|
|
|
|
|
Srinagar shivers at -5.4°C
Lack of staff retards functioning of Pulwama hospital
Omar inaugurates nursing college
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Two killed, woman injured in accidents
Non-functioning solar plant eclipses working
Rs 92 lakh sanctioned for seed certification agency
Eleven shops burnt down
Pollution chokes Lolo Kul stream
Seminar held on anniversary of UN Kashmir resolution
20 years on, Sopore's wait for justice continues
Rajouri police organises volleyball tourney
Volleyball teams leave for nationals
T20: KCC beat GCC by 2 wickets
Film to create awareness about Hemophilia
President XI, PSCH advance into next round
|
|
Srinagar shivers at -5.4°C
Srinagar, January 5 The night temperature on Saturday night is expected to again reach
up to minus five degree Celsius. Due to the sub-zero night temperatures, the water bodies in Kashmir, including the famous Dal Lake, has been covered with a layer of frost. The day temperature across the region, including in the summer capital, was several degrees above the normal. In Srinagar, the maximum temperature was recorded at 9.4 degree Celsius. In the ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir, the night temperature fell to minus 9.4 degrees Celsius, the official said. At Pahalgam resort in south Kashmir, the mercury overnight fell to minus 5.4 degree Celsius while the day temperature there was recorded at a maximum of 6.4 degrees Celsius, the official said. Qazigund, the southern gateway town to the Valley, recorded a maximum of 7.4 degree Celsius during the day while the minimum there fell to a minus 5 degree Celsius. Kupwara in north Kashmir, the minimum temperature was recorded at minus 4.6 degree Celsius while the maximum there was recorded at 10.2 degree Celsius. Kashmir valley is going through the harshest phase of the winter which began on December 21 and will continue till the end of this month. Leh town in the remote Ladakh region recorded another freezing night as the minimum temperature there fell to minus 16.8 degree Celsius while the day temperature rose to a maximum of minus 3.2 degree Celsius. The day temperature in Kargil district was recorded at the maximum of minus 4.4 degree Celsius. The minimum temperature in Ladakh region usually remains several degrees below the
freezing point in the winter months and sometimes falls to as low as minus 20 degree Celsius. |
||
|
Lack of staff retards functioning of Pulwama hospital
Pulwama, January 5 The hospital being the second biggest in South Kashmir after the District Hospital, Anantnag, is unable to cater to the large number of patients it receives on a daily basis because of dearth of staff, machinery, poor sanitation, lack of proper power supply and patient overflow. "The hospital is short of at least 13 Assistant Surgeons, which puts an extra burden over the staff in the hospital," a doctor at the hospital said. He said lack of doctors is the basic reason of Post-Operative care in the hospital, "The doctors cannot be present at the hospital round-the-clock. If the post of Assistant Surgeon is filled, it will make sure that doctors are available all the time," the doctor said. Sources said the hospital is also short of paramedics and lab-technicians. Moreover the machinery at the hospital is outdated and cannot be put to use most of the time. "The X-Ray machine is old and frequently stops working. There is no CT scan machine available in the hospital and to add to the woes of the patients we are short of manpower as well,” says a senior lab-technician at the hospital. Sources reveal that to cope up with the dearth of space in the hospital a new 200-bed block was sanctioned; however, it has been under construction for more than four years. "The work on the new block was started in 2008 but we don't expect it to get completed soon," said Yasir, a local chemist. To address the electricity woes in the hospital, a solar plant was set up in May 2011; however, after functioning for just three months it stopped working in August 2011 and has been lying defunct ever since, sources said. A senior official of the district health administration said these things have been taken up with the higher authorities of the health department. "We expect the higher authorities to take cognizance of the issue soon," said the official.
