12 more test positive in J&K; 5,919 under observation

Tribune News Service

Jammu/Srinagar, March 28

With 12 more cases testing positive in Kashmir Valley on Saturday, the total coronavirus cases in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) reached 33. Also, the highest-ever 12 cases tested positive in J&K in a single day today.

While one patient died two days ago, two Covid-19 persons have recovered in J&K. As of now, there are 30 active cases in J&K, out of which 23 are in Kashmir Valley and seven in the Jammu division and a total of 5,919 persons are under observation.

A Tablighi Jamat leader died on Thursday morning at Chest Disease Hospital, Srinagar, where he was admitted on March 22 and declared positive for the virus two days later.

Officials said nine followers of Tablighi Jamat, including seven from north Kashmir and two from Rajouri, had contracted virus from him. Also, a family member of one of his direct contacts in Rajouri has contracted the virus.

Health officials said Tablighi leader had a long travel history within India where he attended multiple religious congregations and interacted with thousands of people.

They said his contact persons, who were mostly concentrated in north Kashmir, were posing a major challenge as their number was increasing.

The deceased leader has been laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard in north Kashmir’s Sopore town.

North Kashmir is known to be the hub of Tablighi Jamat, which follows the ideology of Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband in UP, with thousands of its followers spread across the three districts of Baramulla, Kupwara, and Bandipora.

They said the sudden spike in Covid positive cases has sent alarm bells in the community as well as in government circles.