COVID-19: JK Reports 145 New Cases, One Death

SRINAGAR: The Government on Sunday informed that145 new positive cases of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), 48 from Jammu division and 97 from Kashmir division, have been reported today, thus taking the total number of positive cases in Jammu and Kashmir to 321607.Also 01 COVID death has been reported from Jammu Division.

Moreover, 109 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and been discharged from various hospitals including 35 from Jammu Division and 74from Kashmir Division.

Besides this, 99.48 percent of the population above the age of 45 years has been vaccinated across Jammu and Kashmir.

The Bulletin also informs that No confirmed case of Mucormycosis has been reported today, thus the total number of confirmed cases remains 35 in the UT of J&K.

According to the daily Media Bulletin on novel Coronavirus (Covid-19), out of 321607 positive cases, 1211are Active Positive, 316017 have recovered and 4379 have died; 2143 in Jammu division and 2236 in Kashmir division.

The Bulletin further said that out of 11777725 test results available, 11456118 samples have been tested as negative till today.

Till date 2850478 persons have been enlisted for observation which included 7437 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 1211 in isolation and 354480 in home surveillance. Besides, 2482971 persons have completed their surveillance period.

Providing district-wise breakup, the Bulletin said that Srinagar has 71421 positive cases (including 32 cases reported today) with 307 Active Positive, 70282 recovered (including 43 cases recovered today), 832 deaths; Baramulla has 23650 positive cases (including 25 cases reported today) with 130 Active Positive, 23238 recovered (including 09 cases recovered today), 282 deaths; Budgam reported 22904 positive cases (including 09 cases reported today) with 70 active positive cases, 22629 recovered (including 07 cases recovered today), 205 deaths; Pulwama has 15191 positive cases (including 03 cases recovered today) with 51 Active Positive, 14946 recovered and 194 deaths; Kupwara has 14069 positive cases (including 04 cases reported today), 30 Active Positive, 13874 recoveries (including 08 cases recovered today), 165 deaths;  Anantnag district has 16328 positive cases (including 05 cases reported today)with 39 Active Positive, 16084 recovered (including 03 cases recovered today), 205 deaths;  Bandipora has 9470 positive cases (including 02 cases reported today) with 13 Active Positive, 9357 recoveries, 100 deaths; Ganderbal has 9920 positive cases (including 13 cases reported today) with 60 Active Positive, 9782 recoveries (including 04 cases recovered today) and 78 deaths; Kulgam has 11265 positive cases (including 04 cases reported today)with 34 Active Positive, 11114 recoveries and 117 deaths while as Shopian has 5584 positive cases with 10 active positive cases, 5516recoveriesand 58 deaths.

Similarly, Jammu has 52777 positive cases (including 13 cases reported today) with 107 active positive cases, 51531 recoveries (including 17 cases recovered today), 1139 deaths; Udhampur has 11299 positive cases (including 03 cases recovered today), 32 active positive cases, 11131 recoveries (including 01 cases recovered today) and 136 deaths; Rajouri has 10932 positive cases (including 03 cases reported today) 46 active positive, 10661 recoveries (including 04 cases recovered today) and 225 deaths; Doda has 7265 positive cases (including 14 cases reported today) with 102 Active positive, 7038 recovered (including 07 cases recovered today) and 125 deaths; Kathua has 9263 positive cases (including 01 cases reported today)with 06 active positive cases, 9106 recovered and 151 deaths; Samba has 7123positive cases with 13 active positive cases, 6991 recoveries  and 119 deaths; Kishtwar has 4645 positive cases (including 04 cases reported today) with 35 Active Positive, 4566 recoveries (including 01 cases recovered today) and 44 deaths;  Poonch has 6265 positive cases (including 02 cases reported today) with 33 active positive, 6137 recoveries (including 03 cases recovered today) and 95 deaths;  Ramban has 5967positive cases (including 01 cases reported today)with 24 active positive cases, 5877 recoveries and 66 deaths while Reasi has 6269 positive cases (including 07 cases reported today)with 69 active positive cases, 6157recoveries (including 02 cases recovered today)and 43 deaths.

According to the bulletin, among the total 321607 positive cases in J&K, 22857 have been reported as travelers while 298750 as others.

The Bulletin said that the breakup represents districts from which the patients have been traced or are ordinarily residing.

The bulletin added that there are 2423 COVID dedicated beds, 2019 Isolation beds with 1992 vacant beds and 404 ICU beds where 392 beds are vacant in Jammu division while there are 3353 COVID dedicated beds, 3074 Isolation beds where 3034 beds are vacant and 279 ICU beds where 238 are vacant beds in Kashmir division. There are a total of 5776 COVID dedicated beds, 5093 Isolation beds with 5026 beds vacant and 683 ICU beds with 630 vacant beds in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Central Government is continuously monitoring the evolving situation of Covid-19 in the Union Territory and is providing all necessary support towards effective containment of the spread of Covid-19 and better clinical management of positive cases.

