New Delhi, Dec 27: India recorded a single-day rise of 157 new COVID-19 cases, while the count of active cases of the disease has marginally decreased to 3,421, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday.
The tally of Covid cases in the country has now gone up to 4.46 crore (4,46,77,459).
The death toll due to the disease stands at 5,30,696 with one fatality being reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am showed.
The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.32 per cent, while the weekly positivity was pegged at 0.18 per cent, the health ministry said.
It said 49,464 tests for detection of COVID-19 were conducted in the last 24 hours.
Active cases now comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has increased to 98.80 per cent, according to the ministry.
A decrease of seven cases was recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has surged to 4,41,43,342 while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent.
According to the ministry’s website, 220.06 crore doses of vaccines have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 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, 50 lakh on September 16, 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and the one-crore mark on December 19, 2020.
The country crossed the grim milestones of two crore cases on May 4, 2021, three crore on June 23, 2021 and four crore on January 25 this year. (Agencies)
India Logs 157 New Covid Infections, Active Cases Tally At 3,421
At 2.5 degrees, Jammu records season’s coldest night so far
Jammu, Dec 27: At 2.5 degrees Celsius, Jammu recorded the coldest night of the season so far on the intervening night of Monday-Tuesday as intense cold wave continued to sweep Kashmir Valley and Ladakh.
Dense fog affected visibility in Jammu in the morning leading to subdued surface transport and delayed air transport.
MeT office forecast on Tuesday that dry weather with isolated snow at higher reaches is likely during next 24 hours.
“Mainly dry and cold weather likely in J&K during next 24 hours with isolated snow on higher reaches”, an official of the MeT department said.
Tourist resort of Pahalgam received fresh snowfall on Monday evening.
Srinagar recorded minus 4.8 degree Celsius, Pahalgam minus 6.7 degree and Gulmarg minus 5.9 degreel Celsius as the minimum temperature.
In Ladakh region, Kargil had minus 10 degree and Leh minus 11 degree as the minimum temperature.
Jammu had 2.5 degrees, Katra 6.9 degrees, Batote 2.2 degrees, Banihal 1.9 degrees and Bhaderwah minus 0.2 degree as the minimum temperature.
Double, triple shift works will start again if DAP comes to power: Ghulam Nabi Azad
“Govt must ensure no commoner is harassed”
Anantnag Dec 26: Democratic Azad Party Chief Ghulam Nabi Azad said that double shift works across Jammu and Kashmir will start again if his party is elected to power after elections. Mr Azad, however urged government to ensure all migrant Pandit employees are shifted to Jammu temporarily.
The DAP chief said that the government shall also consider to bring the local militants to mainstream and have tough stance at the same time against foreign terrorists operating in Kashmir. “ During my tenure as Chief Minister we had a record of surrenders by militants. I think the government shall have same policy and encourage local militants to surrender. Alongside, the common people shall not feel harassed and frisked by security forces, it will usher peace and development in Union Territory of Jammu Kashmir,” he said. Mr Azad expressed his concern over the targeted killings in Kashmir and said all migrant Kashmir employees should be temporarily shifted to Jammu.
“Since last one year, we had targeted killings by militants in Kashmir. By the time situation improves in Kashmir all the employees shall be shifted to Jammu. After all life is more important,” he said.
Mr Azad said that if he gets an opportunity to serve the people once again, he will bring back the golden era of development for Jammu Kashmir. “When I was the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, we had a record for meeting deadlines for all developmental works. Even most of the projects started during my tenure were completed in a given deadlines after I directed authorities to start work in double shifts,” he said, adding “ This time most of those projects are benefiting all people.” Alongside peace, development of UT is my priority, he said. Meanwhile, hundreds of workers from South Kashmir joined the political rally of Azad despite harsh cold wave in Kashmir. The rally was organised by DAP leader Mir Altaf. Among others present in the rally were Peerzada Syed, G.M.Saroori, Mohd Amin Bhatt, Gulzar Wani, Inayat Rathar, Sujada Bashir, Gulzar Khatana, Nisar Ahmed Wani, Ab Gani Bhat, Mohd Amir Dar, Amir Rasool & others.
