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Jammu & Kashmir

Pesky power cuts haunt Kashmiris, KPDCL says curtailments outcome of 60% increase in electricity demand

by JKREVOLUTION November 8, 2022

written by JKREVOLUTION

Srinagar, Nov 08 : As the people across Kashmir have complained of pesky power cuts from the past few days, the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) here has said that the curtailments are the outcome of the 60% increase in the electricity demand.

Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Chief Engineer, KPDCL, Javed Yousuf Dar said that a new power curtailment schedule for winters will be announced by or before November 15.

He said that the electricity demand has increased by 50-60 per cent in the past few days, which has led to the curtailments while the shutdown of two transmission lines had also added to the further power cuts.

Dar further said that the situation has improved from yesterday after the two transmission lines started functioning again.

Pertinently, people from different areas across Kashmir have complained of pesky power cuts, saying that the erratic power supply in the past few days has added to their miseries.

“Most of the time, we are being forced to reel under darkness as the concerned department has resorted to frequent power cuts,” the consumers said, adding that the irregular power cuts indicates the winter period would be once again difficult for the people in terms of electricity.

“We appeal the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha and the concerned department to look into the matter and ensure that the pesky power cuts are put to an immediate end,” the consumers said—(KNO)

November 8, 2022 0 comment

Health Jammu & Kashmir

Using gas heaters in winters can prove “silent killers” if precautions not taken, say Kashmir’s leading medicos

by JKREVOLUTION November 8, 2022

written by JKREVOLUTION

Srinagar, Nov 08 : As winter has almost set in pushing people across Kashmir to buy heating gadgets including gas heaters etc, the leading medicos in the Valley on Wednesday said the use of gas heaters during winters can prove as “silent killers” if proper cautions aren’t taken.

The doctors urged people to ensure proper ventilation in rooms and not to use gas heaters in bedrooms. Talking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Kashmir’s leading medico at Government Medical College (GMC) College Srinagar, Dr Nisar ul Hassan said that the heaters emit combustion products like carbon monoxide and once it reaches a particular level inside a room, a person gets “carbon monoxide poisoning”.

Hassan said the best way to prevent deaths due to unvented gas heaters is to discontinue their use and instead, use vented gas heaters. “Heaters with fixed chimneys can be used during winters,” he said.

Dr Nisar said that if people continue using unvented gas heaters, they should not use them in bedrooms, bathrooms or in any enclosed spaces. These heaters should only be used in rooms with adequate ventilation,” he said.

Hassan said unvented gas heaters should not be used for more than four hours per day, since it is meant to supplement other heating methods rather than providing the main heating source.

“These heaters are commonly used during winters to keep rooms warm particularly at night. It has no chimney to vent the combustion products like carbon monoxide outside the home, as a result, this toxic pollutant remains in the room and exposure to high levels of this toxic causes death,” he said.

“Carbon monoxide is a silent killer as you can’t see it, you can’t smell it and you can’t taste it. The individual is rendered completely helpless without feeling the harm thus becoming unconscious during sleep leading to death,” Dr Nisar said, adding that when carbon monoxide is inhaled by a person when he or she falls asleep, it direct goes into the lungs, mixes with the blood and can either cause a heart attack or a brain stroke which ultimately leads to the death of the person silently.

Dr Nisar said people who are particularly vulnerable to carbon monoxide poisoning, including children, elderly, pregnant women and those with chronic medical conditions.

Head of the Department Chest Diseases hospital Srinagar, Dr Naveed Nazir told KNO that during winter, respiratory tract infections shows an upward trend. “People use polythene on windows and doors to maintain temperature but they forget to keep the ventilation with the result harmful gasses remain in the room. In the past we have seen many deaths caused by the consumption of carbon monoxide,” he said. “People can use gadgets like gas heaters but there has to be proper ventilation. Without ventilation in the room, use of gas heaters can prove harmful.”

Dr Naveed urged people to buy gas heaters that are certified by the regulatory authority. “Focus has to be on proper ventilation so that people remain safe during winters,” he said—(KNO)

November 8, 2022 0 comment

Jammu & Kashmir Top Stories

20 injured as bus turns turtle in Handwara

by JKREVOLUTION November 8, 2022

written by JKREVOLUTION

Waris Fayaz

Handwara, Nov 08 : At least 20 persons were injured when a vehicle they were travelling in met with an accident in Watayin area of Handwara in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Tuesday.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a bus turned turtle near Watayin when it was on way to Srinagar.