The government has also started free tele-consultation general OPD services by Specialists/MBBS Doctors for the residents of J&K under National Tele-consultation Service. People can avail these services from Home by registering online on web portal  https://ift.tt/2YXoEWE. The services are available on Monday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. People can also download and install e-sanjeevani OPD app from Google play store.

To ensure public convenience and avoid chaos & panic crowding at tertiary care hospitals, COVID-19 Triage Facility has been started in Jammu at (i) Chest Disease Hospital, Jammu (opposite GMC Hospital Complex, Jammu, Triage CD Hospital Jammu Contact No.-9541925371, 0191-2561000), (ii) Govt Hospital Gandhinagar (Old Block) Contact No.0191-2459300 and in Srinagar at (i) National Institute of Technology Campus,  Hazratbal, Srinagar, Contact No. 9419006991&  (ii) SKIMS-JVC Bemina, Contact No. 7006617821, that  shall act  as “first   arrival point” for screening of any COVID +ve patient intending to  get   admitted in Govt. Medical College Jammu/ Srinagar & Associated Hospitals, SKIMS Soura  and other identified dedicated COVID Hospitals under Directorate of Health Services Jammu/ Kashmir.

For COVID +ve cases in periphery areas and districts other than Jammu/ Srinagar, the triage point shall be the concerned District Hospital / New GMCs (Doda/ Kathua/ Rajouri/ Baramulla/ Anantnag). Admission of such patients from these districts to GMC Jammu/ Srinagar, SKIMS Soura etc shall be strictly on referral basis only.

Besides, 24×7 Rapid Antigen Testing facilities for COVID-19 have been started outside the emergency of GMC Hospital Jammu. The facility will be very useful for segregation of patients in emergency wing of GMC Jammu.

Meanwhile, a 24×7 COVID Control Room has been set up for redressal of the grievances related to COVID-19 positive patients admitted in the Associated Hospitals of Government Medical College, Jammu and Government Hospital, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu. Patients or attendants can call at 0191– 258 5444 (Control Room), Exchange: 0191-258 2626 / 258 5542 / 258 4290 /258 4291 / 258 4292 / 258 4293/ 258 4294 for assistance.

from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/3AcoqvV
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net

Schools, Colleges In JK To Remain Closed Till Further Orders

SRINAGAR: All schools and colleges in Jammu and Kashmir will continue to remain shut till further orders. An order issued by the J&K Chief Secretary, in his capacity as the Chairperson of State Executive Committee of the State Disaster Management Authority, also said there shall be no weekend curfew in any district while night curfew shall remain in force from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. in all districts.

“All schools and higher educational institutions including coaching centres shall continue to remain closed for onsite/ in-person teaching till further orders,” it said.

from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/3rKUyDH
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net

BSF Recovers Landmine Along LoC

SRINAGAR: The Border Security Force (BSF) on Sunday recovered explosive material along the Line of Control (LoC) in Mendhar Sub Division of Poonch district.

Quoting officials the news agency KNO reported that a team of BSF along with specially trained sniffer dog ‘Juliet’ was on area domination patrol near Line of Control when the sniffer dog sat over a piece of land, which created suspicion about the presence of explosive at the site.

They said that the site was immediately cordoned and searches were launched whereas the suspected piece of land was put to close examination during which a landmine was found lying there.

“Further disposal of this explosive was done as per the standard operating procedures,” the officials informed, adding that the investigation in this matter is going on to ascertain how this landmine reached the area as involvement of militant outfit to carry out an explosion to target LoC guarding troops cannot be ruled out.

from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/3j8YwlC
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net

Permit Friday Prayers In Jamia First, Then Muharram Procession: Agha Ruhullah Suggests Govt

SRINAGAR: National Conference’s vocal Shia leader, Agha Ruhullah Mehdi has suggested to the Jammu and Kashmir administration that they must first permit the Friday congregation in the Jamia Masjid before the Muharram mourning procession is permitted after three decades. He has dished out a series of tweets after the newsbreak that the government is undoing the decades-old ban.

