REGIONAL

Danishwar Hameed A devastating fire broke out at the Government Middle School in Samnoo, Kulgam, completely destroying the building. Locals told The Kashmiriyat that the fire, which started early in the evening, quickly spread across the structure, causing extensive damage. Fire and Emergency Services, along with local residents, rushed to the scene and worked tirelessly to contain the blaze, but despite their efforts, the school building was gutted. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, and authorities are conducting an investigation. Local officials have expressed their concern over the destruction, stating that the loss of the school building is a major setback for the community, especially for the students and staff who relied on the facility for their education...

A Thar Jeep accidentally fell into the Dal Lake along Fore Shore Road in Srinagar on Monday. Fortunately, there were no occupants in the vehicle at the time of the accident. Eyewitnesses told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that the driver had parked the Thar on the roadside when it suddenly rolled backward and glided into the lake before flipping upside down. “It seems that the vehicle was not securely locked,” said an eyewitness. The police have taken cognizance of the matter. [KNT]

A budgam man has arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Police in Kashmir's Budgam after allegedly being on the run for 31 years, CNN News 18 reported. Nazir Ahmed Wani, as per UP police, is linked to two incidents from 1993 and 1994 in Saharanpur, where he allegedly threw a grenade at a police party, injuring several officers. He is also accused of forging a fake identity card under the directions of Hizbul Mujahideen. Wani had been previously arrested and later bailed in connection with the grenade attack. However, a chargesheet was filed against him in absentia for the forgery case, leading to the issuance of a warrant by the Chief Judicial Magistrate's court. Notably, Wani had contested the Jammu Kashmir Assembly elections from Budgam as an independent candidate. His arrest wa...

In a significant crackdown on drug trafficking, the Anantnag Police have attached properties worth ₹1.5 crore under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. This move is part of an ongoing campaign against drug peddlers in the region. In one instance, Police Station Mattan seized a single-story residential house worth ₹80 lakh belonging to Afroz Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Azam Khan Mohalla, Khreibal. According to officials, Bhat is a habitual offender with multiple NDPS cases linked to his role in the illegal narcotics trade. Similarly, Police Station Srigufwara attached three commercial shops valued at ₹70 lakh. These properties are owned by Peer Asif Ahmad Shah and Peer Towseef Ahmad Shah, residents of K Kalan, Srigufwara. Both individuals are under invest...

Shah Basit In a blatant violations of ban imposed by Government and high court, tippers ferry material extracted in Sheikh Zoo and Badampora areas of Ganderbal district in central Kashmir. Locals told The Kashmiriyat that these toppers are loading the material above their capacity and are not following the rules mentioned in permission, issued by the concerned district mineral officer. As per the permission issued by DMO Ganderbal for lifting of soil for development work, in which it's clearly mentioned, the permit holder shall ensure that the material loaded in vehicles does not exceed their allotted carrying capacity and shall cover the loaded carriers with tarpaulin. "The material falls on road and comes into contact with air due to continuous movement of vehicles, thus comm...

The Meteorological Centre Srinagar has forecast light snow over higher reaches of Jammu Kashmir on November 24, marking the first significant weather activity of the season. This snowfall, accompanied by light rain in scattered areas of the Kashmir Division and isolated parts of the Jammu Division, is expected to begin late on November 23 and continue into the morning of November 24. Ahead of this, the region will experience dry weather until November 23, providing some relief to residents. After November 24, a prolonged dry spell is predicted to last until the end of the month, with no major weather disturbances anticipated. Additionally, a dip in minimum temperatures by 1-2°C is expected in several areas, intensifying the winter chill during mornings and nights. Travelers hea...

The government forces on Monday arrested a militant in the Tral area of south Kashmir's Pulwama district. According to an official statement provided to Kashmir News Observer (KNO), security forces launched a search operation in the orchards of Pinglish village following intelligence about the presence of a militant. During the operation, a militant associated with Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) was apprehended, and a pistol along with ammunition was recovered from his possession. The arrested individual has been identified as Irshad Ahmad Chopan, a resident of Lurgam, Tral. Police officials stated that Chopan was involved in several criminal activities, including the attack on a non-local laborer in Tral last month. The official added that further investigations are underway. (KNO)

A recent road accident in Srinagar’s Tengpora area has raised concerns about the reliability of Mahindra vehicles’ airbag systems. Recently, a Mahindra Thar (JK01AV-4477) collided with a stationary dump truck that was improperly parked along the roadside. Preliminary investigation revealed that the driver was speeding and attempted to overtake, resulting in the accident. The incident has brought attention to the airbag deployment issue, as initial observations suggest that the airbags did not deploy during the collision. This is not the first time Mahindra has faced criticism over airbag deployment. In a previous incident involving a Scorpio, the company clarified that the variant was equipped with airbags, but the accident was a rollover crash, which wouldn’t trigger frontal airbag ...

The Cyber Police Kashmir has issued a public alert about a fraudulent J&K Bank application being circulated through WhatsApp. The fake APK file, potentially embedded with malware or spyware, poses a significant risk to users' personal data and device security, Cyber Police said in a statement. In the alert, the authorities urged people not to download or install applications from unofficial sources, emphasizing the importance of using only trusted platforms like Google Play Store or Apple App Store. "Users are advised to verify app authenticity through J&K Bank's official website or customer support channels," read the statement. The advisory also stressed the need for keeping operating systems and antivirus software updated to safeguard devices against cyber threats. ...

Prof. Abdul Wahid Qureshi, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Kashmir, passed away on Sunday due to a cardiac arrest at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Soura, news agency KINS reported. He was a prominent academician and a highly respected figure in the education sector of Jammu Kashmir. Prof. Qureshi had a long and illustrious career dedicated to education and academia. As the Vice Chancellor of the University of Kashmir, he played a pivotal role in shaping the institution’s academic policies and fostering an environment of excellence. His tenure is remembered for significant contributions to the university’s growth and development. The news of his demise has left the academic and intellectual community of Kashmir in profound grief. Tributes...