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Shabir Ali A video purportedly showing a fleet of SUVs driving through green pastures somewhere in central Kashmir has sparked widespread outrage on social media, with many accusing the creators of environmental vandalism and glamorising education for publicity. The video, believed to be linked to a promotional shoot for PW’s Toofan, an educational trailer resembling a high-budget action film, shows multiple black vehicles moving across grassy fields, leaving behind visible tyre marks. Viewers online described it as an “assault on Kashmir’s fragile ecology,” questioning how such activity was permitted in what appears to be a meadow or forest area. “PW’s Toofan trailer looks more like a Bollywood action flick — black SUVs and crushed green fields. When did teaching turn into a show...

A political storm has erupted in Jammu and Kashmir following Friday’s Rajya Sabha elections, as suspicions of cross-voting and invalid ballots have cast a shadow over the results. While the National Conference (NC) secured a sweeping victory by winning three of the four seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) managed to clinch one seat—reportedly with support from four independent MLAs, raising serious questions about political loyalties within the newly elected Assembly. According to official results, NC’s Chowdary Mohammad Ramzan, Sajad Ahmad Kitchloo, and Sammi Oberoi won their seats comfortably. The fourth seat, however, went to BJP’s Sat Sharma, who defeated NC’s Imran Nabi Dar in a close contest. All 86 legislators cast their votes in the election, including incarcerated Dod...

Jammu Kashmir is witnessing a growing demand for mental health services, as more people come forward to seek treatment amid rising psychological challenges. Official data shows that Government Medical College (GMC), Anantnag, treated over 2.7 lakh patients with mental health issues in the past five years. At the same time, the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS), GMC Srinagar, catered to nearly two lakh patients last year, including those dealing with general mental health concerns and substance-use disorders. Dr Yasir Rather, Professor at IMHANS, said, “These numbers reflect the urgent need for accessible, affordable, and stigma-free care in the region. Mental health services must not be a privilege of peace, but a necessity in times of crisis.” He added that in Kash...

Ancient DNA analysis of human remains from the Burzahom archaeological site in Kashmir has revealed that the valley has been home to continuous human habitation and maternal lineages for over 7,000 years. The study, conducted by researchers from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences and collaborating institutions, shows that Neolithic populations in the region are genetically linked to modern Kashmiris, while also highlighting connections to Central Asia and other regions. Burzahom, one of the earliest Neolithic sites in the Kashmir Valley, has long been recognized for its rich cultural and archaeological record, spanning from the Neolithic to the medieval period. Located at 34°10'N and 74°52'E, the site lies between the Himalayas and the Pir Panjal range. Excavations began...

A video showing social media content creators driving vehicles across lush green pastures in Budgam district has sparked widespread outrage online, with netizens calling for strict action against what they termed a “brazen act of ecological vandalism.” The video, reportedly shot on the route from Ashtaar to Breinwar, shows a convoy of vehicles, believed to belong to a local influencer group, trampling the fragile meadows and disturbing the natural landscape. Many social media users tagged the local administration and forest officials, questioning how such activity was permitted in an ecologically sensitive zone. “Can someone ask @Imadclicks which trial did he follow that leads to Ashtaar from Breinwar without trampling the green meadows with their monster vehicles? Also, why did f...

Jammu Kashmir has seen a steady increase in cancer cases post 2018, highlighting the growing need for specialized treatment facilities in the region. According to the Minister of Health and Medical Education, Jammu and Kashmir recorded 64,463 cancer cases between 2018 and 2024, with 50,551 cases from Kashmir and 13,912 from Jammu. Looking at earlier years, studies conducted at a tertiary care center in Srinagar show a gradual increase in cancer incidence between 2012 and 2014, particularly among women, with breast cancer cases rising sharply nationwide during this period. From 2015 to 2018, the number of cancer patients in Kashmir was 1,371 over the four years. According to a study conducted at a tertiary care center in Srinagar, the number of cancer patients recorded annually was 2...

India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) underwent a sweeping revision this week, aimed at simplifying the tax structure and easing costs for consumers. The government has reduced rates on several essential items and household products, while increasing taxes on certain goods and services. Experts, however, warn that despite headline reductions, hidden costs and uneven implementation could offset the benefits. According to the revised rates, staples like dairy products, packaged foods, bicycles, and certain household appliances have seen reductions in GST, with rates falling from 12% to 5% or from 28% to 18% in some cases. Fertilizers and agricultural inputs have also been made cheaper, aiming to reduce the burden on farmers. Conversely, other household items, tobacco, alcoholic beverages, ...

The Food Safety Department of Jammu Kashmir has confirmed that several meat samples seized during recent raids in Kashmir were unsafe for human consumption, with laboratory reports detecting harmful synthetic colouring agents. According to official data, claimed to have been accessed by ETV Bharat, tests conducted at two national-level laboratories, the National Food Laboratory, Ghaziabad, and the FICCI Research and Analysis Centre (FRAC), New Delhi declared four meat and meat product samples unsafe. The samples contained carmoisine, tartrazine, and erythrosine, all banned synthetic additives under the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011, due to their severe health risks. The carcinogenic potential of these additives has been documented in multiple scientific studies. In t...

Meer Irfan Kashmir’s bumper apple harvest has run into a crippling transport crisis, with thousands of truckloads stuck on a broken highway and the railways offering a service too small to matter. Growers and traders say losses have already crossed ₹1,000 crore and could spiral further if the situation drags on. Kashmir produces around 20 lakh tons of apples annually, with nearly 16 lakh tons sent to markets outside. But the new Budgam–Delhi parcel train flagged off on September 13 can carry just 23–24 tons a day—barely a truckload. At this rate, it would take 190 years to clear one season’s crop. Meanwhile, the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway (NH44), the region’s main road link, has remained blocked for large vehicles since August 25 after landslides washed away stretches in Udha...

In what locals described as one of the largest religious gatherings in recent years, tens of thousands of people thronged Anantnag town on Saturday to mark Eid Milad-un-Nabi ﷺ, the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The rally began at 9:30 a.m. from the Khanqah of Hazrat Baba Hyder Reshi and wound its way through the old bazaars and the KP Road before concluding at Jamia Masjid Anantnag, where a sea of people assembled for prayers. Eyewitnesses estimated that more than 35,000 people participated, including women, children, and the elderly. The historic procession, first initiated by Qazi Ghulam Mohammed in the early 1950s, has since become a tradition and continues to draw people from across Kashmir. Religious organizations including Idara Tehqiqat-e-Islami, Sout-ul-Awli...