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Official data reveals UT recorded over 50 percent fatalities in last 15 days, Jammu reports less than percent fatalities of total figure

Srinagar: The deadly pandemic has wreaked havoc in Jammu and Kashmir UT in the last fortnight as the virus has claimed 105 lives in the UT of which 99 were reported in the Valley alone and rest in Jammu.

Official data available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) suggests that more than 50 percent deaths related to Covid-19 were witnessed in last 15 days in Jammu and Kashmir.

“In the first 115 days (from March 08-June 30), 101 Covid-19 related deaths were witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir that 89 from Kashmir division and 12 from Jammu division.

Till July 1, 88.11 percent deaths were recorded in Kashmir division while 11.89 in Jammu division. “From July 1 to July 15, 105 deaths related to Covid-19 were witnessed in J&K which is around 51 percent of the total deaths,” he said.

Among 105 deaths in ensuing month, 99 were from Kashmir division while only six were from Jammu division which means 94.99 percent of Covid related deaths witnessed in J&K were from Kashmir while 5.01 percent are from Jammu division.

Overall out of 206 deaths related to Covid-19 in J&K since the outbreak of pandemic, 188 are from Kashmir while as 18 are from Jammu division, officials told KNO

“So the share of deaths of Kashmir division is 91.26 percent and share of deaths related to Covid-19 of division Jammu is 8.7 percent,” the figures reveal. “Till Tuesday (July 14) evening, out of total 11173 positive cases, 8785 were from Kashmir division while as 2388 were from Jammu division.

“So the share of Kashmir division in total positive cases is 78.62 percent while as 21.37 percent are from Jammu division,” the figures state.

The first case of the COVID-19 pandemic in India was reported on 30 January 2020. The virus, originated from Wuhan, China

Slowly, the pandemic spread to various states and union territories including the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir. Two suspected cases with high virus load were detected and isolated March 4, in Government Medical College, Jammu. One of them became the first confirmed positive case on March 9. Both individuals had a travel history to Iran—(KNO)

PTI

Leh: Fourteen more people tested positive for coronavirus in Ladakh on Wednesday, taking the total number of cases in the union territory to 1,142, officials said.

However, the number of active cases in the union territory dropped to 177 after 18 more patients recovered, they said.

All the fresh cases were detected in Leh, raising the number of active cases in the district to 148, the officials said. The remaining 29 active coronavirus cases are in Kargil.

The condition of all the 177 patients undergoing treatment in the twin districts is stable, the officials said.

Of the 18 patients who were discharged on Wednesday, 17 were in home isolation at Leh and one patient was admitted to the COVID Care Centre in Kargil, they said.

So far, 964 of the infected have been recovered. The union territory has recorded one COVID-related death.

PTI

Jammu and Kashmir HC asks Amarnath Shrine Board to take urgent decision on holding annual pilgrimage in view of COVID-19 pandemic

Hospital Admin contests, says ‘Don’t presume things at your level’

Srinagar: A gross negligence has been reported in SKIMS where hospital administration had kept dozens of Covid-19 positive patients and suspects with general patients and their attendants in its Emergency unit for 24 hours.

According to reports reaching to Kashmir News Service (KNS), dozens of Covid-19 positive patients and other suspects had been kept in Emergency unit of SKIMS Soura for intervening night of July 14 and 15. Sources said, “At least 8 positive patients and 24 suspects were brought here and admitted in Emergency Unit of SKIMS Soura who stayed with other general patients and their attendants”.

They said authorities on one hand imposing lockdown, asking people to maintain social distance; wear masks and strictly adhere upon advisories however the other facet narrates agonized ordeal which has put lives of hundreds into risk.

“The diseases has already created havoc in Valley and forced authorities to re-impose lockdown restrictions but SKIMS authorities seems senseless which admitted Covid-19 positive patients and other suspects in Emergency Unit which often remain packed”, an official said.

He said, “During last twenty-four hours Emergency Unit of SKIMS was packed with patients and attendants, so one can understand how much virus could have spread”.

“In general cases, attendants get also infected from their near ones infection and when dozens of Covid-19 positive cases were staying under one roof, the spread could be unimaginable”, official said.

However when KNS tried to get the fresh status of infected patients, it was found that 8 positive cases were shifted to other wards on Wednesday 04:00 pm while 24 Covid-19 suspects are still lying there with other general patients.

