REGIONAL

A skier has been killed and seven others rescued safely after an avalanche hit Affarwat peak in famous ski-destination Gulmarg on Thursday afternoon. An official told GNS that a wide-scale rescue operation was launched after a massive avalanche hit Khilan Marg on Affarwat peak, trapping eight foreign skiers. “The rescue operation saw the recovery of body of one skier, whose identity is being ascertained, besides safe recovery of seven other trapped skiers,” the official said, adding “Initially one among the trapped skiers couldn’t be found and to ensure his early retrieval chopper services were also pressed in.” “Luckily the missing skier was also found although he has received some injuries and is being treated upon,” the official said. When contacted, Secretary J&K Sports...

The High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh has given the “last and final opportunity” to the Union territory administration to file a reply to a petition filed by Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq against curbs on his movement. The court fixed the next date of hearing on March 6. Justice Wasim Sadiq Narwal, while granting the plea of the government seeking one week’s time for filing the reply to Mirwaiz’s petition, said it was the “last and final opportunity”. “Reluctantly and in the interest of justice, one week’s time as prayed for is granted for doing the needful, which however, shall be the last and final opportunity. “It is made clear, if reply is not filed, then the matter will be heard on the next date of hearing,” the court ordered. On February 2, the court had ask...

A massive avalanche has hit the famous hill resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir's Baramulla district. Official sources told The Kashmiriyat that on Thursday afternoon, a snow avalanche hit a group of skiers, who are believed to be foreigners, following which a rescue operation has been launched. As per initial reports, one foreign skier has been killed, while one has been rescued in an injured condition. "The avalanche hit the foreign group around 2 P.M. near the Asia ski point of the famous hill station. So far one skier has rescued in an injured condition, while the search for one more skier believed to be trapped is still underway," official sources said. Details rushing in.

Night temperature recorded a fall with Gulmarg recording minus 10.4°C in Gulmarg and Pahalgam minus 8.6°C on Thursday, officials said. A meteorological department official here told GNS that Srinagar recorded a low of minus 1.0°C and it was below normal by 1.9°C for the summer capital of J&K for this time of the year, he said. Qazigund recorded a minimum of minus 4.4°C against 0.0°C on the previous night and it was 4.3°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir, the MeT official said. Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 8.6°C against minus 1.6°C on the previous night and it was 4.6°C below normal for the famous resort in south Kashmir. Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a minimum of minus 5.4°C against minus 3.4°C on the previous night and the temperature was below ...

A labourer from Uttar Pradesh died after coming under a massive landslide in Ramban district along the Jammu-Srinagar highway on Thursday, officials said. Sources told GNS that a fresh landslide occurred near Seeri, Ramban and one labourer reportedly working with a private construction company came under the landslide and died while being shifted to hospital. They identified him as Desh pal Resident of Uttar Pradesh Meanwhile the Highway, the only surface link of Kashmir valley with the outside valley, remained closed after the fresh landslide, they said. “Restoration work is in progress at Kishtwari Pather on Jammu-Srinagar NHW, it will take some time,” traffic police said, adding, “People are advised to avoid journey on NH-44 till the road is clear. Please ask TCU for latest ...

The manager of a rural bank in J&K’s Pulwama district has run off with Rs 33 lakh from the branch he headed, police said on Wednesday. Police said that a manager of the Ellaquai Dehati Bank (a rural bank sponsored by SBI) disappeared with Rs 33 lakh from Lorgham branch of the bank in Pulwama. Police sources said that the manager had forged the signatures of account holders to misappropriate the amount. “Identified as Meraj Alam, a resident of Bihar, he has been missing since February 17 (Saturday). We have registered a case of FIR number 13/2024 under section 409 IPC in police station Tral and efforts are on to nab the accused,” a police official said.–(IANS)

Yet another spell of heavy snowfall has ignited hopes of farmers for a better yield in both the horticulture and agriculture sectors. January broke the three-month-long dry spells in Kashmir following which multiple spells of snow and rains were witnessed in February. The valley plains received a fresh snowfall on Tuesday after incessant rains for last two days. The precipitation has brought a wave of optimism, particularly among apple growers who have reported ample water supply to their orchards. “It is more than a miracle for us. We witnessed a prolonged dry spell for many months, which drastically affected the orchardists. Now, February proved to be a beneficial month for us as we received a heavy snowfall again in the plains, which supplied enough water to our apple orchar...

A Kashmiri Pandith died of cardiac arrest on Wednesday in South Kashmir's Pulwama district, official sources said. Official sources told News Agency Kashmir Scroll that one Kashmiri Pandith identified as Gayan Bhat of Tahab is presently living in Jammu. Sources said he has come to with relatives where he complained of chest pain during the night hours and was immediately brought to District Hospital Pulwama, where doctors declared him dead. Sources further told news agency Kashmir Scroll that the dead body of the deceased is to be dispatched to Jammu after road clearance for the last rites. (KS).

Two students of a religious seminary died due to suffocation in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Wednesday. A police official told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that two students from Darul-uloom Faiz-ul-uloom tragically died due to suffocation in Ashtangoo village of Bandipora. The incident occurred on Wednesday morning when the Darasgah officials found the children and their father unconscious. “Despite being rushed to the nearby hospital, the boys couldn't be revived,”he said, adding that their father is undergoing treatment at district hospital Bandipora. The deceased children have been identified as Muneer Ahmad Chechi, 10, and Tanveer Ahmad Chechi, 9, sons of Qasim Ahmad Chechi from Malangam, Bandipora. He said the police is investigation the incident a...

Danishwar Hameed Ghulam Ahmad Shah, a renowned scholar from South Kashmir's Kulgam district passed passed away on Monday. Locals told The Kashmiriyat that Shah who was nearly 80 years old, and a resident of Tuli Nupura Kulgam passed away following a brief illness. "Along with being a religious scholar, the deceased also played an important role in popularizing the teaching of the Holy Quran in the district," Abdul Rashid, a local said. He said that the deceased taught Quran to many generations and he was seen with great respect in the area. Ghulam Ahmad Shah also lead the prayers at the local mosques in Kulgam including in Ashmuji and Tuli areas of the south Kashmir district. His demise has left a massive vaccum, which cannot be filled, Rashid said, adding, "thousands of ...