Page 112 - Jammu And Kashmir

J&K administration ordered probe into recent fire at Civil Secretariat

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has ordered an inquiry into a recent fire incident at the Civil Secretariat here and called for fixing of responsibility for failure in activating response at various levels to control the blaze in a timely manner. Principal Secretary, Estates Department, was appointed as the inquiry officer to probe the fire at the Civil Secretariat on December 28, an order issued by Secretary General Administration Department (GAD) Piyush Singla said. The fire was reported from the retiring room of the vice chairperson of the Khadi and Village Industries Board Hina Shafi Bhat. The fire in the room at the top floor of the multi-storey building was controlled within 20 minutes by the fire and emergency services department. The inquiry officer was asked to submit his report to the GAD within seven days, clearly establishing among others the cause of the fire and delay in controlling and extinguishing the fire. "The inquiry officer shall fix the responsibility for

Jammu & Kashmir admin inspects fire safety systems in health institutions

Jammu and Kashmir administration on Thursday reviewed the fire safety measures in health institutions across the Union Territory, an official spokesperson said. Secretary, Health and Medical Education department, Bhupinder Kumar chaired a high level meeting here to review the measures, the official said. Kumar sought institution-wise status of fire fighting systems and other alternative mechanisms available in hospitals from heads of the institutions, the official said. Noting that fire incidents are more prone to occur in winter conditions as there is over-usage of heating devices, the secretary cautioned all officers to remain vigilant. He stressed the need to conduct mock drills, conduct fresh fire audits through the Fire and Emergency department besides addressing the deficiencies identified in the previous audits, the spokesperson aid. On various projects to install fire fighting systems under execution, he exhorted officers to chase the executing agencies for early completio

2022 saw delimitation process' completion, electoral rolls' revision in JK

Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir, except the BJP, are disappointed as another year has passed by without the Centre living up to its promise of restoring statehood and holding assembly elections in the youngest union territory of the country. As the delimitation process and revision of the electoral rolls were completed in Jammu and Kashmir, the political parties were hopeful that the Election Commission will take the next logical step of announcing the poll schedule to the assembly of the union territory. However, this did not happen with 2022 coming to an end. The biggest news of the year emanating from Kashmir, however, was the targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandits in the valley by terrorists, which led to hue and cry across the country. A large number of Kashmiri Pandits, who had returned to the valley under the PM's Employment Package announced in 2007, fled to Jammu following killing of Rahul Bhat by terrorists inside his office in Chadoora area of Budgam district in ..

Amit Shah to hold high level review meetings regarding J&K and Ladakh

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair two high-level review meetings regarding the status of security and development projects in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh

Airtel announces launch of 5G Plus in select areas of Jammu, Srinagar

Airtel 5G Plus services will be available to customers in a phased manner as the company continues to construct its network and complete the rollout

It's my duty: Mehbooba Mufti accepts Rahul's Bharat Jodo Yatra invite

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and People's Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said that she will join the Congress's Bharat Jodo Yatra when it reaches the Union Territory next month for a "better India".Accepting the the Congress's invitation to join the Yatra, the PDP chief said that it is her "duty to stand with someone who has the courage to challenge fascist forces"."I've been formally invited to join Rahul Gandhi ji for his Bharat Jodo Yatra in Kashmir today. Salute his indomitable courage & I believe it is my duty to stand with someone who has the courage to challenge fascist forces. Will be joining him in his march towards a better India, Mufti said in a tweet.The Congress's Bharat Jodo Yatra will reach Jammu and Kashmir on January 20.National Conference president Farooq Abdullah is also expected to join Rahul Gandhi during the march.Bharat Jodo Yatra on December 24 entered the national capital. The yatra, which has covered so far covered 10 ...

