JAMMU, Sep 23: Dry weather conditions will prevail in Jammu and Kashmir for the next 24 hours, the Meteorological (MeT) office said on Friday.
“Dry weather is likely to continue in J&K during the next 24 hours,”, an official of the MeT department said.
Jammu had 22.6, Katra 21, Batote 15.7, Banihal 15 and Bhaderwah 14.4 as the minimum temperature.
Srinagar had 13.7, Pahalgam 9.6 and Gulmarg 8.6 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature.
In the Ladakh region, Drass town had 2.9, Kargil 7.6 and Leh 5 as the minimum temperature.(AGENCIES)
Dry weather likely to continue in J&K during next 24 hours: MeT
Active Covid cases in country decline to 45,281
New Delhi, Sep 23: With 5,383 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, India’s total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 4,45,58,425, while the active cases declined to 45,281, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.
The death toll climbed to 5,28,449 with 20 fatalities which includes eight deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.
The active cases comprise 0.10 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate increased to 98.71 per cent, the ministry said.
A decline of 1,061 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.
The daily positivity rate was recorded at 1.68 per cent while weekly positivity rate was recorded at 1.70 per cent, according to the ministry.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,39,84,695, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent.
According to the ministry, 217.26 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.
India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.
The country crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23 last year. It crossed the four-crore mark on January 25 this year.
The 12 fatalities reported in the last 24 hours include three from Maharashtra and one each from Chhattisgarh, Goa and Gujarat.(Agencies)
People’s Hut organized “Free Medical and Dental Camp in Collaboration with Dept of Ayush and BJP – Janipur Mandal, Jammu West
People’s Hut Foundation conducted a Free Medical Check-up Camp for the local residents of Janipur Colony, New Plot, Paloura and adjoining areas. In the camp a team of 4 Doctors under the able guidance and supervision of Dr. Suresh Sharma District Ayush Officer along with other paramedical staff delivered their services under the banner of Health and Medical Education Department. More than 400 people from nearby areas availed the benefits. Patients underwent Free Diagnostic Check Up and health check-up by the team of specialist doctors and were given consultation and medicines free of Cost.
The beneficiaries received the medicines including Multivitamin, Vitamin B Complex, protein, Iron and Calcium tablets etc. Medicines on cold and cough, pain relief ointment were also distributed to the needy people free of cost.
Organizer of the camp Dr. Rohit Koul who is the Director and CEO of People’s Hut Foundation said, “Such kind of medical health check-up camps for needy citizens will be organized periodically at various locations in Jammu and neighbouring districts.
Speaking on these important initiatives The camp incharge Mr. Surinder Sharma who is a Senior BJP Leader and Corporator Pamposh Colony Janipur said, “ We will keep collaborating with the registered National NGOs like People’s Hut Foundation who are committed to undertake a number of social activities in the larger interest of the community.
Chief Guest of the Camp was Sh. Omi Khajuria President – JKUT Kisan Morcha and said Inaccessibility of the good healthcare due to the strenuous walks up and down makes it impossible for the people living in the remote villages to avail healthcare services and these medical camps are providing accessibility to a better healthcare.
Guest of Honour Mr. Vishnu Dutt Sharma, (Prabhari Kisan Morcha) added, Healthcare nowadays is not affordable by everyone living in the society and underprivileged people are deprived of this basic and access to good healthcare is a basic right of every individual and these initiatives’ are the real efforts towards serving mankind.
Special Guests were and Sh. MK Koul, Advisor to People’s Hut Foundation and S. Amardeep Singh Chairman – Vinayak Institute of Nursing and Paramedical Sciences.
Govt bans import of bovines into J&K, inter-district movement in view of Lumpy Skin Disease outbreak
Jammu, Sept 22: The Jammu and Kashmir government Thursday imposed complete ban on import of bovines from neighboring states and inter-district movement of bovines within the UT for any purpose, till 25th of October, 2022 due to the Lumpy Skin Disease outbreak.
