Page 10 - Jammu

10 Vaishno Devi pilgrims dead, 57 injured in bus skid off the road

Ten Vaishno Devi pilgrims, most of them from Bihar, were killed and 57 injured on Tuesday as the bus they were travelling in skidded off the road and rammed into the railing of a bridge before falling off it, officials said. The death toll may go up as Government Medical College Hospital Principal Shashi Soodan said two of the injured admitted there are critical. The officials said the bus, which was on its way to Katra from Amritsar, met with the accident in Jhajjar Kotli area on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway between 6.30 and 7 am. Katra is a base camp for the pilgrims visiting the famous shrine atop the Trikuta hills. They said most of the travellers were members of an extended family from Bihar's Lakhisarai and were on pilgrimage to Vaishno Devi temple for a ritual of a child. "The accident took place at Jhajjar Kotli bridge. Ten people have died. Rescue operation is almost complete," Jammu Senior Superintendent of Police Chandan Kohli told PTI. "We are investigating the .

Work underway to redevelop Amarnath base camp ahead of annual pilgrimage

The main base camp for Amarnath pilgrims here is getting a major facelift with the authorities setting a deadline of June 15 for completion of the works, officials said on Tuesday. The Yatri Niwas Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu serves as the main base camp for the pilgrims from across the country before they leave for Kashmir to pay obeisance at the 3,880-metre-high holy cave shrine of Amarnath. The two-month pilgrimage is scheduled to commence on July 1 from the twin tracks -- the traditional 48-kilometre Nunwan-Pahalgam route in the Anantnag district and 14-kilometre shorter but steeper Baltal route in the Ganderbal district. The first batch of pilgrims is expected to leave the Jammu base camp one day prior to the start of the yatra. "The renovation of the Yatri Niwas is going on smoothly. Divisional Commissioner (Jammu) Ramesh Kumar has instructed the engineers concerned to expedite the pace of renovation and ensure the completion of all works by June 15," an official said. Kumar visi

MoS Defence Ajay Bhatt appreciates BRO for Project Sampark in Jammu

During his address, Ajay Bhatt put on record his appreciation for the commendable hard work of BRO Karamyogis and also paid solemn homage to the bravehearts

Hundreds of Jammu students spread plastic ban awareness through walkathon

Hundreds of students carrying placards and banners participated in a walkathon here on Monday to raise awareness about the plastic ban in the region. Councillors of different wards and students from over 40 educational institutions, including schools and colleges, joined the 'Say No To Polythene' walkathon, which commenced from the Parade Ground and concluded at Hari Singh Park here. "We appeal to the people of Jammu to support the ban on polythene. Today's programme aims to create awareness about the harmful effects of polythene. Students from schools and colleges are actively participating in this initiative," Arun Khanna, chairman of the Health and Sanitation Committee at the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), told PTI. "We need to reduce the usage of polythene due to its harmful impact. Accidental ingestion of polythene by animals or birds can result in their death or cause severe injuries," said Bhakti Dogra, a student who participated in the walkathon organised by the ...

Basmati farmlands in Jammu adopt reaper tech to get rid of stubble menace

India's basmati-rich agriculture fields in Jammu and Kashmir's R S Pura border belt have adopted a new technology, wherein modified reapers are used to get rid of the menace of stubble burning. The department of agriculture (DoA) has introduced modified reapers to cut stubble and convert it into fodder. "The use of reapers will not only end farm fire and pollution but also create fodder for cattle," Manager, Seed Multiplication Farm Chakrohi, Rakesh Khanjuria told PTI. Khajuria said that use of new technology not only prevents pollution, farm fires and destruction of minerals in soil and insects, but creates fodder for cattle of the region and employment for the local youth. Officials said that the introduction of reapers to create fodder instead of pollution should be introduced not only in the entire J&K but also in Punjab and Haryana. "Delhi, Haryana and Punjab, where such incidents are increasingly taking place, should adopt this (reaper technology of stable chopping). It ...

