Pulwama: In a shocking incident, a 13-year-old boy in Qasbayar village of Southern district Pulwama committed suicide after his younger brother didn’t let him play the game on a mobile phone.
The incident happened in Dangerpora Mohalla of Qasbayar village when the duo was playing inside their home.
Local people told news agency KNT that playing PUBG mobile game on the mobile phone, which probably belonged to their father, became a bone of contention between the two brothers. Consequently, the elder one gave up and ended his life.
The slain boy, whom locals identified as Asrar Ahmad son of Farooq Ahmad Bhat, died after he hanged himself. (KNT)
Says Police Successfully Prevented Stone Pelters From Interference In Operation
Srinagar: Army on Sunday said that it was hopeful that there would curtailment in recruitment by the “Pakistani militants and their freedom of movement will be controlled” in Shopian areas after the gunfight at Amshipora in the south Kashmir district on weekend.
“We got information about the presence of 4-5 militants in the village. At 02:45 hours on July 18, while the cordon party was in the process of laying the cordon, they came under heavy fire from the fringes of the cordon and after 5 minutes they came under fire from the centre of the cordon,” 2 Sector Commander Brigadier Ajay Kotach told reporters as per a GNS correspondent.
“The cordon party was redeployed; additional parties were rushed to the spot to strengthen the cordon. By 04:30 hours, the police and CRPF reached the operational site,” he said.
At 05:30 hours, he said, after there was visibility, a search party was moved into the target house which was ‘newly constructed single house.” “While the search party moved in, they came under fire and in the ensuing action, three militants were neutralized,” he said, adding, “The dead bodies with arms and ammunition along with IED material were handed over to the police in situ as per the standard operating procedures.”
There was no collateral damage to civilian life or property, he said. “The J&K police successfully prevented the stone peters to interfere with the operation,” he said.
The army officer said that there has been the presence of Pakistani militants in the area.
“We are hopeful that there would curtailment in recruitment by the Pakistani militants and their freedom of movement will be controlled and we will be effectively dominate this area now,” he added. (GNS)
The coronavirus that is menacing the world right now is not the same as the coronavirus that first emerged in China.
University College Hospital in London, where the changing virus is being studied | Photo Credit: GETTY IMAGES
Sars-Cov-2, the official name of the virus that causes the disease Covid-19, and continues to blaze a path of destruction across the globe, is mutating.
But, while scientists have spotted thousands of mutations, or changes to the virus’s genetic material, only one has so far been singled out as possibly altering its behaviour.
The crucial questions about this mutation are: does this make the virus more infectious – or lethal – in humans? And could it pose a threat to the success of a future vaccine?
This coronavirus is actually changing very slowly compared with a virus-like flu. With relatively low levels of natural immunity in the population, no vaccine and few effective treatments, there’s no pressure on it to adapt. So far, it’s doing a good job of keeping itself in circulation as it is.
The notable mutation – named D614G and situated within the protein making up the virus’s “spike” it uses to break into our cells – appeared sometime after the initial Wuhan outbreak, probably in Italy. It is now seen in as many as 97% of samples around the world.
Evolutionary edge
The question is whether this dominance is the mutation giving the virus some advantage, or whether it’s just by chance.
Viruses don’t have a grand plan. They mutate constantly and while some changes will help a virus reproduce, some may hinder it. Others are simply neutral. They’re a “by-product of the virus replicating,” says Dr Lucy van Dorp, of University College London. They “hitch-hike” on the virus without changing its behaviour.
The mutation that has emerged could have become very widespread just because it happened early in the outbreak and spread – something known as the “founder effect”. This is what Dr van Dorp and her team believe is the likely explanation for the mutation being so common. But this is increasingly controversial.
A growing number – perhaps the majority – of virologists now believe, as Dr Thushan de Silva, at the University of Sheffield, explains, there is enough data to say this version of the virus has a “selective advantage” – an evolutionary edge – over the earlier version.
Though there is still not enough evidence to say “it’s more transmissible” in people, he says, he’s sure it’s “not neutral”.
When studied in laboratory conditions, the mutated virus was better at entering human cells than those without the variation, say professors Hyeryun Choe and Michael Farzan, at Scripps University in Florida. Changes to the spike protein the virus uses to latch on to human cells seem to allow it to “stick together better and function more efficiently”.
