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Daredevil rescue operation by IAF

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New Delhi June 3

An Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot rescued a team of armed forces from an altitude of 17,000 feet by hovering his copter and winching up two persons. The operation was carried out in north Sikkim on May 8. Sources confirmed that such an operation is rare.

The pilot, flying an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), did not have enough space to land due to fresh snow, and the rescue window due to prevailing weather condition was small.

It all started on May 7 when an IAF Mi17V5 crashed in North Sikkim. All six on board, including the two pilots, survived miraculously. On May 8 morning, two ‘Cheetah’ copters landed nearby and evacuated them, barring two, who were winched up by an 2.5-tonne ALH that couldn’t land due to fresh snow. — TNS

 


China preparing for infiltration behind enemy lines amidst standoff in Ladakh

Media reports emanating from China indicate that PLA troops have been holding night-time high-altitude exercises in Tibetan Plateau to ‘infiltrate behind the enemy lines’

China preparing for infiltration behind enemy lines amidst standoff in Ladakh

Arun Joshi

Jammu, June 3

China is preparing for a massive infiltration into Eastern Ladakh amid nearly a month-long standoff between Chinese and Indian troops at the Himalaya heights where both sides claim that it is their territory.

Media reports emanating from China have indicated that the PLA troops have been holding night-time high-altitude exercises in Tibetan Plateau to “infiltrate behind the enemy lines”.

This is an unmistakable hint towards the Indian positions along the LAC in eastern Ladakh that lie adjacent to Tibetan plateau. It is for the first time that China has served such a warning of infiltration to India.

The Global Times that reflects Chinese official viewpoint and policy wrote in Wednesday’s edition that these exercises were held recently and broadcast by CCTV on Monday. The report’s opening paragraph summed up the plans of the People’s Liberation Army.

It read: “The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Tibet Military Command recently sent troops to a high-altitude region at an elevation of 4,700 metres at night for infiltration exercises behind enemy lines and tested their combat capability under a harsh environment.”

“At 1 am at an undisclosed date, a PLA scout unit began to mobilise towards its target in the Tanggula Mountains.” The Tanggula mountain range is adjacent to the Changthang region of Ladakh rich with lakes.

“During the march, vehicles turned off their lights and used night vision devices to avoid hostile drone reconnaissance, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Monday, the Global Times reported.

The newspaper gave the graphic details of the exercises and the techniques it used. The PLA also used drones.

They engaged in combat when approaching the target, for which they sent a sniper unit to crack enemy spotlights and a fire strike team to destroy enemy light-armoured vehicles with anti-tank rockets.

After neutralising the defences, the scout unit successfully launched the final assault on the enemy headquarters, in which commanders used a vehicle-mounted infrared reconnaissance system and guided the troops to lock in on targets and deliver fire strikes.

More than 2,000 munitions, including mortar shells, rifle grenades and rockets, were fired during the mock battle, Ma Qian, commander of the scout battalion involved in the drills, told CCTV, according to the newspaper.

It could be a subtle message to India and also to the world that China is better trained and in control of the situation or it is looking for a similar response from Delhi to its preparations in the high altitudes.

 


Pulwama 2.0 plotter among 3 JeM ultras killed in gunfight

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Our Correspondent

Anantnag, June 3

Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) top IED expert Abdul Rehman, alias Fauji Bhai, who was an Afghan war participant and mastermind behind the recently foiled Pulwama 2.0 bid, was killed in a gunfight with security forces today. Two local militants were also killed.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Vijay Kumar termed Abdul Rehman’s killing as a huge success for the security forces. “Hailing from Multan in Pakistan, Rehman had been active in Kashmir since 2017,” Kumar said.

Police sources said the other two militants killed in the gunfight were locals named Javed Zargar of Rangmulla and Manzoor Kar of Sirnoo.

Today’s gunfight, which took place in the Kangan area of Pulwama district, was second in as many days in the south Kashmir district. Two JeM militants were killed on Tuesday morning in the Tral area. A senior police official said a cordon and search operation was launched in Astan Mohalla of Kangan on Wednesday morning following a tipoff.

“The house where the militants were holed up was zeroed in on and the militants asked to surrender. They, however, opened fire and were neutralised in the ensuing gunfight,” the official said.


