REGIONAL

The High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh has directed the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to reduce toll charges across the Union Territory, citing unjustifiably high fees at several toll plazas. The court has given the ministry a deadline of four months to revise and lower the toll rates, ensuring that the public is not overburdened. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice M.A. Chowdhary ruled that toll collection at Lakhanpur and Bann plazas must be slashed to 20% of pre-January 26, 2024, rates until the Lakhanpur-Udhampur section of the national highway is fully operational. The directive came in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking exemption from toll charges along the Jammu-Pathankot Highway until the Delhi-Amritsa...

The much-awaited rainfall, since Tuesday afternoon, has brought relief and joy to Kashmiris across sections. With the winter months recording an alarming 87% rainfall deficit, this spell of precipitation comes as a blessing, replenishing water sources and easing concerns over a looming drought. Srinagar received 7.8 mm of rain, while Qazigund recorded 12.2 mm. Pahalgam saw 20.8 mm, and Gulmarg, blanketed in fresh snow, recorded 33.0 mm of precipitation, translating into 33.0 cm of snowfall. Kupwara received 20.3 mm of rain with 1.5 cm of snow, while Sopore and Bandipora witnessed 32.0 mm and 26.5 mm of rain, respectively. Nowgam Handwara recorded the highest rainfall in the valley at 36.4 mm. The rains extended across south Kashmir, where Anantnag received 3.0 mm, Kokernag 6.4 ...

Patients in north Kashmir feel they are back to square one as Government Medical College (GMC) Baramulla has been functioning without a cardiologist for the past few months. Several patients suffering from cardiovascular issues, who had been receiving treatment at GMC Baramulla for the last two years, told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the absence of a cardiologist has left them in distress. They are now forced to travel to Srinagar once again for treatment, reversing the relief they had experienced. "For two years, we had access to cardiac care at GMC Baramulla, which was a huge relief. Now, in the absence of a cardiologist, we are back to struggling with long and exhausting trips to Srinagar," said Abdul Rashid, a cardiac patient from Baramulla. He added that ...

Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has questioned the long-standing narrative that Article 370 was merely "temporary and transitional," arguing that its nature was tied to a broader political commitment—the pledge of a plebiscite to the people of Jammu Kashmir. In a televised interview on February 25, 2025, Abdullah challenged the selective interpretation of Article 370’s status. "You call Article 370 temporary and transitional. But why was it temporary? What was it transitioning towards? Why don’t you talk about that? A promise of plebiscite was made to the people of J-K," he asserted. Article 370 had granted Jammu and Kashmir special status, allowing it to have its own constitution and autonomy in all matters except defense, foreign affairs, finance, and communications. ...

Jammu Kashmir Police have arrested two individuals in separate operations in Srinagar and Kulgam, recovering significant quantities of contraband substances from their possession. A police spokesperson said that in Srinagar, a team from the CKR office, along with officers from Police Station Shalteng, intercepted a vehicle (CH01M-9496) at a checkpoint at Narbal Sozieth Bund. "The driver attempted to flee but was apprehended by the alert police party. Upon searching the vehicle, 910 grams of a heroin-like substance was recovered. The accused, identified as Ishtiaq Ahmed Khowaja, a resident of Dildar Karnah, Kupwara, was arrested, and the vehicle used in the crime was seized," the spokesperson said. In a separate operation in Kulgam, police intercepted a suspicious individual carryi...

Chief Executive Officer, Srinagar Smart City, Owais Ahmad on Tuesday said the authorities are exploring possibility of introducing e-bus services in Bandipora, Kupwara, and parts of north Kashmir. In an exclusive conversation with news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), he said the demand has been high, and revenue generation has been promising, thanks to passengers ensuring proper ticketing while traveling. "We are motivated to expand the service to other districts as well. Recently, there has been a demand from north Kashmir, particularly Kupwara and Bandipora, and we are hopeful that in the coming times, smart buses will operate in these areas," he said. He further said the distance to these districts is manageable for e-buses, and if charging infrastructure is required, it ca...

Shah Basit  Large cracks have appeared on the road running along the Jhelum River in Sheikh Mohallah area of Hajin town of north Kashmir's Bandipora district, causing panic among residents. The damage, which had been developing over the past few days, worsened on Monday night, with cracks widening to over four inches. Concerned locals fear the road could collapse if urgent repairs are not carried out. "People are scared to walk or drive on this road now. If the cracks keep spreading, it could be disastrous, especially since the river flows right next to it," said Bilal Ahmad, a shopkeeper in Hajin. Another resident, Shabir Hussain, said the situation is making daily life difficult. "This is the main road we use to get to work and school. If it collapses, it will cut us off c...

Kashmiri legislator Dr. Bashir Ahmad Veeri has announced plans to introduce two crucial legislative proposals in the Jammu Kashmir assembly. Dr. Veeri, who represents the Bijbehara assembly segment in Anantnag, said that one bill aims to cap reservation quotas at 40 per cent for reserved categories and 60 per cent for open merit and the other bill is focused on the preservation and protection of the Jhelum River. Speaking to The Kashmiriyat, Dr. Veeri emphasized that the reservation bill aims to strike a balance between social justice and merit, addressing concerns that have fueled protests across Jammu Kashmir. In recent years, general category candidates have accused the system of favoring reserved categories, particularly in government job appointments. While some claim that...

A 21-year-old man accused of killing his coworker at a powerloom factory in Maharashtra’s Thane district has been arrested from south Kashmir’s Anantnag, police said on Tuesday. The accused, Sabir Rahamtullah Ansari, a resident of Bihar’s East Champaran, allegedly robbed and fatally attacked Neeraj Kumar Gopinath Vishwakarma (40) from Uttar Pradesh on February 4 before fleeing. The victim later succumbed to his injuries on February 18. Police launched a manhunt, tracking Ansari’s movements from Maharashtra to Delhi and later to Jammu Kashmir. Technical surveillance and coordination with J&K Police led to his arrest from a bakery in Anantnag’s Lal Chowk on Sunday. The police recovered a stolen mobile phone and ₹29,000 in cash from the accused, who has now been taken back ...

Jammu Kashmir is set to experience a spell of heavy snowfall in higher reaches and rainfall in the plains as a fresh western disturbance becomes active over the region, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted. According to the IMD, the weather system will remain in effect from Tuesday to Friday (February 25-28), bringing significant changes in weather patterns across Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The Meteorological Center in Srinagar has issued a yellow watch—advising people to stay updated—due to the likelihood of adverse weather conditions in several areas. Officials have warned that heavy snowfall may impact connectivity in key routes, including Sadhna Pass, Razdan Pass, Sonmarg-Zojila-Gumri, Mughal Road, and Sinthan Pass. Authorities also anticipate possible ...