Medical student injured in brawl over 'The Kerala story' in Jammu

A medical student suffered head injuries in a scuffle between two groups over 'The Kerala story' movie at a hostel here, sparking protests in Government Medical College (GMC) with participants demanding an inquiry and appropriate action against culprits. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jammu Chandan Kohli said an investigation into the matter is underway. "There has been an incident of scuffle between some students and outsiders in GMC hostel Jammu. Cognisance of the matter has been taken and investigation is going on," the SSP said. The protesting students said the scuffle took place after late Sunday night when a student shared a link of the controversial film in the official group of the first-year students, which was objected by one of his batchmates, stating that the group is meant for academic purposes only. The student, who had objected to the sharing of the link, was later confronted and assaulted inside the hostel, leading to a scuffle as more and more students along

Avalanche warning issued for seven districts in J-K

Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Authority (JKDMA) on Friday issued an avalanche warning for seven districts during the next 24 hours

Over 27 passengers injured after mini-bus overturns in Jammu's Udhampur

Over 27 passengers were injured when a mini-bus they were travelling in overturned in Jammu's Udhampur district, police said on Tuesday

Vande Bharat Metro train in Jammu once USBRL becomes operational: Vaishnaw

The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link Project (USBRL) will be completed by December 2023 or January 2024 and a Vande Bharat metro train will be operated between Jammu and Srinagar once the project becomes fully operational, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Sunday. Vaishnaw travelled on the first run of a track-mounted trolley on the world's highest arch bridge constructed on the Chenab river with railway officials and inspected the iconic bridge having a height of 359 metres from the Chenab riverbed. He also performed pooja at the bridge before the inspection. Addressing media persons, the minister announced setting up a special training academy for engineers at Jammu. Speaking on the progress of work, he said the track work on the Chenab bridge has been completed and now electric work will be undertaken, besides the installation of Kavach- an anti-collision safety device. The Chenab bridge was a difficult challenge as the terrain was a highly seismic activity-prone a

First phase of smart traffic management system completed in Jammu

The first phase of the intelligent traffic management and surveillance system (ITMSS) has been made operational in Jammu, a step that would help authorities better manage vehicular flow and catch violators. The system is operational at 12 major locations in the city and activities are being monitored from a traffic department-managed integrated command and control centre. "Operations (of the ITMSS' first phase) have started in Jammu," Vehant Technologies chief executive officer (CEO) and co-founder Kapil Bardeja said. The project is being implemented in phases with system integrators, he said. "The project was initiated in November 2022. Installations are going on and depending upon the installations with system integrators, the project will be completed soon," Bardeja, whose firm has been tasked with implementation of the ITMSS in Jammu. He added that software solutions have already been deployed at some locations. In the first phase, the ITMSS has been deployed and made operati

Jammu-Srinagar highway reopens after 38-hour closure due to landslide

The one-way traffic resumed on the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway on Wednesday after remaining suspended for about 38-hours following a landslide in Ramban district, officials said. Deputy Superintendent of Police, Traffic (national highway), Banihal, Asghar Malik said the road clearance operation at the landslide-hit Sher Bibi near Banihal was still going on. Hundreds of vehicles were left stranded on the highway after a massive landslide blocked the arterial road at Sher Bibi around 2 am Tuesday. The road clearance operation was hampered by continuous shooting of stones from the hillock throughout the day. Despite intermittent shooting of stones, the road clearance agencies worked hard since this morning to ensure that the road is opened for one-way traffic which was allowed at around 4 pm (Wednesday), Malik said. No fresh traffic was allowed either from Srinagar or Jammu for the second day in the morning as authorities focused on road clearance operation and to clear the

Centre to auction lithium reserves found in Jammu by June: Report

The discovery of 5.9 million tonnes of the metal in Reasi in Jammu and Kashmir has made India the seventh-largest holder of lithium reserves

Jal Jeevan Mission in J-K to see completion by June: Official

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Wednesday said the central flagship programme Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) has achieved substantial progress in the Union Territory and is set to be completed by June this year. The information was given at a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta who conducted a virtual tour of the works taken up under JJM and interacted with public and officials of the department for first hand appraisal of the progress made in the mission so far, an official spokesman said. Principal Secretary Jal Shakti Department, Shaleen Kabra, informed the meeting that the mission is under implementation from 2019 and has achieved substantial progress till now. All rural institutions like schools, Anganwadi centres and health institutions have been provided piped water under this mission. Every remaining rural household would get the tap water connection under this mission by June this year as most of the targets would be completed by then, he said. The spokes

