J&K reports 2nd COVID-19 death

30/03/2020
JAMMU, Mar 29: A COVID-19 positive patient has died in Srinagar, said Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary (Planning), Jammu and Kashmir Government. "Sad start of the day. The unfortunate demise of a coronavirus patient has been reported from Srinagar this morning," said Kansal. With this, two COVID-19 deaths have now been reported from the Union Territory. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), there are 918 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country, out of which 79 ...

COVID-19 cases surpass 1,000-mark; death toll rises to 27

30/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 29: The number of novel coronavirus cases crossed the 1,000-mark on Sunday after 106 fresh cases were reported in the past 24 hours across the country, while the death toll rose to 27, according to the Union Health Ministry. The number of active COVID-19 cases stands at 901, while 95 people were either cured or discharged and one had migrated, the ministry stated. In an updated data at 7.30 pm, it said the two fresh deaths were reported from Gujarat, while there was a fatality ...

Restrictions tightened in Kashmir

30/03/2020
SRINAGAR, Mar 29: Restrictions on the movement and assembly of people in Kashmir to contain the spread of the coronavirus were intensified on Sunday as the union territory recorded its second COVID-19 death, a day after 13 fresh cases were confirmed, officials said. The restrictions on the movement and assembly of people in Kashmir continued for the 11th consecutive day on Sunday, they said. The officials said the curbs across the Valley have been tightened to minimise the movement of the peop...

Govt sets up high-level panels to deal with situation post lockdown; restore normalcy

30/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 29: The government on Sunday constituted 11 empowered groups to suggest measures to ramp up healthcare, put the economy back on track and reduce misery of people as quickly as possible post 21-day lockdown imposed to contain the coronavirus pandemic. These groups constituted for ensuring a comprehensive and integrated response to COVID-19 and work under the overall guidance of P K Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, sources said. The initiative is being viewed as...

POTA Court Jammu grants hears bail on Watsapp; grants bail In U.L.A case

30/03/2020
JAMMU, Mar 29: Mr. Subash C. Gupta 3rd Addl Sessions Judge and Spl Judge for POTA/fast track court granted bail to one Masood Ahmed who was arrested by Police Station Kishtwar under various sections of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. The Court considered the application virtually; through watapp wherein the application was moved by A.K. Sawhney Advocate with Mr Akeel Wani Advocate under present circumstances of lockdown as per guidelines laid down by the High Court of J&K. Mr. A.K. Sawhn...

PM seeks nation’s for giveness for tough decisions, says India will surely defeat coronavirus

30/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 29: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday sought the nation's forgiveness for imposing a monumental lockdown on the country, but said "we have to win ... and we will definitely win the battle" against the unprecedented menace of coronavirus that has claimed 25 lives in India so far. In his monthly Mann kiBaat radio address to the nation, Modi also praised the front-line workers in the fight against the virus as well as countless workers in the essential services who are ensurin...

Transportation of all essential, non-essential goods allowed during lockdown: MHA

30/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 29: Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla on Sunday asked all states and Union territories to allow transportation of all goods, without distinction of essential and non-essential, during the lockdown period. The home secretary made it clear that the newspaper delivery supply chain was also allowed under exemptions given for print media. In a letter to chief secretaries of the states and the Union territories, Bhalla said the entire supply chain of milk collection and distribution, i...

Farooq releases Rs 1.5 cr to Srinagar hospitals

30/03/2020
SRINAGAR, Mar 29: National Conference (NC) President and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Sunday released an additional amount of Rs 1.5 crore for Srinagar based hospitals to combat COVID-19. The amount will be equally distributed among three hospitals in Srinagar -- SMHS hospital, CD Hospital and GB Pant Hospital. "Continuing our commitment to fight #COVID19, Party President and MP Srinagar Dr Farooq Abdullah today released an additional amount of Rs 1.5 crore to Srinagar based hospit...

Cargo flights will be used to transport medical equipment, essential goods to NE: Jitendra

30/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 29: Cargo flights will be used exclusively for transporting medical equipment and emergency goods, besides other essential items to the northeastern states, in the wake of the countrywide lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Sunday. This will go a long way in reassuring the people of the North-East region that even in this hour of trial, they are receiving as much attention as any other part of the country, he said. The contact details...

Fresh air, deep breath, exercise, soft music: Omar shares tips' on surviving lockdown

30/03/2020
SRINAGAR, Mar 29: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah, who was released Tuesday after 232 days in detention, has been sharing tips on surviving quarantine or a lockdown, drawing on his months of experience . His advises have been coming in the form of a tweet thread which he started on March 24. Fresh air really helped - deep breaths near an open window," Abdullah wrote in one of his tweets, as the country remained under a 21-day lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra...