75 militants killed this year: IGP

  • According to Kashmir IGP Vijay Kumar, 75 militants have been killed this year so far
  • “Two IED experts of the JeM are still active in Kashmir. They have been identified as Waleed Bhai and Lambu Bhai,” he added
  • He said present JeM chief Abdullah Rashid Ghazi would also be killed or arrested soon

Revert to earlier position on LAC, India to tell China To seek withdrawal of PLA troops from ‘Finger 4’, Gogra, Galwan areas

Revert to earlier position on LAC, India to tell China

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Serviceew Delhi, June 3

As senior military commanders of India and China are scheduled to meet on June 6, India is readying agenda points aimed at seeking restoration of status quo ante along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh.

These points will be finalised in consultation with Director General Military Operations, the Northern Command and the Leh-based 14 Corps.

Edit: India-China talks

Sources said the Army would ask the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China to withdraw from “Finger 4” area in the north of Pangong Tso and Gogra on the edge of a flat plateau called Hot Springs.

Both sides have varying perception of the LAC in these areas. At one of the spots, the difference is around 10 km.

As per the existing framework of LAC management between India and China, troops of either side do not hold ground in disputed areas along the LAC. They come for patrol and return.

In Galwan, the third point of tension between the two armies, India is very clear that China has to vacate its newly occupied positions. The Line of Actual Control is not disputed here. India has conveyed to China that its troops were in the areas that were never disputed.

India can either pressure China by carving out a new position of its own along the LAC or reason out with it to withdraw. There are no posts in the area. Only patrolling is done here.

India will also seek that the heavy armour and artillery guns, which China has moved to various locations in the Aksai Chin area or all along the 826-km-long Line of Actual Control, be moved back.

Sources said the conduct of the June 6 meeting would be on the Chinese side of the Chushul-Moldo meeting point. Chushul is on the Indian side, while Moldo is on the Chinese side. These are around 2 km apart.

As per protocol, the visiting commander gets to read out his points first, followed by the host’s points. The points are then discussed and minutes of the meeting prepared by each side.

Govt clams up on border standoff

New Delhi: There was no comment from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on the standoff which has entered the third week. It had last spoken on the issue on May 21. China too has been reticent on speaking on the issue. A question on the standoff has frequently failed to figure at its Foreign Office’s briefings. On Wednesday, it repeated its earlier formulation: “There have been sound mechanisms and channels of communication…’’ External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar too has stayed away from webinars. TNS

 


Capt Amarinder Singh Pb CM launches ‘Mission Fateh” ( Victory over/Defeat to) Covid-19

Punjab CM launches ‘Mission Fateh’ song featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Milkha Singh, Kapil Dev, Gurdas Maan, Kareena Kapoor

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 2

As part of the state battle against COVID-19, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, on Tuesday, launched ‘Mission Fateh’ song featuring Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, Kareena Kapoor, Gurdas Maan and Harbhajan Singh besides a star-studded line-up of personalities from sports and Punjabi cinema, with the message of resilience, resolve and discipline to defeat the virus and save Punjab.

Urging everyone to come forward and complement state efforts to save lives by disseminating information about preventive measures, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said with the cooperation of everyone, Punjab had been successful in controlling the spread of the virus to a great extent, a press release by the state government read.

The war has not ended, he underlined urging people to remain vigilant and keep following all social distancing norms.

The song, which also features local boy Sonu Sood alongside braveheart Punjab Police poster boy ASI Harjit Singh and TikTok sensation Noor, has been sung by Punjabi music director and singer B Praak.

The song is a unique initiative to give the message of maintaining social distancing, wearing a mask while going out and washing hands regularly to achieve ‘Fateh’ over COVID-19.

Soha Ali Khan, Randeep Hooda and Rannvijay besides personalities Punjabi film and music industry, including Gippy Grewal, Ammy Virk, Jazzy B, Binnu Dhillon, Pammi Bai, Jasbir Jassi, Rajwir Jawanda, Rubina Bajwa Kulwinder Billa, Karamjit Anmol, Singga, Tarsem Jassar, Lakhwinder Wadali, Harjit Harman, Gurnazar, Babbal Rai, Jaani, Kulraj Randhawa, Shivjot, Happy Raikoti, Afsana Khan, Ninja, Aatish, Tanishq Kaur and Aarushi also feature in the song.

