Friday, January 10News and updates from Kashmir

Month: December 2024

Delhi to Srinagar Vande Bharat train set for January 26: Prices, Timing and everything you need to know

Delhi to Srinagar Vande Bharat train set for January 26: Prices, Timing and everything you need to know

INDIA
Indian Railways is set to launch its first Vande Bharat Sleeper train, connecting New Delhi to Srinagar via the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL). The train, which offers modern amenities and enhanced travel comfort, will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 26, 2025, coinciding with Republic Day celebrations. This semi-high-speed train will be the first direct rail service between the national capital and Kashmir, covering over 800 kilometers in under 13 hours. Departing from New Delhi at 7:00 PM, it will reach Srinagar by 8:00 AM the next day, with key stops at Jammu Tawi, Katra, and Banihal. Ticket prices are expected to start at ₹2,000 for AC 3-tier, ₹2,500 for AC 2-tier, and ₹3,000 for First AC. The train will feature a mix of 11 AC 3-ti...
₹17 crore sanctioned for restoration of historical temples in south Kashmir

₹17 crore sanctioned for restoration of historical temples in south Kashmir

CULTURE
The Jammu Kashmir Government has sanctioned over ₹17 crore for the renovation and restoration of 17 temples and shrines in the districts of Anantnag and Pulwama, many of which sustained extensive damage during years of turmoil. The Directorate of Archives, Archaeology, and Museums recently granted administrative approval for these projects based on recommendations from the respective Deputy Commissioners of the two districts. In Anantnag district, significant allocations include ₹1.07 crore for the ancient Mamaleshwar Temple in Pahalgam, ₹1.60 crore for the Shiva Bhagwati Temple in Akingam, ₹77.67 lakh for the Gauri Shankar Temple in Pahalgam, and ₹92.95 lakh for the Papran Naag Shrine in Salia. The Mata Ragnya Bhagwati Shrine in Khiram will see renovations with an allocation of ₹...
HIV/AIDS cases surge in Jammu Kashmir: Over 6,995 test positive since 1998

HIV/AIDS cases surge in Jammu Kashmir: Over 6,995 test positive since 1998

FEATURED
The cases of HIV/AIDS are increasing with each passing year in Jammu Kashmir, as a total of 6,995 patients have tested positive in the region from 1998 until October 2024. A top health official informed the news agency that 1,569 HIV-positive patients have died since 1998 until October 2024, while 3,814 patients are living on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART). He added that 406 patients have left follow-up. The health official stated that 5,379 cases of HIV have been reported at GMC Jammu, and among them, 1,372 have died, 336 have left follow-up, and 2,882 are living on ART. Similarly, at SKIMS Srinagar, the number of such patients till October 2024 is 851, with 33 deaths, 39 leaving follow-up, and 536 living on ART, he added. In ART Kathua, the number of patients registered in HIV ...
CRPF trooper shoots himself to death in Shopian area

CRPF trooper shoots himself to death in Shopian area

REGIONAL
A trooper on tuesday shot himself dead in south Kashmir's Shopian district. Official sources told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that a CRPF personnel affiliated with E-178 Battalion shot himself with his service rifle. He died on the spot. They said the deceased was a driver. The incident occurred at Company Head Quarter located at Horticulture Building in Zainapora village of Shopian. Police have started inquest proceedings after the incident. [KNT]
Srinagar encounter: One body spotted near encounter, says Police

Srinagar encounter: One body spotted near encounter, says Police

REGIONAL
An encounter broke out late on Monday night in the upper reaches of Dachigam forests in Srinagar, according to police . A police spokesperson, aauitrd by Greater Kashmir, stated that joint teams of security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the area following specific intelligence inputs. The gunfight erupted as the forces zeroed in on a suspected location. "During the operation, a body was spotted in the forest area," a senior police official confirmed. "However, the identity of the deceased is yet to be established. It will take some time to retrieve the body due to the difficult terrain." The operation is ongoing, with security forces maintaining a tight cordon around the area. Further details are awaited. Dachigam forest, known for its dense vegetation...
‘Kashmir will have no land left’: Proposed railway project sparks outrage in Kashmir’s Dirhama

‘Kashmir will have no land left’: Proposed railway project sparks outrage in Kashmir’s Dirhama

WRITE-UPS
Syed Hammad Bukhari "This land is our soul. If they take it, they take our lives too,"says Abdul Aziz Lone, a 90-year-old resident of Dirhama, a village in Bijbehara located 19 kilometers north of Anantnag. Known for its fertile agricultural fields, Dirhama has become a flashpoint of protests against a railway project that threatens to displace families and swallow their farmland. Residents say they were neither consulted nor informed properly about the project’s impact. According to the Ministry of railways, a rail project of 77.5 Kilometres will be started from Anantnag to Pahalgam. The project runs through several areas of the district's Bijbebara belt including the village of Dirhama. Last year, during the winter session of Parliament, the Minister for Railways, Ashwani Vai...
In Kashmir, Uber launches Shikara service at Srinagar’s Dal lake

In Kashmir, Uber launches Shikara service at Srinagar’s Dal lake

REGIONAL
Uber, has unveiled its innovative Shikara service on Dal Lake in Srinagar, transforming the tourism experience in Kashmir. This initiative will enable tourists to pre-book the Shikars in advance. An official from ‘Uber’ told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that this service will allow tourists to pre-book Shikaras up to 15 days before their arrival in Kashmir. She said it would also free the tourist from the bargaining process and save time and energy. The official said that this move aims to boost tourism in Kashmir, particularly Srinagar. She said their partnership with local Shikara Unions is expected to expand the number of available Shikaras, further enhancing the tourist experience. [KNT]
‘Treat Muslims as equals’, Farooq Abdullah urges Centre to stop acts that spark communal tension

‘Treat Muslims as equals’, Farooq Abdullah urges Centre to stop acts that spark communal tension

REGIONAL
National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Monday said the Centre should put a stop to activities that can spark communal tension in the country, and treat Muslims as equals. “There is a need to stop (incidents like Sambhal). I will tell the government of India to stop (such acts) because they cannot throw the Muslims (of India) into the sea. Where will they throw 24 crore Muslims? Treat Muslims as equals, that is what our Constitution stands for. If they fiddle with the Constitution, how will India survive,” Abdullah asked while speaking to reporters here. The National Conference (NC) president, who recently performed Umrah (minor Hajj pilgrimage) along with his son and chief minister Omar Abdullah and several of his colleagues, said no one was against the return of Kashmiri P...
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq urges united action against drug addiction, Lauds police action

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq urges united action against drug addiction, Lauds police action

REGIONAL
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq called for unified and sustained efforts to combat the escalating drug addiction crisis in Jammu Kashmir. He described the issue as a grave threat to societal well-being, revealing that over 1.5 million people in the region are currently battling addiction. Highlighting the role of mosques as catalysts for social change, Mirwaiz emphasized the importance of religious institutions in addressing this growing menace. “Mosques have the potential to become key players in this fight. Local mosque committees should unite, monitor their areas for suspicious activities, and extend a helping hand to those in need of rehabilitation,” he stated, urging the community to harness the transformative power of collective action. Mirwaiz also commended law enforcement agencies...