REGIONAL

The drug trade in Kashmir has seen a drastic rise in the Kashmir valley during the past few years. Official figures reveal that drugs worth over 51.62 crores have been recovered from north Kashmir’s Baramulla district alone during the first five months of 2024. As per official figures, accessed by The Kashmiriyat, during the first five months of 2024, drugs, including cash used for drugs, worth 51 crores, 62 lakhs were recovered by Police in the Baramulla district. Police data revealed that a total of 95 cases were registered against 171 persons in drug-related cases—out of which 127 persons were booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, and 44 persons under the PIT NDPS/PSA. A house was also attached by Jammu Kashmir Police in the north Kashmir distri...

As voting wraps up for the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024, exit polls are set to begin this evening. The election results will be announced on June 4. Betting markets across India, from Rajasthan's Phalodi to Kanpur, Mumbai, and beyond, which are one of the most credible in their prediction about poll results, are rife with speculation. Current trends suggest a strong showing for the BJP, though the NDA is expected to face stiff competition. Throughout the election phases, betting markets have consistently favored the BJP, projecting a repeat of their 2019 success. A few markets anticipate Prime Minister Modi's third term, though doubts linger about the BJP achieving its goal of surpassing 400 seats. Predictions, all over the market suggest suggest t...

Jammu Kashmir National Conference on Friday raised objections to the creation of district-level committees, led by deputy commissioners, tasked with identifying land for the establishment of 5-star hotels in the region. Expressing strong disapproval of this development, the party’s State Spokesperson, Imran Nabi Dar, stated that the intentions behind such decisions are questionable until a popularly elected government is in place. "With elections scheduled in the coming months, all these orders should be suspended until an elected government takes office. The NC is committed to reviewing all decisions made after August 5, 2019, if elected later this year. Therefore, any private company or individual considering participating in these offers from the current J&K administration sho...

A youth was stabbed with a sharp-edged weapon at Karan Nagar area of central Kashmir's district Srinagar on Saturday, officials said. An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a youth was attacked with a sharp-edged weapon near Karan Nagar, Srinagar, leaving him critically injured. He added that an 18-year-old person identified as Ahsan Zargar (18), son of Hilal Ahmad Zargar of Zampa Kadal, Chattabal was shifted to SMHS Hospital, Srinagar. Moreover, an official from SMHS confirmed to KNO that the person has been admitted to the hospital and is undergoing treatment in the operation theatre (OT), while his condition was said to be critical. Moreover, police have taken up the investigation—(KNO)

Voting for the four Lok Sabha and six assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh is underway during the seventh and last phase of the Lok Sabha elections. Among the 37 candidates contesting the Lok Sabha elections, Kangana Ranaut, the controversial Bollywood actress known for her staunch support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and frequent clashes with industry peers, is running on the BJP ticket from Mandi. Additionally, 25 candidates are in the fray for the by-polls. As of 11 AM on Saturday, around 32 per cent of votes had been cast in the Lok Sabha elections. In the by-elections for the six assembly seats, the voting percentages varied between 22% and 32%. Specifically, Hamirpur recorded 31.25% voter turnout, Kangra saw 31.29%, Mandi had 33.02%, and Shimla reported 32.22%. In ...

Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Soura has become a cornerstone of healthcare in Jammu and Kashmir. With a capacity of 1,050 beds, the hospital sees an impressive influx of over 4,000 outpatients daily. According to officials, SKIMS plays an integral role in the healthcare infrastructure of the region, serving not only local patients but also a significant number of referrals from various districts across the Kashmir Valley. Data from SKIMS indicates that their outpatient department (OPD) handles over 4,000 patients daily, receiving consultations and treatments from some of the best medical professionals in the valley. Additionally, the emergency unit attends to more than 800 patients each day, with around 250 patients being admitted for either full or short...

With no rains in sight, the Kashmir Valley is all set to breathe a sigh of relief as the weatherman here has predicted no heat wave for the next nine (9) days. The maximum temperature continued to settle above normal across Kashmir on Friday with Srinagar recording 28.0 degree Celsius while Jammu areas continued to witness the intense heat wave conditions. Amidst the forecast of light rainfall till June 02, almost all the stations across Kashmir recorded above normal temperature today. As per the local Meteorological department (MeT), Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, has recorded a maximum temperature of 28.0 degree Celsius. Qazigund, a gate way of Kashmir, was however the hottest in the Valley today at 28.6 degree Celsius while Kokernag recorded a maximum tem...

Approximately 32 percent of men and one percent of women in Jammu and Kashmir consume tobacco, with cigarettes being the predominant product, according to the National Family Health Survey (NHFS-5). Official data obtained by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) indicates that only 1 percent of women aged 15-49 use some form of tobacco. Among men, the most commonly used tobacco products are cigarettes (27%), bidis (4%), hookah, and cigars or pipes (2% each). The use of any form of tobacco is slightly higher in rural areas (1.4% for women and 35% for men) than in urban areas (0.7% for women and 24% for men). Over one-third (35%) of men who smoke cigarettes reported smoking 5 to 9 cigarettes in the past 24 hours. The data further reveals that around 0.2 percent of women in urb...

A 65-year-old man was killed after allegedly being run over by a casspir (vehicle) in Hawal area of central Kashmir’s Srinagar district, eyewitnesses said. They informed GNS that one Abdul Salam (65) came under a police vehicle near Firdous Cinema Hawal, and left with critical injuries. It has been, in the meantime, learnt that the person was removed to SKIMS Soura by a police team, where the doctors declared him as dead on arrival. Confirming it, a senior police officer told GNS that, 'it is an RTA (Road Traffic Accident).' More details awaited. (GNS)

The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Shopian in collaboration with Health, education departments and Government Degree College Shopian today organized a series of programmes to observe ‘World No Tobacco Day’. In this connection, an awareness program with the theme of ‘Protecting Children from Tobacco Industry Interference’ was held at IM Govt. Degree College Shopian in which the participants took pledge for quitting smoking and supporting the anti-tobacco campaign. The main aim of the program was to raise the awareness among students about the health risks caused by the use of tobacco and its impact on the environment. The program was attended by Deputy LADC, Assistant LADC, DLSA Staff, College faculty, PLVs, and Students & NSS Volunteers. Rafia Hassan Khaki, Chairm...