Page 13 - Jammu And Kashmir

J-K admin ready to ferry students returning from Iran back home: Official

The Jammu and Kashmir government is fully prepared to help students returning from Iran reach their homes with a fleet of deluxe buses pressed into service to pick them up from their arrival points, an official said on Friday. The responsibility for organising and overseeing the transit has been entrusted to minister Satish Sharma, he said. Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and Transport Satish Sharma has been entrusted with the task of overseeing the entire transit operation, he said. The J-K administration facilitated the travel of the first batch of students from Iran arriving in India in super deluxe buses, the spokesperson said. The returnees were received at locations in Jammu and Srinagar by the government's transport department, he said. Super deluxe buses of Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC) have been stationed at the arrival points to receive them, he said. Sharma said, "These students are our pride and future. It's our moral duty

Indian evacuees from Iran flag issues with J&K buses; CM Abdullah responds

Out of 110 people who have been evacuated from Iran as the conflict in West Asia intensifies, 90 students were from Jammu and Kashmir

Held forward-looking talks with J-K CM on tourism development: Shekhawat

Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Thursday said that he held a positive and forward-looking discussion with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on the development of the tourism sector in Jammu and Kashmir Shekhawat arrived in Srinagar on Wednesday morning as part of his two-day visit. "During my visit to Jammu & Kashmir, I was graciously invited for a dinner interaction by Hon'ble Chief Minister Shri Omar Abdullah Ji," he said on X. "In a warm and cordial atmosphere, we held a positive and forward-looking discussion on the development of the tourism sector in J&K. Emphasis was laid on enhancing infrastructure, promoting heritage sites, and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities through tourism," he said in his post. Such engagements reflect "our collective commitment" to transform Jammu and Kashmir into a global tourism destination that celebrates its culture, nature, and people, Shekhawat added. The tourism sector in the UT has been ...

Parks reopened at tourist destinations in J-K, including some in Pahalgam

Several parks in Jammu and Kashmir's tourist places, including some in Pahalgam, that were closed in the aftermath of the April 22 terror attack were reopened on Tuesday, officials said. The reopening of the parks has been welcomed by the tourists and local visitors alike who thronged the parks at several places. Security personnel were deployed in strength around the parks to secure the areas and create a sense of security, they said. Twenty-six people, most of them tourists, were killed by terrorists in Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam, a popular tourist spot. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday ordered the reopening of 16 parks -- eight each in Jammu region and Kashmir Valley. He said the destinations would be reopened in a phased manner. In the first phase, eight parks were reopened in the Kashmir valley. Betaab Valley in Pahalgam and the parks near Pahalgam market, Verinag, Kokernag and Achabal gardens in Anantnag district, Badamwari Park, Duck Park nea

Govt targets ₹1 trillion farm economy in J&K by 2030, says LG Manoj Sinha

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said the government's goal is to make every farmer in the Union Territory a proud stakeholder in India's journey towards becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047. Addressing the closing Ceremony of Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan at SKUAST Kashmir's Mountain Research Centre for Field Crops at Khudwani-Kulgam in south Kashmir, Sinha said it is a comprehensive strategy, designed to make J&K UT a robust Rs 1 trillion agricultural economy by 2030. In his address, the Lieutenant Governor lauded the valuable contribution of those associated with the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan for marking a transformative step, through this initiative, toward building a resilient, modern, and prosperous agricultural landscape in the Union Territory. "Let us walk together towards a future where every field blooms with prosperity, every farmer thrives with dignity and every village becomes a symbol of development. With Sankalp (resolve) comes Shakti ...

Israel's military apologises for incorrect depiction of India's map

The Israeli military on Saturday apologised for posting a map that incorrectly depicted Jammu and Kashmir as part of Pakistan after objections from Indian social media users, clarifying that the image "fails to precisely depict borders". The map was posted by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) on their X handle on Friday to show the range of Iranian missiles. The post quickly drew criticism from social media users in India. "Now you understand why India remains neutral. In diplomacy, no one's really your friend," one user commented on X. In response, the IDF admitted that the map "fails to precisely depict borders". "This post is an illustration of the region. This map fails to precisely depict borders. We apologize for any offense caused by this image," IDF said on X. "Iran is a global threat. Israel is not the end goal, it's only the beginning. We had no other choice but to act," the IDF earlier posted along with the incorrect map, justifying the launch of Operation Rising Lion ..

