Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Home Blog Page 1378

Tulips in Kashmir to fade without visitors this season as Covid plays spoilsport

Famous Tulip Garden in Srinagar to Close for Public from April 16
A view of the famous Tulip Garden in Kashmir.

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): The COVID-19 pandemic has cast a shadow on Asia’s largest Tulip garden located in the foothills of Zabarwan mountain range this season, overlooking the famous Dal Lake in Srinagar, with 13 lakh Tulips set to wither without any visitor.

The famous Tulip garden in Kashmir was set to open in the first week of April this year, with various varieties of 13 lakh Tulips and a waterfall theme in the background to greet visitors. But the coronavirus outbreak ruined all plans as the garden has been closed for the visitors by the Department of Floriculture, in the wake of the deadly pandemic.

“The garden is closed for one and all,” Tulip garden in-charge Sheikh Altaf told NVI. “Covid-19 has cast its shadow on Tulip garden too besides targeting humans across the world. We had thought that this year, at least three lakh visitors would visit the garden,” Altaf said adding that they had plans to keep the garden open for 45 days this season.

This year, Altaf added, 13 lakh Tulips were in full bloom to greet visitors. The Floriculture department had also introduced the “Cherry garden theme” this time, taking inspiration from Japan, while different varieties of flowers were also kept on display at the entry and exit points to attract visitors.

He said that there was a water channel at the backyard of the garden as well, to add to the overall charm, but “all in vain because of Covid-19 pandemic.”

Last year, 2.58 lakh visitors, including foreign and domestic tourists visited the garden. “This year, we were hopeful that three lakh visitors including locals would visit the garden,” he said.

“We had also kept different species of flowers in the garden different from the Tulips as part of the added attraction,” he said.

Sources in the Floriculture department, that oversees Tulip garden, said that the closure of garden has resulted in Rs 1,000 Crore losses to the tourism and allied sectors. “Tulip garden alone would earn Rs 1 Crore for a period of 45 days,” they said. With the Tulip garden, there were many sectors associated which include Shikara wallas (boatmen), hoteliers, houseboat owners, tour operators, cab drivers, tea and coffee and barbecue sellers, etc. “So estimated loss is Rs 1000 Crore,” he said.

Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also lamented, while taking to Twitter: “We can’t see you this season. Hope next year will be a bumper bloom and bumper tourism season.”

The closure of garden due to the pandemic has also left many tourists, who had booked tickets in advance to see Tulip bloom, disappointed. Ankita Sharma from Mumbai had planned to visit Kashmir on April 5 this year with the sole aim of visiting Tulip garden. “I am really disappointed. The Covid has really played a spoilsport. It has put human lives at a risk we have never seen before. Let’s hope to see the garden next year,” she said.

Pak violates ceasefire along LoC in Poonch

July 18 Shopian encounter: Army completes summary of evidence
An encounter site in Kashmir (File Pic)

Jammu (NVI): In yet another ceasefire violation along the Line of Control, Pakistan today initiated firing with small arms and intense mortar shelling in Qasba and Kirni sectors in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Army officials said that Pakistan resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation along the LoC at around 1340 hours and the Indian troops were retaliating befittingly.

“On 12 Apr 2020 at about 1340 hours, Pak initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms & intense shelling with Mortars along LoC in Qasba & Kirni sectors, District Poonch (J&K). Indian Army retaliating befittingly,” an army official said.

Pakistan intensified the shelling later around 1845 hours and targetted civilian areas in Balakote & Mendhar sectors Poonch, Army official said.

“Today, this is third ceasefire violation by Pak targetting innocent civilians. Indian Army is retaliating befittingly,” said an Army official.

Pakistan shelled the civillian areas along LoC in the Balakot sector last night as well, prompting a befitting reply from the Indian Army.

Earlier on Friday also, Pakistani troops had resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation in the Keran sector of Kupwara district, drawing a strong retaliation by the Indian Army which targeted gun areas, militant launchpads and ammunition dumps on the other side of the LoC.

The Friday action took place just a few days after a deadly encounter in the same area in north Kashmir, where five militants were terminated by the Indian Army while trying to sneak in this side of the LoC.

In the big anti-infiltration operation which lasted five days, the Army lost five soldiers of Special Forces squad.

(More details awaited)

Indian medical team in Kuwait to combat COVID-19

New Delhi (NVI): India has sent a team of 15 doctors and health-care professionals to Kuwait to help them in the collective fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

The medical team is expected to stay in Kuwait for a period of two weeks during which it will render medical assistance in testing and treatment of the afflicted persons and training their personnel, the MEA has said in a statement.

“The rapid response team has been deputed at the request of the government of the State of Kuwait,” the Foreign Ministry has said.

Yesterday, a C-130 aircraft of the Indian Air Force, carrying an Indian “corona warriors” team of medical personnel with medical equipment landed in Kuwait, the Ministry of Defence said.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also tweeted after the rapid response team landed in Kuwait.

“India’s RAPID RESPONSE TEAM arrives in Kuwait. Follow up to the discussion between our two Prime Ministers on #COVID19. Underlines the special friendship between India and Kuwait,” he said.

The deputation of Indian medical experts comes after a recent telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Kuwaiti PM Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Both the leaders agreed for a concerted and coordinated effort against the global pandemic during their interaction.

Following the talks between the two heads of states, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Kuwaiti counterpart held a telephone conversation to discuss the prevailing situation in Kuwait and explore ways to further strengthen cooperation during these challenging times, the MEA said.

