Twenty travellers were among 77 fresh covid-19 cases reported in Jammu and Kashmir even as two persons succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours, officials said on Tuesday.
Among the fresh cases, 18 were from Jammu Division and 60 from Kashmir Valley, taking the total case tally to 127191, they said.
One each victims belonged to from Jammu and from Kashmir Valley respectively, they said. The deaths took the total count to 1965—729 in Jammu and 1236 in Kashmir.
Moreover, they said, 87 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and were discharged from various hospitals—18 from Jammu Division and 69 from Kashmir Valley. There are 859 active cases—175 in Jammu and 684 in Kashmir. 124367 persons have recovered, 51226 in Jammu and 73141 in Kashmir. (GNS)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat tendered his resignation on Tuesday. The move comes just hours after sources close to the BJP said that the party was contemplating to bring about a change in leadership in Uttarakhand. State cabinet minister Dhan Singh Rawat is likely to be the next CM, sources said.
Apart from Dhan Singh Rawat, Ajya Bhatt and Anil Baluni, two other senior BJP leaders in the state are also frontrunners for the CM’s post. Furthermore, sources said the BJP may also create a post of deputy chief minister adding that someone who represents Kumaon region maybe chosen for the role.
According to many political spectators, Pushkar Singh Dhami is likely to be the deputy chief minister.
The move comes after the central BJP leadership recently sent two observers, party vice president Raman Singh and general secretary Dushayant Kumar Gautam, to Uttarakhand to get feedback from the party’s core group in the state amid reports of discontent against the chief minister.
Amid protests by newly elected members of district development councils in Jammu and Kashmir, Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone on Tuesday said that bureaucrats will never facilitate democracy and they will see any elected member as threat to them.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Sajad Lone tweeted s that the protocol and powers given to the newly elected DDCs was a disappointment and humiliation for them.
“DDC protocol powers disappointment – humiliation. Problem is the new stakeholder created by the union Govt post August 5- BUREAUCRAT Ever powerful. He/she will never facilitate democracy. will c anybody elected by people as a threat. This is simple analysis. And no rocket science,” tweeted.
Earlier, all the members of district development councils in Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory staged protests against the government’s orders about their honorarium and protocol at Jammu where they all had gathered to attend a training programme organized by the Rural Development Department—(KNO)
A soldier reportedly shot himself dead in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
An official told KNT that investigation has been set into motion to ascertain the cause of death. “It is to be seen whether it was an accidental fire or the soldier shot himself dead,” the official said.
The soldier was affiliated with 6 Rashtriya Rifles of Kachal Battalion and has been identified as Trived Prakash.
Sources said army in this regard lodged a written report at police station Keran stating that rifleman Trived Prakash was resting in his living accommodation at Post No.15 after completing his duty for the day.
“Post Commander heard a gun-shot and rushed to the spot and found Trived Prakash (gunner) with gunshot wound of AK-47 rifle. Thereafter the regimental medical officer reached the place of incident, and during examination the individual was declared dead.”
The dead body of deceased will be dispatched by chopper for post-mortem. A formal case in this regard has been registered and investigation taken up. (KNT)
Upper reaches of Kashmir Valley including Gulmarg received fresh snowfall while rains lashed plains, officials said on Tuesday.
A meteorological department official told GNS that Gulmarg, the world famous skiing resort, received 37 centimetres fresh snowfall in last 24 hours till 0830 hours. In past 48 hours, the tourist destination in north Kashmir received 50cm (1.65ft) of snow and recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.2°C against minus 3.5°C on the previous night, the official said.
Srinagar, the official said, received 14.9mm of rain during 24 hours even as it recorded a low of 5.2°C against 5.8°C on the previous night. The temperature was 1.9°C above normal for this time of the year in this summer capital, the official said. Qazigund recorded a low of 2.8°C against 4.8°C on the previous night and received 33.2mm of rain during the time.
The mercury settled at 2.1°C against minus 1.4°C on the earlier night at Pahalgam while the famous resort received 6.9mm rain.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of 1.1°C against 3.9°C on the previous night while it received 19.7mm of rain.
The minimum temperature settled at 3.7°C in Kupwara against 3.9°C on the previous night while the north Kashmir district received 2.4mm rain, the official said.
Leh received 2 centimetres of snow while it recorded a low of minus 4.3°C, the official nsaid.
The MeT has predicted improvement in the weather for now. For March 11 and 12, the weatherman has issued a “yellow warning” for “isolated rain, thundershowers with lightning, hail and gusty winds” in Kashmir as well as Jammu divisions.
There are four types colour codes signifying the level of caution: green which means no action, yellow—situation to be watched), amber –government agencies need to be prepared for severe weather and red –action needed by the agencies. (GNS)
Authorities closed Tehsil office Drugmulla Kupwara for two days after one of the employees working there tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Tuesday.
The authorities have shifted the working in a nearby ‘Niayabat (Lower part of tehsil), some half a kilometre from the main Tehsil office, so as to ensure that people do not suffer. “We have decided to close down the office for two days so that spraying etc is done.
In the meantime, we have started the work from Nayabat so that working is not affected and the people don’t suffer,” Tehsildar concerned told GNS. He said that the 37-year-old employee who tested positive has been hospitalized. (GNS)
The weatherman on Tuesday forecast erratic weather as intermittent rain with thunderstorm in plains and snow over higher reaches in Kashmir Valley is expected till March 15.
“Weather is going to remain erratic till March 15. Expect intermittent rain with thunderstorm and snow over higher reaches mainly during March 11-13th,” said Sonam Lotus, Director Meteorological department of J&K and Ladakh.