The song which has also been uploaded on the Facebook page of Captain Amarinder Singh also featured prominent sports personalities, including cricketer Harbhajan Singh, Anjum Moudgill and Avneet Sidhu.

Praak had earlier won hearts of the nation for his patriotic song “Teri Mitti”.

The song will also be broadcast on various television and radio channels so that the message of collectively fighting against COVID-19 reaches everyone in Punjab.

Apart from this, the message of maintaining social distancing, washing hands regularly and wearing masks while going out has also been spread through hoardings and newspaper advertisements across various cities and villages.

In the coming days, various departments of Punjab Government will work towards spreading awareness amongst the people of Punjab under ‘Mission Fateh’ that COVID-19 has still not ended and everyone must inculcate these small changes in their lifestyles to protect themselves and their families, a press release by the state government further read.


5 ways the world can stare China down by Manish Tewari MP Anadpur Sahib

China is lashing out in Ladakh and South China Sea after Covid blame. It’s an established Chinese behaviour to create a new crisis to push the previous one out of sight.

Chinese President Xi Jinping

hinese President Xi Jinping | kremlin.ru
The Chinese leadership has two problems. Staving off an international scientific investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic because it could trigger enormous demands for reparations, and concurrently repair the global damage to its standing.

A democracy would have dealt with it differently. It would have welcomed and cooperated with an inquiry and acknowledged or differed with its findings. It would have leveraged its soft power patiently to slowly undo the image deficit caused. However, China is an authoritarian capitalist oligarchy whose leadership is punch-drunk on hubris.


Also read: China believes India wants Aksai Chin back. PLA has likely secured 40-60 sq km in Ladakh


Creating flash points 

The Chinese leadership, therefore, has started lashing out on all sides trying to create strategic and tactical flash points to somehow make the – ‘China is responsible for the contagion’ – headline go away.

It has stoked tensions in the South China Sea by unilaterally announcing on 18 April 2020 the establishment of two new administrative structures, prompting the US Navy to launch its fifth freedom of navigation operation in the past five months.

It has belligerently taken on US President Donald Trump and other world leaders who are publicly calling for an ‘origin’ investigation into the Covid-19 epidemic. It has drastically altered its relationship with Hong Kong by partially enacting a new security law that fundamentally transforms the ‘one nation two systems’ paradigm.

It has encroached into Indian territory and, according to an estimate by the former Northern Army Commander, Lt. Gen. H.S. Panag, illegally occupied between 40-60 sq km of Indian territory in the Galwan River area and on the Indian side of Pangong Tso lake in Ladakh. It has also encroached into Indian territory in Naku La in north Sikkim.

Thus, in a short span of one month, China has created a maritime, land-based and a sovereignty flash point, each with short-term eyeball grabbing potential and longer-term  strategic and tactical advantages.


Also read: China has definitely crossed India’s Lakshman rekha but it won’t lead to 1962 again


China’s established pattern

This behaviour is not surprising. The Chinese leadership, from 1947 onwards, has always resorted to obfuscation and deception to deflect from its failures and internal crises.

A classical and often un-analysed aspect is the correlation between the failure of the Great Leap Forward and the 1962 War with India. The Great Leap Forward was a five-year plan of forced agricultural collectivisation and rural industrialisation that was instituted by the Chinese Communist Party in 1958 and abandoned in 1961. It occasioned a drastic shrinking of the Chinese economy and was responsible for 30 to 55 million deaths due to starvation, execution, torture, forced labour, and suicide out of harassment. It was the biggest distinct, non-wartime pogrom of mass killing in human history.

It is another matter that the Chinese were able to get the erstwhile Soviet Union on board for the 1962 aggression against India as a quid pro quo for keeping quiet on the Cuban missile crisis initiated by the Soviet leadership. Similarly, the Sino-Vietnam conflict had as much to do with the evolving leadership dynamic within the Chinese Communist Party post the death of Mao Tse Tsung as it did with the situation in Cambodia. Deng Xiaoping assumed the leadership in December 1978 and Chinese troops entered Vietnam in March 1979.

Thus, there is a clearly established pattern to the Chinese behaviour. Create a new crisis to push the previous one out of sight.


Also read: UK wants 5G alliance of 10 countries, including India, to avoid reliance on Chinese Huawei


Stare China down

Should the Chinese leadership be allowed to get away with it this time around again? The answer is no.