He said that in the at least 20 persons were injured and they were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The official added that among 20 injured 14 were later referred to district hospital Handwara—(KNO)

November 8, 2022 0 comment

Jammu & Kashmir

As mercury falls in Kashmir, many Govt, Pvt schools san heating arrangements

by JKREVOLUTION November 7, 2022

written by JKREVOLUTION

Srinagar, Nov 07 : As the mercury continues to take a dip in winter zones of Kashmir valley, educators in majority of the schools here say that the heating challenges are urgent concerns to look-after to safeguard health of the students.

The news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), spoke to some of the teachers at government-run-schools and recognized private schools of Kashmir who says that most of the middle and primary government schools san the basic facilities.

One of the teachers said, “There is no heating facilities or arrangement in almost most of the middle and primary schools. They even san benches and matting facilities.”

Lamenting on the issues, the teacher further said, “In a number of government schools, there are damaged window pans and doors.” Adding, “The ironical part of the education sector in Kashmir valley is that majority of the private and government schools in peripheries don’t even have a basic infrastructure.”

“Only a few chunk of government run schools have heating facility for the students,” he said.

Another teacher said, “Most of the students enrolled in the government-run-schools belong from the underprivileged families and they are being deprived from the heating facilities.”

He further said that the valley is snooping into the winter season and the dip in mercury can make students unwell. There is an immediate need of heating facilities so that the students can continue their education healthily.”

Meanwhile, another teacher of a private school informed that the management of most of the schools has not provided the heating facilities to the students. “If the weather continues to remain down the mercury, students will be unwell because of the dearth of heating facilities.”

She said, “Only a few private schools here have heating facilities for the students.”

In the meantime, when contacted to Director of School Education Kashmir (DSEK), Tassaduq Hussain Mir did not respond to the calls from this reporter—(KNO)

November 7, 2022 0 comment

Jammu & Kashmir

To evaluate drug de-addiction program, J&K Nationalist People’s Front held a meeting at Srinagar

by JKREVOLUTION November 7, 2022

written by JKREVOLUTION

Srinagar, Nov 07 : To assess the status of the drug addiction programme, the Jammu and Kashmir Nationalist People’s Front (JKNPF) met with maulvis, youth activists, and educationists on Monday.

The meeting was held to analyse and evaluate the development of the drug addiction treatment programme that the JKNPF has launched in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

The meeting was conducted in Srinagar under the supervision of chief patron Sanjay Kumar and president Sheikh Muzaffar.

The chief patron Sanjay Kumar said that the party workers have laid an impressive foundation for keeping people, especially youth, away from drugs.

It is pertinent to mention that the JKNPF is the only political party in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir that has brought up the subject of widespread addiction while also promoting drug de-addiction in J&K.

During the meeting, a number of subjects were covered. Religious leaders, youth activists, and educationists were urged to raise awareness about substance use and propose solutions to the drug abuse problem pertaining in our society..

November 7, 2022 0 comment

Jammu & Kashmir Top Stories

Sopore police crack IED blast incident in Bandipora, 2 hybrid militants arrested

by JKREVOLUTION November 7, 2022

written by JKREVOLUTION

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Nov 07 : Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday said that it cracked the recent IED blast incident in Kehnusa village of Bandipora district by arresting two hybrid militants from Sopore area of North Kashmir.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sopore, Shabir Nawab while holding a press conference at Police Hqrs in Sopore said that two Lashkar-e-Toiba hybrid militants were arrested from Watlab area of Sopore on Monday morning.

The SSP as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said, that the duo were apprehended on the basis of specific inputs generated by the Sopore police. “Three IEDs with detonators were also recovered from them, thus averting a major tragedy”, the SSP said.

Officials identified the duo as Irshad Ahmed Ganaie alias Shahid son of Sonaullah Ganaie and Waseem Raja son of Ghulam Mohd Lone – both the residents of Kenusa, Bandipora.