He said that the weather may affect Banihal-Ramban, Zojila Highways due to Landslide, snow slides etc. “Farmers are advised to avoid spraying of orchards n other farm operations till 15th March,” he said. For March 11 and 12, the weatherman has also issued a “yellow warning” for “isolated heavy rain/snow, thundershowers with lightning, hail and gusty winds” in Kashmir as well as Jammu divisions.
There are four types colour codes signifying the level of caution: green which means no action, yellow—situation to be watched), amber –government agencies need to be prepared for severe weather and red –action needed by the agencies.
Earlier upper reaches of the Valley including Gulmarg received fresh snowfall while rains lashed plains.
A meteorological department official told GNS that Gulmarg, the world famous skiing resort, received 37 centimetres fresh snowfall in last 24 hours till 0830 hours. In past 48 hours, the tourist destination in north Kashmir received 50cm (1.65ft) of snow and recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.2°C against minus 3.5°C on the previous night, the official said.
Srinagar, the official said, received 14.9mm of rain during 24 hours even as it recorded a low of 5.2°C against 5.8°C on the previous night. The temperature was 1.9°C above normal for this time of the year in this summer capital, the official said. Qazigund recorded a low of 2.8°C against 4.8°C on the previous night and received 33.2mm of rain during the time.
The mercury settled at 2.1°C against minus 1.4°C on the earlier night at Pahalgam while the famous resort received 6.9mm rain.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of 1.1°C against 3.9°C on the previous night while it received 19.7mm of rain.
The minimum temperature settled at 3.7°C in Kupwara against 3.9°C on the previous night while the north Kashmir district received 2.4mm rain, the official said.Leh received 2 centimetres of snow while it recorded a low of minus 4.3°C, the official said. (GNS)
BJP, NC, PDP, Congress, PC members protest against govt at venue of training programme
Picture courtesy KNS
SNS KASHMIR
JAMMU, MARCH 09 :
Cutting across the party lines, members of district development councils in Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory on Tuesday staged protests against the government’s orders about their honorarium and protocol at Jammu where they all had gathered to attend a training programme organized by the Rural Development Department.
All elected DDC members from BJP, NC, PDP, Congress, PC and other parties staged protests outside the convention centre over their honorarium and protocol, saying it was humiliation to them. They are refusing to attend the training programme.
“This is our insult and humiliation,” Shabir Ahmad Lone, DDC member from Rohama Rafiabad said.
He said that they will en-masse resign if government will not revoke the orders. Muzaffar Ahmad Dar, DDC member from Tujjar Sharief said that all the DDC members have gathered outside the Jammu convention Centre to protest against the government’s orders about their protocol and honorarium.
“We were told that DDC members will be given powers at par with the MLAs, but the bureaucrats don’t want it to happen. They have issued orders without consulting us,” he said. The protests were going on when this report was last filed.
Meanwhile, officials are trying to pacify the protesting DDC members.(KNO)
An empty bus plunged into Chenab river near Pul Doda in Doda district on Tuesday morning, officials said here.
Officials told the news agency—KNO, that the bus plying on Assar-Kishtwar road skidded off road and fell into deep gorge and got submerged in the Chenab river.
“So far we have information that one only driver was present in the bus who also jumped out of vehicle and is safe,” they said, adding that an operation is going on in the area to ensure that no more passenger was present in the vehicle.
SSP Traffic JS Johar said that no passenger was present in the vehicle and driver too jumped out of the vehicle—KNO
A day after the BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir unit adopted a resolution to form the next government in the Union Territory, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Monday pooh-poohed the resolve and said “I will see how it is going to happen”.
He also criticised the BJP for allegedly dubbing him and other leaders as “Pakistani” during election time and urged the people to stay away from the “politics of religion and hatred”.
“They (BJP) are making noises that we are coming (to power). They will never come,” the former chief minister said addressing a function to mark the International Women’s Day at the NC headquarters here.
At a two-day working committee meeting at Katra in Reasi district, the BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir unit adopted a resolution on Sunday to form the next government in the union territory of its own whenever the Assembly elections are held.
They say we will form the (next) government. I will see how it is going to happen. Will they come from the sky? We are standing in their way and how you will remove us. The National Conference has a history of sacrifice and lives in the hearts of the people,” Abdullah said.
Without identifying anyone but apparently referring to the BJP, he said “they are creating hatred” among the people to win the elections.
“When the elections come, we are dubbed as Pakistanis despite the fact that we have spent ourselves to keep the Indian flag high and thousands of our workers and leaders have sacrificed their lives. However, when the elections are over, we become Indians…I am surprised,” he said.
Advising the party workers to keep away from the politics of hatred and religion, he said all religions are equal and no religion is bad.
“It is a man who is bad and not the religion. Had we known our religion in real sense, we would not criticise any other religion…We have to teach our children the right knowledge of the religion,” he said.
He asked the National Conference (NC) workers to identify and reach out to the women who have the urge to serve the society as “we have to think how we can build our future and make J&K a prosperous state.”
“You have to speak to the people and educate them about the false propaganda. Tomorrow they will come chanting ‘Har Har Mahadev’ and you line up and vote for them without taking into consideration what they have been doing.
“We forewarned you about the happenings but nobody paid any heed at that time. This is just a beginning, you will see what is going to happen next…the farmers are on the roads, prices have skyrocketed, unemployment is on the rise. they have ruined everything,” he said.
Abdullah asked District Development Council (DDC) members, especially women, to work with the administration for the benefit of all.
“You have been voted by people, both men and women. You have to work for all including those who have voted against you,” he said. (PTI)
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