The world needs to stare the Chinese squarely in the eye. There are five things that must be done.

First, the call for an international investigation into the origins of Covid-19 must be taken to a logical conclusion. Second, Taiwan’s observer status at the World Health Organization (WHO) must be reinstated. Third, China’s disproportionate influence in the institutions of global governance must be substantively diminished through collective action beginning with a summer cleaning of the WHO.

Fourth, the quad between the US, India, Japan and Australia must be formalised to keep the Indo-Pacific free of malefic Chinese influence. Fifth, the international community must unite to, if necessary, sanction China to keep democracy and liberty alive in Hong Kong.


Also read: Covid showed dependence on China poses all kinds of risks. For India, it’s even greater


Modi govt’s border conundrum

That leaves the question of dealing with the border encroachment carried out by China in Ladakh and north Sikkim. There, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government will have to carry the cross alone, keeping the possibility of a China-Pakistan link-up in Sub Sector North in mind.

For starters, the Narendra Modi government must tell India what is really going on. Are Generals Panag and Prakash Menon correct that a ‘Lakshman rekha’ has indeed been breached? If so, what is the extent of the transgression and what does the government intend to do about it?

Unlike the maritime domain, where shared interests are at play, here, India is virtually on its own. However, it holds some cards, for example the Chair of the WHO’s Executive Board, 5G trials for Huawei, activating the Vladivostok-Chennai Maritime Corridor. If the Modi government uses these skilfully, coupled with a patient, sustained but a determined force posture in Ladakh and north Sikkim, India should be just fine.

How Prime Minister Modi must be regretting shelving the 90,000-strong 17th Mountain Strike Corps or the Brahmastra Corps cleared for raising by the Congress-led UPA government in July 2013 especially keeping the Sino-Indian situation in mind. It would have been fully operational by now.

 

The author is a lawyer, MP and former Union information and broadcasting minister. Views are personal.


Northern Commander in Ladakh, Army moves more troops amid standoff with China

Additional troops have been brought in from three locations outside Ladakh to the LAC where a standoff with China has been on since early May.

Trucks carry essential commodities in Ladakh | Representational image | ANI

Trucks carry essential commodities in Ladakh | Representational image | ANI

New Delhi: Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Y.K. Joshi Tuesday reached Ladakh to review the situation amid growing tensions at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which has forced the Army to move in about two additional division strength-level forces into the region, ThePrint has learnt.

Sources said most of the troops who were moved over the past few weeks have finished their acclimatisation and have been deployed to counter the Chinese build-up along the Galwan Valley, larger Hot Spring Area and the Finger Area of the Pangong Lake.

The brigades that have been moved from at least three different locations into Ladakh also have elements of artillery. Support elements have also been sent.

While the 14 Corps, the Army division that looks after Ladakh, is sufficiently armed in terms of artillery, armour, men and reserves, more soldiers have been brought in to create  large reserves and forward deployment.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has also increased its flying in Ladakh with a mix of Sukhoi and Mirages even as the Chinese have increased flying on their side.

“What is happening is mirror deployment. The Chinese have a troop build-up and we too are more than adequately placed,” a source said.

Even though the build-up is there, as reported by ThePrint earlier, the focus is on finding an “amicable solution” through talks.

Talks are being carried out through established channels, both at military level as well as the Army level.

Sources said while the situation in Galwan and the larger Host Spring area is “under control”, the main problem lies around Pangong Lake.

The 134 km of Pangong Lake’s northern bank juts out like a palm, and the various protrusions are identified as ‘fingers’.

The Chinese have come between the disputed area between Finger 3 and 4 and have dug up a moat-like construction with troop build-up to prevent Indians from patrolling further.

The dispute lies in the fact that India claims the LAC is at Finger 8 while the Chinese say it is at Finger 2.


Also read: Stand-off with China in Ladakh is India’s worst border tension since Kargil in 1999


Northern Commander visits Ladakh

Lt Gen Joshi flew into Ladakh early Tuesday morning and is scheduled to hold a series of meetings with the commanders there, including 14 Corps Commander Lt Gen Harinder Singh, who was the Director General Military Intelligence before taking over the crucial Ladakh command in October last year.

Lt Gen Singh’s first visit after taking over was to Eastern Ladakh.

