Two Army personnel, including a captain, were killed and another was injured when an improvised explosive device (IED), believed to have been planted by terrorists, exploded near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Akhnoor sector near here on Tuesday, officials said. The Army confirmed the fatalities in the blast and said "own troops are dominating the area and search operations are underway". The officials said the troops were on patrolling duty when they were hit by the powerful explosion near a forward post in the Bhattal area at around 3:50 pm. The injured personnel were rushed to a hospital where two of them, including a captain, succumbed to their injuries, they said, adding that the condition of the other injured soldier is "out of danger". The Jammu-based White Knight Corps unit of the Army saluted the supreme sacrifice of the two soldiers. "Suspected Improvised Explosive Device blast reported in #Laleali in Akhnoor Sector during a fence patrol resulting in two fatalities. Ow
As part of an ongoing investigation into the deaths of 17 people due to a mysterious illness in Badhaal village of Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, authorities on Wednesday conducted surprise inspections of all insecticide, pesticide, and fertilizer stores in the district and initiated their closure. Officials said eleven patients who were admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital (GMC) after falling ill due to a mysterious illness in Badhaal village of Rajouri district have fully recovered and been discharged on Tuesday. In a major late-evening action taken by authorities in the border district, surprise inspections of all insecticide, pesticide, and fertilizer stores have been initiated followed by the closure of all these stores until further orders. This action was going on as per latest reports. Joint teams from the department of agriculture, department of food and drugs control organisation, assisted by police and headed by an executive magistrate, conducted ..
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday praised the armed forces for safeguarding the country and assured them of his government's complete support in mitigating their problems. He was addressing a function organised by the Army at Tanda Artillery Brigade in the Akhnoor sector near Jammu to celebrate the ninth Armed Forces Veterans' Day celebrations. The defence minister was accompanied by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan. You have given everything for this nation without caring for yourself you have rendered your duties and it is now our duty to take care of your needs and address your problems, the chief minister said. He assured the armed forces of his government's support to address their issues. You have done a great favour to us in safeguarding our borders and I assure you the J-K government will always be available for you. If there has been any shortcoming, we will set it right and will reach out to you and ensure that you get reservation and an
Security has been beefed up around the Z-Morh tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal district which is likely to be thrown open by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 13, officials said on Saturday. The prime minister is likely to address a public rally after the inauguration of the tunnel in Gagangir in the Sonamarg area of the central Kashmir district, they said. The security has also been strengthened in many areas of the valley, including Srinagar. "Security has been tightened near the Z-Morh tunnel. Multi-layered security arrangements have been put in place and the PM's security team, comprising SPG personnel, has taken over the venue," the officials said. They said the venue is now off-limits for the public. Jammu and Kashmir Police, paramilitary forces and the Army are part of the security apparatus for Monday's inauguration. Extensive area domination exercises, searches and patrols are being conducted for the smooth conduct of the event, the officials said. They said
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday allayed fears of any negative fallout on Jammu after the launch of direct rail service between Kashmir and the rest of the country anytime soon, saying his government will ensure that the region benefits immensely by the completion of the long-pending project. Abdullah was speaking at a function organised here in connection with the virtual inauguration of the Jammu railway division by Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the start of direct train service to Kashmir from Katra, with the final trial run scheduled for Tuesday. "Two days ago, we got this good news through media that the trial train reached Katra from Srinagar. It is expected that very soon, the prime minister will inaugurate this section which will complete the railway line and immensely benefit the people of the region," the chief minister said. However, he said there are some concerns among the people related to the rail service, especially in Jammu. "It is .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the newly created Jammu railway division through virtual mode on Monday, paving the way for efficient management of train services in the northernmost region of India. With the establishment of the new railway division in Jammu, a long-standing demand of people of the region has been fulfilled. This milestone event comes ahead of the much-awaited inauguration of train services to Kashmir from Katra, with the final trial run scheduled for Tuesday. "The prime minister will inaugurate the Jammu railway division through virtual mode from New Delhi tomorrow," an official said. In Jammu, the event will be attended and addressed by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Member of Parliament Jugal Kishore Sharma. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh is also expected to participate. Headquartered in Jammu, the newly created division will involve the reorganization of the Firozpur Division. It will include the following ...