But that’s where they drew the line.
Prof Farzan said the spike proteins of these viruses were different in a way that was “consistent with, but not proving, greater transmissibility”.
Lab result proof
At the Genome Technology Center at New York University, Dr Neville Sanjana, who normally spends his time working on gene-editing technology Crispr. has gone one step further.
His team edited a virus so that it had this alteration to the spike protein and pitted it against a real Sars-CoV-2 virus from the early Wuhan outbreak, without the mutation, in human tissue cells. The results, he believes, prove the mutated virus is more transmissible than the original version, at least in the lab.
Dr van Dorp points out “it is unclear” how representative they are of transmission in real patients. But Prof Farzan says these “marked biological differences” were “substantial enough to tilt the evidence somewhat” in favour of the idea that the mutation is making the virus better at spreading.
Outside a Petri dish, there is some indirect evidence this mutation makes coronavirus more transmissible in humans. Two studies have suggested patients with this mutated virus have larger amounts of the virus in their swab samples. That might suggest they were more infectious to others.
They didn’t find evidence that those people became sicker or stayed in hospital for longer, though.
In general, being more transmissible doesn’t mean a virus is more lethal – in fact the opposite is often true. There’s no evidence this coronavirus has mutated to make patients more or less sick.
But even when it comes to transmissibility, viral load is only an indication of how well the virus is spreading within a single person. It doesn’t necessarily explain how good it is at infecting others. The “gold standard” of research – a controlled trial – hasn’t yet been carried out. That might involve, for example, infecting animals with either one or the other variant of the virus to see which spreads more in a population.
One of the studies’ leads, Prof Bette Korber, at Los Alamos National Laboratory in the US, said there was not a consensus, but the idea the mutation increased patients’ viral load was “getting less controversial as more data accrues”.
The mutation is the pandemic
When it comes to looking at the population as a whole, it’s difficult to observe the virus becoming more (or less) infectious. Its course has been drastically altered by interventions, including lockdowns.
But Prof Korber says the fact the variant now appears to be dominant everywhere, including in China, indicates it may have become better at spreading between people than the original version. Whenever the two versions were in circulation at the same time, the new variant took over.
In fact, the D614G variant is so dominant, it is now the pandemic. And it has been for some time – perhaps even since the start of the epidemic in places like the UK and the east coast of the US. So, while evidence is mounting that this mutation is not neutral, it doesn’t necessarily change how we should think about the virus and its spread.
On a more reassuring note, most of the vaccines in development are based on a different region of the spike so this should not have an impact on their development. And there’s some evidence the new form is just as sensitive to antibodies, which can protect you against an infection once you’ve had it – or been vaccinated against it.
But since the science of Covid-19 is so fast-moving, this is something all scientists – wherever they stand on the meaning of the current mutations – will be keen to keep an eye on.
Srinagar: Two persons were arrested during a nocturnal raid in South HB Kashmir’s Pulwama hamlet.
The raid was conducted during the intervening night of July 18 and 19 in Drabgam village of the district.
Local sources told news agency KNT that armored vehicles entered into the village and conducted raids on two houses.
They said two youth were picked up, bundled into vehicles and whisked away to unknown destination. The locals identified the duo as Irfan Ahmed Rather son of Ali Muhammad and Sameer Ahmed son of Firdous Ahmed.
When contacted a police official feigned ignorance about these arrests saying they might have been picked up by Special Operation Group Unit for questioning. (KNT)
Srinagar: The decision of Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs in Kashmir Valley to continue with biometric authentication for the public distribution system (PDS), popularly known as fair price or ration shops, in all districts have created fear among employees as well as common people.
The biometric authentication had been suspended in wake of current Covid-19 pandemic.
An employee wishing not to be named said when everyone says no to the biometric authentication system to prevent Coronavirus, the situation for officials in Kashmir, particularly in the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs is altogether different.
“There are so many people mostly ignorant of Covid-19 infection who don’t make use of sanitizers during the process of biometric authentication at points of sale. This is a serious concern and keeping the alarming situation in view this biometric authentication should be suspended,” he said.
