Page 2 - Jammu And Kashmir

J-K Assembly passes ₹6,714 cr grants for PWD, industries, labour ministries

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Thursday passed grants amounting to Rs 6,713.59 crore for different ministries by voice vote after daylong discussions. The House approved Rs 5,298.43 crore for the public works department, Rs 866.16 crore for industries and commerce, Rs 285.26 crore for labour and employment, Rs 198.82 crore for skill development, and Rs 64.93 crore for mining, officials said. Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, who holds charge of these departments, said the government is focused on creating a robust road network to connect habitations and promote socio-economic growth, given the Union territory's difficult topography. "More than 40,000 km of road network has been developed so far, while 18 major projects of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways are in the pipeline this fiscal. Also, 22 key projects, mainly bridges, have been inaugurated to enhance connectivity and defence mobility," he said. On industries and commerce, Choudhary said the department i

India-US deal: Some J&K fruit growers on edge, others call it opportunity

The fruit growers and dealers in Kashmir are worried about the adverse effects of the India-US trade deal on local economy but there are voices within the fraternity who claim the agreement will stabilize the prices and improve the quality of the local produce. Javaid Ahmad Lone, a walnut farmer and dealer from south Kashmir Shopian district, said the imported goods from the US will push the local farmers to improve their stock if they want to stay in the business. " Protectionism is not good for the farmers all the time. They become complacent as they have a captive market. For example, the rates of local almonds and walnuts in Kashmir fluctuate like share market. No one is sure what is happening," Lone told PTI. He said with steady flow of walnuts and almonds from the US, the prices of local produce will also stabilize. "The imported walnuts and almonds have better quality and were already very competitive with tariffs. The local farmers will have to improve their quality as wel

J&K earns ₹2,152 crore from liquor shop auctions in two financial years

The Jammu and Kashmir government has generated about Rs 2,152 crore in revenue from the auction of liquor shops over the past two financial years, and has no proposal to open new wine shops during 202627, according to official data. As much as Rs 1,03,462.49 lakh was generated in 202324, while Rs 1,11,816.07 lakh was earned in 202425, it added. The Jammu region contributed the bulk of the revenue, generating Rs 1,96,830.06 lakh over the last two years, while the Kashmir region accounted for Rs 18,448.50 lakh, officials said. The government further stated that no new JKEL-2 liquor licences are proposed to be issued in the next financial year. Sharing district-wise details, the government said existing wine shops generated substantial revenue in the last two years. In Jammu district, revenue stood at Rs 48,350.15 lakh in 2023-24 and increased to Rs 50,913.93 lakh in 2024-25. Udhampur recorded Rs 11,322 lakh in 202324 and Rs 12,061.50 lakh in 2024-25, while Kathua generated Rs 10,653

Mysterious gas leak sparks panic near Jammu airport; probe launched

A mysterious gas leak from a cylinder at a scrap dealer's shop triggered panic in a locality near the Jammu airport on Saturday, prompting authorities to rush joint teams of the NDRF and SDRF to the scene, officials said. Several residents of Rani Bagh complained of breathlessness following the sudden leakage of gas from an abandoned cylinder lying at the scrap dealer's premises, they added. According to authorities, teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), wearing protective gear, along with police and fire and emergency department personnel, reached the scene and successfully contained the leak. They assured that the situation is well under control and there is no need to panic. An investigation has been initiated to determine the nature of the gas and how the cylinder ended up at the scrap dealer's shop, officials noted, adding that the substance will be identified through scientific analysis, and further action will be taken

No relaxation in land use change norms under consideration: J-K govt

The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday said there is no proposal under consideration to relax the norms related to change of land use (CLU) in the Union Territory. The information was provided by minister Javed Ahmed Rana in the Assembly in reply to a question raised by MLA Surjit Singh Salathia. The minister was replying on behalf of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Rana said, "The government does not intend to grant any relaxation in CLU norms at present." He also clarified that there is no proposal to exempt rural areas from the existing CLU provisions. The minister further said the government is not considering any proposal to reduce the prescribed fees or ease formalities related to CLU. MLAs Vikram Randhawa, Rajiv Jasrotia and R S Pathania raised supplementary questions on the issue.

