Jammu, February 5
Fifteen students of Shri Mahavir Jain Higher Secondary School fell unconscious here this morning after they came in contact with methane gas that emanated from a cesspit of a house.

The Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) staff was cleaning the septic tank in a house, adjacent to the school when 15 students, aged between 10 to 12 years, of fifth standard attending their classes came in contact with the gas and started feeling restlessness, a teacher said. Some of them even started vomiting and within no time they fainted causing panic among the school authorities, he said.

He said: “School principal Prof DC Sharma immediately informed the police and the children were rushed in police vehicles to the Emergency Wing of the Government Medical College, from where they were referred to the Paediatrics Department of the SMGS Hospital. Principal and four teachers also accompanied the children to the hospital and their parents, too, were informed, he added.

Deputy medical superintendent Satish Sharma said: “The students were brought in a semi-conscious condition. A team of paediatricians started symptomatic treatment. Though the condition of students was stable, they have been kept under observation.”

JMC commissioner Mubarak Singh, who assumed office just today, said the matter would be looked into and strict action would be initiated against the guilty. However, JMC chief transport officer Attar Singh said though driver of the septic tank cleaner had been requisitioned, it had been a routine job for our staff and never before such an incident had happened.

Meanwhile, following the instructions of Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, the Jammu Deputy Commissioner has ordered an inquiry into the alleged negligence on the part of the JMC for keeping the septic tank uncovered.

Enquiring about the health of the students, Tara Chand was informed that the uncovered cesspit has resulted in unhygienic atmosphere in and around the school. Several students were taken ill in the past as well, but despite the repeated complaints lodged by locals, no action had been initiated by the JMC.

Jammu, February 5
PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today called for addressing the Kashmir issue with a fresh approach.

Welcoming Shahzad Khan, Captain Raj Kumar, and former Kathua MLA Sagar Chand into the party at the PDP office here, the Mufti said: " A fresh approach is needed to address both internal and external dimensions of the Kashmir issue with the current legislature playing a pro-active role in the resolution process."

"The present legislature will have a historic role to play in facilitating amicable and permanent settlement of the Kashmir issue to end the protracted instability in the state and the region," he said. The fast-changing equations in the region had necessitated the urgency of settling the Kashmir issue involving the parties concerned in the resolution process with the state's elected representatives playing a fundamental role, he added.

The former CM said the present Assembly was the most representative of all shades of opinion as it represented regions, communities and sub-regions. The voice of this House could not be ignored as it was having not just the legal and constitutional validity but also moral authority to speak on behalf of the state and its people.

"While India and Pakistan will have to address the bilateral dimensions of the problem, the Government of India shall have to move fast on addressing the internal dimensions of the issue by reaching out to the people of Jammu & Kashmir with reconciliatory confidence-building measures," he said.

The PDP patron said implementation of the recommendations of the Prime Minister's working groups, including the one on Centre-state relations would set the process of addressing the internal political and economic dimensions of the problem in motion.

Crediting his party with creating a new space within the democratic system for the resolution of the Kashmir problem, he said the PDP's J&K-specific regional agenda and its self-rule formula "have got the public approval" during the recent elections.

Srinagar, February 5
A number of CRPF companies have started pulling out of the valley, meeting the demands of the CRPF top brass, which wanted these companies deployed in the wake of the Amarnath agitation, and the local population, which wanted the police to be at the forefront of law and order duties.

CRPF officials said 33 companies, with each company having an average strength of 100 personnel, were sent to Kashmir after a mass agitation broke out over the Amarnath land controversy and the security establishment decided to keep them due to impending elections.

Officials said these companies would join their parent units from where they were requisitioned for duty in Kashmir.

All these companies were on duty in Srinagar these days where there is a popular feeling, egged on by separatists and politicians, that the paramilitary force is wont to excessive use of force.

With the movement of these companies, the police will be more active in law and order duties.

JAMMU: Even as the CRPF has started pulling out 33 companies from the Kashmir valley, 74 battalions would continue staying put in the restive state to tackle militancy.