Military, defence ministry employees to donate one day’s salary to PM’s COVID-19 fund

30/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 29: The Army, Navy and the Indian Air Force as well as employees of the defence ministry have decided to donate one day's salary totalling around Rs 500 crore to the relief fund announced by Prime Minister NarendraModi to help fight the coronavirus outbreak in the country. Separately, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced that he will donate one month's salary to the fund. On Saturday, Modi announced setting up of the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergenc...

Pakistan violates ceasefire along LoC in Poonch

30/03/2020
POONCH, Mar 29: Pakistan violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kerani and Qasba sectors of Poonch district, on Sunday. Indian Army retaliated effectively. More details are awaited.

13 more test +ve of coronavirus in J&K, highest in a day

29/03/2020
>Testing in J&K highest in country-nearly 10% of surveillance cases being tested >11 exclusively COVID hospitals earmarked, 35000 quarantine facility created across UT: Kansal SRINAGAR, Mar 28: Thirteen people more tested positive for coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, taking the total number of cases to 33. Of these, 24 cases have been reported from Valley while nine are from Jammu region. "Hardly do I finish my press briefing - 28 cases- that I get more unpleasant news -5 ne...

COVID-19: India registers 179 fresh cases, highest in single day; PM announces special fund

29/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 28: India reported 179 fresh COVID-19 cases, highest in a single day, taking the tally to 918, and the death toll climbed to 19 on Saturday, as the government made efforts to shore up healthcare infrastructure, including procurement of ventilators, and Prime Minister NarendraModi announced a special contributory fund, amid looming fears of the country entering the third stage of community transmission. The Centre asked the state governments and Union Territory administrations to...

2 terrorist associates arrested; Arms & ammunition recovered

29/03/2020
SRINAGAR, Mar 28: Baramulla police have arrested two terrorist associates linked to proscribed terror outfit LeT. They have been identified as Showkat Ahmad Mir @Molvi resident of WussanPattan and Showkat Ahmad Yatoo resident of Chanderhama, Pattan. Arms and ammunition including one Pistol, one Pistol Magazine, 06 Pistol rounds, one Hand Grenade, one AK- 47 Magazine, 32 AK-47 rounds and other incriminating materials were recovered from their possession. Earlier, a complaint was received by Po...

LG calls for doubling the efforts to contain spread of the virus

29/03/2020
JAMMU, Mar 28: Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu today asked the officers engaged in Corona prevention efforts to double the efforts for containing the spread of the deadly virus. He was chairing a high level meeting here at Raj Bhavan. Kewal Kumar Sharma, Farooq Khan, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar and Baseer Ahmed Khan - Advisors to the Lt Governor; BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary; Arun Kumar Mehta, Financial Commissioner, Finance Department; Atal Dulloo, Financial Commissioner Health and Me...

Multiple landslides blocks Jammu-Srinagar NH, hundreds of trucks stranded

29/03/2020
Jammu, Mar 28: The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was blocked at over a dozen places by landslides triggered by heavy rains in Ramban district, leaving hundreds of trucks carrying essential commodities to Kashmir stranded, officials said on Saturday. The men and machinery are on the job and efforts are on to make the 270-km-long highway, the only all weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, trafficable, they said. High altitude areas of Jammu and Kashmir experienced snowfal...

Restrictions continue in Kashmir, police book several people for organising Friday prayers

29/03/2020
SRINAGAR, Mar 28: The restrictions on the movement and assembly of people to curb the spread of the coronavirus continued in Kashmir for the tenth consecutive on Saturday, even as police booked several people for defying the lockdown by organising congregational prayers on Friday, officials said. While most of the mosques and shrines in the valley were shut, a few mosques held the Friday prayers, they added. The police booked several people for defying the prohibitory orders and organising the...

FAKE GUN LICENSE SCAM: CBI Court grants interim bail to Ex-DCs, others

29/03/2020
Srinagar, Mar 28: Special Judge Anticorruption CBI Srinagar Mohan Singh Parihar today granted interim bail up tp April 27, 2020 to Rajeev Ranjan Ex Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Metropolitan Regulatory Authority and Ex-vVice Chairman Jammu Development Authority (JDA) and writ HussainRafiqui then Deputy Magistrates of Kupwara District and Rahul Grover in alleged fake Gun License Scam. While granting bail Special Judge Anticorruption CBI Srinagar Mohan Singh Parihar after considering the prayer ...

States can use Rs 29,000 cr SDRF fund for food, shelter to migrant workers: MHA

29/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 28: The Centre on Saturday asked the state governments and Union Territory administrations to utilise the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), to which Rs 29,000 crorehas been allocated for the next fiscal, for providing food and shelter to migrant workers hit by the 21-day lockdown. Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs Punya Salila Srivastava said the central government has also asked the states and UTs to set up camps for migrant workers fleeing cities and carry out...