Lt Gen Joshi, a Kargil war hero, was the 14 Corps Commander before Lt Gen Singh. He was the Chief of Staff in the Northern Command before becoming the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, this February.

While it was not immediately known if he will be visiting forward locations, this is his second visit to the region after tensions broke out. He had earlier accompanied Army Chief General M.M. Naravane, who had made a quiet visit on 22 May.


Also read: Stand-off in Ladakh: Army matching wits with China, on every step


Talks on but no change in ground situation

While several rounds of talks have been held between India and China, the ground situation remains the same.

Sources said the Chinese have built up a large number of troops on its side, which includes artillery and armoured units.

As reported by ThePrint earlier, they were diverted from a massive exercise that was being held.

According to protocol, both armies are supposed to inform each other about any exercise that is being held near the LAC. The Indian Army also carries out an exercise in early summer, which was delayed this year due to the Covid pandemic.


Also read: More ‘Ladakh clashes’ emerge as India-China tension turns into social media battle


Chinese build-up and transgressions

With regard to Galwan Valley, sources say the Chinese build-up is in their territory and they have not crossed the Chinese Claim Line (CCL). In Galwan Valley, the CCL and the LAC are the same.

However, the forward movement by the Chinese has put the Shyok-DBO road, inaugurated last year by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, under stress.

This road is at least 10 km inside the LAC at several points, and runs perpendicular to the Galwan river. To connect this road to the LAC, India was constructing feeder roads. This included a bridge over a rivulet, near the confluence of the Shyok and Galwan rivers.

The Chinese were peeved at these construction activities because it will enable the Indian forces to reach the LAC faster with men and equipment, which changes the equation between both countries.

Army sources admitted that the Chinese have transgressed in the larger Hot Spring Area by about 3 km and the Finger Area, but have not crossed the CCL.


Also read: Chinese aggression in Ladakh also a message for domestic and external audience: Experts


Chinese troops present in sizeable numbers at LAC, India has done what’s needed: Rajnath

Defence Minister says India and China perceive LAC differently, leading to regular jostling; Beijing ‘should seriously deliberate’ and resolve the issue amicably.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh | Photo: ANI

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh | Photo: ANI
New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Tuesday that Chinese soldiers are present in “sizeable numbers” in eastern Ladakh, as the stand-off between the two countries is about to hit the one-month mark.

“The Chinese have come in sizeable numbers. But India has done what needed to be done,” Singh told CNN News18 in an interview Tuesday, without going into further details. The phrase he used in Hindi for the number of Chinese troops was “achhi khaasi sankhya”.

While the Chinese have reportedly built up a large number of troops on their side of the LAC, including artillery and armoured units, India too has moved in additional troops, including two additional divisions strength-level forces.

Singh’s comments come days after he said in another TV interview that the situation in eastern Ladakh was different from earlier face-offs.

These are the first comments from the Government of India on the troop build-up along the Line of Actual Control, and the transgressions committed by the Chinese in at least four locations, including Pangong Lake.

Also read: More ‘Ladakh clashes’ emerge as India-China tension turns into social media battle


Military talks

However, the minister underlined that talks are on between India and China, and another round of “high-level” military talks is scheduled for 6 June.

According to the established protocols between the two countries, divisional commander-level talks are the highest level.

Divisional commanders from both sides met earlier in the day for the third round of talks, and sources said, though there aren’t any tangible results yet, the fact that talks are being held is a positive.

Rajnath Singh also said in the interview that the perception of the LAC between India and China in the region is different, and that hardly a year has gone by when the Indian Army and China’s People’s Liberation Army have not faced off or jostled with each other.

“I think China should seriously deliberate on this, so that the differences can be resolved amicably,” he said.

India’s self-respect

Singh said whenever there has been a difference between India and China in the past, including the Doklam stand-off in 2017, the issues have been resolved at the military and diplomatic levels.

He, however, said that while India doesn’t want to hurt the self-respect of any country and wants to have good terms with everyone, India will not tolerate it if someone tries to hurt India’s self-respect, and that has been India’s clear policy.

Asked why China is resorting to such measures at the LAC when the world is fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, the defence minister said since talks are going on, he would not like to give a statement.

He pointed out that China had also made it amply clear during the recent diplomatic-level talks that it was keen to resolve the issue through dialogue.

Asked about the need for the US intervention in the matter, he said India already has a mechanism with China to solve such issues.