3 terrorists travelling to Kashmir killed in 'chance encounter' in Jammu

At least three terrorists, travelling in a truck to Kashmir, were killed in a "chance encounter" here early Wednesday morning, police said. Additional Director General of Police, Jammu zone, Mukesh Singh said the encounter with the terrorists took place around 7.30 am amid intense fog near Tawi Bridge in the Sidhra bypass area along the Jammu-Srinagar National highway. Reinforcements were rushed to the area and the terrorists were neutralised, police said. The terrorists were intercepted near Tawi Bridge when they were travelling in a truck to Kashmir, they said.

J&K govt providing over 440 services online commonly availed by citizens

The Jammu & Kashmir government is providing nearly 444 services online including all the major services commonly availed by the people.

Police diffuses 15kg improvised explosive device in J&K's Udhampur district

Police on Tuesday defused an improvised explosive device (IED) weighing 15 kilograms which was recovered in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district, officials said. A major terror plan was averted when the cylindrical shaped IED, 300-400 grams of RDX, seven 7.62 mm cartridges and five detonators were recovered in Basantgarh area on Monday, they said. The IED was safely defused on Tuesday, the officials said. One coded sheet and one letter pad page of banned terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were also recovered, they said, adding that a suspect has been detained. According to the officials, a case has been registered at Basantgarh police station and further investigation is underway.

Parties in J&K back demand of Kashmiri Pandits, Dogras for relocation

All major parties in Jammu and Kashmir, including the BJP, have come out openly in support of Kashmiri Pandit and Dogra employees and backed their demands for "relocation" from Kashmir in view of targeted killings by militants and a transfer policy. The National Conference, PDP, AAP, Apni Party and others criticised the Union territory administration over the "step-motherly treatment and bureaucratic indifference" to the employees sitting on protests for the past eight months. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha's recent remarks that reserved category (Dogra) employees cannot be transferred to Jammu and those (KP employees) sitting at home will not get salaries drew sharp reactions from these parties. The BJP reacted angrily to Sinha's remarks and said these employees will not be made "sacrificial goats". The Congress will make it the main issue when its Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi reaches Jammu and Kashmir early next year. The party also plans to hold protests on the issue,

Modelling data foresee low circulation of Covid virus in J&K, says expert

Modelling data from credible agencies do not foresee any major Covid wave in Jammu and Kashmir, a leading pulmonologist said, but advised people to take precautionary measures as models "can go horribly wrong". In a series of tweets, SKIMS Director Dr Parvaiz Koul said, "Modelling data from credible agencies (like from University of Washington) predict a low circulation of the virus for coming weeks in JK (Jammu and Kashmir), but models can go horribly wrong. "So stay calm, observe routine precautions and vaccinate if you haven't, as per the advisories. NO PANIC PLEASE. Safety saves. Better safe than sorry." Koul added that he had been receiving many calls from people about COVID-19 alerts in Jammu and Kashmir. "Receiving many calls for the COVID alerts. Please note that J&K (Jammu and Kashmir) and India as a whole are not experiencing an unusual surge as yet. However since it is winter, the time for circulation of respiratory pathogens in Kashmir, it is in one's interest to be ...

Shift Kashmiri Pandits to safer Jammu till things improve: Ghulam Nabi Azad

Questioning the safety of the Kashmiri Pandits, he said that life is more important than employment and the government should transfer Kashmiri Pandits to Jammu

Civilian escapes unhurt in terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian

A civilian escaped unhurt after terrorists fired upon him, but missed, at a market in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district on Sunday, official said

Over-ground worker of terrorists arrested in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch

An over-ground worker (OGW) of terrorists was arrested in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Sunday, police said. A pistol and some ammunition were seized from his possession, they said. Tayab Khan, a resident of Salwa, was arrested in a joint search and cordon operation by the police and the Army in the Mendhar area, a police official said. He said the operation was launched in the general area of Salwa and Behra in Mendhar sector and Khan, who was coming from a forest area, was asked to stop. The OGW tried to run away but he was apprehended by the security forces, the official said, adding his search led to the recovery of a pistol and eight rounds. A case under the Arms Act, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Indian Penal Code was registered against him at police station Mendhar and further investigation is on, he said.

