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trap’ Migrants in no mood to return now From Sanjeev Pargal DEVIPUR/DOMANA, Dec 29: Fed up with frequent migration, the people of Pargwal island appeared to be in no mood to return.....more R K
Finances scam Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 29: Crime Branch seluths after conducting the raids at a number of residences and offices of accused and their relatives here today......more Trains
running 5 to 8 hours late Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 29: The Air Traffic remained suspended for the second consecutive day today as the dense fog kept enveloped the Jammu airport....more Court
restrains Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 29: Sub Registrar Munsiff Jammu, Mr S R Gandhi has restrained President and general Secretary of Chamber of Commerce......more Militants
ambush CRPF Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Dec 29: Heavily armed militants ambushed a CRPF party of 39 Battalion near Gatt, about 17 kms from Billawar but the jawans in a gallant.....more |
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Project
for integrated Excelsior Correspondent Jammu, Dec 29: The Acting Chief Minister, Mr. Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Shah today stressed the need for formulating perspective plans.......more Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 29: State Government has issued promotion orders of 85 Assistant Engineers in Mechanical as Assistant Executive Engineers (AEE) in their own pay and grade.......more Sagar
inaugurates Excelsior Correspondent KUPWARA, Dec 29: Minister for Works, Mr. Ali Muhammad Sagar today dedicated to people Pohru-Peth bridge in Langate constituency of district Kupwara........more LIC
employees hold Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 29: Employees of Life Insurance Corporation of India held a demonstration in front of their respective offices throughout the state today. The demonstration was organised in protest against the non-redressal of their long pending demands. The employees under the banner of Northern Zone Insurance Employees Association have been raising their demands...........more |
‘Settle us outside the
death trap’ From Sanjeev Pargal DEVIPUR/DOMANA, Dec 29: Fed up with frequent migration, the people of Pargwal island appeared to be in no mood to return to their villages this time and want the Government to settle them outside the ‘death trap’. "We have become tired of shifting to the safer areas every two or three years. This process has to be stopped now. We want an end to the migration. We want to live with peace at a place from where we don’t have to pack our luggage repeatedly", said a group of women, all hailing from village Jattan Da Kotha in Pargwal island, while sitting together in the ground of Government girls higher secondary school in Domana, where they had reached late last night after migrating from their village. "Goliyon Ki Awaaz Sunte Sunte Hamare Bachon Ke Kaan Behre Hone Lage Hein. Halaat Bardhashat Ki Sari Seemayen Laangh Chuke Hein. Ab Hum Wahaan Waapis Naheen Zana Chahte"(Hearing the frequent sound of firing, our children have started turning deaf. Situation has gone totally out of control. We don’ want to go back to the villages), concurred a group of middle-aged persons, sitting by the side of women. They want the Government to rehabilitate them in the safer areas. About 200 migrants families from different villages of Pargwal island were lodged in the higher secondary school, Domana while about 80 to 90 families were accommodated in Devipur middle school in Akhnoor tehsil. Several families had left to the houses of their relatives, Assistant Commissioner, Jammu, Jasbir Singh Pachnanda said camping along Sua No. 1 near Garkhal while guiding the fleeing people to Government accommodation in Akhnoor, Domana and Mishriwalla. "We have identified sufficient places for the migrants where they are being guided. The places are being disclosed to the fleeing people as and when they reach Sua No. 1", Pachnanda said. Civil authorities feared that their problems will grow if the people of Garkhal and some adjoining villages also decide to migrate. Civil and police authorities took a meeting of the villagers in Garkhal this morning and told the people to take their own decision on the migration. And, the people seem to be ready. "We can’t take any chances now. We are packing our luggage and will flee any time", says Rattan Singh a villager as his son Sikander Singh displays about 22 bullets, which had landed around their kucha house during last seven days in Garkhal. Pointing his finger towards