The decision has been taken as a measure of abundant precaution and in view of declaration of whole UT of J&K as “Controlled Area” for Lumpy Skin Disease vide S.0 424, dated 05.09.2022 and in exercise of powers conferred under Section 10 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases Act, 2009, news agency GNS quoted an order saying.
The order further said that the decision will be reviewed on the basis of evolving situation.
SC reserves order on petitions challenging Karnataka HC upholding ban on Hijab in educational institutes
The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its order on various petitions challenging Karnataka High Court upholding a ban on Hijab in educational institutes.
A bench of justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia reserved its judgment after the parties appearing from both sides concluded their arguments.
The arguments in the matter that continued for 10 days, involved 21 lawyers from the petitioner’s side and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, Karnataka Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi argued for the respondents.
The court was hearing several pleas against the Karnataka HC’s judgment upholding the state government’s decision to direct educational institutes to prescribe uniforms in educational institutes.
Addressing the court, Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave, in his rejoinder submission said that the Karnataka Government Circular which enforced a dress code has no reference to the Popular Front of India. Senior Advocate Dave was representing the petitioner.
Countering the submission of the respondent, the petitioner’s lawyer Senior Advocate Salman Khurshid said that the respondent’s arguments mentioned the examples of France and Turkey. Khurshid further said that anything that expresses religious belief is not allowed to be displayed in public including a cross.
Various petitioners have approached the apex court challenging the Karnataka HC order upholding the Karnataka government’s order which directs strict enforcement of schools and colleges’ uniform rules.
One of the appeals in the top court had alleged “step-motherly behaviour of the government authorities which has prevented students from practising their faith and resulted in an unwanted law and order situation”.
The appeal said the High Court in its impugned order “had vehemently failed to apply its mind and was unable to understand the gravity of the situation as well as the core aspect of the Essential Religious Practices enshrined under Article 25 of the Constitution of India”.
A bench of Karnataka High Court comprising Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna S Dixit, and Justice JM Khazi had earlier held that the prescription of the uniform is a reasonable restriction that students could not object to and dismissed various petitions challenging a ban on Hijab in education institutions saying that they are without merit.
The Hijab row erupted in January this year when the Government PU College in Udupi allegedly barred six girls wearing the hijab from entering. Following this, the girls sat in protest outside the college after they were denied entry.
After this, boys of several colleges in Udupi started attending classes wearing saffron scarves. This protest spread to other parts of the state as well leading to massive agitations in several places of Karnataka.
As a result, the Karnataka government said that all students must adhere to the uniform and banned both hijab and saffron scarves till an expert committee decided on the issue.
On February 5, the Pre-University education board released a circular stating that the students could only wear the uniform approved by the school administration and that no other religious attire would be allowed in colleges.
Jammu-Kashmir highway to remain shut for 4 hours daily till September 27 for undertaking repairs
Ramban/Jammu, September 22
The Jammu-Srinagar national highway will remain closed for traffic for four hours daily till September 27 to undertake repairs in various landslide-prone areas, officials said.
Traffic would be halted from 3 am to 7 am during the repair work, according to the direction issued by Chief Secretary AK Mehta.
To carry out urgent repairs on shooting stones prone NH-44 stretch by NHAI, including Cafeteria Morh-Mehad, the chief secretary called for a four-hour halt of traffic for a period of five days from Friday, they said.
Mehta asked officers to ensure smooth movement of fruit-laden trucks on the highway.
He also asked officers to complete the double laning of stretches between Banihal and Ramban and its subsequent black topping within a period of 10 days.
The chief secretary underlined the need for creating minimum obstacles for the movement of traffic during the five days and asked officials to halt traffic only during the night when traffic is lean and minimum.
He asked officials to look for different scientific methods like use of GPS technology and others for better management of traffic and procure road safety gear.
Three-day, 300-km cycling event flagged off in J&K
Srinagar, Sep 22: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta on Thursday flagged off the Kashmir Cyclothon, which will cover eight mostly unexplored destinations in the Valley over three days.
About 60 cyclists from across India and Nepal are taking part in the cyclothon, which was flagged off from Royal Springs Golf Club here.
