State

Kashmir braces up for another spell of snowfall in first week of Feb

Night chill intensifies, Pahalgam shivers at minus 13.4 degree Celsius

Owais Gul

Srinagar, Jan 28: The weatherman here has predicted another snow spell in the first week of February, saying that the day as well as the night temperature will gradually improve across the Valley from coming days.

According to the news agency—KNO, Director Meteorological department (MeT) said that there is possibility of another snow spell on February 02 and February 03.

He said that a Western Disturbance would likely hit J&K in the first week of February; however, the intensity will remain less as compared to the previous snowfall received in the beginning of January month.

Meanwhile, Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir and other places continued to shiver below freezing point. However, the MeT Director stated that the day as well as the night temperature would start improving gradually from coming days.

In Srinagar, the mercury settled at minus 5.6 degree Celsius last night while Gulmarg, a world famous ski-resort recorded a temperature of minus 12.3 degree Celsius, MeT spokesman said.

He added that Pahalgam, a famous tourist destination in the Valley recorded a temperature of minus 13.4 degree Celsius. The MeT spokesman said that the

Notably, due to the freezing temperatures, people living in Srinagar City woke up to frozen taps and slippery roads, leaving them to lurch at large.

“It was all frozen when we woke up in the morning. The water pipes were blocked due to which we didn’t get the water supply till afternoon,” the residents in Srinagar said.

State

J&K reports 41 fresh COVID-19 deaths since last night, toll climbs to 2,953

(Asian News Hub) – The union territory of Jammu and Kashmir has reported 41 fresh Covid-19 deaths since the last night, taking the total number of deaths related to the deadly virus to 2,953.

An official told that the patients who died include 92-year-old man from Batipora, 45-year-old man from Hawal, 75-year-old female from Nishat, 60-year-old man from Rajouri Kadal, 75-year-old man from Shivpora, 70-year-old man from Sekidafar, 45-year-old woman from Batamaloo, 60-year-old woman from Bemina, 54-year-old woman from Harnag Anantnag, 50-year-old man from Nagibal, 55-year-old woman from Kangan Ganderbal, 45-year-old woman from Pampore, 70-year-old woman from Natipora, 60-year-old man from Zainakadal, 68-year-old woman from Sadribal, 70-year-old man from Rainawari, 62-year-old man from Yaripora Kulgam, one each from Sopore and Bandipora and 22 fatalities from Jammu division.

He said that five deaths were reported at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Soura, 2 at JLNM Hospital Rainawari, while one death was reported at Chest Disease Hospital Dalgate since the last night.

The official said that two deaths were reported each from JVC Bemina and SDH Sopore, one from GMC Anantnag, while six from SMHS Hospital Srinagar since the last night.

He said that 22 COVID-19 related deaths were reported from Jammu division since the last night.

With 41 fresh deaths, the death toll related to Covid-19 in Jammu and Kashmir has climbed to 2,953, which includes 1,319 from Jammu division and 1,634 from Kashmir division.

KNO

State

Shawwal moon sighted, Eid-ul-Fitr on Thursday: Grand Mufti Nisar ul Islam

(Asian News Hub) – Kashmir’s Grand Mufti, Nasir ul Islam on Wednesday said that Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated across Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, saying that the Shawwal moon has been sighted late Thursday evening.

Talking to the news agency—KNO, Grand Mufti said that the Shawwal moon has been sighted.

He said that Eid-ul-Fitr to be celebrated across J&K on Thursday. He also extended Eid greetings to the Muslim Ummah and prayed for peace and prosperity of people of Jammu and Kashmir.

State

Eid-ul-Fitr: Kashmiri Bakers suffer Rs 40 cr loss amid Covid restrictions

(Asian News Hub) – As the lockdown continued across Jammu and Kashmir, the Kashmiri bakers on Wednesday said that it has suffered a loss of approximately Rs 40 crore ahead of Muslim festival, Eid-ul-Fitr.

Talking to the news agency—KNO, President of Kashmir Bakers and Confectionery Federation, Umar Mukhtar said that the government had no proper plans and programmes for the people ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr.

“Unlike previous years, we had made just 20 per cent of the bakery this year. However, the improper mechanism and programmes by the government this year has led to the loss of a whooping amount of Rs 30-Rs 40 Crores to the bakers,” he said.

Blaming the administration, Umar said that it is because of the people at the helm of the affairs that the bakers have suffered huge losses ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr.

He added that the bakers in Southern districts of Kashmir have suffered much loss as compared to other districts as they were not able to sell the bakery ahead of the Eid.

Sofi Mohi-ud-din, South City Bakers Association President echoed similar views and said that unlike previous year, the administration especially in Srinagar had no proper plans and programmes for them. “The relaxation was firstly announced and later we were being asked to get curfew passes in the middle of the night. How was it possible for us to get the passes in the middle of the midnight?” he said.

He added that the administration has totally failed on the ground and has left the people especially bakers to lurch at large. He said each Bakery house has at least 15 to 20 employees who are being given proper salaries but huge losses have affected the salary paying as well.

KNO