Terror conspiracy case: Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist sent to police custody till Apr 4

29/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 28: A court here has sent an alleged Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist to police custody in a case in which Jammu and Kashmir Police officer Davinder Singh was arrested earlier. Special Judge Gurvinder Pal Singh sent Syed Naveed Mushtaq to police custody till April 4 on Friday after the police said he and the other accused in the case were planning to execute terror attacks in Delhi and other parts of the country & targeted killings of protected persons. Singh, a deputy superintendent...

Shah reviews situation in view of lockdown

29/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 28: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday reviewed the prevailing situation in the country in the wake of the ongoing 21-day lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus. At a high-level meeting at the North Block, Shah took stock of the steps taken to provide essential commodities to people during the period. "Meeting with officials of different departments working in the control room of the Ministry of Home Affairs, MoS @nityanandraibjp, MoS @kishanreddybjp," the minister ...

Amid spike in coronavirus cases, India boosts capacity for tougher challenges ahead

29/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 28: Amid looming fears of coronavirus infection entering the community transmission stage, India is boosting its overall health infrastructure by initiating measures like designating dedicated hospitals for affected patients in states, ramping up procurement of ventilators and mobilising resources of Railways and armed forces to deal with tougher challenges ahead. As of now, the country reported 873 coronavirus cases and 19 deaths. Even though the Health Ministry and Indian Coun...

Akshay Kumar to donate Rs 25 crore to PM-CARES Fund, Varun Dhawan pledges Rs 30 lakhs

29/03/2020
MUMBAI, Mar 28: Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar on Saturday announced that he will be donating Rs 25 crore to the emergency fund launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to combat health contingencies like the coronavirus. PM Modi had earlier on Saturday announced the creation of the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM-CARES) where people can contribute and help the government in the fight against the COVID-19. Taking to Twitter, Akshay said that s...

Radha Soami Satsang Beas comes out with packed food distribution in Jammu, Samba, Kathua

28/03/2020
JAMMU, Mar 27: Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB) a spiritual organisation having pan India presence, has come out to extend help to the Govt. of the various States in India including UT of J&K. The RadhaSoami Sect headed by Head Baba Gurinder Singh Dhillon, who is a philanthropist, had issued instructions to all the field functionaries to open up its centres in J&K, Punjab and other places where ever required by the administration for helping the needy persons in the hour of pandemic and global...

6 more test positive of COVID-19

28/03/2020
200 additional isolation beds readied at Gandhi Nagar hospital Imam booked for lockdown violation JAMMU, Mar 27: The Government today informed that 5763 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been put under surveillance and, so far, 20 cases have tested positive in Jammu and Kashmir (18 active positive, 1 recovered and 1 death). Principal Secretary (Planning Commission) RohitKansaltweeted # COVID19 #JammuAnd Kashmir As we end the day, two more positive cases confirmed ...

Provide feedback on problems faced by people due to COVID-19 outbreak: PM tells RJs

28/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 27: Prime Minister NarendraModi on Friday urged radio jockeys to provide feedback on the difficulties and challenges faced by people due to the coronavirus outbreak to help the government resolve their problems swiftly. Interacting with a group of radio jockeys via video, he also urged them to spread information about the views of experts and steps taken by the government to tackle the situation. Underlining the importance of empathy, the prime minster said it is important to te...

Pak violates ceasefire again, resorts to shelling along LoC

28/03/2020
JAMMU, Mar 27: Pakistani troops have violated the ceasefire again by resorting to unprovoked firing and mortar shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district, an official said on Friday. According to reports, the shelling began on Thursday night and continued till Friday morning. "Pak army violated ceasefire along LoC by resorting to firing with small arms & shelling with mortars in Mendhar sector since 2345 hours," defence spokesperson said. The Indian Army is retaliating befit...

On public demand, ‘Ramayan’ & ‘Mahabharat’ makes comeback

28/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 27: Doordarshan and DD Bharati will be telecasting mythological series "Ramayan" & "Mahab-harat" respectively from Saturday on public demand, Union Infor-mation and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar has said. Many social media users had demanded the airing of "Ramayan", directed by RamanandSagar, and Mahabharat, directed by B R Chopra, amid the 21-day nationwide lockdown. Two days ago, PrasarBharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati said they were working on it. On Friday, Javade...

RBI ‘bazooka’ - interest rate cut, EMI freeze, Rs 3.74 lakh cr liquidity to fight corona fallout

28/03/2020
MUMBAI, Mar 27: The RBI on Friday allowed banks to put on hold EMI payments on all term loans for three months, slashed the cost of fresh borrowing by cutting policy interest rate by steepest in more than 11 years and infused a massive Rs 3.74 lakh crore liquidity as it joined the efforts of the government to counter the economic fallout of coronavirus pandemic. Recognising the urgency of initiating a monetary policy response to the Covid-19's economic shock to the economy, the Reserve Bank of...

