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4,000 in grip of Hepatitis E
Heavy snowfall not that bad for valley
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Stranded persons stage protest
IAF continues airlifting people
Snow toll: Four more bodies recovered
Hizbul commander, aide killed
BSF repatriates three Pak soldiers
Hostel for working women sans women
Police Commissioners
Reduction of troops draws flak
Ensure demarcation of forest land: Minister
DCs ordered to remain at headquarters
Lolab remembers its ‘Shaurya Chakra’ jawan
CRPF constable killed
Sharekhan’s 3rd branch
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4,000 in grip of Hepatitis E
Srinagar, February 11 The affected villages on left side of Nallah Erin, get their drinking water from this source. But surprisingly there have been no incidence of infections among the population on its right side. The contamination is likely to pose a threat to over 65,000 people in 20 villages on either side of Nallah before it merges into the Asia’s largest sweet water lake, Wular. “We have more than 80 registered cases in which Hepatitis E has been detected,” said Dr Parvez Ahmad at the sub-district hospital, Bandipore, adding that only adults were being affected by this infection. “It is a viral problem caused by feco-oral contact,” he added. These cases have been reported from Brar and Gunde Dachina villages, about 8 km from the district headquarter township of Bandipore, where the drinking water is being provided by the Gunde Dachina water supply scheme. There are sporadic cases from Sumlar village, away on the Nullah Erin, where the water gets collected at Shokh Baba locality directly from the stream. Both the areas have a common source of drinking water from Nallah Erin, which has resulted in these cases having common features, the doctors said. The patients suffering from dehydration and vomiting are being provided with requisite medicine and are educated on precautionary measures. Some of the cases had been referred to SMHS hospital, Srinagar, though no death has been reported due to the infection. One woman of Gunde Dachina, had died earlier after suffering from jaundice while another case of jaundice has been reported in the area recently. These cases, however, are not attributed to the Hepatitis E infection, doctors said. The cause of this infection is believed to be mixing up of human excreta with the fresh water of Nallah Erin, from the nearby camps of security forces in Sumlar area. There could be some other reasons, which had led to the incidence of water borne disease in the area, officials opined. Defence spokesman Lt Col A K Mathur told The Tribune that such things "are always taken care of" and due care had been taken to ensure that the waste does not go into the river. “Even if there is any such problem we will try to shift it,” he said. Residents living down the stream had not been affected in any case and there were vested interests behind such reports, he added. The concerned officers of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department said in view of the reports, water samples were taken for conducting laboratory analysis today and the results would be known by tomorrow. Earlier such an analysis undertaken during summer last had indicated that the water was fit for human consumption, the concerned official of the PHE said. However, the fact remains that drinking water to the entire population around, like most rural areas of the Kashmir valley, is supplied without being treated. The water from Nallah Erin gets collected in the collection tank at the source at Shokh Baba near Erin village and supplied to the reservoir at Gunde Dachina water supply scheme, wherefrom it is supplied to the consumers of the two affected villages of Gunde Dachina and Brar. The filtration plant provided at the site has also been non-functional for the past more than two decades, the officials confirmed. |
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Tourism gets boost, courtesy snowfall
Jammu , February 11 With the presence of almost seven feet snow in the famous tourist resort of Gulmarg, the beauty of the place is worth seeing and a large number of tourists have already thronged the resort. Marred by militant attacks and decrease in snowfall, people associated with the tourism industry had to face huge loses as a majority of domestic tourists had stopped visiting Kashmir. Famous for its majestic snow-covered mountains peaks and lush green meadows, Kashmir valley was once at the verge of losing its distinction of being a world famous tourist destination. The recent snowfall has been a blessing in disguise for the tourism industry. The tourism department would soon be hosting the fifth edition of the national winter games in Gulmarg from February 17 to 22. The department would also be holding an international ski tournament in Gulmarg during the first week of March this year. It expects the participation of six countries in the skiing tournament. Speaking to The Tribune, director of tourism, Farooq Ahmed Shah said, “We expect that almost 