Students Skill Development Workshop on Industrial Automation Began at SMVDU
Skill Development based five-day hands on workshop on Industrial Automation started at SMVDU by the Automation & Emerging Technologies Club (AET Club SMVDU_ to impart skills to students in the emerging technologies.Mr Himanshu Kumar, Director, Indwell Automation collaborated with AET Club for technical sessions and imparted hands-on training to the students. Chief Guest, Mr. Taranvir Singh, Managing Director, T.V. Super Filters Industries, Jammu, inaugurated the workshop and motivated the students. Mr. Singh urged students to work for Jammu and represent this state at a national level for there is a huge potential market base in Jammu. Prof. M. Eswharamurty, Head, School of Mechanical Engineering, SMVDU, congratulated AET Club for organizing the workshop and stressed upon skill development to meet the Industry 4.0 requirement. Dr. Balbir Singh, Faculty Advisor, highlighted the activities of AET Club and its objectives for the students in the emerging technologies. Mr. Mir Irfan Ul- Haq, Faculty Advisor; Mr. B.K. Bhatia, Training &
Placement Officer and Dr. Amit Sinha motivated students for skill up-gradation and practical exposure. Mr. Yatheshth Anand, Faculty Advisor, congratulated the AET club for this initiative. Mr. Agam Balotra, Club President and Mr. Ankit Pattnaik, Club Vice President contributed to make this workshop a success. Mr. Hriday Vasudeva, student coordinator, delivered the vote of thanks.
Successive regimes fail to address J&K issues: Rajesh Gupta
National Democratic Party Indian (NDPI) has demanded early Assembly polls and restoration of Statehood in
J&K. Addressing a party workers meeting on Monday, NDPI J&K chief Rajesh Gupta said that situation in J&K has
worsened due to the steps taken in 2019 and after it. There is a complete governance deficit,” he added.
The NDPI president said that no political and economic roadmap was created by the successive regimes in
Jammu and Kashmir. “They had no roadmap. They are doing politics on pity issues. NDPI is the alternative force
that will defeat these parties with overwhelming majority since people have realized the need for change in
Jammu Kashmir,” he said.
NDPI leader hit out at the Central Government for downgrading the historical state and snatching rights to land
and jobs besides trade and business opportunities at the cost of locals and said that Government has failed to
achieve any of the claimed benefits of August 2019 decision.
“We need an era of development in Jammu and Kashmir that provides equal economic opportunities to all. Jobs
need to be created; infrastructure required to be built at par with the modern standards. That is how an all-
round development takes place,” he told workers at party headquarters. He said that dwelling economic
opportunities in Jammu Kashmir have pushed people to the wall. “It allows terrorism to flourish. If we are in
power after elections, I assure you Jammu Kashmir will flourish, a new dawn of peace and development will be
set in with every citizen part of it,” he said.
He said Jammu and Kashmir is deprived of democracy for more than six years and there is total uncertainty
about Assembly elections and restoration of statehood despite commitment on the floor of the house by the
Prime Minister and Home Minister.
“NDPI stands guarantee to peace, harmony, dignity, restoration of statehood and rights to land and jobs,” Gupta
asserted. He said that he will ensure that every person living in Jammu and Kashmir will feel safe if his party is
elected to power. Those who attended the meeting were Umesh Manhas, Kuljeet Singh, Tilakraj, Rajiv Luthra,
Sandeep Anand and others.
Live for Others-Being Helpful Foundation organise “District Level Poster Making Competition
Live For Others – Being Helpful Foundation organised a district level Poster Making Competition on the theme of “Say No To Drugs” at Christ School, Poonch under the guidance of Mr. Vivek Parihar, Director of LFO-BHF.
Students of different schools and classes participated in this competition. Around 33 participants participated in this competition. They prepared various colourful posters showing the evil effect of drugs. The objective of this competition was to bring the awareness among students about the bad effects of Drugs.