India and Kuwait share a strong partnership based on historical, cultural, economic and people-to-people-contacts. Indians constitute the largest group of expatriates with an estimated population of about ten lakhs in the State of Kuwait, the MEA statement read.

India is reaching out to Kuwait in the extended neighbourhood to further complement its efforts to fight the menace effectively, it added.

Pakistan reports 86 coronavirus deaths, total cases over 5,000

Representational Image

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan has reached 5,038, while 86 people have died of the disease so far. 1,026 COVID-19 patients have recovered from the virus in the country, according to the Dawn.

Nearly half of the total confirmed cases are from Punjab province alone, at 2,425. The Pak Ministry of National Health Services has said that 254 new infections have been reported.

Looking at the breakdown of cases, the Sindh province has reported 1,318 cases while Balochistan has 228 cases so far. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province has 607 cases, Islamabad 119, Gilgit Baltistan 216 and 35 in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Pakistan is currently under lockdown amid the pandemic, with its troops deployed across the country to enforce social distancing and help civil authorities in carrying out their operations.

Meanwhile, Pak Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar has disclosed to media that the government has been losing one-third of its revenue and exports had already dropped by 50pc due to COVID-19. He said that now the Pakistan government would decide tomorrow whether to extend the lockdown or ease restrictions after April 15.

COVID-19: Hydroxychloroquine consignment from India reaches US

New Delhi (NVI): Days after India lifted a ban on the export of Hydroxychloroquine drug to the US and some other countries, a consignment of the anti-malarial drug has arrived at Newark in New Jersey.

Indian Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu said in a tweet: “Supporting our partners in the fight against #Covid19. Consignment of hydroxichloroquine from India arrived at Newark airport today.”

India is the largest exporter of the HCQ drug, seen as helpful in the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

The development comes days after US President Donald Trump had requested India for the anti-malarial drug, in the wake of a large number of Covid-19 deaths in the country.

On the request from the US, India cleared the export of 35.82 lakh tablets of hydroxychloroquine to the US along with nine metric tons of active pharmaceutical ingredient or API required in the manufacturing of the drug.

The US President had on Wednesday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his strong leadership, in response to the Indian government’s decision to ease restrictions on the export of hydroxychloroquine.

The next day, PM Modi had also responded to the US President for his gratitude, saying “times like these bring friends closer”.

With over 20,000 deaths now, the United States has surpassed Italy in the highest coronavirus death toll.

Yesterday, the US recorded the highest number of COVID-19 deaths in a single day with more than 2,000 fatalities.

US reports over 20,000 Covid fatalities, overtakes Italy for highest death toll

New Delhi (NVI): The coronavirus death toll in the US has reached 20, 597, exceeding that of Italy which recorded the highest fatalities, according to John Hopkins University reports.

The total number of infections in the US has also climbed to 527,111, with over 31,917 recoveries.

Apart from that, the US also became the first country yesterday to record over 2,000 coronavirus deaths in 24 hours, reports in foreign media said.

Meanwhile, the global death toll has passed 1,00,000 mark with 1,07,000 fatalities as the total number of cases has surpassed 1.7 million.

Covid-19 death toll in India climbs to 273, total 8356 cases

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India reached 273 today as the overall Covid-19 tally climbed to 8,356, amid indications that the nationwide lockdown could be extended beyond April 14.

According to the latest data available with the Union Home Ministry, there are 7,367 active cases and 715 cured/discharged so far. 909 new cases have been reported in the last 24 hours, with 34 fresh deaths.

Maharashtra remains the worst affected state with 1761 cases, followed by Delhi (1069), Tamil Nadu (969), Rajasthan (700)and Telangana (504).

WATCH | India retaliating after Pakistan shells civilian areas near LoC in J&K

Srinagar (NVI) : Pakistan tonight resorted to heavy shelling on civillian areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Balakot sector of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting a befitting reply by the Indian Army.

Pak shells forward areas along LoC in J&K’s Poonch

Ceasefire
Representational image

Srinagar (NVI): Pakistan tonight resorted to heavy shelling on civillian areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Balakot sector of Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, prompting a befitting reply by the Indian Army.

A woman was injured in the unprovoked intense mortar shelling that began at around 9.30 pm in Poonch district, officials said. The Indian Army is retaliating befittingly, officials said as the cross-LoC shelling continued.

 

Earlier, yesterday Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire in Keran sector of Kupwara in Kashmir, drawing strong retaliation from the Indian Army which carried out precision targetting of gun areas, terrorist launch pads and ammunition dump across the Line of Control (LoC).

Only a few days back, Indian Army foiled a major infiltration attempt in Keran sector, killing 5 terrorists while losing 5 of its commandos in the 5-day operation.

Coronavirus cases in India rise to 7,529; death toll at 242

New Delhi (NVI): The death toll due to coronavirus in India rose to 242 while the total number of positive increased to 7,529, the Union Health Ministry said this morning.

In the last 24 hours, 1,117 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the country, making it the highest single day rise.

Three states, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Delhi’s coronavirus figures taken together, account for more than 45 per cent of the total COVID-19 cases across the country.

Meanwhile, Punjab, Odisha and Maharashtra governments have extended the ongoing lockdown till April 30, as the coronavirus cases spike in these states.

Furthermore, in a video conference held today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with Chief Ministers of all the states in order to take suggestion to curb the spread and also to discuss the issues of their respective states.

The Centre said that it is considering the extension of lockdown, after CMs of many states have suggested it as the best way to contain the contagion including Arvind Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee.

1...1,3771,3781,379...1,651Page 1,378 of 1,651

MUST READ