30 participants of six nations would participate in the three-day long international skiing championship.” Adding he said, “The response from tourists this winter is tremendous as there is a huge rush of domestic as well as international tourists in Kashmir, especially Gulmarg as the beauty of Gulmarg with seven feet of snow is worth-seeing.” To lessen the fear of militant attacks on incoming tourists, the tourism department has promised to provide complete security to tourists visiting the valley. “We will provide protection to every tourist,” state tourism minister G.M. Saroori said. Tourists said Kashmir was incomplete without snowfall and the threat from militants could not keep them away from visiting the valley. “We were visiting the valley as we have come to know that there has been heavy snowfall, said Praveen Kumar, a resident of Chandigarh who along with his wife plans to visit Kashmir as soon as the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway opens for traffic. The department has planed to provide a lifetime experience to the incoming tourists. “This year’s national winter games would be a treat for the tourists as it would be the third of its kind in Gulmarg and we have prepared such a format that would be enjoyed by everyone who comes to Gulmarg,” Shah said. Shah added that ice hockey and ice skating would be the major attraction of this years national winter games. |
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Heavy snowfall not that bad for valley
Jammu, February 11 The heavy snowfall may have created havoc but it promised a good summer. The experts pointed out, the water resources were depleting in the Kashmir valley and also in the Jammu region. This was being reflected in the depleting quantity of water in all major rivers. This had also affected the irrigation and the power generation. Particularly during the past few years there had been consistent decline in the water level in all rivers. Thanks to one of the heaviest snowfalls in the valley and areas contagious to it, the rivers, particularly the Jhelum in Kashmir and the Chenab in Jammu region are expected to have sufficient water levels. This would be "very good" for the irrigation and power supply and even the drinking water as well. Because water of water for being supplied for drinking purposes is taken from the rivers only. |
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Stranded persons stage protest
Udhampur, February 11 Stranded passengers who have been trapped at Kishtwar, Doda and Udhampur have been demanding that they be airlifted to Jammu and Srinagar cities. At Kishtwar, trapped passengers from Dacchan, Marwah, Wardwan, Machail, Padder, Nagsani and other remotest areas staged a demonstration today. As soon as Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad landed at Kishtwar, airfield trapped passengers rushed towards his chopper and resorted to shouting slogans in support of their demands. Besides, demanding airlifting to their native places, they urged the authorities to restore communication so that they could contact their families in snowbound areas. Deputy commissioner of Kishtwar, Inayat Ullah, later arranged a meeting of the trapped passengers with the Chief Minister, during which Azad assured them to take appropriate steps in this regard. The deputy commissioner told The Tribune that on the directions of the Chief Minister, the authorities had started preparing a list of all trapped passengers. “We will airlift them after completing some formalities”, he said but hastened to add that the district administration had been providing free meals and lodging as well as boarding to all stranded passengers. At Doda, the administration had accommodated trapped passengers in the government building. A team of the officers had also been constituted by the deputy commissioner to ensure all arrangements for these stranded passengers. |
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IAF continues airlifting people
Jammu, February 11 As far as the restoration is concerned, a team of senior officials would be rushed to Doda district tomorrow to monitor these works. Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has issued strict orders for early restoration of essential services in Kishtwar and Doda districts. Following Azad’s instructions, his principal secretary Anil Goswami has set a timeline for the restoration of power, water, roads and communication in the two mountainous districts. The essential services in the two remote districts have been badly crippled due to heavy snowfall bringing normal life to a screeching halt. Some areas in the districts have been completely cut off from the rest of the country. In a high-level meeting Goswami today asked the officials to restore essential services like electricity, water, roads and communication system in Kishtwar and Doda districts on war-footing. Among others the meeting was attended by commissioner secretary Power Development Basharat Ahmad, Secretary Roads and Buildings Shailendra Kumar, secretary Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Khalid