Massive forest fire breaks out near NH-144A in J&K's Reasi district

Firefighting teams from the Forest Department and Fire and Emergency Services were deployed to control the blaze

Israel's attack on Iran 'totally unjustified', says Omar Abdullah

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said Israel's attack on Iran was totally unjustified as the Islamic Republic did not give any reason to the Jewish state to wage a war against it. As far as I know, Iran did not give any reason to Israel to carry out attacks on it. Israel, of its own will, waged war against the country, calling it a preemptive attack, Abdullah told reporters here. If the world powers remain silent on Israel's aggression, it would be "very unfortunate", Abdullah said. Israel attacked Iran's capital Tehran early Friday in strikes that targeted the country's nuclear programme and raised the potential for an all-out war between the two bitter Middle East adversaries. It appeared to be the most significant attack Iran has faced since its 1980s war with Iraq. Today, Israel did what Russia did with Ukraine. You raise your voice against Russia, and a movement starts against Russia, but when Israel attacks Iran, the world powers -- be it the US, Euro

Terror funding case: HC rejects bail plea of separatist leader Shabir Shah

The Delhi High Court on Thursday dismissed a plea by Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah seeking bail in a terror funding case. A bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur pronounced the verdict while rejecting Shah's appeal challenging a trial court's July 7, 2023 order refusing to grant him bail. "The present appeal is dismissed," the bench said. The detailed order is awaited. The high court in August 2023 sought response of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Shah's appeal. Shah's counsel has sought bail on behalf of the appellant on the grounds that "it was a no material case". In his 2023 appeal assailing the trial court order rejecting his bail application, the appellant said he has been in custody for four years and the trial would take a long time to conclude. "The impugned order of the additional sessions judge is contrary to law weight of evidence and probabilities of the case. The appellant has been languishing in jail in the present case for f

Srinagar Vande Bharat fully booked for next 10 days: Railway Authority

Station Superintendent at Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station, Jugal Kishor Sharma, said the response to the train has far exceeded expectations

Pahalgam attack wrecks Kashmir tourism; hotels, airlines demand action

Following the Pahalgam terror attack, tourism in Kashmir collapsed, prompting airlines and hotels to urge the Centre for immediate relief to revive the sector

'Don't make me unnecessarily famous', says Chenab bridge project engineer

'I'm just one among thousands who built the Chenab Bridge', says G Madhavi Latha, engineer behind the world's tallest rail arch. Her role involved slope stabilisation and foundation design

Train to J&K boon to tourists, as well as locals, says Farooq Abdullah

National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday said the new train service to Kashmir launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will benefit the locals as well as tourists. "I am very happy that I am traveling by this train to Katra today. It has been the biggest benefit for us," Abdullah, who was accompanied by several party colleagues, told reporters before boarding the train. The former J-K chief minister said the train that connects Kashmir with the rest of India will be a reliable transport link for the people of the valley. "The road (between Srinagar and Jammu) gets closed sometimes and the airlines start fleecing the people by jacking up the prices. With this train, people will be saved from that," he said. Abdullah said the railway link will also prove to be beneficial to the horticulture sector in Kashmir as the produce will reach the markets faster. "It will also benefit tourists visiting Kashmir," he added.

Centre approves ₹25 cr additional aid for homes hit by Pak shelling in J&K

The Centre on Monday approved an additional amount of Rs 25 crore as compensation for houses damaged in the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir due to Pakistani shelling during Operation Sindoor. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently announced the additional compensation amount for the houses damaged by Pakistani shelling. As a special case, Modi said an additional compensation amount of Rs 2 lakh will be given for each fully-damaged house and Rs 1 lakh for each partially-damaged house. Following the prime minister's announcement, Union Home Minister Amit Shah ensured swift action by facilitating an additional provision of Rs 25 crore from the Ministry of Home Affairs for 2,060 houses, an official statement said. A similar compensation amount will also be provided in the border areas of Punjab, it added. The home minister visited the border district of Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir on May 29-30. During the visit, he handed over appointment letters on compassionate grounds to the fami

