REGIONAL

The Jammu Kashmir administration has paced the preparations for the annual Amarnath Yatra, which will run from June 29 to August 19. Officials said that along with the Jammu Kashmir administration, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has nearly completed snow removal on the Baltal-Dumel track, with ongoing work progressing rapidly. Numerous laborers and large snow cutters are actively clearing the route. Areas with lingering snow are being cleared, and paths blocked by stones are being reopened, they said. As per officials, currently, there is about 5 to 7 feet of snow on both paths leading to the cave. "Online helicopter bookings for the yatra will open on June 1, with the rates to be announced shortly by the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board." Project Beacon officers of the BRO have...

Justice Atul Sreedharan of the Jammu Kashmir High Court criticized the use of "copy-paste" arguments by the government in opposing bail for individuals accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA),reported Bar and Bench. In a ruling on April 19, Justice Sreedharan observed that general claims about national security, radical Islamism, and allegiance to Pakistan are often used instead of specific evidence against the accused. These broad arguments, he noted, are frequently made to influence the court psychologically rather than provide concrete evidence. Justice Sreedharan emphasized that such generalized allegations cannot be the sole basis for denying bail when no specific material implicates the accused. In this particular case, the accused, initially arrested i...

With soaring temperatures disrupting life in the plains, Kashmir is experiencing an unprecedented surge in tourism, marked by a notable increase in foreign arrivals. Hotels, houseboats, and homestays are fully booked, highlighting Kashmir’s growing popularity among travelers. A senior tourism official reported that over a million tourists had arrived by mid-May, surpassing 2023’s numbers and setting the stage for a record-breaking year. Media reports indicate that over 12.5 lakh tourists have visited Kashmir so far, and if the current trend continues, 2024 is likely to break all previous records. In addition to traditional spots, offbeat destinations such as Daksum, Doodhpathri, and Keran are attracting significant numbers of visitors. The region is currently receiving a high volume ...

The Screening Committee reconstituted by J-K administration for provisionally registered Kashmiri Migrants should initiate the process for their registration regularly without any further delay, Senior Kashmiri leader Mohammed Yusuf Tarigami has said. In a press release, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) said, these families whose number is stated to be 1400 have been facing severe hardships for almost a year since their relief and ration were stopped. A delegation of these migrants recently met MY Tarigami and narrated the pathetic condition they have undergone during this period and are even unable to feed their families in absence of payment of relief. "Even violence hit and victim families included under provisionally registered migrants have also been denied the payment ...

A bomb threat call targeting Vistara flight UK611, arriving from New Delhi, prompted immediate action by airport authorities at Srinagar International Airport. The incident unfolded when Air Traffic Control (ATC) Srinagar received a threatening call, sparking a swift and coordinated response from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). A top official told Srinagar based news agency Kashmir Dot Com that following established safety protocols, the CISF quickly evacuated the aircraft and conducted a thorough search of the plane and its surroundings. Passengers and crew members were escorted to a secure area while the investigation was underway. Bomb disposal squads and sniffer dogs were deployed to meticulously inspect the aircraft for any suspicious items. After an exhaustive ...

The government forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in Jammu Kashmir’s Poonch district on Friday following reports of suspected militant movement, officials said. They reported intelligence inputs indicating suspicious activity in the Dera Ki Gali-Bafliaz area of the district. Sources revealed that around three armed men were spotted in the area, leading to a brief exchange of fire between the suspected militants and government force personnel. A senior police officer confirmed that the entire region around the identified location has been cordoned off and the search operation is underway.

The Northern Railway has issued a letter to all Principal Heads of Departments (PHODs), asking them to appoint junior administrative officers in the Kashmir Valley in another ten days for a smooth takeover from a construction firm that is done building a key railway section. “Train service in Sangaldan-Srinagar-Baramulla section is functional and shortly section between Sangaldan-SVDK (Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra) is likely to be commissioned thereby connecting Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country,” a letter dated May 29, 2024 of the General Manager of the Northern Railways, said. It added, “As such, it is very essential that competent officers are posted at Srinagar/Budgam to look after the operation and maintenance of the section and ensure smooth taking over of the section...

Cat bite cases have been on the rise in the Kashmir division in recent years, similar to the increase in dog bite incidents. According to data obtained by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) from the anti-rabies clinic at SMHS Hospital, approximately 2,824 cat bite cases have been reported. Between April 2023 and March 2024, the Anti Rabies Clinic (ARC) at SMHS Hospital documented 8,652 bite cases. These included 5,386 dog bite cases, 2,844 cat bite cases, 27 monkey bite cases, 95 cow bite cases, 14 bear bite cases, 12 wild boar bite cases, and 294 other bite cases involving leopards, jackals, eagles, and more. Dr Mohammad Salim Khan, head of the Department of Community Medicine at GMC Srinagar, said that cats can transmit rabies just like dogs, and cat bite cases have bee...

At least 21 persons were killed and 69 injured after a bus with pilgrims onboard fell into a deep gorge in Chungi Morh area of Akhnoor in Jammu district on Thursday afternoon, officials said. An official told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the bus was on way from Hathras in Uttar Pradesh to Shiv Khori area of Reasi district when it met with an accident. He said that the bus fell around 200 meters into a deep gorge, following which a rescue operation was launched and injured persons were evacuated to hospital. Block Medical Officer Akhnoor, Muhammad Saleem Khan told KNO that 21 were brought dead to hospital and around 69 were injured. “The critically injured have been referred to GMC Jammu for specialized treatment,” he said. Meanwhile, President Droupadi Murmu exp...

Seven persons lost their lives while dozens were injured after a bus rolled down in a deep gorge in Chungi Marh area of Akhnoor in Jammu district this afternoon, officials said. Reliable sources told news agency Kashmir Scroll that bus bearing registration number UP 81CT-4058 rolled down a deep gorge near Chungi Morh on Jammu-Poonch highway In the incident seven persons lost their lives while at least 28 were injured who have been hospitalized, they said.(KS) Further details awaited.