Some PDS dealers and beneficiaries told news agency KNT that biometric authentication can lead to spread of the infection if it is not managed properly. Some locals from South Kashmir’s Anantnag district alleged that they were told that they shall get their ration from their respective sale depots via biometric system only, where the ration card holder has to put their thumb impression on the machine.
Assistant Director Food for Southern district Anantnag, Wali Muhammad said that the department is upgrading and updating the Aadhar for identification, where the family has to authenticate the head of the family for the purpose. “Certain errors in Aadhar have crept in and to rectify those, we have started biometric authentication.”
People urged the administration to suspend biometric authentication as a precautionary measure to prevent possibility of spread of Covid infection which can easily spread through touch of objects like bio-metric machines.
Director Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Bashir Ahmed told KNT that after and before the biometric authentication, one should use sanitizer properly. “Sanitizers are available at sale points and people should make use of them,” he added.
Pertinently, earlier Director FCS&CA had said that there is no biometric authentication procedure in vogue. (KNT)
A 56-year-old man drowned while trying to manoeuvre his tempo through the waterlogged underpass at Minto Road on Sunday morning
Vehicles wade through water-logged roads at Jahangirpuri in North Delhi following heavy rains on July 19, 2020. | Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma
Heavy early morning showers left one dead and several areas in the Capital waterlogged on Sunday. The area under the Minto Bridge, that is infamous for flooding every time the city receives heavy rain, saw a DTC bus getting stranded as well.
A 56-year-old man drowned while trying to manoeuvre his tempo through the waterlogged underpass at Minto Road on Sunday morning, said a senior police officer.
The officer said that Kundan Kumar, a native of Uttarakhand, used to drive a tempo and ferry goods from railway station to other places. On Sunday morning when he was crossing the underpass towards Connaught Place, his tempo got stuck on waterlogged underpass. He tried to manoeuvre his vehicle through the underpass, but, apparently, could not succeed.
“It appears that he died of drowning. No external injury marks on his person. Inquest proceedings under Section 174 of Cr. PC are under way. He is survived by wife and two daughters,” added the officer.
The MeT Department that had forecast rain for Sunday said that the city received 74.8 mm rainfall till 8.30 a.m. on Sunday. Lodhi Road, Palam and Ayanagar weather stations recorded 86 mm, 81.2 mm, 16.9 mm and 12.2 mm rainfall, respectively. This is the heaviest rainfall of the season, it added. The forecast shows that more rain is expected over the next few days
The Delhi Traffic Police since morning has been posting updates on its Twitter account asking people to avoid areas where there is heavy water-logging. It said that traffic jams had been reported from Azadpur to Mukarba Chowk, Yashwant Place to Ashoka Road, at Ring Road, Bhairon Road, and near Mundka metro station due to heavy waterlogging.
The New Delhi Traders’ Association hit out at the New Delhi Municipal Corporation for failing to upgrade drainage and prepare for pumping excess water at areas around Minto Road. The association shared videos of water entering shops in the outer circle of Connaught Place and flooding at the veranda of the iconic Regal Cinema building as well.
Srinagar: Six more patients who were tested positive for deadly COVID-19 have died in Jammu and Kashmir, thus taking the total number of deaths due to the virus to 242 in the Union Territory.
Officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that patients who died include an 80-year-old woman from Rainawari Srinagar, a 59-year-old man from Turkawangan Shopian, an 84-year-old man from Kanispora Baramulla, a 50-year-old woman from Rajouri, a 75-year-old woman from Tumulahal Pulwama and a 70-year-man from Bunglow Bagh Baramulla.
An official said that the woman from Baramulla who was admitted on July 16 died at SKIMS on Saturday late night. He said the patient was suffering from bilateral Pneumonia.
He said that two patients including an 80-year-old woman from Rainawari Srinagar and a 59-year-old man from Turkawangan died at CD hospital.
Both the patients were suffering from Pneumonia and other ailments, he said.
Additional DC Rajouri, Sher Singh told KNO that a 50- year-old diabetic patient who was tested positive for COVID-19 passed away at Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu this morning.
An official from SMHS said that the 75-year-old woman from Tumluhal Pulwama who was suffering from many ailments, died at SMHS on Sunday.
An official from GMC Baramulla said that the 70-year-old patient who was suffering from some ailments died at GMC Baramulla on Sunday.