NIA raids GMC Anantnag in connection with 'white collar' terror module

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday carried out searches at the Government Medical College in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir in connection with the "white collar" terror module busted in November last year. Officials said a team of NIA sleuths arrived at the GMC Anantnag and carried out searches. They said the searches were in connection with the recovery of a rifle from the locker of a doctor in November last year. Dr Adeel Ahmad Rather was among the nine persons arrested as part of the terror module investigation that led to the recovery of massive quantities of explosives from Faridabad in the National Capital Region (NCR). Meanwhile, search operations by security forces were going on in the Koil Karewa area of the Pulwama district, the officials said. They said the search operation was launched following an intelligence input about the presence of terrorists in the area. No arrests or recoveries have been made so far, the officials added.

J&K CM presents budget, focuses on inclusive growth, fiscal prudence

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday presented the Budget for 2026-2027 in the Legislative Assembly, and said the financial plan aims to lay a strong foundation for sustainable growth, social harmony, and economic prosperity in the Union Territory. He said his government is committed to transforming the Union Territory into a modern, progressive and economically vibrant region by promoting investment, innovation and participatory governance. "With deep humility and unwavering resolve, I rise today to present my second Budget as Finance Minister. It is a privilege to be entrusted with the responsibility of shaping the financial future of our land," Abdullah said while presenting the Budget. Describing the Budget as a roadmap for development, he said, "This Budget is not merely a ledger of figures, it is a fiscal compass charting our path towards a brighter horizon. It lays strong foundations for enduring economic growth, social harmony and sustainable prosperity.

Two JeM terrorists killed in J-K's Udhampur in 20-hr-long 'Operation Kiya'

Two Pakistani terrorists, including a top commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit, were killed on Wednesday after they were trapped inside a cave in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. Several powerful blasts were heard when the forces stormed the cave around noon. Officials said one of the deceased terrorist is Rubani alias Abu Mavia, a top commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit, who was active in the area for the last several years. While body of one of the terrorists was lying on the mouth of the cave, another was found lying deep inside it. The terrorists were located by joint troops of Army, police and CRPF amid intensified search operations in the higher reaches of Ramnagar-Basantgarh area around 4 pm on Tuesday, leading to a fierce gunfight, the officials said. Army named the over 20-hour long operation as "Kiya" and said though it is over, the area still remains under surveillance. "Based on specific intelligence input provided by police, troops of ..

Class 11 JKBOSE Result 2026 out today, check jkbose.jk.gov.in for details

The Jammu and Kashmir Board is set to declare Class 11 exam results today anytime after 11:30 am, on the official website. The exams were held between November 19 and December 13, 2025

Earthquake of magnitude 4.7 hits Kashmir valley, no damage reported

An earthquake of magnitude 4.7 hit the Kashmir Valley early on Monday, causing panic among the people in Pattan and surrounding areas of Baramulla district, officials said. There were no reports of any damage so far, they said. According to the National Centre for Seismology, the quake occurred at 5.35 am at a depth of 10 km with the epicentre in Pattan area, which is 10 km northeast of Gulmarg, a tourist resort. Earlier, the magnitude was the earthquake was said to be 4.6 but it was later reviewed to 4.7. Tremors lasted nearly 20 seconds. The Kashmir Valley is located in an highly active seismic area. The National Seismic Hazard Map by the Bureau of Indian Standards released in November last year has placed the entire Himalayan arc, including Kashmir, in the siesmic Zone VI. Large parts of Kashmir on either side of Line of Control were flattened by a 7.6 magnitude earthquake on October 8, 2005, resulting in death of thousands and widespread damage to infrastructure.