Large quantity of arms, ammunition recovered near LoC in J&K's Baramulla

The Army said on Sunday that a huge consignment of arms and ammunition was recovered during multiple searches in J&K's Baramulla district.

Cold waves intensify across Kashmir, many places see season's lowest temp

Cold conditions intensified in Kashmir as the minimum temperature dipped several degrees below the freezing point and many places experienced the season's coldest night, officials said Sunday. The valley experienced a dry but colder Christmas this year, the MeT office said. However, there is a possibility of a wet spell next week. The minimum temperature on Saturday night went several degrees below the freezing point and was below normal across the valley except in Gulmarg, the officials said. The intense cold conditions led to freezing of water supply lines in many areas as well as the freezing of the interiors of the Dal Lake, they said. The minimum temperature in Srinagar settled at minus 5.8 degrees Celsius -- down from minus 5.4 degrees Celsius Thursday night, the officials said. The city experienced its coldest night so far this season, they added. The officials said Pahalgam, which serves as one of the base camps for the annual Amarnath Yatra, recorded a low of minus 7 deg

Resigning from Cong in support of Azad was blunder: Ex J&K DyCM Tara Chand

Resigning from the Congress in support of Ghulam Nabi Azad was a "blunder", former Jammu and Kashmir deputy chief Minister Tara Chand said on Saturday - two days after he along with former minister Manohar Lal Sharma and former legislator Balwan Singh were expelled from the Azad-led Democratic Azad Party (DAP). More than 100 office bearers and founding members of the DAP announced their resignation from the party in support of the three leaders, who decided to reach out to the people before taking a decision on their next course of action. Chand, however, said they will remain secular till their last breath and would have no objection in joining the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra when it enters Jammu and Kashmir. "The decision of the DAP to expel us without any reason or justification came as a big surprise to us. Today, we feel that our decision to resign from the Congress in support of Azad was a blunder," Chand, flanked by the leaders and activists, told reporters here. He

Slight respite from cold conditions in Kashmir; weather to remain dry

There was a slight respite in cold conditions in the Kashmir Valley as the minimum temperature improved at most places, officials said on Friday. The meteorological department said the weather is likely to remain mainly dry for the next two-three days. The minimum temperature in Srinagar city, which recorded so far its lowest of minus 5.5 degrees Celsius Wednesday night, settled at minus 4.8 degrees Celsius Thursday night, the officials said. They said Pahalgam, which serves as one of the base camps for the annual Amarnath Yatra, recorded a low of minus 6.4 degrees Celsius, compared to minus 6.8 degrees Celsius Wednesday night. The famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir's Baramulla district recorded a low of minus 5.5 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature in frontier Kupwara district settled at minus 5.1 degrees Celsius, while Qazigund, the gateway town to the valley, recorded minus 4.6 degrees Celsius, the officials said. Kokernag recorded a low of minus 2.8 degrees ..

J&K Police busts narcotics module in Kupwara, 5 cops among 17 arrested

Five cops were among 17 persons arrested as a major narcotics smuggling module, originating from Pakistan, was busted in the Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Friday. "In one of its biggest successes against drug smuggling and peddling in the district, Police has arrested 17 persons, including five policemen, a political activist, a contractor and a shopkeeper from different areas of the districts of Kupwara and Baramulla, unearthing another narcotics smuggling module originating from Pakistan," a police spokesman said. He said while working relentlessly to identify and act against the drug peddlers active in the north Kashmir district, police zeroed in on some drug peddlers active in Kupwara town and its adjoining areas. "On a tip-off, one Mohammad Waseem Najar -- a poultry shop owner and a resident of Darzipura, Kupwara, was arrested with some quantity of narcotics from his residential house," the spokesman said. After preliminary investigations, Najar admitte

Srinagar freezes at minus 5.5 degrees C, coldest in this season so far

The 40-day long period of harsh winter cold, called the 'Chillai Kalan' in local parlance, started on a frozen note for the people in J&K's Srinagar city who faced the coldest night of this season so far on Thursday at minus 5.5 degree Celsius as the minimum temperature.