REGIONAL

Kashmir recently experienced a shortage of rainfall, leading to hot and humid conditions, leading to the persistent water scarcity crisis in many areas across the valley including the Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. The officials here told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the reduced rainfall has resulted in a deficit in water supply. They said the areas under the water supply scheme Shrakwara in Kreeri, located about 15 kilometres from Sopore town, are currently facing severe water shortages. However, officials are optimistic about the resolution of the crisis with the implementation of the AMRUT-2 scheme. A senior official from the Jal Shakti Department told KNO that the town's water scarcity issue would soon be resolved through the AMRUT-2 scheme...

Police in north Kashmir's Baramulla district on Wednesday claimed to have arrested one wanted lady drug peddler in the district. An official told News Agency Kashmir Scroll that police have arrested one notorious and wanted lady drug peddler and recovered contraband substances from her possession. The officer said the following: Police Station Boniyar raided one residential house in Trikanjan. During the search, 60 grams of contraband heroin-like substances were recovered from the possession of one lady, identified as Farhat Begum of Trikanjan. The officer said that she had been arrested and shifted to police station Boniyar, where she remains in custody. The officer further said that a case under relevant sections of law has been registered, and further investigation has be...

A government professor from Anantnag died after he suffered cardiac arrest on Tuesday afternoon. Locals told The Kashmiriyat that Dr. Fayaz Ahmed Shah, a resident of Aishmuqam suffered a cardiac arrest after which he was rushed to the Anantnag district hospital. He breathed his last at the hospital, they said, "after this his family was called to the hospital and the body was handed over to them by the hospital authorities." Dr Fayaz Shah was an assistant professor of Botany posted at  at the Degree college of Anantnag. His death has brought grief to his students and neighbours equally. His colleagues have also expressed grief over the untimely demise of Dr. Fayaz Ahmed Shah.

Under the influence of an active Western Disturbance, widespread rain/snow is expected in Jammu Kashmir between Thursday and Friday, Kashmir Weather reported. As per the independent weather forecaster, the spell is expected to begin from Thursday afternoon, starting from higher reaches, and then extending into plains by evening. There is a possibility of snowfall in Shopian plains (50 - 60% chance). Also, snowfall in surrounding plains can't be ruled out. Snowfall is also expected in elevations above 2000 m. Snowfall isn't expected in Srinagar as per the current conditions. "The Forecast is in the monitoring stage and can change in the next 24 hrs. Early Forecast has been issued just to warn farmers regarding the upcoming event," Kashmir Weather reported. Persistence of a...

The route leading to the sacred Amarnath cave in Jammu and Kashmir, situated at an elevation of about 3,888 meters above sea level, has been made accessible for vehicular travel. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), entrusted with the maintenance of the roads leading to the cave, has successfully extended the route all the way to the shrine, covering the road from Dumail to the cave through the Baltal base camp in District Ganderbal. This ambitious endeavor is part of the BRO's 'Project Beacon,' with the Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA) overseeing the maintenance of the Pahalgam road in Anantnag district, and the Public Works Department (PWD) of the J-K government managing the Baltal route in the Ganderbal district. The road extension holds the promise of greater convenience a...

At least 3 residential houses were gutted in a massive fire that broke out in Alochi Bagh area of Srinagar late last night, officials said on Tuesday. An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that fire broke out due to short-circuit in one of the houses. He said that soon after the incident fire tenders reached to the spot to douse off the flames, however, by then the houses had suffered extensive damage. The official said that there was no loss of life reported in the incident—(KNO)

A tourist vehicle carrying a group of tourists experienced a hand brake failure, resulting in the vehicle skidding and overturning in Gulmarg health resort in north Kashmir's Baramulla district. Reports reaching News Agency Kashmir Scroll that in the incident, none of the tourists sustained serious injuries during the incident. Reports further added that quick and efficient response by authorities ensured the immediate evacuation of all the tourists from the scene. They were promptly transported to the Primary Health Center in Gulmarg for a thorough medical checkup. An official also confirmed to News Agency Kashmir Scroll that all the tourists are safe and had also gone through medical checkup. (KS)

For the past three days, the people of Khandbawan area of Nawakadal here have been reeling under darkness as the transformer in their area has got damaged, causing immense hardships to the inhabitants. The residents said that such a situation has caused frustration and inconvenience for them. Local shop owners, students, and families, who spoke to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said they have been facing immense hardships from the last three days, adding that the students are finding it hard to study in the evening hours while the shopkeepers close down their shutters early due to non-availability of electricity. Amir Bashir, a resident, said, “We are hopeful that the electricity will be restored soon. We are requesting the authorities to kindly look into the matter and re...

The weatherman here on Monday asked the farmers to suspend their farm operations, predicting light rains and snowfall on November 09. According to the details shared by the Director Meteorological department (MeT), Dr Mukhat Ahmad, the weather would remain mainly dry from November 07-November 15. However, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), he said that there is a possibility of light rains over plains and light snow over the higher reaches including Razdan Pass, Sadhna Top, Sinthan Top, Zojila and Mughal Road on November 09, 2023. On November 07, the weather would remain mainly dry while on November 08, there is a possibility of fairly to generally cloudy weather conditions with forecast of light rain over plains and light snow over few higher reaches. He added...

A fresh western disturbance may impact the Western Himalayan Region starting on the night of November 7, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) This could result in light rainfall or snowfall in specific areas of Jammu Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh from November 7 to November 9, 2023. The IMD has also reported the presence of a low-pressure trough in easterly winds, situated over the Southwest and the adjacent west-central Bay of Bengal, off the coast of Tamil Nadu at lower tropospheric levels. This weather system is expected to bring light to moderate, widespread to fairly widespread rainfall to the southern regions of the Indian Peninsula over the next seven days.