Govt exempts procurement agencies, mandis, farming operations, farm workers from lockdown rules

28/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 27: To ensure that farmers do not face problem in harvesting of rabi crops in the coming days, the Centre on Friday exempted mandis, procurement agencies, farm operations, agri machinery hiring centres as well as intra- and inter-state movement of farm implements from the lockdown rules. The government has also exempted farm workers as well as manufacturing and packaging units of fertilisers, pesticides and seeds from the lockdown order, according to the latest directive issued ...

Coronavirus in India: Covid-19 count crosses 800-mark

28/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 27: The total number of known coronavirus cases has crossed the 800-mark on Friday with the death toll due to Covid-19 at 17. At over 100 new cases, Friday witnessed the highest rise in novel coronavirus cases in a single day in India. As per the Union health ministry data, 80 fresh cases were reported on Thursday, taking the tally to 694. By Friday 07:30 pm, the number of positive Covid-19 cases reported in India stood at 820, while 66 people either cured or discharged and one ...

Man shot dead by suspected militants

28/03/2020
SRINAGAR, Mar 27: A man was shot dead Friday by suspected militants in Kulgam district, police said. At about 8:35 PM, militants fired upon and injured a civilian identified as Mehraj Ahmad Bhat at his residence at RedwaniBalla in Qoimoh area of the district in south Kashmir, a police official said. He said Bhat, an auto-driver by profession, was rushed to Anantnag hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Police have registered a case in this regard, the official said.

Ensure strict compliance of treaty on banning biological weapons: India

28/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 27: India on Friday pitched for strict compliance of a global treaty banning production of entire range of biological weapons of mass destructions, highlighting the need for effective response to the challenges posed by new scientific developments in the area. In making the fresh call to ban biological weapons on the occasion of 45th anniversary of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) coming into force, India also made a mention of the fast spreading coronavirus an...

Heavy rains lash Jammu, day temperature dips

28/03/2020
Jammu, Mar 27: Heavy rains lashed Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, bringing the day temperature drastically down in the Union Territory. The temperatures were down by up to six notches in Srinagar & 10 in Jammu. Heavy rains in Jammu city resulted in waterlogging at several places, officials said. The MET office has predicted widespread to isolated rains and thundershowers for the next five days in Jammu and Kashmir. On Friday, the day maximum temperature in Srinagar city was recorded at 9.1 deg...

Italy records almost 1,000 virus deaths in one-day record

28/03/2020
ROME, Mar 27: Italy recorded a shocking spike in coronavirus deaths Friday with 969 new victims, the worst daily record for any country since the pandemic began. The infection rate however continued its downward trend, with the civil protection agency reporting nearly 86,500 confirmed cases in Italy a 7.4 percent increase, down from around 8.0 percent in previous days.

UK PM Boris Johnson test positive for Coronavirus

28/03/2020
LONDON, Mar 27: The United Kingdom's Prime Minister Boris Johnson tested positive for coronavirus on Friday and said he was experiencing mild symptoms. Taking to Twitter, he said he was self-isolating and had symptoms such as temperature and cough. "Over the last 24 hours I have developed mild symptoms and tested positive for coronavirus. I am now self-isolating, but I will continue to lead the government's response via video-conference as we fight this virus," he wrote on Twitter. Soon afte...

First coronavirus death in J&K

27/03/2020
Police register 38 FIRs, seizes 547 vehicles & shops JAMMU, Mar 26: A 65-year-old man died of the novel coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir, the first fatality in the Union Territory, and two siblings, both minors among one more person tested positive for the coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, taking the number of cases to 14. One more person tested positive for the coronavirus in Rajouri district, said an official on Thursday. "Another COVID-19 positive case was reported just now...

COVID-19: 16 deaths, total cases rise to 694; Rate of increase in positive cases ‘relatively stable’: Govt

27/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 26: The death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 16 in the country and 80 fresh cases were reported, taking the tally to 694, the Union health ministry said on Thursday, but asserted that the rate of increase in the positive cases was "relatively stable" in India. The Union health ministry officials also said India was at the second stage as there is still no "hard evidence" to say that there has been community transmission of the fast-spreading coronavirus, remarks which may provide ...

Govt unveils Rs 1.7 lakh cr stimulus to help poor hit by lockdown

27/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 26: The government on Thursday announced aRs 1.7 lakh crore stimulus that included free foodgrain and cooking gas to poor for three months, and cash doles to women and poor senior citizens as it looked to ease the economic impact of the nationwide lockdown. While over 80 crore poor ration card holders will each get 5 kg of wheat or rice and one kg of preferred pulses free of cost every month for the next three months, 20.4 crore women having Jan Dhan bank accounts would get one-...