The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Tuesday formed a four-member committee to hold talks with those protesting against the Katra ropeway project and announced that it has decided to release all those detained during protests. Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar told reporters that the decisions were taken after holding detailed discussions with members of the civil society. "After the discussions, it was decided that all those detained will be released and the market will be reopened," he said. "Secondly, the work on the ropeway will remain suspended until the committee completes its discussions," he said. "A four-member committee has been formed by the lieutenant governor," Kumar said. Kumar and the CEO of the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board are among the members of the committee. The divisional commissioner, flanked by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti leaders, said all issues will be discussed during the committee's meetings. "The shops will be reopened tonigh
Efforts are underway to provide more facilities for the devotees and that the footfall in Katra will increase with the improvement in connectivity
The 270-km Jammu-Srinagar highway was on Sunday reopened for vehicular traffic after a day-long closure due to heavy snowfall, allowing stranded vehicles to proceed to their respective destinations, officials said. However, several other important inter-district routes, including the Mughal Road, Sinthan Pass, Sonamarg-Kargil inter-UT road, and Bhaderwah-Chamba inter-state road, remained closed for vehicular traffic due to heavy snowfall. "The highway has been reopened today following the clearance of snow accumulated on various stretches of the road," a traffic official said. The stranded vehicles along the highway are being cleared, he added. "Passenger traffic is plying on the highway. Commuters are advised to follow lane discipline, as overtaking may cause congestion," J-K Traffic Police said in an advisory. It also advised commuters to drive cautiously, as the road is slippery between Banihal and Qazigund. The Mughal Road, which serves as an alternative link to the Kashmir V
The JKBOSE has released the date sheet for annual regular exams of class 10th to 12th in soft zones. Both the exams will start from Feb-15 and will end on March-17 and March-19, respectively
The Railways has successfully conducted a trial run of a tower wagon on India's first cable-stayed rail bridge, the Anji Khad Bridge, in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district, paving the way for the start of rail services to Kashmir in January next year. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared a video clip of the trial run on the social media platform X. The railway ministry issued a statement, saying, "Giving wings to connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, the trial run of a tower wagon on India's first cable-stayed rail bridge, the Anji Khad Bridge, was successfully completed for the USBRL project." The work on the railway bridge at Anji Khad was completed last month. The completion of the bridge received praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project is aimed at providing rail connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country. The Anji Khad Bridge, featuring a single pylon with a height of 331 metres abov
A 72-hour shutdown by pony wallas, shopkeepers, and other proprietors will begin on Wednesday to protest against a proposed ropeway project in Katra, the base camp for pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. The Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Sangarsh Samiti announced the strike Tuesday, stating that all activities in Katra would remain suspended during the bandh. "We have announced a 72-hour bandh in Katra starting tomorrow against the ropeway project. We seek the support of all residents of Katra to make the strike successful," a Samiti spokesperson said. He said the administration had initially promised to hold a meeting on December 23 but postponed it to 3 pm today. "We met the Deputy Commissioner today. They sought more time to discuss the issue with higher authorities. Therefore, we have decided to proceed with the strike," he said. Last month, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board decided to install the ropeway to facilitate access to the temple for senior citizens, childr
University of Jammu has achieved a milestone by securing the coveted A++ grade in the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) accreditation, attaining an impressive cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.72 on a four-point scale, officials said. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has extended his heartfelt congratulations to the vice-chancellor, faculty, staff, scholars, and students of the university for this remarkable achievement. "This is a significant improvement from the last accreditation cycle (Cycle III), where the university secured an A+ grade with a CGPA of 3.51. It reflects the institution's dedication to quality sustenance and enhancement," Vice-Chancellor Umesh Rai said, expressing immense pride in the accomplishment. Attributing the success to the collective efforts of the university community, Rai said, "The A++ grade is a testament to the unwavering commitment of our faculty, officers, staff, scholars, students, and alumni. It embodies our shared visi
Jammu-based company DeVANS Modern Breweries also plans to enter the duty-free space with one-litre bottles of its Single Malt brand GianChand exclusively for travel retail
The Centre has approved a new subsidised helicopter route connecting Jammu-Poonch-Mendhar with an additional option of Jammu-Mendhar-Jammu route, an official said. The decision follows a proposal submitted by Jammu and Kashmir Civil Aviation Department secretary Mohammad Aijaz Asad for connecting the remote area of Mendhar directly with the winter capital Jammu, the official said. Subsidised helicopter services are already operational in several parts of Jammu and Kashmir, including Kishtwar-Sounder-Navapachi-Ishan-Kishtwar, Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch-Jammu, Jammu-Doda-Kishtwar-Jammu, Bandipora-Kanzalwan- Dawar-Niri-Bandipora, and Kupwara-Machil-Tangdhar-Keran-Kupwara. Quoting a communication from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the official said it has given its approval to the proposal to operate the subsidised helicopter services on the new route of Jammu-Poonch-Mendhar with an additional option of Jammu-Mendhar-Jammu. The Union Territory has been advised to claim the subsidy from the .
