Jammu & Kashmir

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Dec 27 : Primary Health Centre (PHC) constructed years ago at Dangerpora village in north Kashmir’s Sopore is yet to be made functional with officials stating that some works are still incomplete besides there were lack of funds as well.

Locals while talking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said, that the building was under construction for the past 15 years and was completed four years ago but it has not been made operational for reasons unknown.

“It was left abandoned around six years ago, following which it turned into a hub of illegal activities, besides a safe haven for drug peddlers,” they said.

“We are facing immense hardships in the absence of healthcare facilities. We have to travel at least 7 km in emergencies to reach Sub District Hospital (SDH) in Sopore town”, said Arsalan Ayub,” a local resident said.

Though the PHC is functional in Ayush building in the vicinity but doctors posted there hardly attend well on time or left early, thus taking hit on patient care during emergency times especially evening hours, he said.

“The building has been lying in shambles due to sheer negligence of the authorities. The structure is in complete shambles with broken windows and doors which apparently look like a ghost house,” said Lateef Ahmed, another local.

“The building was left midway after spending a crore of rupees, it has now become a safe haven for drug addicts,” said Lateef Ahmed, a local said. “In the premises of the building, one can find empty bottles of codeine (banned drug) and empty strips of drugs used by the addicts, who come in the evening hours mostly and involve in drug abuse, causing inconvenience for the passer-by.”

Locals, however, urged the Lieutenant Governor and district administration to intervene in the matter and direct the concerned officials to take immediate steps for the renovation work and made the PHC functional so that people may have respite from the hardships.

Meanwhile, Block Medical Officer Sopore, Dr Zulfiqar Sofi told KNO that, the building so far has not been handed over to them because of some incomplete work.

Upon contacting, the Assistant Executive Officer R&B, Sopore, the official said, that the project was under the NABARD, however, the work is still incomplete due to lack of funds. “It has been years, the project has not received the funds. Almost Rs 30 lacs are pending to get the work done”, he said—(KNO)

Baramulla, Dec 27 : Authorities in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district have ordered imposition of section 144 in Pattan areas in wake of the programme by the Shia association at Imambarah Kanterbugh. The decision has been taken to prevent any imminent danger to life and property, an order reads.

An order issued by District Magistrate Baramulla, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), it has been reported that the venue of the programme, Imambarah Kanterbugh Gund Khawaja Qasim in Singhpora has always remained a bone of contention between the two rival groups and there is every apprehension that law and order situation may arise if the permission is granted in favour of one of the groups to conduct the schedule programe.

It said the Superintendent of Police, Baramulla, while citing circumstances and assessment of ground situation, has recommended not to grant permission for the said programme.

“Now, in order to maintain the peace and tranquility and to prevent imminent danger to life and property, there shall remain section 144 CrPC enforced in the areas including Gund Khawaja Qasim and Kanterbugh of Tehsil Singhpora in Pattan,” the order reads.

It added that no assembly or congregation (s) of four or more persons shall be allowed, no procession shall be allowed in the villages, no person, other than a member of Armed Forces/Police/Magistrate or a public servant duly authorized or on duty, shall carry fire arms or an article capable of being used as a weapon of offence and no person (s) shall use loudspeaker (s) or any amplifying sound fora making a speech or any announcement for any other purpose whether a moving vehicles (s)or otherwise except with prior permission of competent authority.

The restrictions shall remain in force from 7:00 PM on 27-12-2022 to 7:00 AM on 29-12-2022, the order added—(KNO)

Baramulla, December 27: In order to meet out the power shortage in all the areas of the district in the current winter season, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar today flagged-off 2 Motor mounted Diesel Generator Sets at Baramulla.

These DG sets worth Rs. 47 lacks were handed to Jal Shakti Department under Aspirational District Programme.

Speaking on the occasion, the DC said that these motor mounted DG sets will suffice the power shortage in the district. She asserted that this initiative will help people in the winter season.

