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About 800 people didn’t disclose travel history on time: DC Srinagar

(Photo via arrangement)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): The Covid-19 situation in Kashmir would have been different, had the 800 people revealed their travel history on time, the Srinagar Deputy Commissioner said today while appealing people in the Valley to follow lockdown guidelines.

“Let me tell you that some 800 people who had travel history of outside J&K didn’t come forward and instead preferred to hide their travel history. But with our robust contact tracing, all of them have been traced one by one,” he said.

“Had they come forward earlier, perhaps the situation would not have been same we are in today. One positive Covid case can affect up to 100 persons and then there becomes a chain,” said DC Shahid Iqbal Chaudhary, while addressing a press conference here.

He said that the next three to four days are crucial as the government would see in which direction things would go after which a call will be taken whether the situation is “alarming.”

There has been a steep rise in the positive Covid cases in J&K in the past 24 hours. On Wednesday 33 cases were tested positive in J&K of which 30 belonged to Kashmir alone and today, 24 more tested positive, all of them again from Kashmir.

During the meeting, the DC also announced that the lockdown will be intensified across Srinagar from tomorrow (Friday), and the district has been divided into 25 zones. 5000 government officials will be on the ground and cover each zone to address the issues of people in their respective areas, he said. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) was also present.

He said given the fact that Srinagar is a congested city, the administration has declared 14 red zones.  “All the entry points in these areas have been sealed barring a few which are meant to facilitate employees on essential duty and to ensure supply of essentials,” the DC Srinagar said.

The DC urged religious leaders and elders of every locality to persuade people not to venture out and to adhere to the guidelines laid by the government that are aimed at preventing the spread of the pandemic.

He also made an appeal to the government employees who are posted out of Srinagar to stay in the areas where they are posted. He assured the people that there was no shortage of life-saving drugs as 70 per cent district has been covered by the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution department under “ration at door steps program” so far and that the process is still on.

“We have life saving drugs for five to six weeks in Kashmir and almost every alternate day, special aircraft lands in Srinagar with life saving and other drugs,” he said.

The DC said that more than 11,000 non-local labourers who are in Kashmir are being provided with free food.

Speaking on the occasion, SSP Srinagar Dr Haseeb Mughal urged people to cooperate with the policemen who are deployed round the clock on roads and streets of Srinagar just for the safety of people. “This time, it’s not a fight against militancy or that the police force is not dealing with any law and order issue,” he said.

“This lockdown is totally different from the previous ones but people here follow same old habit of coming out of their homes in the evening in large numbers, when deployment is thinned down.”

He also urged people not to hide their travel history. “It’s a social issue and we have to collectively deal with it,” the SSP Srinagar said. He said that even on Shab-e-Baraat eve (on Wednesday night), police had to register four FIRs against those who insisted on praying in the mosques. “This shouldn’t happen,” he said.

Coronavirus cases in Pakistan top 4,400; death toll at 64

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of positive COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 4,437 today after new infections were reported in the country.

The death toll in the country has also reached 64 in the last 24 hours, according to Pak media reports.

Punjab province has registered the maximum number of 2,188 positive cases, followed by Sindh province at 1,128, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa at 560. Gilgit-Baltistan has reported 213, Balochistan 213 and Islamabad 102, according to Geo News.

In addition to this, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has urged the people to understand gravity and seriousness of the Coronavirus situation and show responsibility by adopting the precautionary measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

He further cautioned while addressing a press briefing that every single person out of 100 in Pakistan might be infected due to Covid-19.

PM speaks to S Korean President

File photo

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today had a telephonic conversation with President of South Korea, Moon Jae-in, as both the leaders discussed COVID-19 global pandemic and the challenges it posed to the global health systems and economic situation.

During the conversation, PM Modi warmly recalled his visit to the Republic of Korea last year, and expressed satisfaction at the increasingly close ties between both countries, PMO said in a statement.

The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the technology-based response deployed by the Republic of Korea for managing the crisis, said an official statement.

President Moon Jai-In also appreciated the way Indian authorities have motivated the vast Indian population for fighting the pandemic with unity of purpose, it added.

The Korean President thanked PM Modi for the support being provided by Indian authorities to Korean citizens in India.

Responding to this, the PM expressed appreciation to the ROK government for facilitating supplies and transport of medical equipment being sourced by Indian companies.

The two leaders agreed that their experts would continue to consult each other and share experiences, as they research solutions for COVID-19, the PMO stated.

PM Modi also conveyed his best wishes to President Moon for the forthcoming National Assembly Elections in ROK.

Bangladesh: Rohingya camps under ‘complete lockdown’ amid COVID-19 spread

New Delhi (NVI): Bangladesh has imposed a “complete lockdown” in Cox’s Bazar district — home to over a million Rohingya refugees from neighbouring Myanmar — to halt the spread of coronavirus, according to media reports.

Experts have warned that the disease could spread quickly through the cramped, sewage-soaked alleys where the persecuted Muslim minority are housed in canvas and bamboo shacks.

No cases have been confirmed in the camps but one infection has been recorded.