Mehta told reporters, “The purpose of the cyclothon is for people to explore Kashmir in a better way. They will also carry the message of ‘nasha-mukt abhiyan’ (drugs-free campaign),” Mehta told reporters.
He said 60 cyclists — some over 60 years of age — from across the country and even Nepal, were taking part in the event.
It is a very good activity, very refreshing. The cyclists have come from all over the country and even Nepal. It is good to see people over 60 (years) participating,” he said.
Mehta added that the participants would cover the 300-km distance over three days.
Tourism Secretary Sarmad Hafeez said Kashmir was one of the finest destinations for cycling and mountain biking.
We have beautiful destinations, with untapped potential. We have identified many new places so that tourists reach there and people benefit,” he said.
Hafeez said the cyclists would travel through Verinag, Kokernag, Daksum, Vasaknag, Dubjan, Aharbal, Shikargah, and Srinagar for the event.
The cyclists described the event as an opportunity to explore Kashmir.
This event gives us a chance to explore the areas which we usually do not hear about. I am very thankful to the tourism department for organising this cyclothon and inviting us,” said Ritu from Jammu.
Suchanda, who has travelled from Delhi for the event, said cycling was the best way to explore the Valley.
This is a wonderful opportunity for us to explore unexplored destinations. I am sure this will be a great experience,” she said. (AGENCIES)
Gold jumps Rs 442; silver climbs Rs 558
New Delhi, Sep 22: Gold price in the national capital rose by Rs 442 to Rs 50,399 per 10 grams on Thursday amid a rise in international precious metal prices and sharp rupee depreciation, according to HDFC Securities.
In the previous trade, the yellow metal had closed at Rs 49,957 per 10 grams.
Silver also climbed by Rs 558 to Rs 58,580 per kilogram from Rs 58,022 per kg in the previous trade.
The rupee depreciated 51 paise to an all-time low of 80.47 against the US dollar in early trade on Thursday after the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate hike and its hawkish stance weighed on investor sentiments.
In the international market, gold was trading higher at USD 1,677 per ounce, while silver was flat at USD 19.69 per ounce.
Gold prices recovered sharply paring early loses as dollar index fell from 20 year highs during the day,” said Tapan Patel, Senior Analyst (Commodities) at HDFC Securities. (Agencies)
77% students opting for IGNOU are from Jammu villages
Jammu, Sep 22: The Indira Gandhi National Open University Regional Center in Jammu is playing an important role in imparting education to remote villages from Jammu.
Those who do not have the finances to pursue formal education or who do not get regular admission in degree colleges are taking admission in IGNOU to make their dream of higher education come true.
IGNOU Regional Director in-charge Jammu Dr. Sandeep said, “Due to strict implementation of quality education, curriculum and schedule, we have been able to win the credibility and trust of the students. In the year 2021-22, 77 per cent of students enrolled in IGNOU Jammu under various programmes are from the rural areas, which clearly shows that IGNOU is gaining popularity in the remote and inaccessible areas of the region.
According to Dr. Sandeep, IGNOU has exceeded the expectations of the weaker sections of the society in the last few years in providing quality education across the country. Students belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are also exempted from admission fees for many programmes.
The university has made the study material of various programmes available digitally and students who want to take digital material instead of hard copy are also given a 15 per cent discount on the programme fee.
Land passbooks will be issued in 3 languages by end of this month: CS
Srinagar, Sep 22: Chief Secretary, Arun Kumar Mehta on Thursday said that by the end of September all landowners will get digital land passbooks in the Union Territory.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function here, Kumar said that the land passbooks will be issued in three different languages including Hindi, English and Kashmiri.
He said that this will be for the first time that land passbooks will be issued in local language, which people can understand. “This has never happened before.”
He also said that the aim of organising sports events in Jammu and Kashmir’s is also to keep youth away from drugs, which has become a challenge for society.
“Those who are victims of drugs need our help, they need society’s help. Government is doing its best to keep youth away from drugs and one such effort is that we are organising sports events to keep them engaged in good and healthy activities,” he added