Nearly 23,000 hectares of encroached land retrieved in Jammu region

Nearly 23,000 hectares of state and 'kahcharai' land were retrieved during the ongoing anti-encroachment drive in different districts of the Jammu division, officials said on Sunday. The major chunk of 13,793 hectares of land was retrieved from encroachers in Rajouri, followed by over 6,100 hectares in Poonch, over 2,300 in Kishtwar, 15.9 hectares in Udhampur and some parcels in Kathua and Samba districts so far, an official spokesman said. Quoting information received from Rajouri, he said teams of police and revenue officials visited different tehsils of the district, including Rajouri, Darhal, Thanamandi, Nowshera, Qila Darhal, Sunderbani, Siot, Kalakote, Terayth, Beripatan, Manjakote, Moughla and Khawas, and retrieved 2,75,867 kanals and 12 marlas of state land. The retrieved land include 2,68,321 kanals and seven marlas of state land, including Roshni land and 7,546 kanals and five marlas of kacharai land, the spokesman said. In nearby Poonch, he said, against 1,25,030 kanals

BSF, Pak Rangers exchange sweets along I-B in Jammu on Republic Day

The BSF and Pakistan Rangers exchanged sweets and greetings at various outposts along the International Border in Jammu on the occasion of India's 74th Republic Day on Thursday, officials said. The Border Security Force offered sweets to Pakistan Rangers and they reciprocated, the officials said. The exchange of sweets took place at border outposts in Akhnoor, Samba, Kathua, Arnia and R S Pura in a cordial manner, a Border Security Force official said. Indian Army troops also exchanged sweets and greetings with their Pakistani counterparts at forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri and Poonch districts, according to the officials. Republic Day was celebrated at the frontier headquarters here. BSF Inspector General D K Boora unfurled the tricolour on the occasion and conveyed his warm wishes to all 'Seema Praharis' serving at the International Border and the LoC and their families. He also recalled the supreme sacrifices of BSF troops. The IG said the BSF has alwa

Urmila Matondkar joins Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jammu

Actor-turned-politician Urmila Matondkar joined Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra as it resumed from the garrison town of Nagrota on a cold Tuesday morning. Matondkar, a popular Bollywood stars of the 1990s, joined Gandhi shortly after the march started from near the army garrison around 8 am amid tight security, with Congress workers and supporters lined up on the road along the route to welcome them. Matondkar (48) had resigned from the Congress in September 2019 after a short association of six months, and joined the Shiv Sena in 2020. Dressed in a cream-coloured traditional Kashmir Pheran (loose gown) and beanie cap, Matondkar was interacting with Gandhi as they marched along. Noted author Perumal Murugan and J&K Pradesh Congress committee president Vikar Rasool Wani, his predecessor G A Mir and former minister Abdul Hamid Karra also joined them alongside hundreds of other carrying the tricolor in their hands. The yatra, which started from Kanyakumari on ...

Training for first batch of Agniveers begins in outskirts of Jammu

The training for the first batch of Agniveers begins amid the visit of Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Manoj Dwivedi to review preparedness at the Agniveer training facility (ATF) at the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAKLI) regimental centre in the outskirts of Jammu city. The youth of Jammu and Kashmir has shown a considerable amount of interest in Agniveer recruitments and the recent recruitment rallies have shown tremendous enthusiasm in the form of huge numbers turning up, a defence spokesman said. Lt Gen Dwivedi visited the state-of-the-art Agniveer training facility located at JAKLI regimental centre at Dansal to review the preparedness and arrangements for the first batch of Agniveers being trained, he said. Recently the Ministry of Defence signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with various stakeholders like the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and the director general of training for facilitating

Airtel announces launch of 5G service in Jammu, Srinagar in a phased manner

Telecom operator Bharti Airtel on Wednesday announced the launch of its 5G services in Jammu and Srinagar. Airtel, in a statement, said that its '5G Plus' services will be available to customers in a phased manner as the company continues to construct its network and complete the roll out. Customers with 5G enabled devices will enjoy high speed Airtel '5G Plus' network at no extra cost until the roll out is more widespread, the company said. Adarsh Verma, Chief Operating Officer of Bharti Airtel - Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, said: "I am thrilled to announce the launch of Airtel 5G Plus in Jammu and Srinagar. Airtel customers can now experience ultrafast network and enjoy speeds upto 20-30 times faster than the current 4G speeds." "We are in the process of lighting up the Union territories of J&K and Ladakh which will allow customers to enjoy superfast access to high-definition video streaming, gaming, multiple chatting, instant uploading of photos...," Verma added. Airtel 5G Plus .

Two infiltration bids foiled in Jammu; 1 intruder dead, another held

Two separate infiltration bids were foiled on the International Border (IB) in Jammu in which one intruder was killed and another was apprehended, officials said

Bank loan fraud: ED files chargesheet against seven in Jammu court

The case related to a bank loan fraud in which the total NPA declared by the Bank of India was at Rs 91.50 crore