The total number of positive cases jumped by 112 in the last 24 hours taking the total number of cases to 330 in the country.

Meanwhile, the total number of COVID-19 fatalities reached 21 after another person died due to the novel coronavirus pandemic today, according to the country’s Health Ministry.

J&K: 24 more test positive in Kashmir, tally mounts to 184

Srinagar (NVI): The Covid-19 positive cases continue to show a spurt in J&K as 24 more cases were tested positive for the virus taking the total number of positive cases in the UT to 184.

Today’s figure comes just a day after J&K witnessed 33 cases, the highest single-day rise in the UT.

J&K government spokesperson, Rohit Kansal said that 24 more persons have been tested positive in Kashmir, taking the total toll of positive cases across Valley to 152.

“#COVID19 #JammuAndKashmir 24 more positive in Kashmir. Total 184. 32 in Jammu, 152 in Kashmir. All are contacts. A result of aggressive testing,” Kansal tweeted.

He also informed that 24 who have been tested positive today are all contacts of those found positive already.

Pune company to scale up oxygenator equipment to treat COVID-19 patients

New Delhi (NVI): A Pune-based company is being funded by the Centre to scale up membrane oxygenator equipment (MOE) that it has developed to treat COVID-19 patients, Ministry of Science and Technology said today.

Based on innovative, indigenous hollow-fiber membrane technology, the MOE enriches oxygen in the air up to 35% under pressure (4-7 bar, using oil-free compressor).

With an urgent requirement of respiratory interventions to treat breathlessness, one of the critical symptoms of COVID 19, the equipment can be used to treat patients who have been released from Intensive Care Units (ICU).

The equipment consists of membrane cartridge, oil-free compressor, output flowmeter, humidifier bottle, nasal-cannula, and tubing & fittings.

The compressed, filtered air from the compressor is fed to the membrane cartridge, which selectively permeates oxygen over nitrogen offering oxygen-enriched air as the product at the ambient pressure.

The membrane cartridge capable of distinguishing oxygen and nitrogen restricts the passage of viruses, bacteria, and particulate matter. The product air is of medical grade.

This MOE is being developed by Genrich Membranes, a spin-off company, based on proprietary technology licensed from CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune.

The device is safe, does not require trained manpower for its operation, needs minimum maintenance, is portable, compact, and with plug-and-play facility provides on-site, quick-start oxygen-enriched air.

“Medical grade oxygen-enriched air is needed in a variety of patient care settings including COVID-19 situations where the global experience in about 14 per cent infections require some kind of respiratory support, but only about 4 per cent need ICU based ventilators. The rest of this population, as well as in many other conditions involving  chronic breathing problems, this innovation promises to be of excellent value”, Prof Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, DST said.

The device can also be helpful for patients suffering with chronic breathing problems like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Asthma, Interstitial lung disease (ILD), pre-term babies, snake bite, and so on.

The Ministry has said that the testing and validation of prototype have been demonstrated in a relevant environment. Genrich, the startup that has been supported by DST, is now is planning to join hands with established medical device companies to mass manufacture MOE which can get this device ready, within three months, it added.

Rlys produce about 6 lakh reusable masks, over 40k litres hand sanitiser

New Delhi (NVI): Stepping up its efforts to supplement the health care initiatives of the Government to combat COVID-19 outbreak, the Railways has produced total 5,82,317 number of face masks and 41,882 litres of hand sanitiser till April 7, said an official statement.

Railways is producing these masks and sanitizer in-house in all its Zonal Railways, Production Units and PSUs, the rail ministry said in a statement today.

“Some of the Indian Railway Zones have taken lead in this regard like Western Railway(WR) with 81008 no. of reusable face covers and 2569 litres hand sanitiser, North Central Railway(NCR) with 77995 no. of reusable face covers and 3622 litres hand sanitiser, North Western Railway (NWR) with 51961 no. of reusable face covers and 3027 litres hand sanitiser, Central Railway(CR) with 38904 no. of reusable face covers and 3015 litres hand sanitiser, East Central Railway(ECR) with 33473 no. of reusable face covers and 4100 litres hand sanitiser and West Central Railway(WCR) with 36342 no. of reusable face covers and 3756 litres hand sanitiser,” Ministry of Railways said.

It added that since freight operations are running 24X7 to maintain essentials and goods supplies, operation and maintenance staff are working round the clock.

Apart from this, the Railways has also taken up the in-house production of Personal Productive Equipment (PPE) on a mission mode. The national transporter has said that it will produce 1000 PPE-type overalls for its doctors and paramedics.

Revised version of Swachhata App launched to handle COVID-19 queries

New Delhi (NVI): The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) yesterday announced the launch of a revised version of the existing Swachhata-MoHUA App.

The app which is a highly popular grievance redressal tool for citizens and already has a wide user base of over 1.7 crore urban users, has now been modified and strengthened further in order to enable citizens to get their COVID-related complaints also redressed by their respective ULBs.

This announcement was made by Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary – MoHUA, at a video conference (VC) held with all States, Union Territories (UTs) and cities, on the COVID 19 crisis.

