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May mayhem in J&K; 42% COVID deaths reported in one month

6/2/2021 12:29:15 AM

Early Times Report Jammu, June 1: May proved to be the deadliest month in J&K as nearly 42 percent of the total COVID deaths were reported during the last one month. Despite witnessing a surge in the mortalities and numbers of positive cases, the administration of J&K has a sigh of relief as during the last 15 days recoveries surpassing positive cases. A record 1624 corona infected patients died this month out of a total of 3907 deaths, which means 41.56 percent of total deaths were recorded in the single month of May. Out of 1624 deaths, the Jammu district alone witnessed 589 deaths, which is 36.24 percent of the total deaths of J&K. Experts expect the situation to improve in the ...

Despite retaining health portfolio for 19 years, Jammu leaders couldn’t improve hospitals

6/2/2021 12:29:10 AM

Early Times Report Jammu, June 1: The first and second wave of the deadly coronavirus has exposed the ailing health sector in J&K in general and Jammu province in particular. During the second wave, the Jammu region is witnessing an unprecedented death toll, especially in the Government Medical College Jammu so a debate has started to fix responsibility of high mortality rate. Jammu as of date has logged 1,067 Covid deaths — the highest among all 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir. Ironically after 2002, all health ministers of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir belonged to Jammu but despite have health ministers for the last 19 years, the health sector is still ailing in this...

During Durbar Moves, SRTC hires private trucks, keeps its own vehicles in garages

Draining the Public Purse!

6/2/2021 12:29:02 AM

Early Times Report Jammu, June 1: During the annual Durbar Move of government offices from Jammu to Srinagar and vice versa, the State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) instead of putting its own trucks to use hired private load carriers for transportation of load from one capital to other. Documents in possession of Early Times reveal that as per Sadriya Riyasat Order (SRO) 157 of 26 April 2001, the Government Departments had to hire trucks from JKSRTC only, as per need. The Government Departments were required to obtain No Objection Certificate (NOC) from JKSRTC before hiring from Private entities. The Corporation also had the flexibility of Contract Hiring of Trucks (CHT) from priva...

Anything for publicity! Amid pandemic BJP leaders organize gathering at Udhampur school

Preach social distancing without following it, make children sit together

6/2/2021 12:28:49 AM

Early Times Report Jammu, June 1: Despite government schools being officially closed in J&K to contain the spread of the second wave of Covid-19, Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) leaders used their influence to get a primary school opened in Udhampur district for their Covid related activity. Though the leaders emphasized on maintaining social distancing as part of proper Covid behaviour but in their own programme all norms were thrown to the winds. According to the press releases issued to media houses as well as uploaded on social media platforms, a senior BJP leader organized a programme at Government Primary School Thayal (Dhanas) in Chenani tehsil on May 30th. It was mentioned in th...

‘Incompetent’ man heads KU’s Central Library

6/2/2021 12:28:28 AM

Jehangir Rashid Early Times Report SRINAGAR, June 1: Iqbal library at the University of Kashmir campus is the central library for not only the main campus but also satellite campuses of the university and it has always been headed by a professional competent person but not at the present moment. Sources told Early Times that it is not known who has pushed the present incumbent to this position of prime importance. The present Librarian got his appointment in the university through ‘backdoor’ even though he was not eligible for university job, sources said. “He was appointed in violation of statutes and was permitted to improve his eligibility while in the job. He has a poor record ...

Sufarshi rosters’ affects Covid treatment in Kashmir

Influential doctors enjoy long breaks at Bemina hospital

6/2/2021 12:28:20 AM

Early Times Report Srinagar, June 1: Even as the Covid cases continue to haunt Kashmir, some allegedly influential doctors are not treating patients for most part of the month. Official sources said a group of four -five doctors at SKIMS Medical College Hospital in Bemina here have developed “sufarshi” duty rosters for doctors where in “some of the senior most and influential doctors are put on the covid duty only after a fortnight.” Sources said the “coterie of senior doctors” have developed the roster in such a way that they have “minimal contact with the covid cases.” Official documents as accessed by the Early Times reveal that the senior most pulmonologist at the hospital is on C...

BJP backed councilor allows illegal constructions in Awantipora, threatens employees

6/2/2021 12:28:08 AM

Jehangir Rashid Early Times Report SRINAGAR, June 1: A councilor belonging to the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) has created havoc in the areas falling under the jurisdiction of Municipal Committee, Awantipora in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district as he is harassing the employees of the committee. Sources told Early Times that the councilor of ward number 2 has been harassing the employees in general especially those who are busy in ensuring that the municipal laws are followed in the construction in the areas falling under this particular municipal committee. The concerned staff has been facing the ire of this councilor and they are receiving threatening calls. “The concerned staff...

