STRICT LOCKDOWN BACK IN KASHMIR

A 108-hour ‘strict’ lockdown that began in all the ten districts of Kashmir on Wednesday evening is expected to act as an antidote by the authorities who are worried that they might not have the resources they need to prevent a much wider outbreak of Coronavirus in the Valley.

Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the Valley has witnessed an alarming spike in the number of cases of Covid19 over the past week and as no medical remedies are in sight, the government officials, medical fraternity and general public - all are worried over the situation worsening with each passing day.

An official spokesman here said that 453 fresh positive cases surfaced across J&K including 352 in the Valley and

101 in Jammu region on Wednesday, taking the tally to

15,711. With ten more people succumbing to Covid-19 till filing of this report, the toll has risen to 273.

Srinagar district, with 71 deaths, tops the list of Covid19 fatalities followed by 57 in Baramulla, 26 in Kulgam, 20 in Budgam, 19 each in Shopian and Anantnag, 15 in Kupwara,

14 in Pulwama, 7 in Bandipore and 5 in Ganderbal. In Jammu, the Jammu district tops the list with 12 deaths out of 20 in the entire region.

The J&K government earlier during the day on Wednesday announced that a complete lockdown will be imposed in all districts falling in the red zone, except Bandipora, in the Valley from (Wednesday) evening.

It also said that agriculture, horticulture and construction activities will, however, continue as per the disaster management guidelines.