|
||
|
Omar inaugurates nursing college
Srinagar, January 5 The Centre for Genetic Study and Clinical Research has been built at the cost of more than Rs 6.51 crore while Madr-e-Meherban College of Nursing has been set up at the cost of Rs 7.88 crore, a spokesman said. The attendants’ inn-Sarai-I and Sarai-II-will cost Rs 12 crore and the OPD block will be built at Rs 10 crore, the spokesman said. Omar said the vision to create an apex institute of modern health facilities in Srinagar was envisioned by his grandfather and former state Chief Minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. He said his grandfather wanted to provide latest medical treatment to the people in the state. He said the SKIMS provided the best possible medicare to the people in all times though its growth and development had received a jolt due to turmoil in the Valley. Omar said his government wants the SKIMS to achieve “new highs to be at par with the AIIMS” and other reputed health institutions in the country. He said his government would provide all possible help to the institutions to attain one of the best positions in health care institutions of the country. He said the super-specialty hospital at Jammu and various modern district hospitals would strengthen the health care status of the state. “The focus is also to improve and upgrade the rural health institutions to expand the orbit of modern health care to the people in villages and reduce the pressure on hospitals in the cities and towns,” Omar said.
|
||
|
Two killed, woman injured in accidents
Srinagar, January 5 “The minibus hit and injured Azhar Ahmad Wani of Laizbal, Anantnag and Shahzad Hussain Wani of Sarnal. The victims succumbed to their injuries in the hospital,” the police said. The bodies of the deceased were handed over to their relatives for last rites. In another accident, a woman Raja Bano of Kakpora, Pulwama, was injured after being hit by a motorcycle. The police has registered a case in this regard. |
||
|
Non-functioning solar plant eclipses working
of Kupwara sub-divisional hospital
Kupwara, January 5 Sources said the life span of the battery bank supporting the plant ended and the plant could not supply light to the hospital. They said the operation theatre in the hospital and vital machines, including X-ray and ultrasonography used to receive power supply from the plant. The functioning of the theatre and other vital machines used to conduct different tests had been severely affected due to the failure of the plant. “The functioning of the hospital is badly affected due to the non-functional solar plant. The plant used to provide power to the entire hospital, including the theatre and other important sections. It is not getting charged for past two weeks,” a senior employee looking after the plant said. The batteries need to be replaced to make the plant functional, he added. The patients and attendants also complain of power outages due to the failure of the plant and demand that the plant be made functional at the earliest. Lack of power supply through the plant led to inordinate delays in getting tests like X-ray and USG conducted at the hospital. “We have to wait for hours to get the tests done as the machines go off due to power outages. The hospital management should make the plant functional without further delay,” said attendant of a patient from Pazipora village. Unlike other major hospitals, Kupwara hospital which witnesses huge rush of patients is devoid of essential 24-hour power supply and the hospital receives the supply according to the curtailment schedule of the Power Development Department (PDD). A senior employee at the hospital said they were using inverter (back up), which provides power to the theatre and other sections for two hours after being recharged for 10 hours. District officer, Science and Technology department, Kupwara, Ghulam Mohd Malik, said, “The management should apprise me of the problem in writing and I will send the requisition to the higher authorities to restore power to the hospital through the plant. The batteries of the plant may be non-functional and the batteries will be replaced if needed.” |
||
|
Rs 92 lakh sanctioned for seed certification agency
Srinagar, January 5 Director Agriculture Kashmir, Farooq A Lone, said this during a review meeting of the officers of the Agriculture Department here today. Members said Rs 15 lakh had been sanctioned to strengthen the infrastructure for the Seed Certification Laboratory, Rs 15 lakh to buy equipments, Rs 25 lakh for DNA Finger Printing Laboratory, Rs 35 Lakh to strengthen grow-out test farm at Lalmandi and Rs 2.5 lakh for training to be conducted for seed development programmes. The Director, Department of Agriculture, Kashmir, stressed upon the officers to use the allotted resources within the approved time frame to facilitate multiplication and distribution of quality seeds among the farming community and increase the production and productivity of all crops. He advised the Divisional Seed Certification Officer to begin the process to tender enquiries for the purchase of equipments at the earliest. He said setting up of a DNA, Finger Printing Laboratory would go a long way to ensure quality standards of the hybrid seeds. |
||
|
Eleven shops burnt down
Srinagar, January 5 The spokesman said the fire was brought under control with the help of fire tenders and the local police. |
||
|
Pollution chokes Lolo Kul stream
