14 deaths, 655 fresh Covid cases in J&K

HP: 1 DEATH, 180 NEW CASES

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday recorded 14 deaths and 655 fresh Covid-19 infections, taking the total number of positive cases in the Union Territory to 35,135. Officials said 11 people had succumbed to the disease in Kashmir division and three in Jammu division.

As many as 497 people tested positive in Kashmir, including 31 travellers, while 158 cases were reported from Jammu, of which 40 were travellers.most fresh cases were reported in Srinagar (182), followed by Budgam (60), and Bandipora (51). In Jammu division, the highest number of cases were reported in Jammu district (87) , followed by Kathua (25).

The death toll in the UT has increased to 671— 614 in Kashmir and 57 in Jammu. Most deaths were recorded in July and August. As many as 276 persons died in July and 290 have died in August.

As many as 528 people were cured and discharged from different hospitals, taking overall recoveries to 26,721, which account for the recovery rate of 76%. There are, at present, 7,743 active cases in J&K.

A government spokesperson said 89 people were discharged in Jammu division and 439 in Kashmir. Of the total, 20,730 were cured in Kashmir while 5,991 in Jammu division. Srinagar is the worst affected district with 8,735 total cases and 213 deaths. Active cases in the district are now at 1,626 after, another 103 patients recovered. The total number of tests conducted in the UT have reached 9,15,226.

SHIMLA/DHARAMSHALA: Himachal Pradesh recorded 180 fresh Covid-19 infections on Thursday, taking the total coronavirus count in the state to 5,501.

Of the new cases, 51 were reported in Solan, 37 in Sirmaur, 25 in Kangra, 23 in Hamirpur, 11 in Una, 10 in Chamba , nine in Shimla, 8 in Bilaspur, three in Mandi and one in Lahaul-spiti. There are 1,418 active cases in the state and highest single-day recoveries of 189 took the tally of cured people to 4,008 A 75-year-old man succumbed to the virus in Una. With this the death toll has reached 31. The deceased, who hails from Hamirpur had gone to Una for some health checkup. His Covid-19 report came out positive after he was cremated at his native village. Authorities are now tracing his contacts.

BJP MP JUGAL KISHORE SHARMA INFECTED

JAMMU: BJP Lok Sabha member from Jammu-poonch constituency, Jugal Kishore Sharma tested positive on Thursday. “I was on a tour to my constituency. After I ran a slight temperature last night, I got myself tested,” Sharma said.

The MP has been hospitalised at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana super specialty hospital in Reasi . Meanwhile, former legislative council member Chuni Lal died of the infection in Kathua. Deputy magistrate OP Bhagat said,