Habib, Power Development commissioner Showkat Rashid Wani, PHE chief engineer Vinod Goswami, PDD chief engineer D S Pawar and CAPD Jammu Director Mehmood Rana. About restoration of road connectivity in the two districts, secretary, Roads and Buildings Shailendra Kumar assured that all roads in Kishtwar town would be cleared of snow by tomorrow. The Kishtwar-Bhandarkote road would be also reopened tomorrow while the Bhandarkote-Chhatru road would be traffic worthy by February 14. The Kishtwar-Dul and Dul-Paddar roads would be cleared by February 12 and 17, respectively. The Batote-Kishtwar road has already been opened for traffic. On water scenario, Goswami was informed that 80 per cent water supply in Doda town was on while the remaining 20 per cent would be started by the morning of February 13. The water supply in Bhadarwah town would be restored by tomorrow. In Kishtwar town where 20 per cent of water supply had been restored, the normal supply would be ensured by February 14. Efforts were on to reach to the severely affected areas of the two districts where modes of transport and communication have been badly affected cutting off the areas from rest of the country. The power scenario in the twin districts was also reviewed with emphasis on early restoration. The Kishtwar Grid Station would be charged by NHPC by February 15 after bypassing two damaged towers, 14 kms short of Kishtwar. Meanwhile, IAF continued its rescue operations airlifting 275 civilians and 300 security personnel from twin capital cities today. Jammu-based defence PRO Lt-Col S.D. Goswami said, “In one sortie each by IL 76 and AN 32 transport aircrafts, 275 civilians were airlifted from Srinagar to Jammu while 300 security force personnel were airlifted from Jammu to Srinagar.” |
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Snow toll: Four more bodies recovered
Srinagar, February 11 Three dead bodies were recovered in Nyle village of Gurez area of Bandipore district, officials confirmed today. This information was given to minister for social welfare Abdul Ghani vakil, who visited Bandipora today to review the situation arising out of the heavy snowfall in the area. The minister, according to an official spokesman has directed divisional commissioner, Kashmir to initiate measures on war-footing basis to evacuate inhabitants of Nail village of Gurez to safer places where avalanche threat is looming large due to heavy snowfall. Expressing deep concern over delay in their evacuation, the minister asked him to arrange helicopter service and assistance of the Army to ensure safety of human lives in the snowbound village. The minister said a central team has already conducted aerial survey of the snow affected areas to have a feel of the quantum of damage and loss of properties in the snow disaster. He expressed hope that the Central government would provide adequate assistance to the state enabling to provide succor to the affected people. The police has recovered dead body of one person, Nazir Ahmad Bhat from snow between Baihama village and Susman in Qazigund area of south Kashmir. He had died due to coldness and nothing suspicious had been found, the police said. Meanwhile, divisional commissioner, Kashmir, Mehboob Iqbal, today visited Pulwama and Shopian districts and reviewed the arrangements made by the district administration regarding recent snowfall. He was informed that various roads have been cleared from snow and opened for traffic adding. Restoration work of power and water supply had also been completed in these districts. He was further informed that sufficient stocks of food grains were available and there is no loss of life as per reports received so far. About 80 per cent of roads had been cleared for traffic in Bandipora district, officials said adding that the remaining areas would be cleared soon. The officials also revealed that road connectivity in the far flung areas of other districts like Kupwara, Baramulla and Budgam would be restored within the next three days. |
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Strike by JKLF hits life in valley
Srinagar, February 11 Protest demonstrations were also held here as the JKLF leaders took out a procession from the party headquarters at Maisuma in the central Lal Chowk area here this morning. More than 30 leaders including its vice-chairman, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, were held by the police on M.A. Road to prevent them from marching to the office of the UNMOGIP at Sonwar. There were reports of the injuries to at least six persons in ding dong battles between the JKLF supporters and police that prevented them from taking out a protest march here. The police resorted to cane charge to disperse the protesters. The JKLF has been demanding the release of the mortal remains of Mohammad Maqbool Bhat, who was hanged in Delhi’s Tihar jail on this day in 1984. The demand has also been supported by other separatist organisations including the Hurriyat Conference, which had here on Saturday last taken out a march to the UN office to submit a memorandum. All the shops and business establishments were closed in most parts of the city and major towns of the valley. There was thin transport on the roads and minimum attendance in the government offices. The pro-independence JKLF led by Mohammad Yasin Malik and other separatist organisations including both factions of the Hurriyat conglomeration, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and hardliner, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, have supported the strike call to commemorate Mohammad Maqbool
