Over 12 lakh patients treated at SKIMS Soura in a year

Daily admission rate is 246, bed occupancy 81%, gross death rate 3.8%, net death rate 1.83 %

Jahangeer Ganaie

Srinagar, Feb 28 (KNO): Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura, the valley’s premier tertiary care health institute, has treated an impressive number of patients over the past year, with over 12 lakh people seeking medical assistance at its Out Patient Department (OPD).

According to data obtained by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), SKIMS Soura witnessed a significant influx of patients, including Accident and Emergency (A&E) cases, totalling over 12 lakh visits to the OPD.

Among these, 387,088 were new patients, while 501,690 were revisits seeking medical attention.

In terms of inpatient admissions, SKIMS recorded 57,277 routine admissions, 25,384 emergency admissions, and 7,362 Gynae and Obstetrics admissions, totalling 89,973 admissions in the past year alone.

Hospital performance indicators show an average daily admission rate of 246, with an impressive bed occupancy rate of 81 percent. The gross death rate was reported at 3.8 percent, while the net death rate stood at 1.83 percent.

Meanwhile, data spanning from 2014 to September 2023 reveals a total of around 28,000 deaths reported across all departments of SKIMS Soura. The highest number of deaths, amounting to 3,600, was recorded in 2014, followed by 2,572 in 2015, 2,186 in 2016, 2695 in 2017 and 2596 in 2018.

Details further reveal that 2859 deaths were reported at the institute in 2019, 2921 in 2020, 3415 in 2021, 3071 in 2022 and 2331 up to September 2023—(KNO)

Heavy Rain and Snowfall may delay the opening of Schools in Kashmir , Very Heavy Snowfall are expected over higher reaches and heavy rainfall with Snowfall are expected in plains

As per independent Weatherman A Strong Western disturbance are very likely to bring moderate to very heavy rain and snow from tomorrow evening until 03 March over most parts of J&K.

Tomorrow Weather (29 February): Mostly cloudy sky till late evening towards night rain/snow activities may start over most parts .

01 March : Moderate to heavy rainfall are expected over Plains while heavy to very heavy snowfall are expected over higher reaches of J&K.

02 March : Heavy rain over most plains of Kashmir till late afternoon then may transform into Snowfall including Srinagar city with very heavy snowfall over upper reaches of J&K. Heavy rain also expected over most plains of Jammu.

03 March : Light to moderate Snow/rain till afternoon towards evening improvement in weather are expected.

Aadil Maqbool Said Snow accumulation can range from 2-6 Feet in Upper reaches of J&K . Tourist places like Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam & Doodhpatri can receive snowfall upto 2-4 Feet during above period.

Probable impact.

1 Shooting stones at vulnerable areas of jammu _ sgr , national highway dur to heavy Rainfall

2 This may lead to temporary disruption of major highway especially sgr_ leh , Mughal road and other major hilly roads due to snow accumulation

3 Significantly Drop in day temperature.

4 May closure the opening of Schools due to heavy rain and snow .

Regards: Kashmir Weather Forecast

Assembly polls in J&K will be held before Sept: LG Manoj Sinha

‘No talks with Pak till it mends its ways’

J&K will be soon free from targeted killings too

Jammu, Feb 28: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today said Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held before September but clarified that conduct of polls is the domain of the Election Commission of India. He ruled out contesting upcoming Parliamentary polls from Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh saying he is presently focused on Jammu and Kashmir.

In an interview with TV9 Network, Sinha said Lok Sabha polls are being held in Jammu and Kashmir with rest of the country and full Election Commission is visiting the UT on March 12.

To a pointed question by the TV anchor on Assembly elections, he said the Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir will be held before September while Statehood will be restored at an appropriate time.

However, he clarified that conduct of Assembly polls is the task of the Election Commission and whenever they take a call the Government will be ready for the elections.

Responding to a question on Ghazipur Lok Sabha seat which he won in 2014, the Lieutenant Governor said he is in constant touch with Ghazipur as this is his birthplace but important task before him at present is to work honestly in Jammu and Kashmir with the blessings of Mata Vaishno Devi Ji and Baba Amarnath Ji.

On some politicians calling for talks with Pakistan, Sinha said the policy of Government of India and Jammu and Kashmir administration is very clear that till Pakistan mends its way, there will be no talks with the neighbouring country.

“We will talk to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and youth,” he said. When asked if Pakistan doesn’t behave in future also, he added that there will be no talks till then.

Reiterating that there are no political detainees in Jammu and Kashmir, the Lieutenant Governor, however said, those who challenge unity and integrity of the country, they will continue to face music. There is complete freedom for political activities which you can see from the kind of statements and speeches being delivered by the political leaders, he added.

“We are not only targeting terrorism but entire ecosystem of terror. Some incidents (of targeted killings) took place in which we have taken action. Jammu and Kashmir will be shortly free from targeted killings also,” he said, adding he can say with full responsibility that the targeted killings were executed at the behest of Pakistan.

Referring to infiltration attempts by the terrorists, Sinha said the terrorists sometimes try to take advantage of ceasefire. “Earlier their focus was in Kashmir but later they tried in Rajouri and Poonch also. Now 360 degrees security arrangements are being made by Army, paramilitary forces and police and situation will be controlled in the border districts”.

Asserting that there has been 75 percent decline in violence, civilian and security personnel’s killings in Jammu and Kashmir, he said deployment of security forces has considerably come down in the Valley as compared to past.

“Earlier, the people used to rush to their houses in the evening in the Valley but now they enjoy night life. Stone pelting has become history. Srinagar has better markets than Delhi. A youth completed his three years degree in seven years due to hartals but his sister has now finished the degree in three years as schools and colleges are functioning properly. There are no bandh calendars issued by Pakistan but the UT Government issues festival calendars,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

He said the UT Government has received industrial development proposals worth Rs 90,000 crore and Rs 15,000 crore worth projects are on ground while the rest will also be a reality shortly.
“Jammu and Kashmir has become No. 1 in the country in eServices,” he said.

He also referred to grant of ST status to Paharis and other tribes without diluting the quota of Gujjars and Bakerwals, reservation to OBCs in jobs, educational institutions, Panchayats and Municipalities, Forest Rights Act to Gujjars and Bakerwals, Gadi, Sippi and Sinna, citizenship rights to West Pakistan refugees and many other steps taken by Narendra Modi Government for social empowerment of the people.–(Daily Excelsior)