park and Island park under its control have generated a revenue of less than one lack which generated over Rs 35 lakhs last year.

“Despite clampdown after August 05 last year, these seven major parks in south Kashmir region generated revenue of around Rs 35 lakh (last year). However, this year the revenue generated is abysmally low,” Assistant Director Floriculture, Mohammed Hussain told KNO.

“This year due to the less flow of tourists and locals, these parks have hardly generated any revenue,” he added. “Same is the case of famous Kokernag, Verinag and Achabal as the revenue generated from these parks is also very low this year due to Covid-19 lockdown.”

Zaheer Ahmed, Floriculture officer under whom Achabal, Kokernag and Verinag parks are said that from March to August 05 last year, these three parks generated an amount of over Rs 50 lakhs however from March till date this year the revenue generated is below Rs 1 lakh.

“After the government decided to open parks and gardens, a large number of people started to visit the parks which created some enthusiasm here. But after Covid-19 cases witnessed a surge, the flow of visitors dried up completely,” he added.

Notably, the government spends lakhs on maintenance of these parks to attract more and more tourists as well as locals.

Pertinently, Asia’s Largest Tulip Garden located at the foothills of Zabarwan hills in Srinagar witnessed zero flow of tourists this year due to lock down. The lockdown resulted in loss worth crores as no visitor could make it to the famed garden—(KNO)

Srinagar: Ahead of election for Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh, Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Admi Party(AAP) is trying to gain foothold in the region and has begun massive campaign to rope in new faces.

In a development that has taken many by surprise, AAP is gearing up to fight Leh Hill Council polls likely to be held in October this year.

“Lot of people are joining us. Our campaign is evoking huge response in the region,” Rajesh Sharma, AAP’s co-in-charge for Ladakh and Kashmir told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO)

He said they are gearing up to fight the upcoming Hill Council polls. “We are setting up teams at village –level to prepare for the polls,” he said, adding that people of Ladakh region want alternative as they are “fed up of BJP and Congress”.

He said “there is widespread resentment against ruling BJP in Ladakh region and everyone there is inspired by the Delhi model of development and a corruption free system”.

In a boost to AAP, former inspector general of police (IGP) Tsering Phunsong and a few other prominent faces have joined the party in the past few days.

The AAP is trying to gain foothold in the region when there is “anti-incumbency” wave against ruling BJP in the region.

BJP’ s Ram Madhav had recently visited the region to woo back Chering Dorjey, who had resigned as party’s Ladakh unit head.

In the last Hill Council election, BJP had won 18 out of 26 seats while Congress and National Conference bagged five and two seats respectively.

It would be interesting to watch whether Kashmir-based National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party would put up candidates in the Hill Council election after re-organisation of Jammu & Kashmir into two Union Territories—(KNO)

Srinagar: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the necessary mechanism has been put in place to accelerate the pace of developmental works in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh Union Territories.

Sources told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) that the top officials of the PMO and Home Ministry briefed the prime minister on a number of developmental projects undertaken in the two union territories, adding that it was noted by the prime minister that development activities are moving at a faster pace.

Sources further said that officials of the central government also gave information to the Prime Minister on major issues related to Jammu, Kashmir and Ladkah.

The prime minister was also briefed on the measures taken by both the Union territory governments for the prevention of deadly covid- 19 virus.

“The Prime Minister maintained that due to the sustained efforts of the government much headway has been achieved in ensuring time bound completion of the developmental initiatives undertaken in various sectors,”sources said.

The top officials told the Prime Minister that necessary instructions have already been passed to the executing agencies to try to complete the ongoing developmental projects within the stipulated time.

Sources said that the Prime Minister was also informed that the several centrally sponsored schemes on power sector have also contributed immensely in ensuring that the power transmission and also various un-electrified areas are provided with electricity.

It is to mention here that in August last year, special status accorded to Jammu and Kashmir was scrapped and the state was split into two Union Territories (UTs) of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The UTs came into being on October 31 last year.(KINS)

Srinagar: Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science (SKIMS) Soura has reportedly suffered oxygen supply breakdown second time in a week resulting the lives of patients into danger.

According to Kashmir News Service (KNS), the oxygen saturation of many patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and various Covid-19 care wards got discontinued twice in a week which led to ventilation being supported by hand held Ambu bags. The oxygen supply to the wards fell critical leading to patients either being put on oxygen cylinders and many attendants of the patients scurrying to find suppliers for getting hold of oxygen concentrators as backup for the needed oxygen supply of their loved ones.

Reports said the oxygen supply to patients getting operated also fell necessitating supplementation by oxygen cylinders. It added that this is the second such episode in the past week which depicts clear mishandling of the situation by the administration. Reports also added that the oxygen plants have been procured way back in early 2020 but are yet to made operational for some petty issues.