Muharram procession in Srinagar on Sunday, August 30, 2020. KL Image by Bilal Bahadur

We at All Jammu and Kashmir Shia Association welcome the Govt’s decision to allow Muharram procession in Kashmir after a gap of 3 decades. Inshallah AJK Shia Association will lead the procession this year as per past practice. @OfficeOfLGJandK @DivisionalComm1 @srinagaradmin

— Imran Reza Ansari (@imranrezaansari) July 31, 2021

Ruhullah actually issued seven tweets. “There is list of decisions-taken in circulation, in which, if my reading of this order is correct, the administration has decided to allow the 10th Moharram procession from Abiguzar to Lal Chowk (a temporary & alternate route proposed in 2018) after a gap of 30 years,” the first tweet reads. “This decision has come at the time when the Administration has called off Amarnath yatra. Eid prayers this year were not allowed at Jama Masjid & other important places imposing the Disaster Management Act.”

Police used a tear gas canisters to quell the mourners This picture was taken on October 1, 2017. KL Image: Bilal Bahadur

He adds: “Only few days ago the IGP Kmr told people to celebrate Eid “at their homes” invoking Covid protocols. The Friday prayers at Jama Masjid have not been allowed for the last more than 100 Fridays & continue to be banned, again invoking Covid 19 protocols. The list goes on.”

As a mark of respect for Shaheede Karbala Moula Imam Hussain (AS) I request Hujat ul Islam Aga Syed Hassan Al Moosavi Sb to Join us at Abiguzar where the Jaloos of Ashoora will commence its journey after a gap of more than 30 years. @ShianSharie @ajksa_ @agamujtaba

— Imran Reza Ansari (@imranrezaansari) July 31, 2021

In this backdrop, the NC leader, who has been a former minister as well, raised questions: “Given the fact that all other major religious gatherings (with no exception to any particular religion) continue to be banned. This sudden isolated decision about 10th Moharram procession from Abiguzar to Lal Chowk, after a gap of 30 years, raises more questions than it answers.”

There is list of decisions-taken in circulation, in which, if my reading of this order is correct, the administration has decided to allow the 10th Moharram procession from Abiguzar to Lal Chowk (a temporary & alternate route proposed in 2018) after a gap of 30 years. 1/7

— Ruhullah Mehdi (@RuhullahMehdi) August 1, 2021

In this backdrop, he has made a suggestion. “To answer those questions and to make it clear that there are no nefarious designs behind this decision, this 10th Moharram procession should be preceded by Friday prayers at Jama Masjid before this 10th Moharram. Friday prayers before this year’s 10th Moharram should precede,” Ruhullah tweeted. He has said the permitted one of the religious activity while keeping all others banned seems “bait” and a “trap”.

Aga @RuhullahMehdi has raised a question and offered an easy solution. It is not a hit and run tweet but wisdom. With every statement he establishes himself as a refreshingly balanced voice beyond the sectarian/partisan profile of his peers. He is a mainstream Kashmir leader. https://t.co/EIL3QMIgV2

— Naeem Akhtar (@shangpal) August 1, 2021

The news of the procession being permitted was formally announced by Imran Raja Ansari of the Apni Party. He has thanked the government for the permission and asked various religious personalities to join the procession.

from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/2TLBPeC
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net

Stone Pelters Will Not Get Security Clearance For Passports, Reports

SRINAGAR: Jobs apart, the Jammu and Kashmir government has decided that it will not issue passport clearance to the people involved in ‘anti-nationals’ activities and stone pelters. Reports appearing in media said the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s intelligence wing has directed that people involved in law and order issues, stone pelters and crimes prejudicial to the security of the state should be denied the clearance to acquire a passport.

Paramilitary CRPF started moving in a group towards the stone-pelting crowd in Srinagar’s old city on June 5, 2019, minutes after the Eid prayers were over. KL Image: Bilal Bahadur

“The administration is mulling prohibiting passport and visa clearance to people who have a past track record of indulging in anti-India activities. This comes after army officials revealed that the new modus operandi to indoctrinate and train Kashmiri youth in militancy was to call them through proper visa channels, rather than having them take the risk of crossing the border illegally,” TV News18 reported. “An army spokesperson said on Saturday that at least 40 youth have travelled on visas to Pakistan for studying purposes after being given proper certificates for visa, but they were sent back here as terrorists. He said that out of the 40 youth who had taken visas and travelled through the Wagah border route in Punjab to Pakistan, 27 came back with weapons and have been killed in encounters. Rest are still across the border, and a few of them are in touch with their families.”

The decision came within weeks after the administration made CID report fundamental for having jobs in Jammu and Kashmir government. This was done by amending the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Verification of Character and Antecedents) Instructions, 1997. The CID was authorized to scan the digital track record of the individuals and their relationships.

After the amendment, it is also now mandatory to disclose whether any family member or close relative is associated with any political party or organisation, or has participated in any political activity, or has had links with a foreign mission or organisation, or any prescribed/ prohibited/ banned organisation such as the Jamaat-e-Islami.