Notably, on October 27, a low intensity blast occurred at Kehnusa, Bandipora wherein no casualties were reported in the incident.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Police in a press release issued to KNO said that acting on specific information, a special checkpoint was established by police near Watlab Crossing in Sopore. During checking a suspicious person carrying a white coloured bag coming from Bandipora towards Watlab was signalled to stop. However, the said suspicious person tried to flee from the spot but he was tactfully apprehended by the alert police party.

“On search, 02 IEDs were recovered from the white coloured bag he was carrying. He has been identified as Irshad Ahmad Ganie alias Shahid son of Sonawallha Ganie resident of Kehnusa Bandipora,” it reads.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused person is a hybrid terrorist linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT. On his further disclosure, another hybrid terrorist identified as Wasim Raja Lone son of Ghulam Mohd Lone resident of Kehnusa Bandipora was arrested from whose possession one more IED was recovered, the statement reads further.

During further questioning, the arrested duo revealed that they had planned and executed the IED attack in the Kenusa area of Bandipora on 27/10/2022, the police said.

With the arrest and recovery of three IEDs, Police said it averted a possible major tragedy as the arrested accused were planning to carry out more IED blasts.

In this regard, a case FIR no 251/2022 under relevant sections of law has been registered and further investigation is in progress, ends the statement—(KNO)

November 7, 2022 0 comment

Jammu & Kashmir Top Stories

Spotting of snow leopard in Kashmir to give major boost to conservation of species, say Wildlife Officials

by JKREVOLUTION November 7, 2022

written by JKREVOLUTION

Ganderbal, Nov 07 : Spotting of snow leopard, an endangered animal in the upper reaches of Kashmir for the first time, will give a significant boost to the efforts aimed at the conservation of the species, Wildlife Officials said Monday.

Interestingly, the researchers from the Nature Conservation Foundation, who are partners with the J&K wildlife department, recently noticed the movement of snow leopard in the upper reaches of Baltal-Zojila area of Kashmir.

Altaf Hussain Dentoo, Wildlife Warden, Central division told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the snow leopard is probably in Kashmir. “Recently, we also received some photos, so there is a good chance that snow leopards may be found in Kashmir,” he said, adding that “We’re currently working on an endangered species prevention project in the Kashmir Valley, and we’re also doing some research on it.”

He said that snow leopards are not harmful to humans. “They attack only when they feel endangered. The Jammu and Kashmir department of wildlife protection has formally launched the first-ever snow leopard assessment in J&K

J&K’s Department of Wildlife Protection and Programme Manager of National Conservation Foundation (NCF) in a statement issued to KNO, said that the Department of Wildlife Protection had been conducting surveys with partner NGOs to understand the presence and abundance of snow leopards under the Snow Leopard Population Assessment of India (SPAI) project funded by the Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change.

It said that this iconic and culturally treasured great cat was a good indicator species as it quickly reacts to habitat disturbances and its successful conservation requires sustainable long-term systemic solutions to the threats impacting the quality of habitats.

“Various teams have been conducting surveys across the near 12,000 sq km potential snow leopard of J&K for a few years now covering Gurez, Thajwas, Baltal-Zojila, Wurwun, and Kishtwar landscapes. There is extremely limited evidence of snow leopard occurrence across J&K,” the statement said.

It said that recently in a historic revelation, partners on this project, and researchers from Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) recorded images of the snow leopard in the upper Baltal-Zojila region of Kashmir.

The statement further reads that the team involved in the camera trapping was headed by Munib Khanyari and accompanied by Aashiq Dar of Tangmarg, Baramulla, Aijaz Raina of Sarbal, Sonamarg, Tanzin Thuktan, Rinchen Tobge, and Kesang Chunit of Kibber, Himachal Pradesh.

It said that they were supported extensively by the staff of the Department of Wildlife Protection and the research associates and supported by Suresh Kumar Gupta, IFS Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden and Regional Wildlife Warden – Kashmir Rashid Yahya Naqash.