The DC further said that the District administration took this initiative to address the power deficit and stated that the administration is committed to further reduce the suffering of people dut to power crisis in the district and appealed to people to continue supporting the efforts of the administration.

On the occasion, the DC asked the functionaries of concerned department to ensure that these DG sets benefit the people on ground and further asked to identify the more areas having shortage of water supply.

Waris Fayaz

Baramulla, Dec 26 : Installed with much fanfare to decongest the traffic flow, the Rs 33 lakh traffic signal system project has proved to be a non-starter in Baramulla town.

The traffic lights were installed at three places in the town to ensure smooth flow of traffic and to do away with the frequent traffic jams witnessed in the town.

However, the traffic lights, installed in 2018, are yet to be made operational for the last four years, exposing the mismanagement of the administration.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) the traffic lights were procured and installed by the Municipal Committee (MC) Baramulla and were handed over to the police department after holding proper trials.

“The traffic lights were installed after the then CM Mehbooba Mufti ensured sanction of special grants for the project to address the traffic mess in the town,” an official from MC Baramulla said.

“We installed the lights and handed them over to Police to use them for managing traffic flow in the town. But I don’t know why the lights are yet to be made operational,” the official said.

The traffic lights have been installed near Tehsil Point, Main Chowk (four way point), and another junction near Azad Gunj bridge.

The lights installed at the three junctions merely blink as Red and Green to make these look functional. But the traffic police department in Baramulla is yet to put them in use to manage the traffic.

The delay in making traffic lights operational has added to the traffic mess in the town.

“We have obtained the clearance from the Police department that the lights are in order. But the department itself didn’t put them to use in these four years,” an official from MC Baramulla said.

While the traffic lights have been rendered defunct, the traffic mess is adding to the woes of commuters with each passing day.

The authorities have blocked all the U-turn junctions from BSNL exchange road to Police station Baramulla due to which whole flow of traffic falls on one U-turn which has been kept open for vehicles.

“We fail to understand the logic to block all the U-turn junctions in town. This puts a lot of pressure at one junction adding to traffic mess,” said Mehraj Ahmad, a local resident of old town Baramulla.

The locals alleged that the administration installed traffic lights only to release the funds from the government exchequer.

“The irony is that the police department deputes a huge contingent of traffic police personnel only to ensure that the blocked U-turn junctions are not breached throughout the day. Instead of this, they should have given preference to make the traffic signals functional,” said Fayaz Ahmad, a local shopkeeper from Baramulla.

A top police official told KNO that the traffic lights developed technical snags as they were not put to use for a prolonged period.

“This can be one of the reasons why the lights have not been made functional till date,” the police official said.

Amid the delay in making traffic lights functional, the traffic mess has become the order of the day in the town.

Meanwhile, an official from the traffic department when contacted told KNO, that the system has been handed over to the district police for the management, not to the concerned traffic police.

Meanwhile, DySP Headquarters Baramulla when contacted said he was not authorised to talk over the issue.

Another top Police official however said Manning traffic lights were not in their domain. “The traffic is looked after by SP rural,” he said—(KNO)

Srinagar, Dec 26 : Unlike two years of Covid pandemic, hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir witnessed resumption of all services.

The pandemic changed lives of people across the globe with lockdowns enforced by the government affecting all. But this year saw the resumption of life.

Many patients, who had to wait for treatment after the services were suspended in the hospitals in face of huge influx, returned to hospitals for treatment.

As per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Hundred percent vaccination and 100 percent saturation under the AB PM-JAY SEHAT scheme were achieved this year in most of the district while registration process is going on to connect the whole population with this scheme and hundreds of critical procedures were conducted free of cost through Ayushmaan Bharat Scheme.

One hundred and forty ongoing/new health projects have been undertaken under PMDP; 102 projects have been completed, while 38 are near completion. Out of targeted 2029 Sub Centres, 1,470 have been operationalized as Health and Wellness Centres.

