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SKIMS becomes first hospital in Kashmir to start plasma therapy

J&K Govt bans private practice by all SKIMS medical professionals
SKIMS, Srinagar (File)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): In a major achievement, Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura, a COVID designated hospital in Srinagar, has conducted its first successful plasma therapy for the virus affected patients.

The hospital started Convalescent Plasma Therapy (CPT) for critically sick patients as one of the modalities of supportive treatment of the deadly infection, approved by Centre as well as the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR).

Dr. Sajad Bhat, a 3rd year Post Graduate resident from General Medicine department—who recovered from the illness after he was tested positive, was the first one to donate plasma for the noble cause at SKIMS. The procedure was conducted in collaboration with the Blood Transfusion & Immuno-Hematology Department.

Professor Farooq Jan, Medical Superintendent at SKIMS said that they have started Plasma Therapy on a trial basis. “We have given it to three patients,” he said. Dr Jan said that the mode of treatment is being enhanced and more and more manpower is being adjusted for this service, based on the clinical judgment and the status of the patients in need of such treatment.

He further added that they are procuring more equipment required for the therapy, which is expected to arrive next week. Asked whether the therapy will be useful or not, he said that it is premature to say anything as of now as the patients who were given the therapy, will tell the impact themselves.

“Hopefully, this will prove useful as we have seen in different countries including that this therapy has shown promising results,” he said. “This treatment in itself has some advantages, though very little disadvantages. But it has to be carried out meticulously. The staff is being trained for this service.”

Director, SKIMS, Dr AG Ahanger has lauded the therapy team for their efforts while saying that SKIMS will touch new heights in medical research and interventional medicine.

Pertinently, a high-level committee headed by Dr Muhammad Sultan Khuroo, an 80-year-old medical expert in epidemiology, which was constituted on June 15, has also recommended to the higher-ups to start plasma therapy in J&K.

“Plasma method has a simple premise. The blood of people who have recovered from an infection contains antibodies. The antibodies are molecules that have learned to recognise and fight the pathogens, such as viruses, that have caused disease,” said a doctor at SKIMS.

He said that doctors can separate plasma, one of the blood components that contain such antibodies, and administer it to patients whose bodies are currently fighting the infectious disease. “This can help their immune systems reject the pathogen more efficiently,” he added.

-ARK

Soldier, woman injured as terrorists target Army ambulance at J&K’s Pulwama

Indianapolis
Representational Image

Srinagar (NVI): In yet another cowardly attack by terrorists, a soldier and a woman were injured after an army ambulance they were traveling in, was fired upon at Ladhoo area of Pampore in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, police said today.

The ambulance was fired upon at Ladhoo area at around 6:30 pm by the militants, in which a soldier and a woman received minor injuries, they said.

“Militants fired upon an Army vehicle at Ladhoo, Pampore in which one Army personnel and lady received minor injury. She has been discharged from hospital after treatment,” Kashmir zone police wrote on its official Twitter handle.

“An ambulance with QRT moving from Khrew was fired upon by terrorists from near a Mosque at Laddoo Mor, Lethpora, Awantipora at 6 PM. One soldier injured, evacuated to 92 BH, stable. One civil lady sustained injuries in the crossfire, stable. Area being searched,” Srinagar based Army’s Chinar Corps also wrote on Twitter.

A police official said that the woman had minor splinter injuries in her head and was immediately referred to Sub-District Hospital Pampore, where she was treated and later discharged. “She had received mild injury in her head,” the official said. He said that the injured soldier was shifted to Army’s 92 base hospital in Srinagar where his condition was stated as stable.

Meanwhile, joint teams of security forces cordoned off the area and launched a massive search operation to nab the attackers.

-ARK

Indian troops have always taken a responsible approach at LAC: Doval tells Wang Yi

NSA Ajit Doval with Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi (File)

New Delhi (NVI): Indian troops had always taken a very responsible approach towards border management and at the same time, the forces were deeply committed to ensuring India’s sovereignty and security, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval told Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi at Special Representative level talks held recently, says MEA.

The SR-level talks were held on July 5 between NSA Doval and Wang Yi on the recent developments in the western sector of the India-China borders, which has witnessed the withdrawal of Chinese troops in Galwan Valley along LAC, after a long stand-off.

“During the conversation, the NSA conveyed categorically India’s position on the recent developments along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) including in the Galwan valley area. NSA emphasised in this context that the Indian troops had always taken a very responsible approach towards border management and at the same time, our forces were deeply committed to ensuring India’s sovereignty and security,” External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said today.

Apart from that, in the telephonic conversation held on Sunday, the two SRs agreed that peace and tranquility in border areas was essential for the overall development of bilateral relations, the MEA spokesperson said.

“In this regard they also shared the view that it was necessary to ensure at the earliest complete disengagement of the troops along the LAC and de-escalation in the India-China border areas for full restoration of peace and tranquility in accordance with the bilateral agreements and protocols,” he said.

One of the key provisions of these bilateral agreements is the commitment by two sides shall strictly respect and observe the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The two SRs have also agreed that the two sides should work together to avoid any incident in the future that could disturb peace and tranquility in border areas, MEA said.