Besides details of jobs of one’s parents, spouse, children and step-children, parents-in-law, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law are also mandatory. In case of receipt of an adverse report, which will further be confirmed by a screening committee, the appointment to a government job will be withdrawn or terminated.

from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/2Vd3PZp
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net

Weatherman Predicts Light To Moderate Rainfall In JK

by Ibtisam Fayaz Khan

SRINAGAR: The metrological department (MeT) on Sunday said that there was the possibility of a brief spell of light to moderate rain and thunder at scattered places mainly towards late afternoon and evening however there’s no forecast of any rain in Jammu and Kashmir.

A meteorological department official said that currently, it’s partly cloudy at most places of Jammu and Kashmir.

Meanwhile, the climatologist said that Srinagar received traces of rain in 24 hours till 0830 hours while the summer capital recorded a minimum temperature of 19.8 degrees Celsius.

Kokernag in south Kashmir had 2.6mm of rain even as it recorded a minimum of 16.7 degrees Celsius while Qazigund received no rain and recorded a minimum temperature of 18.7 degrees Celsius.

Kupwara in north Kashmir received 6.2mm of rain while it recorded a minimum temperature of 17.4 degrees Celsius, he said.

Jammu, the winter capital of J&K, received 21.0mm during the time and recorded a minimum of 24.6 degrees Celsius.

Katra recorded 22.2mm of rain while Batote had 1.2mm, Banihal 0.3mm and Bhaderwah 3.6mm, the official said.

The famous tourist resort Pahalgam in south Kashmir received 13.9mm of rain while as famous skiing resort Gulmarg in north Kashmir had 40.6mm of rain, the highest in J&K, and was the coldest place in Valley, recording a minimum of 11.2 degrees Celsius, he added.

from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/3zUdany
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net

Kashmir Emerges As A New Disruption In Global Cricket

SRINAGAR: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) promoted Kashmir Premier League (KPL) is emerging a major disruption in international cricket as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has conveyed to all the cricket boards that players participating in the League will not be welcome in India and will never have any commercial connection with BCCI. This came in response to the revelations by a South African cricketer saying that BCCI has tried to prevent him from participating in the KPL.

The Narol Cricket Stadium in MUzaffarabad will play host to the controversial T20 KPL that starts on August 6, 2021. BCCI has warned international cricketers from participating in the tournament. Pic: Internet

On Saturday, a cricketer said the BCCI is preventing him from participating in the upcoming KPL in Muzaffarabad. Promoted by PCB, the Twenty20 tourney starts on August 6 and will conclude 10 days later.

Herschelle Gibbs, former South Africa cricketer made the first revelation by tweeting about the BCCI efforts on Saturday. He said it was “completely unnecessary” of the Board of Control for Cricket in India “to bring their political agenda with Pakistan into the equation and trying to prevent me (from) playing in the KPL. Also threatening me (by) saying they won’t allow me entry into India for any cricket related work. Ludicrous.”

Gibbs was one of the accused in the 2000 match-fixing scandal, who had signed up to play in KPL as a member of the Overseas Warriors team.

A similar revelation was made by a former Pakistan cricketer, Rashid Latif.

At least four former England international players — Monty Panesar, Matt Prior, Phil Mustard, and Owais Shah, according to Hindustan Times have announced their withdrawal from the KPL. The tourney’s media manager Saqib Abbasi has told reporters that a player each from South Africa and Sri Lanka have withdrawn after being “pressured by the BCCI”.

Pakistan Reaction

In quick response to the revelations, Pakistan said it was a direct interference and politicization of cricket. “The PCB considers that the BCCI has brought the game into disrepute by issuing warnings to multiple ICC Members to stop their retired cricketers from featuring in the Kashmir Premier League, further threatening they will not be allowed entry into India for cricket-related work,” the PCB said in its statement. “Such conduct from the BCCI is completely unacceptable, against the preamble of the Spirit of Cricket and sets a dangerous precedent, which can neither be tolerated nor ignored.” It has threatened that it will raise the issue “at the appropriate ICC forum”.

Remnants of the last international cricket match that was played in Srinagar in 1983. The picture was clicked in 2010. The Stadium was later retrieved, redesigned and refurbished. KL Image: Bilal Bahadur

Shehryar Khan Afridi, who heads the Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir has asked the International Cricket Council to take notice of the “tactics employed by the BCCI” to forward “India’s political and hegemonic plots”, Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported.

