Page 9 - Jammu

Earthquake of magnitude 5.2 jolts Jammu-Kashmir's Gulmarg, says NCS

An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 on the Richter scale jolted Jammu and Kashmir's Gulmarg on Saturday, the National Center for Seismology (NCS) reported.The quake occured at around 8:36 am with its depth registered at 129 km.According to NCS, its epicentre was found at Latitude: 35.46 and Longitude: 73.32, respectively."Earthquake of Magnitude:5.2, Occurred on 05-08-2023, 08:36:01 IST, Lat: 35.46 & Long: 73.32, Depth: 129 Km, Location: 184 km NNW of Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir," the NCS tweeted.No reports of casualties or material damage were reported.Further details are awaited. An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 on the Richter scale jolted the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the early hours of Thursday.The quake hit the islands at 4:17 am.National Center for Seismology (NCS) said that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 61 km.

Three army personnel killed in encounter with militants in J-K's Kulgam

Three Army personnel were killed in an encounter with militants in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district on Friday, officials said. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the higher reaches of the Halan forest area of Kulgam district in south Kashmir following inputs about the presence of militants there, a police official said. He said the search operation turned into an encounter after the militants fired at the security forces, who retaliated. In the exchange of fire, three security forces personnel were injured, the official said, adding, they succumbed during treatment. "Operation Halan #Kulgam. On specific inputs regarding presence of terrorists on higher reaches of Halan in Kulgam, operations launched by Security Forces on 04 Aug 23. In exchange of firing with terrorists, three personnel sustained injuries and later succumbed. Search operations are continuing, Srinagar-based Chinar Corps of the Army said in a tweet. The official said reinforcement has been

Villagers lock out govt school in Udhampur as building deemed unsafe

Zonal Education and planning officer, Ghordi Krishan Dutt, said the prevailing infratructure at the government school, or the lack of it, was unsafe to house students

Our collective responsibility to create better society: JK LG Sinha

It is our collective responsibility to create a better society and contribute in enriching cultural heritage, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Tuesday. He was speaking after attending the 'Kailakh Sanskrit Ratna Puraskar' ceremony here. He also batted strongly for strengthening and promotion of Sanskrit as people's language. Sanskrit is the oldest living languages of the world. It offers a treasure of knowledge in science, medicine and literature, he said. "It should be our collective responsibility to create a better society and contribute in enriching cultural heritage", he said at the function.

Pak made attempts to disrupt peace, but conspiracies defeated: J-K police

Jammu and Kashmir police chief Dilbag Singh said Friday Pakistan made all attempts including propagating a "venomous narrative" to disrupt peace in Jammu and Kashmir but all its conspiracies were defeated by the strenuous efforts of security forces and the support of people. Singh made these remarks during an interaction with a group of probationary IPS officers from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, Hyderabad. Other senior Police officers of the J-K Police were also present at the interaction at the Police Headquarters here. The group of 22 IPS probationary officers including two women officers and two officers from Nepal and the Maldives are on a study-cum-cultural tour to J-K as a part of Bharat Darshan programme and of their basic training. While giving an overview of working of the JKP in different wings, the DGP said the J-K police has faced a huge share of problems over the last three decades. Appreciating the support of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, Singh

Jammu to pioneer India's first cannabis medicine project: Jitendra Singh

Union minister Jitendra Singh on Sunday said Jammu is going to pioneer India's first cannabis medicine project, stressing that the project undertaken by the CSIR-IIIM will produce export quality medicines meant for different kinds of neuropathies and diabetic pains. Singh made the remarks after visiting Cannabis Cultivation Farm of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM) at Chatha near here. The 'Cannabis Research Project' of CSIR-IIIM Jammu is a first-of-its-kind in the country in public-private partnership with a Canadian firm, which has a "great potential to put substance of abuse for the good of mankind especially for patients suffering from neuropathies, cancer and epilepsy". Singh visited the farm to get first-hand information about the cultivation practices for cannabis in the protected area of the institute and research work being carried out on this important plant. This project of CSIR-IIIM is also important from

Over 4,600 pilgrims leave Jammu's Bhagwati Nagar base camp for Amarnath

A batch of more than 4,600 Amarnath pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp here on Thursday morning amid tight security. As many as 2.90 lakh devotees have paid obeisance at the Amarnath shrine since the annual pilgrimage began on July 1. A total of 4,675 pilgrims left in a convoy of 169 vehicles for the twin base camps in Kashmir to undertake the onward journey to the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine of Lord Shiva. Officials said 2,850 pilgrims, headed for Pahalgam, left in a convoy of 106 vehicles while another convoy of 63 vehicles carrying 1,825 pilgrims left for the Baltal base camp at 3.30 am and 3.45 am, respectively. The 62-day annual pilgrimage to the 3,888-metre-high cave shrine commenced from the twin tracks of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district on July 1. The yatra is scheduled to conclude on August 31.