The revised version of the Swachhata App essentially leverages the popularity and huge user base of the app to better support citizens during this COVID pandemic. However, the addition of these new categories has no impact on the existing categories of the App and citizens may continue to post their grievances in either of the categories.

Speaking at the VC, Mishra said, “Under Swachh Bharat Mission- Urban (SBM-U), we are collectively working to ensure the safety and well-being of citizens during the COVID-19 crisis. To provide further support to States, UTs and Cities in this respect, MoHUA has introduced nine additional categories of complaints specific to COVID-19 on the Swachhata-MoHUA App to make it more responsive to the needs of the present times.”

These nine categories are:

Request for Fogging/Sanitation during COVID-19
Violation of Quarantine during COVID-19
Violation of Lockdown during COVID-19
Report Suspected case of COVID-19
Request Food during COVID-19
Request Shelter during COVID-19
Request Medicine during COVID-19
Request assistance for COVID-19 patient Transport
Request Waste Pickup from Quarantine Area

J&K: FIR registered after locals defy Covid lockdown to attend militant’s funeral

Representational Image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Police has registered a case against those who took part in slain Jaish-e-Muhammad commander’s funeral at Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district for violating the Covid-19 guidelines that prohibit assembly of more than four people.

Police has registered an FIR number 70/2020 under section 188 of Indian Penal Code (IPC). Investigations are being done on fast track basis and according to police, many people who uploaded videos and pictures of funeral procession of slain militant, have already been identified.

Sopore police in a statement issued here said that it has started investigations and subsequent identification of those who participated in the funeral of slain Jaish commander at Saidpora area of Sopore in Baramulla district.

A senior police officer, privy to the investigations, told NVI that matter is being investigated on fast track basis. “We have identified some people who had uploaded videos and pictures of Jaish commander’s funeral on social media sites,” he said. “Those who took part in funeral of the militant commander didn’t only violate the Covid-19 guidelines but put hundreds of people to a risk of getting infected to the deadly pandemic.”

A source in the police said that once the identification of the people who participated in the funeral of Jaish commander Sajad Nawab Dar, would be over, those involved in the act will be arrested and action as per law will be initiated against them.

“So far it is an open FIR against all those who participated in Dar’s funeral,” he said. “The body of Dar was handed over to this family against a written assurance that they will maintain social distancing and there would be no crowd at the funeral. Yet, people assembled at the funeral without bothering they may catch Covid-19.”

On Wednesday, security forces had laid a siege in Arampora area of Sopore in Baramulla district after acting on a specific lead about the presence of militants in a residential house. The contact with the militant was made in the wee hours (yesterday) and in the exchange of fire, a Jaish commander Sajad Nawab Dar, who according to police was active since 2018 in the north Kashmir belt and was involved in luring youth into militancy, was killed. Dar’s funeral was attended by hundreds of people amid slogans as evident in the pictures making rounds on Facebook and Twitter.

After the killing of a young militant commander Burhan Wani in July 2016, attending militant funeral was a new craze in Kashmir that had forced the security grid to formulate a strategy to ensure no mass gatherings take place on the slain militants’ funeral. To a great extent, security forces succeeded over the past three years, but the funeral of Jaish commander has once again pushed the security grid of Kashmir into a huddle to ‘carve a joint strategy’ to ensure that no major gathering or a massive funeral process takes place if a local militant is killed.

Gurdwara attack: US concerned over safety of Sikhs in Afghanistan

The terror attack on a Sikh shrine in Kabul left 25 dead and 8 injured. (Photo Credit: Twitter @TOLOnews)

New Delhi (NVI): Two weeks after a Sikh shrine was attacked by terrorists in Kabul, the US has voiced concern over the safety of the minority community in the country and asked Afghans to come together to ensure their security.

Terrorists stormed a Sikh Dharamshala in Kabul on March 25, firing at the devotees gathered there and killing 25 people and injuring eight others.

“I remain deeply concerned about the safety of the Sikh community in #Afghanistan. Afghan Sikhs have long been an integral part of the multicultural tapestry of Afghanistan, and Afghans must come together now to ensure the security of religious minorities,” Alice Wells, US State Department’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, tweeted.

 The ISIS Khurasan had earlier issued a statement, claiming responsibility for the attack. It said the attack was carried out by Abu Khalid al-Hindi, implying an Indian national.

The Indian national, who carried out the terror attack, was later identified as Mohammad Muhsin of Kerala.

The real name of the Indian attacker of the Sikh temple in Kabul city was Mohammad Muhsin, Khaama Press News Agency had reported, quoting unnamed officials of the Intelligence Bureau.

“Originally hailing from Kerala of India, Muhsin left for Afghanistan in 2018 to join the offshoot of the Islamic State terror group or the ISIS Khurasan,” it said.

The report said Muhsin’s mother had confirmed that she received a message that her son was killed during the attack on Sikh temple in Kabul.

According to Indian investigators, 21-year-old Muhsin had worked in worked in Dubai for some time before going to Afghanistan to join the ISIS.

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