“He said the Indians were trying to mislead the foreign players by claiming their security would be at risk if they took part in the KPL. But all the players should know that the KPL management would provide state-level security to the participating teams and players,” the newspaper added. In the same presser, KPL president, Arif Malik, alleged that India was “threatening even the commentators as well as the broadcasters”.

Herschelle Gibbs

Completely unnecessary of the @BCCI to bring their political agenda with Pakistan into the equation and trying to prevent me playing in the @kpl_20 . Also threatening me saying they won’t allow me entry into India for any cricket related work. Ludicrous

— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) July 31, 2021

BCCI Response

A day after the controversy erupted, the BCCI responded by explaining its position.

“While asking the boards not to allow their players to take part in the Kashmir League, we have informed them that in case they do, they can’t be part of any cricketing activity in India. We have done this keeping national interest in mind,” a top BCCI official was quoted saying by The Sunday Express. “We have no problems with those playing the Pakistan Super League (PSL) but this is a league in PoK. We are toeing our government’s line.”

“The BCCI would be well within their rights to take decisions with respect to the cricketing ecosystem in India. The fact that the Indian cricketing ecosystem is the most sought after for cricketing opportunities globally,” another official was quoted saying by the ANI. “They (PCB) are welcome to raise the matter at the ICC and one can understand where this is coming from but the question that they need to ask themselves is whether it is on account of government interference in their working since the PM of Pakistan is officially their Patron as per their own constitution. It is time to consider whether this issue also ought to be raised at the ICC.”

What Is KPL

The KPL is a T20 tourney’s first edition that will be played in the refurbished stadium at Muzaffarabad, the capital city of Pakistani controlled Kashmir.

It was conceived in 2020. It will have six teams – five of which would be drawn from different Pakistan-administered Kashmir areas and one will be from the Kashmir diaspora. The teams have been named as – Overseas Warriors, Muzaffarabad Tigers, Rawalakot Hawks, Bagh Stallions, Mirpur Royals and Kotli Lions, led by prominent Pakistan current and cricketers Imad Wasim, Mohammad Hafeez, Shahid Afridi, Shadab Khan, Shoaib Malik, and Kamran Akmal, respectively. As per the information available online, each team will have five local Kashmiri players.

Apparently, the idea is to offer exposure to the local talent and get them to rub their shoulders with international cricketers. But getting international players to Muzaffarabad also means reinforcing the status quo on a territory that is disputed.

PCB has two leagues, the Pakistan Super League and KPL. It is led by Choudhary Shahzad Akhtar with Arif Malik as founding President and Wasim Akram is founding Vice President. Shahid Afridi is its Brand Ambassador. Its official Anthem Song, released on February 16 on YouTube was sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.

A KPL In Srinagar

What is interesting, a KPL is already in Kashmir. The KPL2021, phase 2 was inaugurated in DPS Srinagar on July 28. Managed by the Srinagar based Chinar Corps, the KPL2021 has a participation of 10 teams from 10 districts of Kashmir who are expected to play 20 League matches in different locations across Kashmir.

However, the participating teams are locals and no international or even a national player is involved. The League is expected to conclude on August 10.

#Kashmir Premier League 2021 Phase 2, was inaugurated by Mr Vijay Dhar, Chairman DPS #Srinagar in presence of civil & military dignitaries including Mr Majid from @BCCI. #KPL2021 trophy was also unveiled today. #SwarnimVijayVarsh@adgpi @NorthernComd_IA @BCCIdomestic pic.twitter.com/rhf9jDmP3G

— Chinar Corps – Indian Army (@ChinarcorpsIA) July 28, 2021

Policemen deployed on imposing “restrictions” in old Srinagar city, playing cricket on the road outside Jamia Masjid on Friday, December 22, 2017. KL Image: Bilal Bahadur

Why BCCI Reacted?

This is nothing new between India and Pakistan when it comes to cricket in the divided Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier, Pakistan strongly reacted to two one-day international cricket matches that the host team played with West Indies and Australia. In one match, even the local youngsters became the cheerleaders for the West Indies team and eventually, a crisis erupted that led to the defacement of the pitch. Both the matches took place before the militancy set-in in 1990. In fact, one of the matches was seen as one indicator of the simmering Kashmir crisis.

This time when Islamabad is trying to create a brand on the Kashmir it controls, Delhi sees it is the adequate payback time. BCI, one of the world’s cash-rich cricket boards uses its status to dictate terms on the players.

“The political tensions between India and Pakistan due to Kashmir is something everyone knows of,” online media outlet, The Bridge explained. “And since the PCB is hosting the KPL with a name and area which India considers to be its own, the Indian government and BCCI are unhappy with the league showing no signs of slowing down.”

from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/3zVN7wf
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net