The students from the school participated in the event enthusiastically. The students were instructed that the poster must be handmade along with stepwise pictures to ensure originality of the work.
S.H.O Ranjeet Singh Rao was the chief guest of this event stated that the aim of this competition is to create awareness about issues related to drugs and strengthening action and cooperation in order to make the world free of drug abuse.
The judges of this event was
Dr. Zeba Manzar Manhas ( Senior Judge), Dr. Sarfaraz Mir, Sardar Surjan Singh & Purva Jaral.
On speaking with Father Shijo, Principle Christ School, Poonch praised LFO-BHF for organising this event and instil a value amongst students and to motivate them to say no to drugs.
Volunteers of LFO-BHF ( Mr. Mazher Hussain & Shahid Shah Kazmi) said that our NGO is always prompt to organise the events of cultural, literary and intellectual importance which sensitize youth towards social issues and ask for their point of view with the aim to channelize their energies towards creativity and positivity.
Kashmiri Pandit employees should be transferred to Jammu till situation improves in Valley: Ghulam Nabi Azad
Srinagar, Dec 26 (PTI) Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Tuesday said Kashmiri Pandit employees posted in the valley should be temporarily transferred to Jammu to save their lives in the wake of targeted attacks by terrorists.
“A decision has to be taken as per the situation. When the situation improves, they (KP employees) should come back. But currently, there is fear in the minds of these employees. For the time being, they should be transferred to Jammu so that their lives can be saved. Why should they be killed,” he questioned.
Azad was speaking to reporters after a rally in Anantnag district, 55 kilometres from here. Azad said incidents of targeted killings that have taken place in the past one year have resulted in a situation that Kashmiri Pandit employees posted here do not want to stay.
“How will the other KPs come back in such a situation,” he asked.
Azad said it was during his tenure as chief minister that 6,000 posts were sanctioned under the PM’s Package for KPs.
“It was in my tenure that the Jagti township came up, the accommodation at Budgam and other places was also built under the double shift work,” he added.
On the impact of Bharat Jodo Yatra spearheaded by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Azad said, “Let them do what they are doing, we will do our work. We are also working to unite. We walk in the snow-clad mountains. Some people take the easier task, we take on the tough ones.” Earlier, addressing the rally, Azad said there should be a separate policy to deal with militants which should not be extended to ordinary people.
He said not every Kashmiri should be viewed with suspicion.
“There are two categories of people. One is a militant who gets arms training in Pakistan or here only. Every government has a policy to deal with them. I have not said they should be forgiven. However, there are ordinary people who have no links to militancy, they should not be harassed,” Azad said.
India needs to break free from narrow views of past to achieve heights of success: PM Modi
New Delhi, Dec 26: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said India needs to break free from the “narrow views” of the past to take the country to heights of success.
Speaking at the first ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ event, Modi paid tributes to Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh, Guru Gobind Singh’s sons who laid down their lives while defending their faith.
“On the one hand there was terrorism and on the other spiritualism. On one hand there was communal violence while on the other there was liberalism. On one hand there were forces of lakhs while on the other there were just Veer Sahibzaade who did not budge at all,” he said referring to the two martyred children of the Guru.
“Aurangzeb and his people wanted to convert the religion of Guru Gobind Singh’s children on the basis of sword that is why he decided to kill the two innocent children. Imagine that era when against the terror of Aurangzeb, against his plans to change India, Guru Gobind Singh ji stood like a mountain,” he said.
On the occasion of Guru Gobind Singh’s birth anniversary on January 9 this year, the prime minister had announced that December 26 will be observed as ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ The prime minister said in the name of history, people were being taught versions which promoted inferiority complex among them and that to move forward in the ‘Amrit Kaal’ and to take India to the heights of success in the future, “we have to break free from narrow views of the past.” Modi also listened to ‘shabad kirtan’ recited by school children at the event, which was also attended by chief ministers of Punjab and Maharashtra. (AGENCIES)
Modelling Data Foresee Low Circulation Of Covid Virus In J-K, Says Health Expert
SRINAGAR, Dec 26: Modelling data from credible agencies do not foresee any major Covid wave in Jammu and Kashmir, a leading pulmonologist said, but advised people to take precautionary measures as models ”can go horribly wrong”.
