REGIONAL

Jammu  Kashmir is currently experiencing unprecedented weather patterns in January, with extreme temperature fluctuations breaking longstanding records. Banihal reported a remarkable maximum temperature of 23.4 degrees Celsius, surpassing January norms by 13.1 degrees Celsius and shattering the previous all-time high recorded in 2003. In contrast, Jammu City within the same region is witnessing unexpected low temperatures, recording a maximum of 8.6 degrees Celsius today. This marks the 5th all-time lowest maximum temperature in January, being 9.3 degrees Celsius below the normal level, with the record set at 5°C in 1986. The significant temperature rise in Banihal has raised concerns across Jammu and Kashmir about reduced snowfall and warmer days, potentially impacting glacier vo...

Managing Director, Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL), Mussarat Islam, today urged consumers to clear their outstanding balance on account of electricity dues, failing which KPDCL shall be left with no option but to further accelerate its disconnection drives as warranted under Section 56 of the Electricity Act. He further stated that smart meter consumers with arrears are being automatically disconnected if they do not pay their pending power bills. Expressing serious concern over huge default figures in domestic, commercial and industrial categories, the MD stated that revenue realized on account of clearance of pending bills shall enable KPDCL to have enough resource availability for power purchase which will be critical for providing reliable supply. The MD...

Suhail Dar The former chief minister of Jammu Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti suffered an injury after the car she was travelling in met with an accident near Sangam area of south Kashmir. A spokesman of People's Democratic party confirmed to The Kashmiriyat that on Thursday afternoon the vehicle Mehbooba Mufti was travelling in met with an accident in Sangam when her cavalcade was on the way to Anantnag. She was traveling to Anantnag to meet the thirteen families that lost their shelter during a fire incident during the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. Despite the accident, Mehbooba Mufti reached the boat colony of Khanabal in Anantnag to meet the fire victims and assured them full support.

In a significant seismic event, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Afghanistan, with tremors reverberating into the Kashmir region. The quake occurred at 2:50 p.m. IST, with its epicenter located at 70.71°E, 36.52°N in the Hindu Kush Region of Afghanistan. The depth of the earthquake was reported to be 192 km, according to data from the GFZ (German Research Centre for Geosciences). The tremors were distinctly felt in various parts of Kashmir, prompting concerns and heightened awareness among residents. While there are no immediate reports of casualties or major damage, local authorities are actively monitoring the situation and urging citizens to remain vigilant. Seismologists emphasize that the depth of the earthquake, at 192 km, may have mitigated the impact on the surface, poten...

For the dissolution of state Assembly, Former Jammu Kashmir Governor, Satyapal Malik shifted the blame on Peoples’ Conference leader, Sajad Lone, and his ambition to ‘indulge in horse-trading’. In an interview with senior Supreme Court advocate and Rajya Sabha member, Kapil Sibal’s YouTube channel “Dil Se”, Malik said that the decision to dissolve the assembly was his own and not on the diktats of the BJP-government. The former Governor added, “My own assessment is that they (BJP) wanted that I should invite (Sajad) Lone to form the government. I asked Lone. He didn’t have even six MLAs. But he said that if you let me take over, I can provide you the majority in one week…… I sensed there would be major horse-trading if I allowed that. I told him, this is not my job and I will not do ...

Nearly a month after the Supreme Court upheld the Union Government’s decision of abrogating Article 370, three petitions were filed in the court on Tuesday to seek review of its judgment. Details available with news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that three reviews pleas were filed in the Apex Court today against its verdict upholding abrogation of Article 370 by the Union Government in August 5, 2019. The petitions were filed by Muzaffar Iqbal Khan, Jammu & Kashmir Awami National Conference and Jammu & Kashmir Peoples Movement. “I have filed the review petition today,” Muzaffar Iqbal Khan, one of the petitioners of Article 370 case, confirmed to KNO. On December 11, 2023, a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India unanimously upheld the Union gov...

The persistent dry spell in the Kashmir Valley has led to the drying up of renowned water springs in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, causing a water shortage in several villages. As per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Aripal Spring in Tral and Bulbul Spring in Newa Pulwama are among the affected water sources. Officials from Public Health Engineering (PHE) Tral told KNO that the water level of the famous Aripal Spring began had been decreasing for weeks and has now completely dried up. The spring served as a vital drinking water source for multiple water supply schemes, and its depletion has resulted in water scarcity in various areas. The Fisheries Department's fish farm, located near Aripal Spring, had to relocate its fish due to the drying up of the spring. Th...

In the midst of an intense cold snap, temperatures in the Kashmir region have experienced a significant decline, intensifying the anticipation for snowfall among the local populace. As of today, the recorded minimum temperatures depict the chilling conditions: Srinagar at -5.0°C, Qazigund at -4.6°C, Pahalgam at -6.3°C, Kupwara at -5.3°C, Kokernag at -2.4°C, Gulmarg at -3.5°C, Sonamarg at -4.7°C, Anantnag at -6.0°C, Ganderbal at -4.1°C, Pulwama at -6.6°C, Bandipora at -5.4°C, Baramulla at -6.0°C, Budgam at -5.3°C, Kulgam at -2.9°C, and Shopian at -6.2°C. Despite the chilling temperatures, the local weather department has issued a forecast indicating that no major wet spell is anticipated until January 22nd across the Kashmir valley. The officials have further emphasized that the on...

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, vehemently voiced his opposition on Wednesday to a power project agreement with Rajasthan, denouncing it as a blatant "loot" of the region. Addressing concerns at a press conference held at the party headquarters, Abdullah expressed dismay over the hydroelectric power project being handed over to Rajasthan for a lengthy 40-year period. He categorically stated that such an arrangement, where the power generated from these projects benefits another region, would not be tolerated under any circumstances. Highlighting the irony of being chosen first for the installation of smart meters while diverting hydroelectric power to Rajasthan, Abdullah asserted, "We will not permit this, even if it requires taking the issue to the Supreme...

This winter, the picturesque landscapes of Kashmir, renowned for their snow-covered beauty, defy expectations. Popular destinations like Gulmarg, Sonmarg, Tangmarg, Pahalgam, and Aru Valley remain surprisingly devoid of snowfall, creating a serene ambiance with minimal tourist activity. Satellite images from the European Space Agency, analyzed by India Today's Open-Source Intelligence team, reveal a concerning scenario. From the northern reaches of Gulmarg, Sonmarg, and Tangmarg to the southern locales of Pahalgam and Aru Valley, these winter destinations await snowfall, even as Chillai Kalan, the traditionally harsh 40-day winter period, is past its midpoint. Even in higher-altitude areas like Gurez Valley, where roads typically close in October, an unusual absence of snowfall...