a Pakistani post, just about 120 meters from his house, Rattan Singh said :"we are suffering for last one year. We have seen a number of civilians and cattle getting killed or injured in the firing. It’s time now to leave this village". Views of Rattan Singh are at once supported by a number of villagers, standing by him. As the trolleys continued to roll out of Pargwal island, the authorities were not in a position to take care of the migrants, accommodated in the Government schools. Rinku, a seventh class student of Government middle school Pargwal and a resident of village Parth had taken only a cup of tea till 1400 hours when he was approached by EXCELSIOR team. He didn’t know whether the morning tea was arranged by the local people or by the administration. Barring a police constable, who was engaged in registering the migrant families, no civil or police officer was present in Domana school to make arrangements of food for the migrants. "Last night, we did get dinner but there appears to be no signs of we getting lunch today", quipped 71 year old Soma Devi of village Rangpur Pindi while looking towards the cloudy sky. Most of the migrants had reached Domana or Devipur with only a handful of garments or were seen sitting in open without warm clothes. "We need the Government help to survive in this extreme cold", assert Santosh Devi of village Lalias, Pargwal. |
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R
K Finances scam Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 29: Crime Branch seluths after conducting the raids at a number of residences and offices of accused and their relatives here today have seized some important documents regarding the much publicized R K Fiances scam. The raids were conducted under the supervision of SSP Crime and Railways, Mr M A Anjum. Mr Masud Choudhary IGP Crime and Railways is closely monitoring the progress of the case. The residential buildings raided include the house of Mr Santosh Kumar Gupta, Ex Deputy Commissioner Sales Tax at Kailash Nagar and that of Mr Rakesh Kumar Gupta, Chartered Accountant at Green Belt Park besides his office at Trikuta Nagar. A Crime Branch handout issued here today said during the searches some important documents have been seized from the premises of Rakesh Kumar Gupta. The seluths also seized some floppies including the computers from his premises. It said some file documents of R K Finance are stored in these floppies which are being thoroughly examined by seluths of Crime Branch. It may be recalled that Mr Santosh Kumar Gupta is the brother in-law of Rakesh Kumar Gupta who also happens to be the brother-in-law of Rakesh Gupta another accused in the scam. After interrogation of arrested persons and information provided by some of the investors, the accused Rakesh Kumar Gupta had kept some important documents in the house of his two relatives before going underground. It is alleged that Mr Rakesh Kumar Gupta is the brain behind this scam. But so far no incriminating document was found from the premises of Mr Santosh Kumar Gupta. The Crime Branch seluths were headed by Dy SPs Messrs UK Aima, MH Malik and Mohammed Bashir Choudhary. They were also assisted by a lady contingent. |
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Trains
running 5 to 8 hours late Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 29: The Air Traffic remained suspended for the second consecutive day today as the dense fog kept enveloped the Jammu airport. Even the train and vehicular traffic remained out of gear due to poor visibility. None of the flights of Indian Airlines and Jet Airways landed or took off from the Jammu Airport today due to poor visibility. According to Meteorological Department, in the morning there was nil to maximum 500 meters visibility and in the day time the visibility was upto 500 metres because of fog and haze. "Yesterday one flight of Indian Airlines which was scheduled to take off at 1230 hours operated 2 hours late", Manager of Indian Airlines Mr Ashok Kumar Koul said and disclosed that today no flight both of Indian Airlines and Jet Airways took off and landed due to dense fog. But the flights from Srinagar to Delhi and vice versa operated as per scheduled timing. If the dense fog continues then no flight would take off or land at Jammu Airport tomorrow, the Airport sources said, adding there has been resentment among the people due to cancellation of flights as they have to wind-up their programmes on the eve of New Year. "Some people have suffered a heavy loss as they have booked air tickets for further journey from Delhi", the sources further said, adding "today a large number of people remained stranded