In a series of tweets, SKIMS Director Dr Parvaiz Koul said, ”Modelling data from credible agencies (like from University of Washington) predict a low circulation of the virus for coming weeks in JK (Jammu and Kashmir), but models can go horribly wrong.
”So stay calm, observe routine precautions and vaccinate if you haven’t, as per the advisories. NO PANIC PLEASE. Safety saves. Better safe than sorry.” Koul added that he had been receiving many calls from people about COVID-19 alerts in Jammu and Kashmir.
”Receiving many calls for the COVID alerts. Please note that J&K (Jammu and Kashmir) and India as a whole are not experiencing an unusual surge as yet. However since it is winter, the time for circulation of respiratory pathogens in Kashmir, it is in one’s interest to be alert and cautious,” he said.
Koul said the situation in China, which is believed to be going through a massive resurgence of Covid infections, was different on various counts.
”But kindly do not panic. The situation in China is different. They resorted to strict lockdowns which resulted in lower exposure to the virus and a lower immunity by natural infection.
”Also the vaccine used predominantly in China is the inactivated Sinopharm/Sinovac vaccine which is inferior in evoking a robust immune response as compared to the adenovirus vectored vaccine used predominantly in India,” he added.
Dr Koul said as there was no data on the percentage of the Chinese population that had been immunised, China might have opened up ”abruptly”. ”And we do not know the percentage immunized among those vulnerable to severe illness (like the old or those with comorbidities) in China, specifically about booster doses. Possibly they opened abruptly without adequate immunisation of the vulnerable,” he said.
Dr Koul said the variants of Omicron circulating in China had a high transmissibility. ”These BF.7 and XBB have been reported from India for a while but haven’t caused any outbreaks so far. For any variant to survive it has to demonstrate some immune escape, which is why these sub variants of Omicron have survived. However, as a group, Omicron does not cause severe illness and most of the symptoms are those of the upper respiratory tract rather than the lower RT and the lungs,” he added.
Dr Koul, however, warned that new and more virulent variants could emerge anytime. He also emphasised on genomic surveillance to stay on the lookout for emerging variants. ”This is the reason for the advisory from MOHFW (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India). India has a clear advantage of higher vaccinations and more natural infections during the Omicron surge,” he said.
Asked if he recommended voluntary testing, Dr Koul said, ”It is always better to be with ‘eyes open’ rather than ‘closed.” Dr Koul said those who were advised the precautionary dose but did not receive it would be helped by boosting their immunity.
”International travel to countries with high Covid activity must be undertaken with caution and only if absolutely necessary,” he said.
J&K Women’s Development Corporation Org By Awarness Camp Cum Mela At Kathua
A long day awareness Camp cum Mela organised by J&K Women’s Development Corporation & sponsored by National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation, New Delhi at Kathua. Awareness Camp was attended by Sarpanch Sh Ramesh Kumar, Naib Sarpanch Sh. Rohit Sharma Vice Principal Ms. Anjana , Head Master Sh. Sukhdev Head Master, District Cordinators MSK(DHEW) Ms. Shilpa Sharma & Ms. Shikha, Sh. Pawan Kumar & Balbir Kumar Field Asstt. Social Activist Ms. Meena Kumari, and other prominent personalities. On the Occasion Shashi Kant Sharma District Incharge , JKWDC briefly explained
About the awareness regarding loan schemes especially schemes for backward classes, implemented by the Government for the benefits of females of society which further includes sponsored schemes including women schmes of Union Teritory Jammu and Kashmir. Sh. Pawan Kumar Field Asstt. JKWDC Udhampur has encouraged peoples of the respective area to take benefits from Government Schems at a nominal rate of interest.