Heavy rains create flood-like situation in Jammu, rivers breach danger mark

Traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway was suspended, while authorities ordered the closure of schools in Doda and Kishtwar districts as heavy rains lashed the Jammu region, creating a flood-like situation at many places, officials said on Wednesday. They said rivers and rivulets in many places, especially in Kathua and Samba districts, have reached close to or crossed the flood alert level. The weather office has predicted more rains in the region. Heavy rains lashed wide parts of Jammu division overnight, triggering mudslides and landslides at several places along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Ramban district, forcing authorities to suspend traffic, the officials said. "The highway is still blocked and people are advised not to travel till the restoration work is completed," a traffic department official said. The officials said the traffic on the Jammu-Pathankot highway was also diverted in Kathua district where two pillars of a bridge suffered damages due to f

15th batch of 6,200 pilgrims leave Jammu for Amarnath amid tight security

The 15th batch of more than 6,200 Amarnath pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp here early on Monday morning amid tight security, officials said. As many as 2,29,221 devotees have paid obeisance at the Amarnath shrine since the annual pilgrimage began on July 1. A total of 6,648 pilgrims left in a convoy of 241 vehicles for the twin base camps in Kashmir to undertake the onward journey to the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine of Lord Shiva. Officials said 3,686 pilgrims, headed for Pahalgam, left in a convoy of 132 vehicles while another convoy of 109 vehicles carrying 2,998 pilgrims left for the Baltal base camp at 3.30 am and 3.45 am, respectively. The 62-day annual pilgrimage commenced from the twin tracks of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district on July 1. The yatra is scheduled to conclude on August 31.

Batch of over 6,600 pilgrims leaves for Amarnath from Jammu amid rain

Another batch of over 6,600 Amarnath pilgrims left the Jammu city early Sunday for Kashmir amid rain and tight security to embark on the annual pilgrimage, an official said. Over 2.10 lakh devotees have so far visited the holy cave shrine of Amarnath, situated at a height of 3,880 metres in south Kashmir Himalayas, since the beginning of the 62-day-long yatra on July 1. "The 14th batch, comprising 6,684 pilgrims left Bhagwati Nagar base camp Jammu for the valley in a convoy of 241 vehicles between 3.30 am and 3.55 am," the official said. The pilgrim convoy left for the two base camps, Pahalgam in Anantnag and Baltal in Ganderbal district, amid moderate rains which went on for hours drenching several parts of Jammu and leaving many roads waterlogged. According to the official, 3,686 pilgrims left for Pahalgam base camp in 132 vehicles, while 2,998 pilgrims are heading for Baltal in 109 vehicles. With the latest dispatch, a total of 86,865 pilgrims have left the Jammu base camp for

Amid tight security, 10th batch of 7,800 pilgrims leave Jammu for Amarnath

The 10th batch of over 7,800 Amarnath Yatra pilgrims left the Jammu base camp in the early hours of Wednesday for the twin base camps in Kashmir amid tight security arrangements, officials said. The yatra resumed from the Jammu base camp on Tuesday afternoon after remaining suspended for three days in view of the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway for repairs in the Ramban section. A total of 1,37,353 pilgrims have visited the Amarnath shrine since July 1, the officials said. The 62-day annual pilgrimage to the 3,888-metre-high cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas commenced from the twin tracks of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district on July 1. The yatra is scheduled to conclude on August 31. A total of 7,805 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp here for the Valley in a convoy of 339 vehicles around 3.15 am, the officials said. They said 4,677 pilgrims are headed for Pahalgam in a convoy of 207 vehicles and 3,128 pilgrims left for

Earthquake of 4.9 magnitude jolts Jammu & Kashmir's Doda district

An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 hit Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district early Monday, the National Centre for Seismology said. The quake occurred at 5.38 am. There are no immediate reports of any damage, officials said. The epicentre was 10 km below the surface of the earth in Doda region. It occurred at latitude 33.15 degrees north and longitude 75.68 degrees east, the NCS said. According to officials, 12 tremors with varied intensity have jolted Doda since June this year. A 5.4 magnitude earthquake hit the district on June 13, causing cracks in dozens of buildings, including houses.

CRPF conducts sanitisation operation around Jammu camp of Amarnath Yatra

The CRPF is carrying out an anti-sabotage and sanitisation operation in and around the Bhagwati Nagar Amarnath Yatra base camp here to ensure the safety and security of the pilgrims camping there due to inclement weather, officials said. Assisted by sniffer dogs, metal detectors and surveillance equipment, the CPRF units conducted an extensive sanitisation exercise in the parking area and the roads leading to the base camp, the officials said. The yatra from the camp has been suspended for the second day on Sunday due to heavy rains and about 5,000-6,000 pilgrims are waiting there, they said. According to the officials, fresh batches of pilgrims were not allowed to leave Jammu due to the closure of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. More than 80,000 pilgrims have paid obeisance at the cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas since the beginning of the yatra on July 1. The 62-day annual pilgrimage to the 3,888-metre-high shrine commenced on July 1 and is scheduled to conclude o

