Month: January 2025

Shah Basit Despite repeated warnings and environmental concerns, illegal mining activities are ongoing in Nallah Sindh Block 3, 4, and 5 in Ganderbal. Locals told The Kashmiriyat that the absence of concerned authorities and employees in the area has emboldened the perpetrators. "Massive quantities of Bajri and boulders are being extracted and supplied to crushers in the area, causing irreparable damage to the ecosystem," a local told The Kashmiriyat. They said that the contract of mining has already concluded in Block 4, but despite that hundreds of load carrier vehicles are coming in and out of Block 4, which has caused worry among the locals and environmentalists alike. "The illegal mining activities have severe consequences, including environmental degradation, water pol...

Routine and Emergency Operation Theaters at the Maternity and Child Care Hospital (MCCH) in the Sherbagh area, south Kashmir’s Anantnag, were shut down following a water leakage from a tank that caused disruptions and raised serious safety concerns. Doctors at the hospital refused to attend the operating rooms (OTs) after a colleague experienced an electric shock, allegedly caused by water leakage into the facility. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a doctor expressed grave concerns about the hospital's safety standards. "Due to the water tank leakage, electric currents are passing through the operating rooms. We cannot take such a risk," the medico stated. The closure has disrupted critical services, with patients being denied access to surgical procedures in both routin...

A severe cold wave swept through Kashmir, Jammu, and Ladakh on the night between Wednesday and Thursday, with temperatures dipping to extreme lows across the regions. Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, shivered at -4.4°C on the night between Wednesday and Thursday, as the ongoing cold wave tightened its grip on the region. In the Kashmir valley, the coldest spot was Larnoo at a bone-chilling -11.6°C, followed closely by Pahalgam at -10.4°C, Gulmarg at -9.6°C, and Shopian at -9.9°C. Srinagar recorded a minimum of -4.4°C, while Qazigund and Anantnag froze at -6.2°C and -8.4°C, respectively. In Jammu, temperatures remained above freezing in most areas but were notably cold for the region. Jammu city recorded 5.5°C, while Banihal and Batote saw lows of 3.8°C and 3.3...

Danishwar Hameed  A Musk deer was rescued in an injured condition from the Verinag garden area by the Wildlife Department Doru on Wednesday. The animal was discovered by locals in distress, prompting them to inform the authorities. A team from the Wildlife Department Doru swiftly reached the location and rescued the injured deer. Upon inspection, it was found to have sustained injuries, though the exact cause remains under investigation. The Musk deer, a species classified as endangered, was immediately transported to a wildlife rehabilitation center for treatment and further care. The department has assured that efforts will be made to ensure its full recovery. Wildlife officials have urged the public to report any such incidents to help in the protection and conservati...

Sheikh Nadeem Anger and frustration spilled onto the streets of Kokernag as residents staged a protest against the administration over inadequate healthcare facilities and alleged unprofessional conduct by a doctor at the Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Kokernag. The protesters, accusing the Block Medical Officer (BMO) Larnoo and Dr. Iftikar Ahmad of negligence and misbehavior, demanded urgent intervention to address their grievances. The protest was triggered by allegations made by a patient, Suhaib Hussain Khan, who claimed that Dr. Ahmad used foul language during a medical consultation. This incident highlighted the long-standing dissatisfaction of Kokernag residents with the state of healthcare services in the area. Protesters, speaking to The Kashmiriyat, pointed out the la...

A 27-year-old Army jawan, Krishna Kumar Yadav, took his own life in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch on January 4, alleging prolonged harassment and blackmail by a woman and her accomplices. According to his suicide note, Yadav was drugged and filmed in a compromising situation with a woman during a visit to Rajasthan's Jeenmata two years ago. The perpetrators allegedly blackmailed him with the video, extorting over Rs 15 lakh. Yadav's military obligations prevented him from filing a police complaint, leaving him feeling trapped. The police have registered a case against the accused. The family has urged the police to ensure the perpetrators are punished. [KNT]

A fire broke out in Srinagar's Hazratbal area on Wednesday, resulting in damage to at least four residential houses. According to local sources, the fire originated in one house and quickly spread to three neighboring properties. Emergency and Fire Services Department promptly arrived at the scene and successfully controlled the blaze. An official confirmed that two houses, owned by Mehraj Ahmed Shaksaz and Parvez Ahmed Bhat, sustained extensive damage, while two additional houses were partially affected. The official further added that locals and police also helped firefighters in containing the fire. A case has been registered to ascertain the cause of the fire. [KNT]

In a significant breakthrough against drug trafficking, Srinagar police seized 8 kilograms of heroin during a routine checkpoint operation on Tuesday night. Two individuals were arrested in connection with the case, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar, Imtiyaz Hussain, revealed this during a press conference on Wednesday. He said police post Qamarwari had erected a checkpoint near Barthana, where a police team led by Sub Inspector Imtiyaz Ahmad stopped a Sumo vehicle bearing registration number JK05D 1837. “The arrested individuals, identified as Anas Ajaz Awan and Zahid Ahmed Sheikh, both residents of Karnah in Kupwara district, were found in possession of the illicit substance.” SSP said that the value of the seizure in the international market is over Rs 32 crores...

The Railway Board has introduced a specially designed Vande Bharat Express train equipped to tackle Jammu Kashmir's extreme winter conditions. The train is set to operate on the Katra-Srinagar rail route and is currently undergoing inspection by the Commissioner of Railway Safety, officials said. Stationed at the Shakurbasti coaching depot in New Delhi, the train features advanced climate-related technology to ensure smooth operations in sub-zero temperatures. Speaking to the media, Dileep Kumar, Executive Director (Information & Publicity) of the Railway Board, highlighted the unique features, including advanced heating systems to prevent freezing of water and bio-toilet tanks, warm air circulation for the vacuum system and laboratories, and embedded heating elements in the w...