“The administration is clearly playing with the lives of patients. Are the 4-month period of preparations has been wasted in procuring non-essential items from select suppliers for ‘personal’ gains?” sources told KNS.

They added that such reports have failed to gain response from authorities of the UT which ultimately led mismanagement inside the hospital that made patients to suffer in pandemic situation.

Several quarters of the society demanded strict panel action against those who imperiled the lives of patients in current Covid-19 times.

Meanwhile Director SKIMS A G Ahanger didn’t respond to calls made from this office. (KNS)

Srinagar: Five more patients who tested positive for COVID-19 died on Saturday, taking the total number of deaths in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to 305.

Officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that five patients who died include a 70-year-old woman from Safa Kadal, Srinagar, a 60-year-old man from Peerbagh, Srinagar, a 75-year-old man from Rawal pora, Srinagar, a 48-year-old woman from Kantbagh, Baramulla and a 72-year-old man from Brain Nishat.

An official from SMHS said that a 70-year-old woman from Safa Kadal who was admitted on 20 July with bilateral pneumonia died on Saturday.

An official from SKIMS said that a 60-year old man from Peerbagh who was admitted on 18 July died on Saturday.

He further added that a 75-year-old man from Hakeembagh Rawalpora who was admitted on 18 July after testing positive for Covid-19 died on Saturday.

He said that the patient was suffering from ARDS, pneumonia and other ailments.

“A 48-year-old woman from Kantbagh Baramulla who was admitted on 22 July with ADRS, thyroid and other ailments after testing positive for COVID-19 died on Saturday,”

He further added that a 72-year-old man from Brain Nishat who was admitted on 20 July with multiple ailments died at SKIMS on Saturday afternoon.

With five more deaths, the death toll related to COVID-19 has reached to 305 in J&K including 283 from Kashmir division and 22 from Jammu division—(KNO)

The talks were held under the WMCC framework, the second in 2 weeks, as disengagement between the Indian and Chinese forces in Ladakh is progressing at a ‘slow pace’.

New Delhi: India and China Friday held yet another round of talks under the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China border affairs, ThePrint has learnt. The talks come amid reports that the disengagement process along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh has slowed down.

The Indian delegation was led by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) joint secretary for East Asia, while China was represented by the director general of the foreign ministry’s boundary and oceanic department, an official statement issued by New Delhi said.

“The two sides reviewed the situation in the India-China border areas and the ongoing disengagement process along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the western sector. They agreed that early and complete disengagement of the troops along the LAC and de-escalation from India-China border areas in accordance with bilateral agreement and protocols and full restoration of peace and tranquillity was essential for smooth overall development of bilateral relations,” the MEA added.

According to the MEA, it was also agreed that another meeting of senior commanders may be held soon to work out “further steps to ensure expeditiously complete” disengagement and de-escalation and restoration of peace and tranquillity in the border areas.

The WMCC meeting Friday, sources said, was held because China is “not fully cooperating” with the Indian side, thus causing the disengagement and de-escalation process to deviate from the agreement arrived at during the 5 July phone call between National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

The Chinese side is maintaining a heavy troop deployment in the entire eastern Ladakh sector, sources added. The weaponry deployed includes air defence systems and long-range artillery.

Sources said the de-escalation process in the Hot Springs and Gogra area is not progressing as desired.

If the pace of the disengagement and de-escalation process continues to be like this, sources said, Doval and Wang, who are also the designated Indian and Chinese special representatives for boundary talks, may have to hold one more round of discussions.

The WMCC is one of the India-China bilateral frameworks to resolve border tensions.

‘Earliest complete disengagement’

During their discussions earlier this month, Doval and Wang had agreed on “earliest complete disengagement”.

The talks set the stage for a fresh attempt at disengagement in Ladakh beginning 6 July. 

However, since the plan didn’t appear to be going as expected, the latest WMCC meeting was organised to discuss the modalities, sources said. The previous round of WMCC talks was held just two weeks ago, on 10 July, following which India and China held a Corps commander-level dialogue at the border on 14 July, the fourth such interaction since bilateral tensions soared amid incursions by Chinese soldiers beginning May.

At a media briefing Thursday, Ministry of External Affairs’ spokesperson Anurag Srivastava had said a WMCC meeting will be held soon, adding that the basis of maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas between India and China is “respecting and strictly abiding” by the LAC. 

“As we have stated earlier, the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas is the basis of our bilateral relationship. Therefore, it is our expectation that the Chinese side will sincerely work with us for complete disengagement and de-escalation and full restoration of peace and tranquillity in the border areas at the earliest as agreed to by the special representatives,” Srivastava added.

This report has been updated with the MEA’s statement

With inputs from The Print