With six more deaths, the death toll related to COVID-19 has reached to 242 including 223 from Kashmir and 19 from Jammu—(KNO)
Kashmir is likely to get a relief from hot weather conditions as the Metrological department Saturday forecasted light rains between July 20 and 21 while its main activity would be Monday evening.
Director Meteorological Department, Srinagar, Sonam Lotus told that they were expecting light rains in scattered places of Kashmir from Monday till Tuesday afternoon.
“We are expecting a good spell of rains to occur at most places of Jammu, scattered places of Kashmir and at isolated places of Ladakh regions between July 20 and 21 with main activity on Monday night,” he said.
As per the weatherman, the spell would likely bring relief from hot weather conditions in the Valley.
In next 24 hours, there are chances of isolated to scattered light rain, thundershowers in J&K while mainly dry in the Ladakh region.
“There would be some respite from the heat as day temperature during the next two to three days was expected to drop a few degrees Celsius,” the weatherman said. “The temperature will rise again toward the end of this month.”
Difficult to work in such an atmosphere, says Senior Resident General Medicine; incident unfortunate, says Principal GMC
Srinagar: Hours after the doctors and other paramedical staff called-off their strike; the resident doctors on Saturday evening ‘fled from the hospital to save their lives’ after two of their colleagues and a security man were assaulted by the attendants at the cardiology ward.
Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Dr. Bilal Ahmad Mir, Senior Resident General Medicine, said that a patient was very ill while a resident doctor who was treating the patient at cardiology ward was beaten by some attendants.
He said the resident doctor has suffered grave injury in his shoulder and has been shifted to Bone and Joint Hospital Barzulla.
Furthermore, he added that soon after the security man deployed there tried to save the resident doctors, he was also beaten like anything following which he suffered injury in his spinal cord.
The Senior Resident General Medicine further told KNO that a resident doctor who later reached the spot was also thrashed like anything and later suffered severe injury following which he was admitted in the emergency ward.
However, soon after the incident took place, the police reached the spot but till then the attendants involved in the act had fled from the spot. He further said that after the assault by the attendants, the resident doctors have fled from the hospital to save their lives and are currently in the park.
The doctors will resume their work only after the authorities ensure a conducive atmosphere in the hospital. Besides, proper security should be given to the doctors so that no one would even dare to touch the doctor and assaulting the doctor should be a non-bailable offence,” he added.
Furthermore, the Senior Resident General Medicine said that a minimum number of attendants should be allowed in the ward so that a doctor can treat the patient in a conducive atmosphere without any hindrance.
He added that it is very difficult for them to work in such a situation.
Principal Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, Dr. Samia Rasheed while talking to KNO termed the incident as ‘unfortunate’.
She had yesterday supported the doctors after they began strike after one of the female doctor was assaulted by the attendants—(KNO)
36 percent Govt schools in JK using timber firewood, other tools as a fuel to prepare MDM
Srinagar: Strange but true is the fact that in Jammu and Kashmir, more than 36 percent of government-run-schools are using timber firewood and other tools to prepare the Mid-Day Meals (MDM) against the suggested Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)
The Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) in its Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB) said that 36.89 percent schools providing MDM to students were using smokeless Chulha, firewood and other tool as a fuel to prepare it while the 63.14 percent were using LPG.
According to the MHRD documents, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), out of 22205 schools, only 14021 were cooking meals by using LPG
The Jammu and Kashmir authorities in a reply to the queries of MHRD regarding the steps taken to provide LPG as fuel in MDM in all schools said: “Instructions were already conveyed to the department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCSCA) to cover all leftover schools by providing LPG as fuel in MDM in all schools.”
The authorities also told MHRD that there were some schools located in remote and hilly areas where use of LPG is not feasible because of massive head load and therefore, “The timber is used for cooking of meals in those schools which has been found as the best alternative for those schools,” it reads.
The JK government also said that out of 11815 sanctioned kitchens-cum-store, the state has completed 7118 and the balance of 4697 kitchen cum-stores could not be completed within the existing rates prescribed by MHRD
In the financial year 2018-19, the JK government said it was using timber firewood as a major tool in at least 27 per cent of schools to prepare—(KNO)
