REGIONAL

A massive fire broke out in the Palpora area of Noorbagh in central Kashmir's Srinagar on Monday morning. An official told news agency JKNS that the fire started from a residential structure in the Rakh Colony area of Palpora Noorbagh.  Around 4-5 structures are engulfed in flames, while teams from the Fire and Emergency Services have rushed to the spot and are trying to douse the fire, official said. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, and further details are awaited.— (JKNS)

Sheikh Nadeem A Heartfelt Initiative for Health and Well-being in Gund Darvesh Shopian, Feb 09: In a beautiful display of community spirit and compassion, We The Kashmir Foundation, in collaboration with Smile Foundation Srinagar, organized a Free Medical and Health Check-up Camp in the remote area of Gund Darvesh, located in the Shopian district. This initiative aimed to provide essential healthcare services to those who often face challenges in accessing medical facilities. The camp was set up to offer free consultations, health screenings, and medications to the local community, ensuring that everyone had the opportunity to receive the care they needed. The event witnessed an overwhelming turnout, with families from far and wide gathering to avail themselves of the services provide...

A non-local youth who last year embraced Islam has testified in court that he converted of his own free will and without any pressure or coercion. His statement comes after police registered a case against a religious cleric under allegations of unlawful conversion. The case, filed under FIR number 55/2024, was registered at Nigeen Police Station under Sections 188, 153, and 153A of the Indian Penal Code. The accused, religious cleric Kamal Farooqi, had been booked on the insistence of the Jammu & Kashmir Wakaf Board after he publicly announced the conversion at the Hazratbal Shrine. Subsequently, the Board removed him from his position. Appearing before the Judicial Magistrate Incharge 1st Additional Munsif, the convert, now known as Muhammad Abdullah, son of the late Radhe S...

Danishwar Hameed  A 23-year-old youth, Naseer Ahmad Dar, son of Nasir Ahmad Dar, was found unconscious at his home in Kulgam district and was rushed to the hospital, where doctors declared him "brought dead. Authorities have conducted a post-mortem examination, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of death. "The incident has left the local community in shock as they await further details from the ongoing inquiry," officials told The Kashmiriyat.

Rayees Shah The air in Sonamarg’s bustling market still reeks of smoke, the charred remains of once-thriving businesses, standing as silent witnesses to a devastating fire that consumed nearly 40 shops on Saturday evening. For many, it was more than just their source of income, it was their entire world reduced to ashes in hours. Among them is Ghulam Rasool Mir, a 62-year-old shopkeeper who had spent decades selling winter gear to travelers. His grocery shop, a small wooden structure passed down from his father, is now nothing but blackened debris. "I watched my life’s work burn down in front of me, and I could do nothing," Mir said, his voice trembling. "It was not just my shop, it was my home, my only livelihood." The fire broke out late in the evening, swiftly engulfi...

Shah Basit For the first time in history, Zojila Pass, a key link between Kashmir and Ladakh at 11,575 feet, has remained open through February despite harsh winter conditions and a significant precipitation deficit. Jammu Kashmir recorded an 87% shortfall in January 2025, following 2024, which was the driest year in five decades with a 29% rainfall deficit. The achievement is credited to the efforts of the local administration, BRO, and the Indian Army, who have worked in extreme subzero temperatures to keep the pass operational. Essential for military logistics, trade, and civilian movement, Zojila Pass remains crucial despite the upcoming Zojila Tunnel. The newly developed Z-Morh Tunnel has also improved winter accessibility to Sonamarg. Workers continue to battle high...

Authorities have extended by two more months the ban on the sale, possession and consumption of liquor and non-vegetarian food in Katra, the base camp for pilgrims visiting Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu Kashmir’s Reasi district, officials said on Sunday. The prohibition will be enforced on the 12-km track from Katra to the holy cave on the Trikuta hill and adjoining areas, they said and added that the order would remain in force for two months from the date of its issuance, unless revoked earlier. Katra sub-divisional magistrate Piyush Dhotra has prohibited the sale, possession and consumption of liquor and non-vegetarian food, under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, the officials said. Besides the track, the prohibition would be applicable in villages wit...

Advocate Nikhil Padha, founder of the Organization for Human Rights & Harmony (OHRH), has filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), seeking intervention in the recent deaths of two civilians in Jammu Kashmir. The complaint alleges that 25-year-old Makhan Din from Kathua and 32-year-old Waseem Ahmad Mir from Sopore lost their lives due to actions by security forces, raising serious concerns about human rights violations. “These incidents are a blatant violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms,” Padha stated, demanding “a transparent and independent investigation into both cases to ensure justice is served and accountability is upheld.” The complaint calls on the NHRC to take immediate cognizance and issue directives, including “a judicial probe ...

A court in Srinagar has sentenced an individual caught for public drunkenness to three days of community service instead of imposing a traditional penalty. The accused, Mohammad Shafi Najar, a resident of Srinagar, was found intoxicated and creating a public nuisance in violation of Section 355 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). After reviewing the case, the court directed him to perform cleanliness and hygiene-related community service at public spaces in Bhagat Barzulla for three days. As per the order, Najar must report his daily activities to the local Mohalla president and the concerned Station House Officer (SHO), who will submit a compliance report to the court. Srinagar police welcomed the ruling, stating that the new criminal laws emphasize corrective over punitive ...