Bhat. |
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Hizbul commander, aide killed
Srinagar, February 11 Acting on a specific information about the presence of militants in the house of one Abdul Khaliq at Tantray Mohalla, Palhalana, a joint party of the police and the Army cordoned off the area and launched search operations. An encounter ensued when the hiding militants opened fire on the search party that was retaliated, resulting in the death of the two militants. Four houses, including the one in which the militants were hiding, got completely damaged, while partial damage was caused to a private school building in its vicinity, the police said. Those killed were identified as Zahoor Ahmad Ganai, alias Firdous, district commander of the Hizbul Muzhaddin of Pattan and Nazir Ahmed Parry of Goshbug Pattn. Two AK-47 rifles, seven magazines, 75 rounds of AK ammunition, three under barrel grenade launchers (UBGLs), four hand grenades, two pouches and a mobile charger were recovered from the site, a defence spokesman said. The militants were involved in a number of killings and had been active in the area for the past six years, the police said. Meanwhile, a suspected militant was held by the police with a hand grenade and 39 rounds in Chek-e-Raithan area of Budgam district yesterday. The police said one militant was killed in an encounter with the security forces at Shiva, Sopore in Baramulla district yesterday. He was identified as Abu Usman, alias Usman Tunde, of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen outfit from Pakistan. |
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BSF repatriates three Pak soldiers
Jammu, February 11 The BSF arrested the trio last evening from Suchetgarh outpost in RS Pura sector near the international border (IB). They were identified as sepoy Zial-ul Hussain of Gofba village in Kamalia tehsil of Toba Tek Singh district, sepoy Nazir Ahmed of Yazman Mandi tehsil in Bahawalpur district and sepoy Amjad Farooq of Arjda village in Gujranwala district of Pakistan. In a flag meeting, BSF Jammu sector DIG GS Virk handed the Pakistani soldiers to Pakistan Rangers Sector Commander Colonel Ahid Muzaffar Shah this afternoon at around 3.30 pm. Talking to The Tribune, a senior BSF officer said, “The Pak soldiers, wrestlers in the 19 Punjab Regiment, had inadvertently crossed the IB.” “They had come for attending a wrestling camp across the IB and after attending the camp had mistakenly ventured into the Indian territory at around 7 pm last evening,” he added. He said, “Three mobile phones, Pak currency worth Rs 2,180, one identity card and one voter identity card were recovered from their possession.” “However, after their questioning at a BSF camp in Maralian, the Pak soldiers aged between 24 years and 28 years turned out to be innocent and an established case of inadvertent crossing,” said the BSF officer. “They were sportsperson and had no malafide intentions,” he said, adding, “Their cell phones were screened thoroughly and nothing incriminating was found.” “After questioning the trio, BSF top brass after getting a nod from the Union home ministry decided to repatriate them so as to bolster confidence building measures between the two countries,” he added. |
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Hostel for working women sans women
Jammu, February 11 The tall claims of the coalition government to empower women have fallen flat as nearly four years have passed and not even a single woman has been given the facility, thanks to the “errant”Social Welfare Department, which has not framed any rules till date . The hostel for working women with a day-care centre for their children had been constructed at Lower Roop Nagar here under a centrally-sponsored scheme of the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development. Official sources said, “The multi-storeyed hostel was completed by the Jammu Development Authority, (JDA), in March 2004 to accommodate 120 women. It was constructed a cost of Rs 112 lakh after a delay of about five years.” The Union government had estimated the cost at Rs 71.44 lakh doling out its share of Rs 53.58 lakh and the rest had to be funded by the state government. Substantiating the department’s failure, an official document stated, “There was a further delay of a year in taking over the building from the JDA as the department failed to hand over the balance amount of Rs 46.62 lakh to the JDA.” However, finally the department took over the building in April 2005, but instead of serving its purpose housed various social welfare offices. When contacted, a senior official of the department said, “Anticipating encroachments in the absence of rules we had to shift office of the ICDS in the hostel.” |