Last Friday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had questioned the government’s silence about the situation with China, saying it was fuelling massive speculation and uncertainty in a time of crisis, and that the government should come clean to its people.

However, Rajnath Singh said border disputes should not be politicised, and the country should stand united during such times.


Also read: Chinese troops blacktopping track in disputed ‘finger’ area in Ladakh amid border tensions


Relations with other countries

Speaking about Nepal and its controversial new map that shows the disputed Lipulekh-Kalapani-Limpiyadhura areas as its territory, Singh said: “I consider Nepal as our brother and I cannot accuse Nepal of anything.”

He said at times, there there are misunderstandings between brothers, too, and those can be resolved through talks.

On Pakistan, Singh said the country refuses to give up its old habits by continuing to provoke India, but added that whoever tries to destabilise or weaken India, will get a fitting reply.

He also maintained that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir will continue to be an integral part of India.

He also said Muslims are safe in India, and no community is discriminated against. Those who say otherwise are part of a ploy to defame India, he claimed.

Swadeshi and self-reliant India

On calls to boycott Chinese products, Singh said merely giving out such statements will not work, but if some country wants to progress financially, it can take steps to do so.

Talking about PM Narendra Modi’s call for an Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India), he said the target is to be an “exporting country” instead of an “importing country”.

On the issue of only ‘swadeshi’ goods being available at paramilitary canteens, Singh also said there is a consensus among the three services too for military canteens, and “we are working towards that”.


Also read: Chinese aggression in Ladakh also a message for domestic and external audience: Experts

 


Encounter breaks out in J-K’s Pulwama district Operation on till the reports last came in

Encounter breaks out in J-K’s Pulwama district

Srinagar, June 3

An encounter broke out on Wednesday between militants and security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.curity forces launched a cordon and search operation in Kangan area of Pulwama on Wednesday morning following information about presence of militants there, a police official said.

He said the search operation turned into an encounter as militants opened fire at security forces.

The operation was going on till the reports last came in, he added. PTI


Ex-serviceman among 2 dead

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 2

An 85-year-old ex-serviceman admitted at Mohan Dai Oswal Cancer Hospital died here today. He had tested positive for Covid-19 on May 31. With this, the death toll in the state has gone up to 46.

The victim was admitted to the hospital as he was a cardiac patient and when his Covid test was done, it came out to be positive.

After he tested positive, a doctor couple from Khanna who work at the hospital also tested positive. Other staff of the hospital were also quarantined.

Dr Rajesh Bagga, Civil Surgeon, said, “He was a cardiac patient and possibly died due to dilated cardiomyopathy. He was also Covid-positive and on a ventilator since May 31.

The second death was reported from Pathankot district. Dr Bhupinder Singh, SMO, Pathankot, confirmed that the latest victim was Harsh Kumar (60), a resident of Indira Colony, who died due to Covid-19 this morning. He had been admitted in the Government Medical College in Amritsar for the last four days. He was put on ventilator support on Monday night and passed away in the wee hours today. He was suffering from diabetes and hypertension.

Meanwhile, 41 fresh cases were reported in the state today, taking the total count to 2,342.

Eleven cases were reported from Jalandhar district, eight from Pathankot, six from Sangrur, four from Ludhiana, two each from Moga, Kapurthala and Gurdaspur districts. One case each was reported from Fatehgarh Sahib, SBS Nagar, Patiala and Faridkot.

Eight cases were reported from Jalandhar city alone. These include seven members of a family from Defence Colony and one of their employees from Bhargo Camp. The family runs a sanitary business in the city and was in contact with Covid-19 patients from Lajpat Nagar. Two more employees of their company have tested positive but since they belong to HP, they have not been included in the Jalandhar tally. The housemaid of the family has tested negative while the couple’s younger daughter has not been tested yet. Besides, three men, who came from Kuwait, were declared positive last evening.

In Kapurthala, two jail inmates have been declared Covid-positive, spreading panic among other inmates.


Govt surveys Private hospitals

  • To meet any future outbreak of Covid-19, the government has carried out a survey of more than 200 private hospitals.
  • The survey was conducted on various parameters, including preparedness for meeting the challenge of large isolation facilities, human resource and building norms.
  • During the survey, 92 hospitals were found up to the mark. The government is planning to use the services of these hospitals in case of disease outbreak at a large scale. TNS