Month: January 2025

Amidst the forecast of wet spell for the next one week, Jammu Kashmir continued to record the deficit rainfall in the month of January with details revealing that a deficiency of 87 per cent was recorded from January 01 to January 29. As per the details available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), against the normal rainfall of 88.2 mm, the region has recorded a precipitation of just 11.5 mm only The highest deficiency of 98 per cent was recorded in Kathua during the period followed by 96 per cent in Shopian district in south Kashmir and 95 per cent in Doda. The data further reveals that Jammu, Kishtwar and Reasi districts in Jammu division saw a deficiency of 94 per cent each in the first 29 days of this year—2025. Kulgam in south Kashmir has also recorded a defici...

Danishwar Hameed A woman pedestrian lost her life in a tragic road accident at the Wanpoh Flyover on Thursday afternoon after being hit by a truck. Officials told The Kashmiriyat the truck, bearing registration number JK03H-8772, struck the woman, inflicting critical injuries. She was immediately shifted to GMC Anantnag, where doctors declared her brought dead. The deceased has been identified as Mubeena Banoo, wife of Mohd Shafi Malik, a resident of Danter, Anantnag. Police have taken cognizance of the incident and initiated an investigation into the circumstances leading to the fatal crash.

A routine gallstone surgery at District Hospital (DH) Shopian took an unexpected turn, leaving the patient’s family raising serious concerns about the hospital’s handling of the procedure. The patient, scheduled for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy on Wednesday morning, was taken into surgery around 11:30 AM after completing all necessary tests. Expecting a minimally invasive operation, her family grew anxious as the procedure extended beyond the anticipated time. According to the family, hospital staff repeatedly assured them that the surgery was proceeding as planned. However, they claim they were not informed that complications had arisen, forcing doctors to abandon the laparoscopic method and switch to an open cholecystectomy. “When they finally told us about the situation...

In a major decision, the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo have approved the long-pending stipend file for Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) interning in the region. This landmark decision, hailed as a breakthrough, brings an end to years of struggle and advocacy by FMGs and their supporters, marking a new chapter in the region's healthcare sector The approval follows years of relentless efforts by FMGs to secure fair stipends for their work in the healthcare system, a foreign medical intern told The Kashmiriyat. "The Kashmiriyat was instrumental in initially carrying the issue to the forefront. When nobody spoke or acknowledged our issue, it was The Kashmiriyat, who engaged with various officials, highlighting our grievances and pushin...

Residents of several villages in central Kashmir’s Budgam district staged protests against the installation of smart electricity meters, citing concerns over high power bills and financial strain. One of the major demonstrations took place in Chek-i-Kawoosa village, where a large number of women blocked the road in opposition to the new metering system. Raising slogans, the protestors demanded a rollback of the smart meter installation, arguing that it would significantly increase their electricity bills and worsen their financial condition. “We are already struggling to make ends meet, and these smart meters will only add to our burden,” said a protesting woman in Chek-i-Kawoosa. “The electricity bills are bound to go up, and we won’t be able to afford them. How will we manage ou...

Shah Basit A recent water quality assessment has revealed alarming contamination in multiple natural springs across Ganderbal and Srinagar, with bacteriological tests confirming them as unfit for human consumption. Following a large-scale sampling drive conducted by the Jal Shakti Department, 37 out of 40 tested springs were found contaminated, prompting authorities to issue a public advisory. Residents have been urged to refrain from consuming water from these sources and instead rely on tap water until further notice. The department has also recommended prolonged boiling for those who must use spring water. Meanwhile, officials have been instructed to ensure the supply of safe drinking water to the affected areas Experts have linked the contamination to reduced precipit...

Days after forest department flagged the Pahalgam to Baisaran gandola project, the central government has announced plans to establish another ropeway connectivity at Pahalgam along with 18 major religious and tourist destinations across India. This ropeway aims at connecting Baltal to the Amarnath shrine in Jammu Kashmir. According to the Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the government is seeking proposals from consultants to prepare detailed project reports (DPRs) for these developments. The proposed 11.6-kilometre ropeway will link Baltal with the Amarnath shrine, aiming to improve accessibility and provide a convenient travel option for visitors. Currently, pilgrims undertake a lengthy trek from Baltal or Pahalgam or rely on helicopter rides, which may not always be available. ...

Danishwar Hameed  At least 35 cases of jaundice have been reported in Kulgam district, with 10 cases detected in Khahgund area of Kulgam and 25 in Gutligund, which falls under the jurisdiction of CMO Anantnag. As per officials who spoke to The Kashmiriyat, the outbreak has prompted health authorities to launch an investigation. Following directions from Director Health Services Dr. Jahangir Bakhshi, a team from the State Surveillance Unit, IDSP Kashmir, led by Dr. Samina Gul (SSO Kashmir), visited Khahgund on January 29, 2025. The affected areas primarily rely on the Gutligund reservoir for their water supply. Under the supervision of CMO Kulgam, Dr. Shawkat Hussain, the District and Block Rapid Response Teams are actively monitoring the situation. Meanwhile, CMO Anantnag...