Jammu-Srinagar highway closed for second day, restoration work on

Traffic movement on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway remained suspended for the second day on Sunday as authorities stepped up efforts to restore the road amid improved weather conditions, officials said. The 270-km highway, the only all weather road linking Kashmir with rest of the country, was closed for traffic on Saturday following heavy rains overnight that triggered multiple landslides and also washed away a portion of nearly 40-metre road stretch near Panthiyal tunnel in Ramban district. The closure of the highway left over 3,500 vehicles, including those carrying Amarnath pilgrims from Jammu to Kashmir, stranded at different places. After hectic efforts, the highway was partially opened for stranded vehicles with concerned agencies bypassing the damaged road stretch by connecting an old road alignment and clearing the debris, the officials said. However, they said sinking of road at Chamba near Seeri and fresh landslides at Mehar and Cafeteria Morh forced the authorities

Vehicles stranded in Udhampur after highway closed due to bad weather

Hundreds of vehicles were stranded in Udhampur on Saturday after the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was closed on account of bad weather

Traffic movement suspended on Jammu-Srinagar NH following landslides

Traffic movement was temporarily suspended on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway and the Mughal Road here on Saturday following multiple landslides triggered by heavy overnight rainfall, officials said. Train service between Banihal and Qazigund stations has also been suspended for the day, they said. Several landslides struck the national highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, at Mehar, Cafeteria Morh, Keela Morh, Sita Ram Passi and Panthiyal in Ramban, the officials said. They said a portion of the road leading to the Panthiyal tunnel was washed away. A traffic department official said work was underway to clear the road and repair the affected sections despite the incessant rains. "People are advised not to travel on the highway till the restoration work is completed," he added. Mughal Road, an alternative link connecting the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri with the Shopian district of south Kashmir, also witnessed several

No outsider being allotted land, no change in law: J-K on Mehbooba's claims

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Wednesday said no outsider was being allotted land and there was no change in the law, hours after PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti alleged that its move to provide housing to homeless people was an attempt to change the demography of the Union Territory. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday said the Jammu and Kashmir administration has started providing 150 square yard plots to landless families for the construction of their houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (PMAY). "The rural development department has identified 1.83 lakh families who do not have their own houses. We are working on it. It is a step that will not only provide a house to them but transform their lives," he had said, claiming that plots to 2,711 landless families across the union territory have already been allotted. At a press conference earlier on Wednesday, Mehbooba, the former chief minister of J-K, accused the Lt Governor's administration of importing slums and ...

J&K L-G to flag off first batch of Amarnath pilgrims from Jammu camp today

Amid multi-tier security setup, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha will flag off the first batch of pilgrims for the annual Amarnath Yatra from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp here on June 30, an official said on Thursday. The first batch of pilgrims will leave for the twin base camps in Kashmir to undertake a pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine of Lord Shiva in the south Kashmir Himalayas. LG Sinha will flag off the batch of pilgrims early Friday morning The 62-day-long pilgrimage will commence from Kashmir on July 1 from the twin tracks -- the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the 14-km shorter but steep Baltal route in Ganderbal district. Over 3,500 pilgrims have arrived in Jammu for their onward journey to Amarnath. "The Yatra from Jammu will begin with the first batch of pilgrims being flagged off from Jammu base camp by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha tomorrow, an officer told PTI. He said that the Yatra will formally commence from the tw

Prices of tomato, ginger soar in Jammu amid heavy rainfall, landslides

Poor crop yield due to heavy rainfall and landslides over the past few days here has hiked the prices of vegetables such as ginger and tomato, with consumers demanding government intervention to address the issue. The recent price surge due to a demand-supply gap has posed significant challenges for low-income individuals who struggle to afford essential commodities. With tomatoes priced at around Rs 120 per kg and ginger at Rs 400 per kg, people are being compelled to forgo these items, Bharat Bhushan, a customer, said. Bhushan emphasised the urgent need for government intervention to alleviate the burden of price hikes on poor families. Local vegetable vendors have attributed the low crop yield of ginger and tomatoes to the heavy rainfall owing to the ongoing monsoon. We have witnessed a price hike in ginger and tomatoes as the heavy rainfall has adversely affected crop production. Every monsoon, there is a price hike in vegetables, especially mountain-grown vegetables because o

Jammu sees joyous celebrations of Eid; Indo-Pak troops exchange sweets

Jammu delved in joyous celebrations of Eid-ul-Adha on Thursday with a large number of people gathering at mosques to offer prayers for the peace and prosperity of the country. In Poonch, Indian and Pakistani troops came together at Rahe Milan to celebrate the Eid by exchanging sweets and gifts. Eid-al-Adha, also known as the festival of sacrifice, holds significant religious and cultural importance among Muslims worldwide. The main congregation took place at the Eidgah and Mecca Masjid in Jammu, where hundreds of people performed Namaz-e-Eid. "In Jammu, the biggest congregation takes place at here at Eidgah. The spirit of brotherhood sets a remarkable example. Apart from commemorating the Prophet's sacrifice, we prayed for the peace and prosperity of our nation," Gulam Mohmmad, a local resident, said. Sonaullah Malik, who also offered prayers at Mecca Masjid in Bhatindi area, said that on the day, people of different faiths come together to support and celebrate with Muslims, plyi