at Airport for long hours awaiting fair whether". Due to dense fog the train traffic was also disrupted with all the trains running 5 to 8 hours late than the scheduled timing. "Each and every train was running out of schedule and people had to wait for long time to board the respective trains", the Station Manager said. Even the vehicular traffic on road was moving at snail’s pace due to poor visibility till afternoon. But again the dense fog enveloped the Jammu city in the evening. There was less vehicular traffic on Jammu-Srinagar and Jammu-Pathankot National Highway and the vehicles were running at a very low speed. In view of present whether conditions, SP Traffic has fixed cut off timings for National Highway from tomorrow. Srinagar bound vehicle will be stopped at Ramban. Heavy vehicles will be stopped at 3 pm and light vehicle will be at 3.30 pm. The Jammu bound heavy vehicle will be stopped at Qazigund at 2 pm and light vehicle at 2.30 pm and heavy vehicles will be stopped at Banihal on 4 pm and light vehicles on 4.30 pm. The Jawahar tunnel shall remain opened upto 6 pm. |
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Court restrains change in Chamber constitution Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 29: Sub Registrar Munsiff Jammu, Mr S R Gandhi has restrained President and general Secretary of Chamber of Commerce and Industries Jammu from changing the constitution of the Chamber till the next date of hearing. The order was passed in a petition filed by Raj Kumar, Banarsi Langar and Vinod Gupta (all members of the Chamber) who stated that the Chamber has called for a meeting on December 31, 2001 with an agenda to change the constitution. The plaintiffs mentioned that the action of defendants was illegal in nature as in the garb of changing the constitution, the defendants were avoiding elections for the post of officer bearers. While restraining the Chamber president and general secretary from changing the constitution, the Court listed the case for hearing on January 7 2002. Advocates Sunil Sethi and Achal Sethi appeared in this case on behalf of the applicants. |
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Militants ambush CRPF party in Billawar Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Dec 29: Heavily armed militants ambushed a CRPF party of 39 Battalion near Gatt, about 17 kms from Billawar but the jawans in a gallant and a swift action foiled militants’ strike by breaking the ambush and forced them to flee the spot late last evening. The police sources said that acting on an information regarding movement of militants in between Ghatt and Non-Gala area, Commandant 39 Bn CRPF Mr RPS Rana along with Asstt Commandant Mr Dev Singh and some force including Police and CRPF rushed to the area around 8 pm in three vehicles from Billawar. When the vehicles were 2 kms short of Ghatt, militants sensing forces advancing towards them laid an ambush and opened heavy fire on the first vehicle. The Commandant and jawans had narrow escape as he and his men jumped out and opened retaliatory fire taking cover of rocks and vehicle. The vehicle and the doors were severely hit by bullets of militants. The jawans from two other vehicles also took positions and opened fire on terrorists. The retaliatory action of the jawans was so swift that it broke the militants ambush and forced the them to flee the nearby forests. The ultras also left behind their one AK rifle with magazine, one grenade and 21 live cartridges. No loss in person was reported, however, the Commandant Mr Rana while rolling down the moving vehicle sustained injuries in leg and got his knee dislocated. He was provided treatment in civil hospital, Billawar. |
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Project for integrated
development of Handwara Excelsior Correspondent Jammu, Dec 29: The Acting Chief Minister, Mr. Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Shah today stressed the need for formulating perspective plans for integrated development of small towns to provide upgraded civic facilities to the people in the State. Addressing a high level meeting here today to review steps being taken to develop Handwara town on modern lines, Mr. Shah said that keeping this objective in view, the Government is making continuous efforts to develop small and medium towns in the State by providing adequate funds every year. Mr. Shah directed the Chief Town Planner and Director, Local Bodies, Kashmir to draw up a technically sound and economically viable project for arranging funds for development of Handwara town. The Minister for Agriculture, Ch. Mohammad Ramzan, Commissioner/Secretary, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. G. N. Ahangar