Pertinently District Magistrate Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Chowdhar, IAS on Wednesday ordered all Medical Superintendents, Deputy MS, BMO, ZMOs and Medical Officers to impose fine of Rs 1000/- on persons without masks within the premises of their respective hospitals, zones and health centers.

However when KNS contacted Director SKIMS, A G Ahangar, he initially contested the reports and later on said that the issue has not come into his notice.

When asked why hospital resorted to such a grave negligence and put hundreds of lives into risk, he got furious and said I am not a spokesperson of SKIMS, let me to do my job.

“Instead of interpreting the data and presume things at your level, leave it to doctors and let them do their job”, Dir SKIMS said. (KNS)

Srinagar: It is a ‘myth’ that health professionals are taking care of Covid-19 patients in Kashmir Valley. The reality according to Covid infected patients is that they have been left on the mercy of God.

A Covid-19 infected patient died in Ward 3 of SMHS Hospital of Srinagar in absence of doctors today. When other Covid-19 positive patients raised hue and cry and sought help from the doctors to save the dying patient, nobody came forward till he breathed his last.

Eyewitnesses told news agency KNT that not a single doctor or nurse dares to visit them in their wards. “It is totally wrong to say that health professional are taking care of Covid-19 patients. I am a Covid patient and haven’t seen any doctor visiting the ward. We have been left on the mercy of God,” he said.

He added that: “Family members and relatives of a deceased patient created ruckus in the ward 3 after no doctor arrived in the ward to treat the dying patient. After his death, family members took his body, bundled into vehicle and left from Baramulla amid sloganeering,” he said.

Eyewitnesses said that after the death of the patient, a man in civvies accompanied by some doctors started shooting a video of the relatives, who were protesting against doctors. The agitated relatives thrashed that man and broke his cell phone.

“There is complete chaos in the hospital. Nobody dares to take care of Covid-19 patients. We get an untouchable treatment. Somebody please remind these doctors of their duties who are being painted as ‘messiahs’ by media,” the Covid-19 patient said.

Medical Superintendent SMHS Hospital, Dr Nazir Chowdary told KNT the body has been brought back and will be buried as per Covid-19 protocol. When asked why doctors didn’t attend the dying patient, Dr Chowdary said that attendants can say anything. He refuted allegations leveled by family members of the deceased. (KNT)

PTI

Srinagar: A BJP worker was allegedly kidnapped by unknown persons in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, officials said here.

Mehrajuddin Malla, who is also the vice chairman of Municipal Committee Watergam, was allegedly kidnapped at Marazigund in Rafiabad area of the district while he was on his way to Sopore town, they said.

The officials said police has taken cognisance of the matter and launched operations to rescue the BJP worker.

The incident comes less than a week after BJP leader Sheikh Waseem Bari, his brother and father were shot dead by militants in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora district.

PTI

Leh: Ladakh Lt Governor R K Mathur on Wednesday said a National Skill Training Institute extension centre is set to come up here.

Making the announcement on World Youth Skills Day, Mathur said the NSTI extension centre would impart quality training to the youths of Ladakh, thus empowering and equipping them with industry relevant skills to earn their livelihood.

An initiative of the Directorate General of Training, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, the extension centre aims at capacity-building of the polytechnics and industrial training institutes by providing training to the trainers, an official spokesperson said.

The NSTI centre would also introduce programmes such as refresher training, re-skilling or up skilling courses, craftsmen training schemes, instructor training schemes, apprenticeship training schemes and national skills qualification frameworks, he said.

The initiative is vital for introducing the trainers to the latest technological developments in the industries and therefore adapt to the changing space of training in the country, Mathur said here.

PTI

Jammu: A 28-year-old Pakistani man was arrested on Wednesday after he crossed into this side from across the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, a senior police officer said.

Abdul Rehman, a resident of Nakyal village of Pakistan Administered Kashmir (PaK), was apprehended by police in Balakote sector soon after he crossed into thej country, Poonch’s Senior Superintendent of Police Ramesh Angral told PTI.

The man is being subjected to COVID-19 test before a detailed questioning, he added.

Police sources said some villagers grazing cattle near the LoC noticed him moving towards Bharoti village and informed the local police which rushed to the spot and arrested him.

He was taken to police post Balakote for questioning, they said, adding nothing incriminating was recovered from his possession.