The work on two All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), one each at Vijaypur (Samba), Jammu and Awantipora (Pulwama), Kashmir @2000 crore each is under progress.

Seven New Medical Colleges (Anantnag, Baramulla, Rajouri, Doda, Kathua, Handwara and Udhampur) have been sanctioned by the Government of India. Five Medical colleges have been made functional on makeshift arrangements basis. Two Medical Colleges shall be made functional in the financial year 2024-25. Classes are operational for 1st batch of MBBS students in respect of five new medical colleges. This has increased the MBBS intake capacity from 500 to 1100 seats in the UT of J&K.

Fifteen B.Sc. Nursing Colleges have been sanctioned by the Government of India, to improve the Nursing education and availability of Trained Nursing Staff.

Two State Cancer Institutes are under construction in the UT, one at SKIMS Soura, Srinagar and the other at GMC Jammu which are expected to be completed soon.

Several new facilities like 500 bedded Children hospital Bemina were made operational this year and some procedures were carried out for the first time in J&K hospitals—(KNO)

Srinagar, Dec 26 : Pahalgam, a famous tourist destination received snowfall on Monday evening while the night temperature continued to plummet across Kashmir, intensifying the chill further in the Valley.

Reports reaching the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that Pahalgam received heavy snowfall today evening and was going on when the report was last filed.

However, the other areas of Kashmir continued to witness dry spell while the sub-zero temperature continued at most parts of the Valley.

Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir recorded a low of minus 3.5 degree Celsius while Qazigund in South Kashmir recorded a low of minus 4.2 degree Celsius.

Pahalgam and Kokernag in Southern districts of Kashmir recorded a low of minus 5.7 degree Celsius and minus 2.5 degree Celsius respectively.

Gulmarg, a famous ski –resort also recorded a low of minus 5.6 degree Celsius while minus 3.5 degree Celsius was recorded in Kupwara.

Pertinently, the weatherman has predicted two-day wet-spell from December 29 in Kashmir, saying that there is a possibility of light to moderate rain, snow in between December 29 and 30—(KNO)

Budgam, Dec 24: Police have arrested a man for committing unnatural sexual offense upon a minor boy in Chadoora area of Budgam district.

According to a statement, issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), police received a written complaint from parents of minor boy that their son was kidnapped by one Mohammad Sidiq Sheikh (60) of Gogjipathri, Chadoora, a few days back and had been taken to Jammu where he committed unnatural sexual offence upon him.

“In this connection, Case FIR number 205/2022 under relevant sections of law was registered at Police Station Chadoora, and the investigation was taken up.”

It reads during the course of the investigation, after the medical examination, the victim was shifted to Child Protection Unit Budgam.

“Today morning, the accused was arrested from Railway Station Budgam and has been booked under POCSO Act besides other sections of law. Further investigation into the matter is going on,” it reads—(KNO)

Srinagar, Dec 25: As Christmas is being celebrated across the world today, a group of Muslims visited a Catholic Church in Srinagar city on Sunday to celebrate the festival with their Christian brethren to give a message of communal harmony and brotherhood.

As per details available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), they distributed sweets, exchanged greetings with the Christian brethren and also wore Santa hats to share joy and celebrate the festival.

Talking to reporters here, Maulana Abdullah, who was leading the groups, said they came to the Church to celebrate the festival with their Christian brethren and to spread the message of communal harmony, brotherhood and peace.

“This is small community here and they feel isolated on such festive occasions, so took this opportunity and came here to celebrate this festival with them with the aim that they don’t isolated and also give a message of communal harmony and brotherhood,” he said.

He said some vested interests have been spreading fake narratives across the globe that minorities were not safe here, which is not true.

“We came here today to bust that narrative and wanted to show the world that we are one and we belong to one god as well, regardless of our religions,” he added.