Places of worship closed in Srinagar

27/03/2020
SRINAGAR, Mar 26: Prosecution proceedings have been initiated against the Principal of the Degree College at Tral in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir for violating the district administration's orders and not providing the requisite equipment for newly established quarantine facilities, an official said Thursday. "Prosecution proceedings have been initiated against Principal, Degree College, Tral for violating orders of district administration and not providing equipment including LPG gas...

G-20 announces USD 5 trillion to deal with coronavirus crisis

27/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 26: The powerful G-20 grouping on Thursday decided to inject over USD 5 trillion into the global economy to counter economic disruptions triggered by the coronavirus pandemic. The G-20 leaders under the chairmanship of Saudi Arabia's King Salman held an extraordinary video conference in which they resolved to use all available policy tools to minimise the economic and social damage from the pandemic that has killed over 21,000 people and infected more than 470,000 globally. "We ...

Pak troops resorted to shelling along LoC, IB

27/03/2020
Jammu, Mar 26: Pakistani troops resorted to small arms firing and mortar shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch and Kathua districts, drawing retaliation from Indian soldiers, officials said on Thursday. Pakistani troops resorted to small arms firing on forward posts along the LoC in Dewar sector of Poonch district on Thursday afternoon, a defence spokesperson said. Indian troops retaliated and the exchanges lasted for over 20 m...

JK calls for donations to their relief fund

27/03/2020
JAMMU, Mar 26: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday called for donation to its relief fund to combat COVID-19. This appeal with account number and other details for seeking donations to the Jammu and Kashmir relief fund was made by the secretariat of Lieutenant governor G C Murmu. "The country is facing an unprecedented challenge with communities and economies everywhere affected by the growing COVID-19 pandemic," the appeal said. The world is coming together to combat the COVID-19 pa...

HC closes court complex

27/03/2020
Jammu, Mar 26: In view declaration of lock down of 21 days by the Government of India and the closure of the Government offices by the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Justice J&K High Court Gita Mittal has ordered that access to all the Court complexes of the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, including the High Court complexes at Srinagar and Jammu shall remain closed during the period of the lockdown i.e 14th of April, 2020. In the circular issued by R...

2G mobile internet services extended till April 3

27/03/2020
JAMMU, Mar 26: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Thursday ordered the continuance of 2G mobile data services in the union territory till April 3 even as there has been a growing demand for restoration of high-speed 4G internet in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Principal Secretary, Home Department, Shaleen Kabra said the internet speed on mobile phones will be restricted to 2G only. Postpaid sim card holders shall be provided with access to the internet. However, such access shall ...

Inquiry ordered into COVID-19 suspect being allowed to leave hospital

27/03/2020
SRINAGAR, Mar 26: The Jammu and Kashmir administration has ordered an inquiry to fix responsibility as to why a COVID-19 suspect, who later tested positive, was allowed to leave a hospital where he had gone for treatment with signs of infection. Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P K Pole, taking serious note of the lapse, had on Wednesday directed Medical Superin-tendent and head of the chest medicine department SKIMS hospital Bemina to explain their position forthwith. He also directed Additio...

Centre asks states to arrange food, shelter for migrant workers

27/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 26: The Centre on Thursday asked state governments to arrange food and shelter for migrant workers who are facing difficulties due to the 21-day lockdown announced to check the spread of coronavirus. Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, PunyaSalila Srivastava said students, who are in hostels, should continue to stay there for their own safety. "We have asked the state governments to arrange food and shelter for the migrant workers. We are sensitising everyone that w...

4 more test positive in Kashmir

26/03/2020
218 FIRs registered against lockdown violators; Govt offices shut till April 14 Jammu, Mar 25: Four more persons tested positive for coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, taking the number of cases to 11, a senior official said, while authorities in Kashmir expressed apprehensions that the cases could be more than reported in the Valley as a significant number of people appeared to have concealed their travel history. "Four new positive cases have been reported from Kashmir. All of...

AC directs immediate release of pensions, wages for daily wagers, ration packets for slum dwellers, destitute

26/03/2020
JAMMU, Mar 25: The Administrative Council which met here under the chairmanship of Lt. Governor, G C Murmu directed the immediate release of all pensions of one month to give reprieve to the retired class in view of the situation arising out of the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic. The Finance Department has been asked to take necessary steps in this regard. Advisors to Lt. Governor, K K Sharma, Farooq Khan & Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam; Financial Commissioner, Health ...

PM warns of tough action against those misbehaving with frontline staff

26/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 25: Prime Minister NarendraModi on Wednesday warned of tough action against those misbehaving with people on the frontline of the fight against coronavirus like doctors and airline crew, and sought the cooperation of citizens with the administration to deal with the crisis. Modi chose a video interaction with residents of Varanasi, the constituency he represents in Parliament, to respond to several queries related to the pandemic and his government's response to it, and asserted...