Highly placed CRPF sources said 60 battalions in the Kashmir valley and 14 battalions in the Jammu region would not be de-inducted.

"The CRPF would be there to assist the Jammu and Kashmir Police, wherever required," they said.

Not only in Kashmir, the CRPF and other central forces would be de-inducted from the Jammu region as well, the sources said.

Srinagar, February 5
Normal life was affected across the Kashmir valley due to moderate-to-heavy snowfall in hilly areas and rain in plains.

Reports reaching here said one-and-a-half feet snow was recorded at Baba Reshi near the world famous health resort of Gulmarg.

“Fresh snow up to one feet has been recorded at Gulmarg, while it was 16 inches at Hirpora in Shopian district. Similarly, nine inches of snow was recorded at Kellar, while it was snowing heavily at Kupwara when the last reports came in,” says Aamir Ali, officer on special duty (OSD), divisional commissioner, Kashmir.

Aamir said Sadhna Top, Furqan Top and Z Gali received three feet of snow each, Gurez had one feet snow. He said the recording of snowfall at various places were: Handwara (eight inches), Zachaldara (six inches), Vilgam (one feet), Khan Saheb (two inches), Kralapora (three inches), Jawahar Tunnel (two inches), Chandilora-Tangmarg (four inches), Boniyar (three inches), Bijhama (two inches), Trehgam (two inches), Sogam (two inches), Lalpora (two inches), Sheeri (four inches), Pahalgam (three inches) and Pulwama (five inches).

The Met office said in its forecast snow and rain would continue tomorrow.

Srinagar recorded a low of 3.4°C, which is three degrees higher than the previous night, the Met office said today.

Pahalgam, which was reeling under -4.5°C yesterday, recorded a minimum of 1.2°C.

The night temperature also increased from 1.4°C to 2.2°C at Qazigund. Kokernag recorded a low of 2.6°C, which was one degree more than the previous night.

Jammu experienced a warmer night with a low of 13.9°C. The city had recorded a low of 10.5°C yesterday. The night temperature also showed an upward trend in Katra, the base camp for the Vaishno Devi temple, as it recorded a low of 11.5°C, which was nearly two degrees higher than the previous night.

Bhaderwah, Batote and Banihal also experienced a warmer night with a low of 5.2°C, 5°C and 3.5°C, respectively.

Srinagar, February 5
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has quashed the detention of 10 persons, including some who were arrested during the Amarnath land transfer agitation, under the Public Safety Act (PSA).

Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir quashed the detentions yesterday and directed the release of the persons if they were not required in any other case.

Muslim League leader Mohammad Yousuf Mir was among those whose detention under the PSA was quashed by the court. The others are Abdul Ahad Parra, Gulzar Ahmad Palla, Jehangir Ahmad Tantray, Talib Hussain Lone, Zakir Hussain Ganaie, Abdul Rashid Kataria, Abdul Rashid Chouhan, Manzoor Ahmad Shiekh and Nazir Ahmad Shiekh. — PTI

Jammu, February 5
Inmates of Bal Ashrams, Nari Niketans, and Blind Homes are happy over the increase in sanction of diet charges from Rs 25 to Rs 50 per day per inmate. The inmates are also happy that they will get better food now.

The increase is significant when taken into account in totality, said Anil Sharma, District Social Welfare Officer, Udhampur, who is managing the affairs of Bal Ashram and Nari Niketan in the region.

“If you look at the amount in totality, instead of on individual basis, it makes a huge difference for the 30 women in Nari Niketan and 55 children in Bal Ashram of Udhampur. We will now not only be able to procure qualitative food for the diet of the inmates, but also buy the items of daily use for which no separate sanction is made,” he said.