Srivastava further informed that the diplomatic and military officials of both sides will continue their meetings to take forward the process of disengagement and de-escalation as agreed to by the Special Representatives. “The next meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China border affairs (WMCC) is expected to take place soon,” he said.

The MEA spokesman also said that although the disengagement process is underway through proper military and diplomatic channels, there have been some inaccurate and uninformed comments on the issue, which are creating confusion.

“We have also noted that there have been some inaccurate and uninformed comments about the disengagement process and its implications. Let me remind you that in the last few weeks, we have made several statements spelling out categorically the position of the Government on different aspects of the current situation in the Western Sector of India-China border areas,” MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said today.

“They include our position that recent Chinese claims to the Galwan Valley area are exaggerated and untenable; that the LAC must be strictly respected and observed as this is the basis for peace and tranquility in the border areas; and that neither side should take any unilateral action to alter it,” Srivastava said while clarifying on the official stand of
the government over the issue.

He said that the Indian government remains convinced of the need for maintenance of peace and tranquility in the border areas and the resolution of differences through dialogue. “At the same time, we are also strongly committed to ensuring India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he added.

Earlier on Monday, MEA had said that NSA Doval had a “frank and in-depth exchange of views” with Wang Yi yesterday, on the recent developments in the western sector of the India-China borders.

Earlier on June 17, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had spoken to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi over the phone and conveyed India’s protest in “strongest terms” on the violent face-off in Galwan Valley in Ladakh on June 15.

In first signs of withdrawal of Chinese troops along LAC in Eastern Ladakh earlier this week, the PLA removed tents and dismantled its structures in the disputed area.

India and China are currently locked in a bitter standoff at multiple locations in Eastern Ladakh, especially after the June 15 violent clash between the Indian and Chinese troops in Galwan Valley in which 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives.

-ARK

COVID cases in Afghanistan decreased by 40% as tally reaches 33,908

New Delhi (NVI): With the confirmation of 314 new cases, Afghanistan’s coronavirus infection tally has reached 33,908 today, according to Afghan media reports.

The Afghan Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) said, death toll due to the virus stands at 957 with 20 new fatalities being reported in the last 24 hours.

Therefore, the number of positive coronavirus cases in Afghanistan has fallen by 30 to 40 per cent, said Ahmad Jawad Osmani, the acting Minister of Public Health (MoPH).

He stressed that this was possible due to the help of the public and it took a month and half for the cases to decrease, according to laboratory statistics. However the number of positive COVID-19 cases have decreased, Afghanistan is still in a state of crisis.

Meanwhile, it is also noted that the laboratories have been consistently testing fewer samples than the 2,000 a day, the ministry said.

In addition, Osmani said that the MoPH had acquired 500 oxygen generators and would hopefully, be able to solve the shortage of oxygen soon.

So far, 20,841 patients have been cured and discharged in the country.

-RJV

Bangladesh COVID-19 tally exceeds 1.75 lakh; 2,238 dead

(Image source: United News of Bangladesh)

New Delhi (NVI): Coronavirus cases in Bangladesh exceeded 1.75 lakh after 3,360 new cases were detected in the last 24 hours.

In addition to this, 41 new deaths were reported during this period, taking the total number of Covid-19 fatalities in the country to 2,238, according to United News of Bangladesh.

The daily infection rate was today recorded at 22.26 percent in the country.

So far, 84,544 people have recovered in the country after 3,706 more patients were recovered during this period.

Against the total number of detected cases, the recovery rate is nearly 47 percent and the mortality rate is 1.28 percent in the country.

-CHK

Coronavirus cases cross 2.40 lakh in Pakistan; death toll at 4,983

New Delhi (NVI): Pakistan reported 3,359 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 2,40,848.

Meanwhile, 61 people lost their lives due to the deadly contagion, taking the total number of fatalities to 4,983.

Looking at the breakdown of cases, Sindh province has reported 99,362 coronavirus cases, highest among all the provinces, while Punjab has 84,587 positive cases.

On the other hand, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has recorded 29,052 cases, Balochistan is at 11,052, Gilgit-Baltistan at 1,605, Islamabad at 13,731 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is at 1,459 cases so far, according to media reports.

A total of 1,45,311 patients have recovered from the disease so far in the country.

Furthermore, the number of critically ill patients in Pakistan is at 2,193, out of which 435 are on ventilators.

-CHK

Covid-19 cases in Nepal climbs to 16,531

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): The COVID-19 cases in Nepal saw a jump of 108 in the last 24 hours, taking the total number to 16,531 in the country, according to local media reports.

The country’s Ministry of Health and Population said, of the total cases so far, 7,891 people have achieved recovery after 139 people have been discharged from health facilities in the last 24 hours.

Currently, there are 196 active cases of infection in Province 1; 2,024 active cases in Province 2; 429 cases in Bagmati Province; 862 cases in Gandaki Province; 1,727 cases in Province 5; 405 cases in Karnali Province; and 2,962 cases in Sudurpaschim Province, as per the reports.