J&K: Operation to track down 3 holed-up terrorists underway in Kishtwar

Security forces on Sunday resumed their cordon and search operation in the snowbound area of Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district to trace and neutralise three Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists believed to be hiding in the area following a brief gunbattle. Security has been heightened in adjoining areas, with Village Defence Guards (VDGs) put in operational mode for a high degree of vigilance against any terrorist movement in the district. "The search operation has been resumed this morning after a night-long cordon. The operation to track down holed-up terrorists is underway," a senior official said. They said that terrorists are continuously changing their hideouts and are on the run. "Efforts are being made to hunt them down," he said. Security agencies are also keeping a close watch on those helping terrorists with food and shelter. The operation has been continuing for the past several days. The gunfight began when army troops re-established contact with the terrorists in the Do

CRPF Chief Singh reviews security and operational preparedness in J&K

CRPF chief G P Singh on Saturday reviewed the security scenario and operational preparedness of the paramilitary force in Kashmir, and emphasised robust security, sustenance of normalcy and total elimination of militancy in the region. Singh, the Director General of CRPF, arrived here on a two-day visit to the valley, CRPF officials said. On his arrival, Singh chaired a high-level security review meeting with the valley-based senior officials and ground commanders of CRPF, and emphasised a three-pronged focus -- robust security, the sustenance of normalcy, and total elimination of militancy in the region, the officials said. They said the DG CRPF also reviewed the operational preparedness of the force and interacted with the jawans. The DG visited the headquarters of the Srinagar Sector CRPF and chaired a high-level security meeting and reviewed the functioning of the new Command and Control Centre, the officials added. Taking stock of the prevailing security situation in the vall

Article 370 became tool for decades-long discrimination: Ladakh LG

Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta alleged on Saturday that Article 370 of the Constitution had turned into a tool for indulging in discrimination due to its misuse by the previous Jammu and Kashmir governments. Addressing a gathering on the outskirts of Jammu, Gupta also claimed that this misuse of the constitutional provision had led to the political, constitutional and emotional isolation of the Jammu and Ladakh regions from the rest of the country. He said Article 370, which was introduced as a temporary measure on October 17, 1949, was "exploited" instead of being used for the welfare of people. "Article 370 was misused by the previous Jammu and Kashmir governments. The provision, introduced as a temporary one, was exploited to politically, constitutionally and emotionally isolate the Jammu and Ladakh regions," the LG said, addressing the Shaheedi Diwas Smaran Samaroh and Kisan Health Mela. "Instead of serving the people, it became a tool for power, discrimination and .

Army commander reviews counter-terror ops amid firefight in J&K's Kishtwar

The Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma visited Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district on Saturday to review the counter-terrorism grid and commended the troops for their unwavering resolve in the ongoing anti-terror operation. A firefight is underway to neutralise a group of three holed-up Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists in the district. The visit of the Army commander to the mountainous district comes after a high-level security review of the evolving security dynamics in the Jammu region, with a focus on strengthening the counter-terrorism grid on Thursday, officials said. "Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, Army Commander, Northern Command, visited Kishtwar today to review the counter-terrorism grid and operational preparedness," Northern Command Headquarters said on X. The Army commander, while interacting with ground commanders and troops, commended them for their unwavering resolve in the ongoing efforts. On Thursday, the Northern Army commander chaired a high-level security meeting

Anti-terror operation intensified in J-K's Kishtwar, internet suspended

Security forces on Friday intensified their ongoing anti-terror operation in the snowbound Chatroo belt to track down and neutralise a group of three holed up Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. They said mobile internet services remained temporarily suspended within a radius of six km covering Singhpora, Chingam and Chatroo to avoid its misuse by anti-national elements during the ongoing operation. The operation in the area was launched on January 18, leading to a fierce gunbattle in Sonnar forest near Mandral-Singhpora resulting in the killing of a paratrooper and injuries to seven soldiers. Although the terrorists managed to escape taking advantage of thick vegetation and the challenging terrain, the security forces continued their hunt for the terrorists despite more than two feet of snowfall. Two more encounters took place between the army and the terrorists at Mali Dana top on January 22 and Janseer-Kandiwar on January 25 but