A two-member team of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) met Rohingya Muslims at a slum here amid a heated debate whether the illegally settled immigrants be provided water and electricity. Senior Protection Officer Tomoko Fukumura along with Protection Associate Ragini Trakroo Zutushi on Monday met the Rohingya Muslims and some local residents in the Kiryani Talab area of Narwal, an official said on Wednesday. He said the head of the team would return to Delhi on Wednesday evening as their attempt to meet some police officials failed. On December 7, Jammu and Kashmir Jal Shakti Minister Javed Ahmed Rana said the water supply would not be snapped to the slums housing the immigrants, pending a call from the Centre on their deportation. Rana's statement came after Rohingyas living on three plots of land in the Narwal area of Jammu claimed that their power and water supply were snapped recently despite being registered with the UNHCR. Two days later, Chief Minis
National Conference supremo Farooq Abdullah on Monday expressed dismay over the state of the Jammu Smart City project and criticised the lack of visible development and basic infrastructure. He also called for a revival of communal harmony in Jammu and Kashmir through restoration of the Darbar Move. "I feel ashamed when I see your so-called smart city. I do not consider this a smart city. I don't see any functioning lights anywhere. What kind of smart city is this?" he told reporters. Abdullah, who visited the city's Raghunath bazaar late at night, took a dig at the those executing the Jammu Smart City project. "Simply calling it a smart city does not make it one. It needs to be developed as such to truly be called a smart city." He also lamented that the people of the region had been silently enduring these shortcomings. "The people here do not protest; they simply endure everything," the former chief minister of the erstwhile state said. Extending new year greetings, Abdullah .
Acknowledging the persistent challenges faced by the industrial sector in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday reaffirmed his government's commitment to supporting local industries in overcoming these difficulties. Abdullah also highlighted the positive impact of the now-defunct 'Darbar Move' on Jammu's vibrancy, assuring people that the government will resume the practice in the future. Darbar Move is the bi-annual practice of shifting the seat of power between Jammu and Srinagar during winters and summers, respectively. Speaking at an event organised by the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) here, where he was felicitated for assuming office as chief minister, Abdullah underscored his administration's dedication to reviving the industrial sector. "There is no shortage of issues. If I were to claim that these problems have only emerged in the past decade, it would be misleading. These challenges are not new, nor are they solely the result of Jammu a
Two representatives of labourers and shopkeepers in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district were on Wednesday detained after fresh protests at the Katra base camp against a proposed ropeway project along the trek route to the Vaishno Devi shrine. According to police, an FIR was registered against eight people on Tuesday, a day after violent protests in Katra in which a policeman got injured. Protestors, led by Bhupinder Singh and Sohan Chand, took out a rally against the proposed ropeway project. However, officials said the police stopped the protestors from moving ahead, resulting in clashes between them. Singh and Chand were detained and taken away from the spot in a police vehicle, they said, adding that the protestors were also dispersed from the scene. Udhampur DIG (Reasi range) Rayees Bhat said the detainees were not arrested. The demonstration was triggered following the registration of an FIR in the Monday clash. According to the FIR, a police team was performing law and orde
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Jammu-Samba-Kathua Range, Shiv Kumar Sharma, on Tuesday conducted a detailed visit to the International Border (IB) areas in three sub-sectors in Jammu district to review the security and operational preparedness of the BSF and police forces, officials said. During his visit of Arnia, Bishnah and R S Pura sub-sectors in the district this evening, the DIG assessed the situation in sensitive areas, including Aik Nallah, Phaghu Nallah, Chakroi and Sai, meeting with the police officials and Village Defence Group members to strengthen security measures, they said. He also held discussions with the BSF authorities to enhance coordination as part of the Border Management System. He visited the border outposts such as Sai Harpal, Suchetgarh and Bakarpur with a focus on addressing security concerns and establishing joint checkpoints for improved results, the officials said. At Border Police Posts of Dewangarh and Hara Pir Checkpost in Sai Kallan Chakroi, t