Meanwhile, talking to KNO, Father Brito said Christmas is a message of love, joy and happiness.

“Our Muslim brothers have always stood by us on these occasions and Christmas is an occasion which gives us an opportunity to share that joy, happiness and brotherhood with each other,” he said—(KNO)

Budgam, December 25: Budgam Police have arrested three vehicle lifters and recovered stolen vehicle from Parimpora area of District Srinagar.

Yesterday (24 Dec) Police Post Soibugh received a written complaint from one Javaid Ahmad Shiekh Son in law of Ghulam Nabi Shiekh R/O Churpora to the effect that during intervening night of 22/23-11-2022 his vehicle Tavera bearing Reg. No JK01P/2371 which he had parked along road side at Churpora Aarath has been stolen by some unknown thief/ thieves, police officials said in a press statement issued.

In this connection, Case FIR number 410/2022 under relevant section of law was registered at Police Station Budgam and investigation taken up.

During the course of investigation, after strenuous efforts in the instant case and working on various leads, the stolen vehicle was recovered from Parimpora barthana area of district Srinagar within 24 hours and one accused person involved in vehicle theft case was arrested who was identified as Lateef Pathan son of Ali Pathan resident of Mujipathri Khansahib During sustained questioning, the accused disclosed names of 02 of his accomplices who also were involved in commission of crime.

Accordingly, police team of Police Post Soibugh arrested the duo thieves from court road Batmaloo Srinagar.They have been identified as Parvaiz Ahmed Sheikh son of Ab Ahad Sheikh resident of Kechama Baramulla and Altaf Ahmed Sheikh son of Ab Wahab Sheikh resident of Gantamullah Baramulla. Investigation of the case is going on and more recoveries are expected.

Srinagar, Dec 25: The mercury plummeted across Kashmir Valley with most places including Srinagar recording this season’s coldest night on Sunday.

A meteorological department official here told GNS that Srinagar recorded a low of minus 5.8°C against the previous night 5.4°C. Today’s minimum temperature was the coldest recorded so far during this season and 3.8°C below normal for the summer capital, the official said.

Qazigund recorded a low of minus 5.0°C against minus 4.4°C on the previous night. The temperature was 3.0°C below normal as well as the season’s coldest for the gateway town of Kashmir, he said.

Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of minus 7.0°C against 6.4°C on the previous night. Apart from being below normal by 2.0°C, it was the coldest night this season in the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

Kokernag recorded a low of minus 2.2°C against minus 3.9°C on the previous night, he said. It was 0.1°C below normal for the place, he said.

Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 5.6°C against minus 6.4°C on the previous night, the official said. It was 0.2°C above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, the official said.

In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at minus 6.0°C against minus 5.2°C on the previous night, the official said. While being 3.4°C below normal, it was the coldest temperature recorded so far this winter in the north Kashmir area, he said.

Jammu recorded a low of 4.1°C against 4.2°C on the previous night. It was 4.1°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said. Banihal recorded a low of minus 0.3°C ( below normal by 1.2°C), Batote 0.6°C (2.1°C below normal), Katra 5.8°C (1.1°C below normal) and Bhadarwah minus 1.0°C (0.5°C below normal).

In Ladakh, Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 14.5°C and 12.4°C respectively, the official said.

Kashmir is under Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day long harsh winter period that started on December 21 is in its infancy, it does not mean an end to the winter. It is followed by a 20-day-long period called ‘Chillai-Khurd’ that occurs between January 30 and February 19 and a 10-day-long period ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) which is from February 20 to March 1.

“Mainly dry weather is expected till 25th December. From December 26-30th, generally cloudy weather is expected with intermittent light snow at isolated to scattered places on higher reaches of North, Northwestern and central Kashmir during 29 (Night) -30th,” he said, adding, “Slight improvement in minimum temperature and respite from cold and dry weather is expected from 26th to 31st December.” (GNS)