Icra projects 6-8% growth for hospitality, downgrades outlook to 'stable'

Growth of India's hospitality sector is expected to "normalise" at 6-8 per cent in the current financial year, rating agency Icra said on Monday while downgrading the sectoral outlook to "stable" from positive. The rating agency also stated that foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) to India are expected to remain muted in the next few months in the aftermath of the terror attack at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, but are estimated to witness a gradual recovery thereafter. However, domestic tourism has been the prime demand driver so far and is likely to remain the same in the near term. Factors, including improvement in infrastructure and air connectivity, favourable demographics, and anticipated growth in large-scale MICE events, with the opening of multiple new convention centres in the last few years, will support the growth over the medium term, Icra said. According to the rating agency, the domestic hospitality sector's earnings and credit metrics are expected to remain stable in ..

LG disburses pension to 12,660 beneficiaries under ISSS in J&K

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday disbursed the pension arrears of Rs. 6.14 crore to 12,660 beneficiaries under the Integrated Social Security Scheme (ISSS). Sinha said the ISSS is aimed at ensuring financial inclusion and supporting senior citizens, widows and differently-abled individuals. He, however, added that the arrears were pending due to Aadhaar non-seeding. On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor informed that the Social Welfare Department is coming up with a revolutionary app for the integration of eligible senior citizens into the pension beneficiaries. The LG also inaugurated a 50-bedded halfway home for psycho-social rehabilitation of treated and controlled people with mental illness in Jammu and 'Parisha', a childcare institution for girls in Samba district. The facility was established at Rs 4.39 crore at Lower Chowadi Jammu under Deendayal Divyangjan Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS). "The halfway home will offer a structured environment to help individuals wi

Amarnath yatra success will show there is peace in Kashmir: Farooq Abdullah

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Monday said a successful Amarnath Yatra will help send a message to the rest of the country that there is peace in Kashmir. The annual Amarnath Yatra is scheduled to commence on July 3. "It is a good thing that Amarnath pilgrims will come. The maximum number should come so that a message goes out that there is peace here (in Kashmir)," Abdullah told reporters at Baba Nagri in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir. He said the damage that Kashmir suffered in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack can be mitigated by a peaceful Amarnath Yatra. Abdullah, who was at Baba Nagri to attend the annual urs, said he prayed for peace on the country. "I prayed for peace in the country, a better future for our youth and an end to the atmosphere of hatred that we are going through," he added.

J-K LG inaugurates control centre in Katra to oversee tourists activities

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday launched a control centre to boost real-time surveillance on pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi to ensure their safety. The Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) has been set up at the cave shrine in Reasi district. "The security forces had conducted a joint review of the route and all aspects related to security, safety, and smooth yatra. Based on the joint suggestions made by the Police, Army, and CRPF, an Integrated Command and Control Centre has been set up here from a security perspective," Sinha told reporters in Katra. Built at a cost of Rs 20 crore, the centre will unravel "a new era of safe and seamless pilgrimage begins," he added. The ICCC has been housed at the Spiritual Growth Centre in Katra, Chief Executive Officer of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Anshul Garg said. The centre has a network of 700 CCTVs, with features like gesture recognition, facial recognition, and PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom),

Indo-Pak conflict: FMCG sales soar, auto sector hit in border areas in May

Border tensions in May triggered panic FMCG buying and a dip in vehicle, fuel and cinema sales in Rajasthan, Punjab, Gujarat and J&K, with uneven recovery across sectors

Massive J-K infra development stimulates rapid economic growth: L-G Sinha

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday laid the foundation stone of a mega industrial unit in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, saying that massive infrastructure development is stimulating rapid economic growth of the region. He said that the union territory will soon become a manufacturing hub, a principal market of north, and a competitive provider of services. The LG reiterated his commitment to decentralising the industrial infrastructure and creating opportunities in underdeveloped regions of Jammu and Kashmir. "Massive infrastructure development is stimulating rapid economic growth of Jammu and Kashmir, which will soon become principal market of north, a manufacturing hub and a competitive provider of services", he said during his address at the event here. He laid the foundation stone of Dhunseri Polyfilm Limited Industrial Unit in Dohlian Jattan village of Kathuaand said that the project will create thousands of jobs for locals, foster domestic economic upliftment an