Putin, Modi exchange views on situation surrounding coronavirus pandemic

26/03/2020
Moscow, Mar 25: Ahead of the G20 emergency summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation on Wednesday during which they exchanged views on the situation surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. "In line with the ongoing confidential dialogue reflecting the special nature of the Russian-Indian strategic partnership, Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi informed each other in detail about the measures introduced in both countries to counter the...

Restrictions tightened in Kashmir

26/03/2020
Thirty-four arrested in Handwara for violating prohibitory orders, 12 vehicles seized Srinagar, Mar 25: Restrictions on movement imposed in Kashmir to prevent the spread of coronavirus were tightened on Wednesday and strict action initiated against violaters, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement of a 21-day nationwide lockdown, officials said. Security forces sealed off several roads and erected barriers across the Valley to enforce the lockdown, they said. Police vehicles...

Coronavirus cases cross 600, 1st death in TN; more beds earmarked in civil, military hospitals for COVID-19 patients

26/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 25: Coronavirus cases in the country crossed 600 on Wednesday as authorities beefed up preparedness to fight the pandemic with a chain of hospitals of the Army ordnance factories and central paramilitary forces earmarking over 2,000 beds for isolation and treatment of people affected by COVID-19. In addition, the Hamirpur district administration in Himachal Pradesh took over all the ten hostels with 2,000 rooms of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) for creating an isolat...

MHA issues fresh guidelines on lockdown exemption

26/03/2020
New Delhi, Mar 25: The home ministry on Wednesday issued fresh guidelines covering additional people and services who will be exempted from the 21-day lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the new guidelines, the ministry said Reserve Bank of India and RBI-regulated financial markets, pay and accounts officers and field officers of the CAG, petroleum products and supply chain and forest staff are exempted from the purview of the lockdown. Those people handling cargo operation...

Gunmen attack Gurdwara in Kabul, massacre 25 worshippers

26/03/2020
KABUL, Mar 25: At least 25 worshippers were killed and eight others injured when heavily armed suicide bombers blasted their way into a prominent gurdwara on Wednesday in the heart of Afghanistan's capital of Kabul, in one of the deadliest attacks on the minority Sikh community in the strife-torn country. The Islamic State (IS) terror group, which has targeted Sikhs before in Afghanistan, claimed responsibility for the attack on the gurdwara in Shor Bazar area at about 07:45 (local time) as 15...

Mata Vaishno Devi shrine dons deserted look as Navratri begins

26/03/2020
JAMMU, Mar 25: Unlike the highest footfall recorded by the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine here in Trikuta Hills of Katra town in Reasi district during the Navratri' festival, the shrine wore a deserted look on Wednesday amid the restrictions imposed in the wake of coronavirus outbreak. The Jammu and Kashmir administration had recently announced closure of the Vaishno Devi yatra and banned all interstate buses as part of the precautionary measures to arrest the spread of coronavirus. The shrine au...

NPR, first phase of Census postponed

26/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 25: The updating of the National Population Register (NPR) and the first phase of the Census 2021 have been postponed due to the 21-day lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, officials said on Wednesday. Both the exercises were supposed to be carried out from April 1 to September 30. In a statement, the home ministry said Census 2021 was scheduled to be conducted in two phases house listing and housing census during April-September and population enumeration durin...

Govt likely to revoke PSA detention of Mehbooba

26/03/2020
SRINAGAR, Mar 25: After revoking the detention of National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah under the Public Safety Act (PSA), the Centre is likely to release the former Chief Minister & Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti soon. Reacting to the reports of her likely release, the Twitter handle of Mufti (being operated by her daughter) stated, "My mother is hearing reports of her imminent release & is grateful for the concern. But she's upset about thousands of young boys ja...

COVID-19: Social distancing is in from Modi’s cab meeting to milk booths, grocery stores

26/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 25: Social distancing, a phrase which was probably not a big part of our lexicon till recent, has become a buzzword post coronavirus outbreak, with people coming up with innovative ways to practice the life-saving precaution. A day after Prime Minister NarendraModi reiterated that social distancing and staying indoors were the only ways to deal with the fast-spreading coronavirus, pictures and videos of people standing in circles and squares to buy essential items like groceries...

21 DAY NATIONWIDE LOCKDOWN ANNOUNCED

25/03/2020
No need for panic buying; essential commodities, medicines will remain available; Centre has made provision of Rs 15,000 Cr to strengthen country's health infra NEW DELHI, Mar 24: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a complete nationwide lockdown for 21 days from Tuesday midnight, asserting in an emotional appeal "with folded hands" that unless India's 130 crore people practice social distancing, the country will lose the war against coronavirus outbreak and slide back 21 years. In his...

MHA issues strict lockdown guidelines, jail for violation

25/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 24: The Union Home Ministry Tuesday issued strict guidelines for the enforcement of 21-day complete nationwide lockdown from Wednesday in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, invoking the National Disaster Management Act which may result in imprisonment of up to two years for any violation. The guidelines listed several services including government and private offices that will be out of bounds during the period, while exempting establishments such as hospitals, ration shops, dairies...