Kupwara, January 5 From a distance, the waters of the stream flowing through the foothills and thick forests may appear scintillating but a visitor is greeted by the stink emanating from the heaps of garbage and filth scattered over its banks. “Visitors would sit for hours on the banks of this stream, which originates from Luv Naag in Lalpora village of Lolab. The stream added to the beauty of Kupwara town, which is located on its fringes but the beauty and life of the stream has been marred by increasing human interference over the past few years,” said Mohd Rafi, a Kupwara resident. Expressing serious concerns over shrinking of the stream, locals voiced that carcasses of animals, and tonnes of waste from hotels and disposals produced from health centres are thrown into the stream. Bodies of animals are also dumped into the stream. Ghulam Hassan, a resident of Geerhachi village near Kupwara said, “Women wash clothes and drivers their vehicles in the stream. Many other dump cow dung and garbage on its banks making its water unsafe for human consumption.” The locals demanded that the authorities concerned should protect the stream from pollution by setting up netted fencing on its banks. “A concrete fencing should be made on the banks of the stream to check increasing levels of pollution caused by humans. The stream is also a source of irrigation to thousands of kanals of land in Kupwara villages and the increasing pollution will decrease its life span drastically,” said Feroz Ahmad, a trader. Higher secondary school, Kupwara, is also located on the fringes of the stream. In summers, students and pedestrians have to face stink emanating from the stream due to hot weather conditions. |
||
|
Seminar held on anniversary of UN Kashmir resolution
Srinagar, January 5 The seminar was addressed by Geelani, who is camping in New Delhi for health reasons, on phone, and other leaders of the separatist amalgam, Hurriyat spokesman Ayaz Akbar said. Addressing the seminar, Geelani appealed to UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon to fulfill his responsibility vis-à-vis Kashmir. Geelani also asked the Pakistani government to shun its “apologetic attitude” while talking about Kashmir. “The Musharaf formula is against the basic stand of Kashmiri nation and it will not be accepted at any cost … Pakistani rulers should do not talk about any solution except the right to self determination,” Geelani said. Members of the civil society, including doctors, professors and lawyers, also addressed the seminar titled “honourable, democratic and lasting solution - self determination”. A large number of people attended the seminar. The UN’s January 5 1949 resolution forms the bedrock of the Kashmir's separatist struggle. The resolution, which was passed immediately after a ceasefire was brokered between Indian and Pakistani forces fighting in Kashmir, calls for plebiscite in the region to decide whether Jammu and Kashmir will merge with India or Pakistan. Separatists over the decades have demanded the UN resolution should be implemented as it is the “only” solution to the Kashmir issue.
|
||
|
20 years on, Sopore's wait for justice continues
Srinagar, January 5 “It has been 20 years now and we are still waiting for the justice to be done. It was BSF men who killed nearly 50 people and set over 300 shops in the town on fire.” Ashraf Ganai said the investigation of case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI), but they had failed to punish those soldiers who were responsible for these civilian killings. “The CBI and the police have failed to identify those men who were responsible for these killings,” Ganai said. At around 9 am on January 6, 1993, militants shot dead a BSF jawan and snatched his service rifle in the main market of the town. After an hour later, the locals alleged that BSF troopers returned and shot dead 43 persons and also set on fire nearly 300 shops. The locals had registered an FIR against the BSF at the Sopore police station. The BSF also registered a counter FIR alleging unidentified militants, who were hiding in houses, opened fire on the troops and the forces retaliated in self-defence. The BSF FIR said a number of people were killed in the cross fire. “We have not been provided compensation,” said Abdul Rahid, whose shop was gutted in the fire. A senior police officer in north Kashmir said the case file was with the CBI. “The CBI is investigating the case," he said. Meanwhile, the hardline Hurriyat had called for a shutdown in Sopore to mark the 20th anniversary of the Sopore killings. |
||
|
Rajouri police organises volleyball tourney
Jammu, January 5 In all, eight local teams of the area are participating in the tournament. The main aim of organising the tournament is to improve the police public relationship and also to involve Manjakote Naib-Tehsildal Nazar Mohammad Mir, J&K Bank Manjakote manager Joyti Parkash, Manjakote police station SHO Mehmood Khan and Ajaz Kazi have attended the event. —
TNS |
||
|
Volleyball teams leave for nationals
Jammu, January 5
Prior to proceed for the competition, both teams had underwent a 15-day coaching camp organised by the J&K State Sports Council, under the supervision of Sports Officer Ravi Singh, at Gulshan Ground, Police Lines, Jammu. The J&K men team is placed in Pool C along with Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand. The women team is placed in Pool D along with Punjab and Rajasthan. Teams: Men: Imtiaz Ahmed, Mohan Lal, Manzoor Ahmed, Naseeb Singh, Ramiz Tariq, Taimoor Ahmed, Sushil Kumar, Rakesh Kumar, Mohammad Aiwaz Khan, Shouat Hussain, Ashiq Hussain, Adit Sharma, Sujjad Hussain, Rajeev Dogra (assistant coach) and Azhar Aziz (trainer). Women: Manisha Kumari, Priya Charak, Sangita Bhatt, Yasmeen Kousar, Tsering Dolkar, Mansi Sharma, Bindu Verma, Stanzin Namsar, Nisha Verma, Ashima Sharma, Preeti Sharma, Sarita Sharma, Neeta Devi (manager), Rattan Chand (coach) and Mohammad Tariq (assistant coach).
