Viewing the national media, one gets drowned by numerous tales of horror brought by the latest variant of Covid-19 across India particularly in Delhi, Maharastra, UP, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka and similarly placed states. Ceaseless broadcast of such news throughout the day tells a tale about the virtual collapse of Health infrastructure in the country that proved responsible for a large scale of deaths and destruction.
But the situation in Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh Union Territories is no better so far the Covid upsurge and its fatalities are concerning compared to the situation last year. Here too, though the population density is low, there is no dearth of issues and controversies that hit the above regions. However, the local incidents and domestic happenings in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh get little rather no coverage on national media and it remains within Jammu Kashmir and the Himalayan UT except for a few important events like the forthcoming Shri Amarnath Yatra that expects an influx of about six lakh pilgrims during the severe Covid challenge. It's a wise decision by the Jammu Kashmir administration to temporarily suspend the Yatra.
Four top bureaucrats of J&K UT Financial Commissioner Health and Medical Education, Atal Dullo, Pr Secretary Information & PDD, Rohit Kansal; Secretary DMRR&R, Simrandeep Singh and Mission Director NHM, Choudhary Yasin briefed some media persons in Jammu on Tuesday claiming that Jammu Kashmir was a better place viz a viz what has been happening in other worst Covid-hit states.
The bureaucrats expressed satisfaction that sufficient and appropriate measures have been taken by the Administration in the matter of availability of sufficient beds and Oxygen supplies for the patients in the Hospitals of UT.
Admitting that the situation available is challenging, however, said that it is not out of control claiming that J&K has made ample preparations to meet the challenge and has been working on a 5-pronged strategy to restrict the spread of virus.
If what they apprised turns out like that ‘A Treat of Sweet is due for them'. But the ground realities and observations, we are afraid, may not go with what was claimed for the purpose to avoid a scare.
The facts remain; the people during December 2020 to March 2021 have started relenting on the Covid appropriate behaviour and the Administration acquiescing on such behaviour, the free interstate movement of population, the inflow of a large number of tourists/pilgrims all this contributed towards the high positivity rate and the rising death toll in J&K and Ladakh.
The positivity rate, as of now, recorded in the UT is 5.2 per cent, more than double the previous high of 2.5 per cent last year.
As of today, with 85 deaths reported so far in the month of April and 16094 active Covid positive cases, a growth rate of over 13 per cent more spread is visible and it is increasing with each passing day.
On October 09 last year, Atal Dulloo, Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education announced the installation of dedicated Oxygen plants in 37 hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir in the next four months at the project cost of Rs. 223 Crore. During Sept-October last year Jammu division was reeling under the scarcity of medical oxygen resulting in delayed treatment for patients and deaths. Nearly seven months have passed, the work of installing these Oxygen plants has not yet completed.
With JK UT's Covid count increasing sharply with each passing day and with the forthcoming 56-day annual Sri Amarnath Yatra commencing from June 28, the Administration has to intensify measures and to make enormous preparations to cope with the challenge in the next two months to ensure a safe and hassle-free Amarnath Yatra.
The consequences and implications of superspreaders like Election rallies in some states, huge gatherings in this year's Kumbh and in Iftaari carried in Hyderabad recently are before us to learn from.
Thus, in the weeks ahead, entire administrative machinery has to be readied to combat the serious challenge caused by the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic with all requisite measures in place to keep the surge in control. Let saving lives be the priority of each and every one of us.