Corona death toll rises to 10, positive cases to 519

25/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 24: The death toll due to the COVID-19 rose to 10 in the country with Delhi reporting second death, while the number of coronavirus-positive cases, including casualties, in India reached 519 on Tuesday, the Union Health Ministry said. West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh reported a casualty each on Monday, while seven deaths were earlier reported from Maharashtra (two), Bihar, Karnataka, Gujarat and Punjab. According to figures updated at 8.15 pm, the number of active COVID-19 case...

Radha Soami Satsang Beas offers its Satsang Centres to Punjab, J&K

25/03/2020
Chandigarh/Jammu, Mar 24: Extending a helping hand, two spiritual organisations on Tuesday offered their prayer places to the Punjab government in the state's battle against COVID-19. In a humanitarian gesture, the Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB) and Sant Nirankari Mission offered their Satsang Ghar' to Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. RSSB head Baba Gurinder Singh called upon the chief minister of Punjab and said detailed instructions have been issued to the field units in this regard. Sant...

People stay indoors as police act tough to enforce complete lockdown

25/03/2020
#GMC declared as dedicated COVID hospital, retired docs to be hired for underserved areas JAMMU, Mar 24: Braving rains, policemen were out on streets to enforce a strict lockdown across Jammu region on Tuesday as autho-rities announced mandatory 14-day quarantine for those entering the Union Territory from neighbouring states. Acting tough against people defying the 10-day shutdown effected since Sunday evening, police registered nearly 100 FIRs, sealed several shops and seized many vehicle...

Omar freed after eight-month detention, says ‘world is different’

25/03/2020
SRINAGAR, Mar 24: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah was on Tuesday freed after nearly eight months in detention with the administration revoking the Public Safety Act against him, and said the first task was to fight COVID-19 and any discussion on political developments could come later. The world is different today from the one that existed on August 5, 2019, Abdullah said in his first tweet after being released, underscoring the threat of the pandemic. The National Confer...

2 coronavirus patients cured in Ladakh, cases in UT stand at 11

25/03/2020
LEH, Mar 24: Two persons who tested positive for coronavirus have recovered and were released from the hospital in the Union Territory of Ladakh, where no fresh case was reported during the past five days, a senior government official said on Tuesday. Commissioner Secre-tary (Health) Rigzin Samphel, however, said both the cured patients have been moved to a quarantine facility and will remain under surveillance. "Technically, now we have only 11 COVID-19 positive cases from the earlier 13 cas...

Administrative Council holds emergency meeting: Slew of welfare measures for various sections of society

25/03/2020
JAMMU, Mar 24: The Administrative Council held an emergency meeting today under the chairmanship of Lt. Governor, G C Murmu and decided on a number of welfare measures, particularly for the most vulnerable sections and the unorganised sector in the context of the situation emerging due to the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic. Advisors to Lt. Governor, Kewal Kumar Sharma, Farooq Khan and Rajeev RaiBhatnagar, Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam; Financial Commissioner, Health & Medical Education, A...

2 more test positive for coronavirus in Srinagar

25/03/2020
Srinagar, Mar 24: Two more people have tested positive for coronavirus in Srinagar, taking the total number of cases in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to six, a senior official said on Tuesday. "2 more cases reported positive in Srinagar. One has confirmed travel history outside India. Full details regarding the second being ascertained," government spokesman RohitKansal said in a tweet. With the fresh cases, the number of coronavirus positive patients in Srinagar City has gone up t...

J&K BORDERS SEALED

24/03/2020
Bank timings from 10 AM to 2 PM till March 31; 4329 persons under observation; JKSSB postpones interviews Jammu, Mar 23: Upping the ante in its fight against the Covid-19 spread, the Jammu and Kashmir administration on Monday ordered sealing of its entire interstate borders with Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Ladakh. It also ordered release of an additional Rs 40 crore to all deputy commissioners to support their corona-mitigation efforts besides two months' advance rat...

Pak violates ceasefire in Mendhar, Hiranagar sectors

24/03/2020
JAMMU, Mar 23: On 23 Mar 2020 at about 2215 hours Pak initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms & shelling with Mortars along LoC in Mendhar sector, District Poonch (J&K). Indian Army is retaliating befittingly. Earlier, Pakistani Rangers resorted to unprovoked firing and shelling on forward areas along the International Border (IB) in Kathua districton Monday, officials said. There was no report of any damage incurred in the firing, they said. Pakistani forces had op...

30 states, UTs in complete lockdown over coronavirus

24/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 23: A total of 30 states and Union Territories have imposed complete lockdown, covering a total of 548 districts in the country, to check the spread of coronavirus, the government said on Monday. Six other states have put in place similar restrictions in some areas in the wake of the outbreak. There are 28 states, eight UTs and in the country. On Sunday, 80 districts were under lockdown. The central government has also asked states to enforce additional restrictions, if necessa...