|
||
|
T20: KCC beat GCC by 2 wickets
Jammu, January 5 GCC posted 172 runs for the loss of eight wickets in the allotted 20 overs. For KCC, Pankaj, Sunny and Tahir shared two wickets apiece. In reply, KCC got off to a brilliant start just what they need to chase a stiff target. Openers Manik (37) and Yash (46) played exceptionally well by laying a solid platform. KCC did the needful in 19.2 overs losing eight wickets in the process. Avinash also contributed his bit with a handy 20 run-knock. GCC bowlers failed to restrict the KCC batsmen as they lacked the sting. Manoj and Tarun snared three wickets each.
|
||
|
Film to create awareness about Hemophilia
Srinagar, January 5 Neglected Blood, an 18-minute film, is directed by Showkat-ul-Islam and Mohammad Saleem Malik, who are students of masters in social welfare (MSW). It is based on the research carried out by these students as part of the course work. “It is an attempt to create awareness and bring the issue into public discourse. The film is based on the research we have done during our post-graduation work,” Showkat-ul-Islam said. The film is a painful recapturing of the daily problems faced by the patients of hemophilia, a bleeding disorder in which the clotting of blood takes long time than usual. The two young directors had researched the medical and psycho-social appraisal of the hemophiliac patients in the region. The director of the film said there are up to 500 hemophiliac cases in the Valley. Neglected Blood’s first screening was done at a local hotel and was attended by a large audience.
|
||
|
President XI, PSCH advance into next round
Jammu, January 5 In the first match, PSCH got the better of Ludhiana Cricket Association by 34 runs. Batting first, PSCH accumulated 132 runs for the loss of five wickets, which, in reply, Ludhiana could manage only 98 runs losing nine wickets in the process. Bhatia was the top scorer from PSCH with 46 runs while Anil and Deepak contributed 36 and 22 runs respectively. From Ludhiana, Kashi snared two wickets. Narinder was the top scorer with 24 runs. Anil bowled a devastating spell to scalp four wickets while Rahul bagged two wickets. Anil was declared the man of the match. In another match, President XI Sunderbani notched up 17- runs win over Amritsar Sports Club. Batting first, President XI set a target of 135 runs losing all their wickets. Himanshu was the top scorer with 29-ball 37 runs while Kuldeep chipped in with 19-ball 29 runs. Varun added valuable 22 runs off just nine deliveries. Rahul took three wickets from Amritsar while Hitesh bagged two. In reply, Amritsar could make 117 runs for the loss of nine wickets. Shivlove and Bhuta were the notable scorers with 31 and 18 runs respectively. Arunesh contributed 15 runs. Verma and Shampy shared two wickets each. Himanshu bagged the man of the match award.
|
||
|
| HOME PAGE |
| Punjab |
Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | |
Functioning of the Sub-District Hospital (SDH), Kupwara, has been badly affected due to the solar plant, which has not been working for past two weeks. The Department of Science and Technology had commissioned the solar plant having a capacity of 10 KW in 2003 and the plant was installed by Tata BP, a private firm, the same year.