and Administrator, Notified Area Committee, Handwara, Mr. Abdul Jabar Chakat were among those who participated in the meeting. Mr. Shah said that over Rs. 26 lakh have been provided for construction of new bus stand at Handwara, adding that 40 kanals of land is being acquired for the purpose. Similarly, Rs. 16 lakh are being spent on the improvement and construction of lanes and drains besides, Rs. 10 lakh are also being expended in the next three months for installing street lights in the town. A shopping complex comprising 80 shops and a modern slaughter-house will also be constructed at Handwara to make this NAC economically self sustainable, Mr. Shah added. The Acting Chief Minister said that modalities will be worked out to upgrade Vilgam as a Notified Area Committee for its overall development. |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 29: State Government has issued promotion orders of 85 Assistant Engineers in Mechanical as Assistant Executive Engineers (AEE) in their own pay and grade. An order to this effect was issued by the Government here today which said all the incumbents will be paid charge allowance. The AEs who have been promoted as AEEs include Messrs M K Kampassi, Jagmeet Dorjey, Shiban Ji Vakil, Farooq Ahmed Choudhary, B L Chaku, A K Kaul, G L Saproo, V K Labroo, KBS Jamwal, Kirtan Singh, Brij Mohan Lal Ticku, Rajinder Singh Raina, Braham Dutt, Vinod Kumar Gupta, Chander Mohan Trisal, R K Balgotra, Vishva Bandhu, Ashwani Kumar, Vinod Kumar Luthra, Jasbir Singh, Jagmohan Nargotra, Satwant Singh, Pardeep Kumar Gupta, Pawan Kumar Riana, N P Sharma, G L Ticku, Daljit Singh, Mohinder Kumar, Raj Narain Singh, Yog Raj Gupta, Suresh Kumar, Jasbir Singh,Deepak Kumar Razdan, Mohammed Maqbool Bhat, Satish Kumar, Vijay Kumar Gupta, Amrit Paul Singh, Amresh Raina, Chand Narayan Dambi, Rajnesh Bal, Chander Narayan Handoo, Yog Raj Abrol, Hardeep Singh Bali, Sunil Gupta, Ashok Kumar Gupta, Rajeev Gupta, R M Kaul, Vijay Kumar Raina, Saroj Kumar Raina, N H Thusu, Kuldeep Kumar, Jitender Dhar, Sunil Gupta, Samvit Ganjoo, Manjeet Singh, Vijay Kumar Saraf, Banveer Singh, Gopal Singh, Parshotam Singh, Bodh Raj, Surinder Singh, Hans Raj, A K Mahajan, B M Gupta, B K Gandotra, Jagdish Kumar Gupta, C L Kakroo, B K Ganjoo, A K Kachroo, R P Sharma, Mushtaq Hussain Jhan, Rashid Ahmed Dar, Farooq Ahmed Badroo, Naresh Kumar Khajuria, Imtiyaz Ahmed Kirmani, Ajay Singh Wazir, Javed Ahmed Zargar, Raj Gopal Singh Bahu, M P Singh, Afaq Shoukat Mir, Mohammed Altaf Hussain Mir, Din Mohammed Bhat, Mohammed Afzal Bhat, Shafat Ahmed Jeelani and Sanjay Sharma. They have been asked to submit their joining reports to respective chief engineers and heads of departments till further posting orders are issued. |
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Sagar inaugurates vital bridge at Langate Excelsior Correspondent KUPWARA, Dec 29: Minister for Works, Mr. Ali Muhammad Sagar today dedicated to people Pohru-Peth bridge in Langate constituency of district Kupwara. Constructed at a cost of Rs.2.76 crore, the bridge would provide connectivity to a population of 250 lakh souls of 10 villages in the area. The villages provided connectivity with the construction of the bridge include Unis, Baripora, Handwara, Langate, Sagipora, zaloora, Jujjar, Haripora, Pohru and Peth. Gutted during militancy reconstructed of the bridge was taken up in 1997. Addressing a public meeting on this occasion, the Minister said under the reconstruction drive launched by the Government, 19 major bridges gutted during the militancy have been taken up for reconstruction in the Kupwara district. He said 6 bridges have already been completed at a cost of Rs.26.78 crore providing lot of relief to the people of this militancy affected district. To improve the road communication network in the border district, the Minister said 22 road schemes costing Rs.28.24 crore have been taken up for execution under NABARD programme. He said 45 more schemes costing Rs.54 crore have already been submitted to the NABARD authorities for approval. Mr. Sagar said with the completion of these schemes, the district will have an upgraded road length of around 500 kms. He said more schemes would be taken up especially in the border areas to provide the people these equal opportunities in the developmental process. Later, the Minister convened a joint meeting of officers and prominent citizens of the district to review the progress of developmental works, law and order situation and take stock of people’s problems. Speaking at the meeting, the Minister said that a contingency plan has been formulated to provide relief and rescue to the people living in border areas in the event of any eventuality. He said the government have already approved construction of around 2000 bunkers in the border areas of the district to ensure safety of the people there. Mr. Sagar called upon the administration to ensure sucurity of the civilians of the border areas who are the worst sufferers of the prevailing situation. The Minister called for improvement in power, social welfare and employment generation sectors. Earlier, the District Development Commissioner, Kupwara gave a resume of the progress of developmental works in the district. |