All flights to and from J&K's Srinagar airport cancelled due to snowfall

All flights to and from Srinagar International Airport were cancelled on Tuesday due to snowfall in Kashmir, officials said. "Due to adverse weather conditions and continuous snowfall in Srinagar, the runway is currently not available for safe aircraft operations. In the interest of passenger safety, all flight operations to and from Srinagar have been cancelled for the day," an Airport Authority of India official said here. He said the airlines and airport authorities are closely monitoring the weather situation, and the flight operations will resume as soon as the weather conditions improve to a level where the runway is declared safe for operations. As many as 58 flights -- 29 inbound and 29 outbound -- have been cancelled due to the ongoing snowfall. "Passengers have been advised to stay in touch with their respective airlines for the latest updates and alternate arrangements," the official said. The cancellation of flights has left hundreds of tourists, who were scheduled to

J&K: Around 50 flights cancelled at Srinagar airport due to snowfall

Several flights to and from Srinagar International Airport were cancelled on Tuesday due to snowfall in Kashmir, officials said. "In view of adverse weather conditions and continuing snowfall at Srinagar Airport, airlines have cancelled certain flights for today," an official of the Airport Authority of India said. As many as 16 flights -- eight inbound and eight outbound -- have been cancelled so far. "Passengers have been advised to stay in touch with their respective airlines for the latest updates and alternate arrangements," the official said. The cancellation of flights has left hundreds of tourists, who were scheduled to return after spending the weekend and Republic Day holiday in the Valley, stranded in Kashmir.

Jaish-e-Mohammad commander gunned down in joint operation in J&K's Kathua

Jammu Security forces and the Indian Army on Friday gunned down a Jaish-e-Mohammed commander-level terrorist after a high-stakes operation in Parhetar village in Kathua district. The operation and searches had been underway for more than a week.Providing details on the operation, SSP Kathua Mohita Sharma said, "The Joint operation of J & K Police, Indian Army and CRPF was started, today the situation was a hostage situation, but our brave police jawans rescued the civilians, and fierce gunbattle took place."The Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist of Pakistan was identified as Usman. He was active from 2024, and six terror acts were registered against him, including the killing of civilians and security forces. Three of his hideouts have been busted so far, along with the natural caves he used, and one was a man-made hideout.Describing the joint operation by J & K Police and the Indian army, SSP Mohita Sharma said, "After the encounter, when he escaped, our search operation continued in

Snowfall disrupts air traffic as Srinagar airport cancels all flights

The air traffic to and fro Kashmir was suspended on Friday after flight operations were cancelled at the Srinagar airport due to bad weather, officials said. "In view of continuous snowfall, accumulation of snow on operational areas, and the prevailing forecast of adverse weather en route, all flight operations at Srinagar airport stand cancelled for the day in the interest of passenger safety," officials at the airport said. They said the passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines for updates and re-accommodation. Most parts of Kashmir received fresh snowfall overnight, including the season's first snowfall in Srinagar. The meteorological department has forecast the current weather system to continue till Friday evening.

10 soldiers killed as Army vehicle plunges into gorge in J-K's Doda

Four Army personnel were killed and nine others injured when their vehicle skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, officials said. The accident took place at Khanni top along Bhaderwah-Chamba interstate road. Officials said the bullet-proof Army vehicle, carrying a total of 17 personnel, was heading towards a high altitude post when its driver lost control and the vehicle plunged into a 200-foot-deep gorge. A joint rescue operation by army and police was immediately launched and four of the soldiers were found dead, the officials said. They said nine other soldiers were rescued in an injured condition and three of them, who have suffered critical injuries, were airlifted to Udhampur military hospital for specialised treatment.