Even during LG’s visit, RO Plant at GMC Anantnag remains dysfunctional

Patients, attendants forced to buy mineral water from market

6/2/2021 12:27:57 AM

Saahil Suhail Early Times Report Anantnag, June 1: The RO (reverse osmosis) plant installed at Government Medical College Anantnag way back in 2015 continues to remain dysfunctional. In the absence of a functional RO (reverse osmosis) plant, patients as well as staff members at GMC Anantnag are forced to either drink unfiltered water or purchase mineral water from the market. The RO Plant at Anantnag district hospital was installed by Rajiv Gandhi Foundation after devastating floods hit K...

Kabhi Haan, Kabhi Naa ‘syndrome’ hits crucial DRDO Hospital

6/2/2021 12:27:28 AM

Early Times Report Srinagar, June 1: The much-hyped 500-bed Covid Hospital being constructed by the Defence Research and Development Organization or DRDO has missed the crucial deadline of May 25 due to alleged “flip flop” in finalizing the land for the hospital in Kashmir. Initially the hospital was scheduled to come up at Rishi Pora in Budgam, the central Kashmir district craving for such facility for several years but was shifted to south Kashmir, which already has many hospitals. As per the locals, hundreds of tress were cut and big chunk of paddy fields were land filled for the construction of the specialized hospital. But after such ground work, the officials “changed their min...

High velocity winds, hailstorm causes extensive damage to horticulture in North Kashmir

6/2/2021 12:24:44 AM

S TAHIR-UL HAQ Early Times Report BARAMULLA, June 1: Heavy rains, accompanied with hailstorms caused extensive damage to standing crops and fruits today in various parts of north Kashmir thus raising concerns among the people that are associated with the horticulture industry. It is learnt that hailstorms, accompanied with rains and high velocity winds wreaked havoc in various parts of north Kashmir, damaging orchards and standing crops on Tuesday afternoon. The hailstorm started today aft...

Sub-standard work on vital Panchari-Dhanti road in Udhampur

6/2/2021 12:23:06 AM

Ashwani Sharma Early Times Report Udhampur, June 1: Sub-standard material in road construction in Tehsil Panchari is giving problems to the locals. The road from Panchari to Dhanti in panchayat Suman about 14 km, was to be constructed under PMGSY in two phases with the stretch from Panchari to Nohmal about 7km in first phase and Nohmal to Dhanti about 7 km in second and work in the project is going on for the last about 10 -12 years but has not been completed as of now. “In the last 12 y...

District Admin Poonch tries away to hide its shortcomings

Public not allowed meeting with senior officials on visit to district

6/2/2021 12:22:46 AM

Rajesh Tandon Early Times Report Poonch, June 1: In order to hide its shortcomings, the District Administration Poonch has allegedly been trying that their failure might not come in public domain. During COVID pandemic, when people are facing huge difficulties, the District Administration Poonch has been portraying that everything has been going all right before senior officials who come to the district on official visit to review the situation. Some officials in District Administration always make sure that the media should meet with these officials as it has been seen that the failures and frauds committed by the various departments are disclosed by some sources. The local resident...

CEO Kishtwar issues circular restraining use of poor children admitted in Govt Schools as domestic helpers

6/2/2021 12:22:16 AM

Asif Iqbal Naik Early Times Report Kishtwar, June 1: Chief Education Officer Kishtwar issued a circular with regard to identification of such students and to ensure that no employee of the parent department will be involved in such activities. As per the details available with Early Times, CEO Kishtwar Rashpal Singh vide Circular No. CEO/K/2021/5389-5491 Dated 31-5-2021 stated that it has come to his notice that in the government institutions, particularly falling in the vicinity of Kishtwar town and its adjoining areas most of the students studying therein belonging to poor families and resident of far away villages are working as domestic helpers (Bonded Child Labourers) in different...

Following 3682 fresh recoveries COVID-19 recovery rate in JK reaches 87.27%, 1895 new cases

Positive cases 292360, active positive 33276, recovered 255145, casualties 3939

6/2/2021 12:21:22 AM

Jehangir Rashid Early Times Report SRINAGAR, June 1: The COVID-19 recovery rate in Jammu & Kashmir reached 87.27 percent as 3,682 virus affected patients recovered in the past 24 hours. The union territory reported 1,895 new cases following which the total number of positive cases reached 2, 92,360; with 32 fresh deaths the death toll reached 3,939. Srinagar district reported 304 new cases followed by Jammu district 218 cases, Pulwama district 185 cases, Budgam district 181 cases, Baramulla district 161 cases, Kupwara district 141 cases, Anantnag district 85 cases, Doda district 73 cases, Kulgam district 66 cases, Rajouri district 64 cases, Ganderbal district 61 cases, Poonch district ...