Lashkar module busted in Kupwara, 6 arrested

24/03/2020
SRINAGAR, Mar 23: Security forces have busted a module of Lashkar-e-Toiba's shadow outfit in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir arresting six suspected militants and recovering a large cache of arms and ammunition, officials said on Monday. The six were members of 'The Resistance Front', a newly formed militant outfit believed to be a shadow group of the LeT and were arrested in an operation spreading from Sopore in Baramulla district to Keran in Kupwara district near the Line of Control, t...

SC in virtual lockdown situation, closes lawyers’ chambers, suspends entry

24/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 23: The Supreme Court on Monday virtually went into a lockdown in view of the coronavirus epidemic, indefinitely suspending the entry of advocates and other staff in the high security zone on the basis of their proximity cards. The top court, without specifying any date, said that only one court will sit to take up extremely urgent matters through video conferencing by an app, which will be installed in desktop, laptop or mobile phones. The top court also directed that the lawye...

SC asks states, UTs to consider releasing prisoners to decongest jails

24/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 23: The Supreme Court Monday directed all states and Union Territories to constitute high-level committees to consider releasing on parole or interim bail prisoners and undertrials for offences entailing up to 7-year jail term to decongest prisons in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. The top court said overcrowding of prisons is a matter of serious concern, particularly in the present context of coronavirus (COVID 19). In regard to the provisions of Article 21 of the Constituti...

Authorities in Kashmir enforce lockdown

24/03/2020
SRINAGAR, Mar 23: Authorities in Kashmir on Monday started enforcing a lockdown to help check the spread of coronavirus in the valley. Police vehicles fitted with public address systems went around residential areas in the city and elsewhere in the valley early in the morning to announce that restrictions under CrPC Section 144, barring assembly of people, had been imposed. People were requested to stay indoors and not venture out unnecessarily. The union territory administration in Sunday an...

Rajya Sabha approves Rs 1-lakh crore budget for J&K for FY 21

24/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 23: The Rajya Sabha on Monday approved a bill for the budget of Rs 1-lakh crore for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for 2020-21. After approval, the bill was returned to the LokSabha. Replying after a discussion on the Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation Bills, Minister of State for Finance Anurag Singh Thakur said only 10 per cent of the funds will be spent for security purposes in the union territory and the remaining have been earmarked for developmental objectives. Tha...

Centre to provide all assistance to JK to combat COVID-19: Jitendra

24/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 23: Jammu and Kashmir will be provided all required assistance to combat coronavirus and the Union Health Ministry is taking care of all its requirements, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Monday. Singh, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir, took up the issue with Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan along with a list of requirements submitted by the J-K administration. The health minister has assured of full and adequate response as well as liberal assistance in the matter, Sing...

High Court issues directions regarding court workings

24/03/2020
JAMMU, Mar 23: In order to prevent spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19), High Court of Jammu and Kashmir Monday directed that next date of hearing of cases listed upto March 31, 2020 shall be published in the Advance Cause List, which shall be uploaded on the High Court Website. With regard to hearing of urgent matters, parties/ counsel shall, after informing the opposite parties/ counsel, send Urgency Memo through e-mail to the concerned Registrar Judicial by 3.00 pm of the previous day of the da...

High Court creates fund to tackle coronavirus threat

24/03/2020
JAMMU, Mar 23: Jammu and Kashmir High Court today decided to create a dedicated fund to combat coronavirus pandemic and provide relief to Covid-19 victims. In a full court meeting, the High Court decided that the Chief Justice and all the Judges of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court shall make a contribution of Rs 25000 each. While as all the District Judges of J&K and Ladakh shall contribute Rs 15000 each. It was further decided that all Sub-Judges /Civil Judges (Senior Division) and Munsiffs/C...

Ladakh imposes lockdown till March 31

24/03/2020
LEH, Mar 23: The Union Territory of Ladakh has been placed on lockdown till March 31 to check the spread of coronavirus even as the reports of 16 fresh samples of suspected cases have tested negative, a senior government official said on Monday. The lockdown came into effect across Ladakh at 8 pm on Sunday and will remain in force till 6 pm on March 31, officials said. Ladakh has so far recorded a total of 13 positive coronavirus cases. The District Development Commissioners of both Leh and K...

Modi shares link on information regarding COVID-19 in sign language

24/03/2020
NEW DELHI, Mar 23: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday took to Twitter to share a link on information regarding coronavirus in sign language. "Valuable information on COVID-19 in sign language," he tweeted. Modi has been taking to social media to disseminate information on ways to protect against the deadly virus. The death toll due to the novel coronavirus pandemic rose to nine on Monday after West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh reported a casualty each, while the number of confirmed cases s...