Notably, India had launched Project Snow Leopard in 2009 to save the elusive and vulnerable species. Unofficial estimates put the population of snow leopards in India around 500. It is believed that about 60% of the snow leopards in the country roam the snowy wilderness of the Himalayan region of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir at an altitude of about 3,000 metres. The rest are found in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

The present snow leopard population assessment in J&K covers potential areas in Kishtwar and adjoining forests in Jammu, Gurez, Thajwas and Overa Aru in Kashmir region—(KNO)

November 7, 2022 0 comment

Jammu & Kashmir Top Stories

Govt decides to hike DA of employees, pensioners by 4% from Jul 01

by JKREVOLUTION November 7, 2022

written by JKREVOLUTION

Srinagar, Nov 07 : The Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to hike the Dearness Allowance (DA) of employees and pensioners by four per cent with effect from 01 July, 2022.

An order issued by Secretary Finance Department, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the government employees working in regular pay levels under 7th Pay Commission recommendations, will be paid Dearness Allowance at a revised rate of 38% of Basic Pay from the existing 34% of Basic Pay.

“The term ‘Basic Pay’ in the revised pay structure means the pay drawn in the prescribed level in the pay matrix as per 7th Pay Commission recommendations, but does not include any other type of pay like special pay etc,” the order reads.

It further said that the arrears on account of additional instalment of DA with effect from July, 2022 shall be paid in cash in two equal installments (one in the month of November, 2022 and other in the month of December, 2022) and shall form part of salary from November onwards.

Similar order has been issued regarding the pensioners/family pensioners. “The arrears on account of additional instalment of DA with effect from July shall be paid in cash to Government Pensioners/Family pensioners in two equal installments (one in November and other in December) and shall form part of pension /family pension from November onwards,” it said.

“Other provisions governing the grant of Dearness Allowance on pension/family pension such as the regulations of Dearness Allowance during employment Ire-employment, where more than one pension is drawn etc. and other provisions of the existing rules/orders(as are not in conflict with provisions of this order), shall continue to remain in force.”—(KNO)

November 7, 2022 0 comment

Jammu & Kashmir Top Stories

Sopore police crack IED blast incident in Bandipora, 2 hybrid militants arrested: ADGP Kashmir

by JKREVOLUTION November 7, 2022

written by JKREVOLUTION

Srinagar, Nov 07 : Additional director general of police Kashmir zone, Vijay Kumar on Monday said that Sopore police have cracker the recent IED blast incident in Kehnusa village of Bandipora district by arrested two hybrid militants.

In a Tweet, Kashmir Zone police, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) informed that two hybrid militants involved in IED blast in Kehnusa village have been arrested.

Police said that two remote controlled IEDs with detonators have also been recovered from their possession.

“Sopore Police has cracked the recent IED blast incident at Kenusa Bandipora. 02 hybrid terrorists namely Irshad Ganaie @ Shahid & Waseem Raja of Kenusa Bandipora arrested. 02 remote controlled IEDs with detonators recovered. Case registered & investigation going on,” police tweeted—(KNO)

November 7, 2022 0 comment

Jammu & Kashmir Top Stories

Mughal, SSG Roads Closed Due To Snowfall; People Advised To Confirm Highway Status Before Travel

by JKREVOLUTION November 7, 2022

written by JKREVOLUTION

Jammu/Srinagar, Nov 7 : Mughal road remained closed for vehicular movement for the second consecutive day due to snowfall, officials said on Monday.

The Mughal road, connecting twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri with Shopian was closed for traffic on early Sunday after snowfall at several places enroute including Pir Ki Gali (PKG), Mansar Mohre and Posha, a police officer told.

Similarly, the officials said, traffic has been closed on Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumari road after snowfall in areas around Sonamarg. The thoroughfare was also closed on Sunday morning but was reopened later. Fresh snowfall however has forced its fresh closure, they said.

Meanwhile, traffic authorities have urged people to confirm the status of Jammu-Srinagar highway before embarking on a journey on the thoroughfare.

“People are advised to undertake journey on (the highway) only after confirming status of the road from TCUs Jmu 0191-2459048, 0191-2740550, 9419147732), Sgr 0194-2450022, 2485396, 1800180709, Rbn 9419993745),” traffic department said.

A traffic department official told GNS that intermittent shooting stones continue to occur at Mehar Ramban due to rainy weather. (GNS)

November 7, 2022 0 comment

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