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Police Commissioners
Jammu, February 11 Such an experiment has proved successful in other states because governments in those states were determined to support the plan. Official sources said DGP Kuldeep Khoda mooted the proposal only after he felt convinced that the scheme would prove fruitful in improving the law and order machinery. Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has already accepted Khoda's proposal and the government has constituted a committee headed by IG, crime and railways, Dilbagh Singh, to identify jurisdiction of the two police commissioners and their powers. Official sources said senior bureaucrats and police functionaries had started opposing the move as some of them would lose their magisterial powers relating to the imposition of Section 144 of the CRPC and the arrest of criminals. Since the police commissioners will have the rank of IGs, those IGs who are posted outside the two cities, will have nothing to do with the day-to-day developments in areas that fall under the jurisdiction of the police commissioners. The move is also aimed at creating two more posts of IGs which would remove stagnation. It now depends on the Chief Minister and the state Cabinet to clear the proposal after Dilbagh Singh submitted his report to the DGP within the next one month. Even after the two police commissioners are appointed, the DGPs will continue to head the department and there will be no dilution in the powers and authority of officers of the rank of ADGP. |
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Reduction of troops draws flak
Jammu, February 11 Addressing mediapersons here today, the BJP veteran said, “It is shocking to note that troops are being withdrawn gradually on the insistence of pro-militant parties.” “The security forces in Kashmir valley and other parts of the state were not deployed for amusement. They were brought here to check Pak intruders, who in the guise of militants have been killing innocent people.” Gupta said, “Unless infiltration stops completely it would be foolish to withdraw forces from the state. Although at present the militant activities have been at low ebb but the government should not take it lightly because it may be a part of Pakistan’s game plan,” he added. |
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Ensure demarcation of forest land: Minister
Jammu, February 11 In pursuit of this, he directed them to submit a comprehensive project proposal for consultation of forest boundaries, canvas and removal of encroachments, demarcation of pastures, fodder growing lands etc. in a time bound manner. Qazi was addressing a high-level meeting to review the functioning of the department today. Discussions were held with regard to various issues pertaining to encroachments of forest land, felling of trees, checking of records of demarcation available at Srinagar and Jammu and available man manpower in the forest department. He asked the officers and field functionaries to maintain close coordination and work with unison so that forest wealth could be saved from getting hewed down adding that stringent measures were needed to curb the menace of timber smuggling. |
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DCs ordered to remain at headquarters
Jammu, February 11 According to a circular issued here today Kundal has observed that some
of the Deputy Commissioners leave their areas of operation without seeking prior permission resulting into severe inconvenience to the people and even embarrassment at times to the
government. |
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Lolab remembers its ‘Shaurya Chakra’ jawan
Srinagar, February 11 Chara laid down his life on June 12 last year in an operation in Gagal, Lolab in which he had killed a Pakistani district commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba, while two other militants were also killed by the 18 Rashtriya Rifles in this operation. Abdul Hamid had been kidnapped by militants in 1990 at the young age of 15 years and forced to join ranks of Al Barq outfit, but had surrendered within 12 days. Chara is survived by wife Gulshan Begum and five children. |
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CRPF constable killed
Srinagar, February 11 A vehicle carrying CRPF personnel of the 182 Battalion was on its way from Pulwama to the airport when the accident took place at about 6 am, the police said. All 11 persons in the vehicle were injured. |
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Sharekhan’s 3rd branch
Jammu, February 11 Jammu director of Sharekhan Limited, Ajay Kapoor, said considering the good response from people in Jammu city, the third branch has been opened at Bakshi Nagar. Of late, people in Jammu with surplus money are getting attracted to investments in the stock market. |
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