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LIC employees hold demonstration in J&K Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 29: Employees of Life Insurance Corporation of India held a demonstration in front of their respective offices throughout the state today. The demonstration was organised in protest against the non-redressal of their long pending demands. The employees under the banner of Northern Zone Insurance Employees Association have been raising their demands at the Zonal Management level about the recruitment of peons, clerical staff in the offices in Kashmir Valley for the last many years. The employees union had also demanded the clearance of panel for the watchmen which is also pending for the last one year. The union leaders while addressing the gathering here expressed anguish and anger over the indifferent attitude the LIC management. Reports from Kashmir said that inspite of chilling winter a large number of employees participated in the demonstration. In Jammu, large gathering of employees was addressed by Gurdeep Singh, Divisional Secretary. |
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JKMEF holds convention at Majalta Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Dec 29: One day convention of Jammu Kashmir Medical Employees Federation was held at PHC Majalta under the chairmanship of Mr R K Kotwal, district president. The conference was inaugurated by Mr Sansar Chand provincial general secretary of the Federation. As per a release the agenda of the conference was improvement of health care in rural areas and role of trade unions in development sector besides review of the organisation. Addressing the employees Messrs R K Kotwal and Sansar Chand impressed upon the concerned authorities to fulfil all vacant posts of para medical staff and holding of timely DPC meetings. Towards the conclusion a body of MEF was elected for Majalta with Sudershan Singh as president, Mrs Santosh Kumari and Mr Shiv Kumar as vice presidents, Khajoor Singh as secretary and Madan Lal Sharma as organisor. |
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JKAC condemns attack on ISM doctors Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 29: The members of All J&K Ayurvedic Congress in a meeting under the presidentship of Dr Dev Raj Sharma has strongly condemned brutal attack on two Ayurvedic doctors namely Dr Kulbhushan Sharma and Dr Madan Lal Sharma by militants in Poonch district. As per a release Dr Sharma appreciated the exemplary courage and bravery shown by these two doctors who succeeded in saving their lives braving the bullets of the terrorists. The members condemned the attack on medicos who have been serving in far flung areas risking their lives. They demanded full security to employees serving in remote and far flung areas, otherwise it would become difficult for them to serve in these areas. Association president Dr Dev Raj Sharma has demanded that these two injured doctors may immediately be detailed to work in Government Ayurvedic Hospital and their cases be considered for bravery certificate by the Government. |
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An international accolade for Jammuite Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 29: Mrs Shifali Charak, W/o Capt D S Jamwal and D/o Dr V S Charak, has attained rare distinction in the world class poetry competition wherein her poem "Paradise" has featured in "Beautiful Cofee-Table Edition" as Semi-finalist in the International open Poetry Contest and as a semi-finalist she has an excellent chance of winning one of 104 gift prizes as per the intimation of Howward Ely, Managing Editor of the International Library of Poetry of France. As per a release, her poem "Paradise" has entered into the final competition as per the selection committee certification. The poem has received unique distinction of its publication "Under a Quicksilver Moon" an anthology of English poems of international fame, scheduled for publication in Winter 2002, on the basis of her unique talent and artistic vision. She has been invited to attend International Society of Poet’s Convention and Symposium to be held at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida which will be held from March one, 2002, Mr Howard Ely, Managing Editor of the Anthology book informed. Mrs Shifali Charak is a post-graduate in english Literature and a position holder from Jammu University. |