The same acknowledgement was made by the management of schools for visually challenged. Sangeeta Parveen, superintendent, said, “In comparison to other institutes, the schools for visually challenged are fortunate to have better meals, as at times these meals are sponsored/donated. But, since we have got the sanction, we will be able to provide children with things like sweet dish, fruit etc., that they demand most of the time.” The diet charges have also been increased for the inmates of hostels for Gujjars and Bakerwals and Pahari speaking people.

Meanwhile, Social Welfare Department officials said the government had also enhanced pension amount for physically challenged people from Rs 300 to Rs 400 per month.

Gundla (Jammu), February 5
Even as successive state governments made tall claims of providing adequate infrastructure to facilitate quality education in government schools, students of Government High School here continue to pursue ‘studies’ in the open.

For students of this school, situated in one of the most backward villages of the Jammu region, nothing has changed. Lack of proper infrastructure has compelled the school authorities to hold primary classes in the open under a banyan tree. Be it rain, hailstorm or scorching summer heat, 80 students from Class I to V are compelled to study in the open.

With a total strength of more than 250 students, this high school has six rooms. Four rooms are used for teaching, while a room is used by the principal and the other one is office.

“We have no option but to sit in the open. This banyan tree is our classroom. Be it winter or summer, we have to sit under this tree for studies,” said a student.

School teachers rue that despite repeated pleas to the principal and the authorities concerned nothing has been done to resolve the problem.

“We really feel bad to see small children study in the open,” a teacher said.

She added, “Leave aside furniture, the school has failed to provide proper mats for the children who sit in the open.”

The teachers here say that due to the negligence of the principal and the state Education Department the students were not only suffering on account of studies, but their health was also being negatively impacted.

“Whenever there is rain or weather is hot, we have to call off classes. Not only this, kids faint during summer days,” another teacher lamented.

Surprisingly, even though the Education Department has failed to provide proper infrastructure to the high school, the government is contemplating to upgrade the school to the higher secondary level.

Principal of the school Sudarshan Kaul said, “We have requested the Education Department to provide proper infrastructure.” Meanwhile, director, school education, Zahida Khan could not be contacted for comments.

Jammu, February 5
Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats Ali Mohammad Sagar, while addressing a review meeting of the Rural Development Department, here today asked officers to ensure proper implementation of various schemes and completion of the projects on time for uplift of people living in far-flung and remote areas of the state.

Sagar said the schemes and projects should be completed within the stipulated time so that the funds sanctioned for these did not get lapsed.

The meeting was informed that under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), 38 roads (12 under Phase-I and 26 under Phase-II) with an estimated cost of Rs 4562.25 lakh had been taken up, out of which 25 roads had been completed and the work on remaining 13 roads was underway.

The meeting was also informed that Rs 702.35 lakh have been utilised under the Indira Awas Yojna (IAY) and 1,145 houses had been constructed against the target of 3,954. Under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act Scheme (NREGA) 30.51 lakh mandays have been generated, the meeting was informed.

Jammu, February 5
The Centre for Ambedkar Studies at the Department of Sociology at Jammu University today organised a panel discussion on “Weaker Sections in J&K state: Problems and Prospects”.

The panelists included general secretary of the Gujjar United Front Shah Mohammad Choudhary, state president of the National Bahujan Party Sat Pal and former member of the J&K State Backward Classes Commission ML Bhagat.

Head of the Sociology Department Prof Abha Chouhan and director, Centre for Study of Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, Kulwant Kaur were also present.

In his welcome address, director of the centre Prof Ashish Saxena underlined several projects undertaken by it, besides research works. A book, ‘Shifting Manifestations: Schedule Casts in J&K’- an insight into social and political empowerment of SCs over the years in the state - was also released.

Shah Mohammad Choudhary, also a member of the J&K Advisory Board for the Development of Gujjar and Bakkarwals, rued that constitutional privileges for the Schedule Tribes provided by the Union government, especially Gujjars and Bakerwals, were not serving the purpose due to Article 370 and therefore he sought its abrogation.

He demanded setting up of a centre for Gujjars and Bakerwals at the varsity besides empowerment of Directorate of Tribal Affairs.