The deadly virus has spread to all 77 districts of the country. But five districts have no active cases of coronavirus. Those are are Dhankuta, Bhojpur, Solukhumbu, Mustang, and Humla districts.

The ministry also said that, of the total recovered cases, 543 are from Province 1; 2,234 from Province 2; 287 from Bagmati Province; 355 from Gandaki Province; 2,296 from Province 5; 1,238 from Karnali Province; and 938 from Sudurpaschim Province.

Meanwhile, no COVID-19 fatality was reported today in Nepal. With this death-toll from the disease stands at 35 in the country.

-RJV

CBSE 10th, 12th results will not be released on July 11 and 13, board says notice fake

CBSE
(File/Representational Image)

New Delhi (NVI): The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will not be releasing the result of classes 10 and 12 on July 11 and 13. The final date for the results is not decided yet.

A notification — circulating on social media mentions that the class 12 result will be released on July 11, and the class 10 result on July 13 — is termed fake by the CBSE.

The official twitter handle has also tweeted in this regard and posted a letter stating that the news making the rounds on social media is fake.

However, CBSE will release the result of classes 10 and 12 by July 15.

The board has advised students, teachers and other stakeholders not to believe any such circulars.

CBSE earlier cancelled the pending exams of class 10, while class 12 students were given an option to appear for the pending exams later.

-CHK

Will review security of politicians, increase it as per vulnerability: J&K DGP

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): A day after the killing of J&K BJP leader Waseem Bari in Bandipora, Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh today said that the security of protected persons will be reviewed in the UT and if necessary, security cover of those facing militant threats or are vulnerable to attacks will be enhanced in the days ahead.

Talking to reporters here, DGP Singh said that the killing of BJP leader Waseem Bari, his father Bashir Ahmed and brother Umer Bari, is a serious issue and has been taken very seriously by the police and other security agencies.

“Waseem was a very vocal leader, very active and always on the ground doing his political activity,” he said, adding that such people are always sought after targets of militant outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.

The DGP said that Waseem was out of his house and when he returned, his Personal Security Officers (PSOs) went to their room to relax, which they should not have done. “Waseem sent to his shop-cum residence where his father and brother were present. The militant who has been identified as Abid Haqani fired at the trio with a silencer fitted pistol, which resulted in their killing while another foreign militant was also part of the act, who has been identified as well,” Singh said. “Both the militants belong to Lashkar-e-Taiba outfit.”

Entire security apparatus is on toes and a massive manhunt has been launched to track down the killers of Waseem and his family members, the DGP Singh said. “The people who are part of the political system and are carrying out political activities doesn’t suit Pakistan and militants. Though a large number of militants who were involved in the killing of civilians and political workers have been killed already, we will get the killers of Waseem very soon,” he said.

“Unfortunately, militants chose the evening time when forces had already withdrawn from the area,” the DGP added.

On whether there was a security lapse, he said Kashmir is a place where militants are keeping a gun with them always and that there may be certain kinds of loopholes, which were there because of “our own limitations.”

“Inspector General of Police and Deputy Inspector General of Police and DIG have already visited the site of the incident. The SSP Bandipora already suspended all 10 PSOs of the slain BJP leader for laxity in their duty. They have been arrested as well,” he said. “As I said, PSOs should not have relaxed and instead stayed with the protected person till he entered inside his room.”

-ARK

PM Modi to inaugurate Rewa Solar Project tomorrow

net metering cap
Representative pic of a solar plant

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Asia’s largest 750 mega-watt (MW) solar power project in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh on July 10.

The Solar Project comprises of three solar units of 250 MW each located on a 500 hectare plot of land situated inside a Solar Park, spread over 1,590 hectares in Rewa district.

Rewa Solar project by the Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Co. Ltd. (RUMSL) was formed in a joint venture of Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam (MPUVNL) and Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI).

For the development of the park, RUMSL has provided central financial assistance of Rs 138 crore. After the Park had been developed, Mahindra Renewables Private Ltd., ACME Jaipur Solar Power Private Ltd, and Arinsun Clean Energy Private Ltd were selected by RUMSL through reverse auction for developing three solar generating units.

The Rewa Solar Project was the first solar project in the country to break the grid parity barrier. The minimum tariff of electricity produced in this project was Rs 2 and 97 paise per unit, which was less than Re 1and a half to two as compared to the tariff of 4 and a half to 5 per unit obtained from other contemporary projects.

Furthermore, the project has been acknowledged in India and abroad for its robust project structuring and innovations. It was selected under the best projects for the Prime Minister’s Award for Innovation at state level and was included in the Prime Minister’s “A Book of Innovation: New Beginnings”.

It is also the first renewable energy project to supply to an institutional customer outside the state, for Delhi Metro, which will get 24 per cent of energy from the project with remaining 76 per cent being supplied to the state DISCOMs of Madhya Pradesh.

However, the Rewa Project has set a national goal to attain the target of 175 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by the year 2022, including 100 GW of Solar installed capacity.

-RJV/CHK

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