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Natrang Theatre Festival Excelsior Correspondent The Theatre Festival being organised by Natrang began with performance of the play Bawa Jitto here today. The Festival was inaugurated by Mohd.Shafi Uri, Education Minister, J&K Govt. by way of traditional lighting of the ceremonial lamp. He also released the Souvenir of the Festival. Speaking on the occasion the Minister praised the efforts of Natrang in popularising theatre in the State and bringing laurels to the State at the national level. The play Bawa Jitto, is based on a folk ballad of the Dogra land and has been adapted for the stage by Ram Nath Shastri. It was the fifty-fifth performance of the play, which has become the most successful play of the group. The play tells the tale of a peasant of Dogra region who commits suicide to register his protest against the oppresive regime of the day. the play was directed by Balwant Thakur, the director of Natrang and the Secretary of Cultural Academy. Prominant among those who participated in the play include Sat Salarbi as Bawa Jitto, Anil Tickoo as Isso, Suresh Kumar as Mehta Vir Singh, Dr. Sudhanshu Sharma as Malli and Neeraj Kant as Rullo. Heena Malhotra got good clappings from audience for her role as Bua Gouri. The lights had been given by Jaspal Singh and the costumes had been designed by Deepika B. Thakur. All the actors performed well and the people who had gathered inspite of cold weather liked the play. This was the first play of the Festival and the second play that will be performed tomorrow will be Kanjoos, under thew direction of Harish Khanna and Adil Hussain. |
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Sagar inaugurates 3 water supply schemes in Kupwara Excelsior Correspondent KUPWARA, Dec 29: Works Minister, Mr. Ali Muhammad Sagar today inaugurated 3 water supply schemes namely Drugmullah, Sahipora and Muqam-e-Shahwali in Kupwara district. Completed at a cost of Rs.1.57 crore, the schemes would benefit a population of 25,000 souls. Later, reviewing the pace of development works at an officers meeting here, the Minister was told that an expenditure of Rs.23.44 crore has been booked up to November last accounting from 67 per cent of the total allocation of Rs.40.24 crore on the implementation of development works in the district during current financial year. The Minister was told that construction of 15 major works had been taken in hand, of which 6 bridges have been completed at a total cost of Rs.19.45 crore, while work is in progress on the rest of bridges. While reviewing stock and supply position of essential commodities, Mr. Sagar was told that 44,00 quintals of rice, 6,000 quintals of wheat and 4,000 quintals of sugar have been stocked in border areas of Karnah, Keran and Machil to meet their requirements during winter months. Sufficient stocks have also been dumped in go-downs of Food and Supplies department in the district. District Development Commissioner, Kupwara, Mr. Haq Nawaz, Legislators, Mr. Saifullah and Nasir Khan and senior officers of the district attended the meeting. |
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Altaf suspends six doctors,
several para Excelsior Correspondent Jammu, Dec 29: Minister for Health and Medical Education Mian Altaf Ahmad today paid a surprise visit to the Sub-District Hospital, Hiranagar and placed under suspension six doctors and several para-medicos for being absent from duty. He asked accompanying Director, Health Services, Jammu to take disciplinary action against them. The Minister also inspected a number of health institutions in the border areas of Samba and Hiranagar and took stock of the problems of people migrated due to shelling from across the border. He directed that all possible medical facilities be provided to the needy round the clock. At Sub-District Hospital, Samba, Mian Altaf asked the doctors and other para-medical staff to remain punctual and ensure that people get adequate medicare facilities. He also went round various units of the hospital and gave on-the-spot instructions for effecting immediate renovation of the wards. On an average around 300 patients are provided treatment in the OPD of this 30- bedded health institution daily. |
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