REGIONAL

Jammu Kashmir is grappling with a significant rainfall deficit of 78% over the past two and a half months, with no major weather activity expected until the end of December. South Kashmir’s Shopian district tops the list with a staggering 96% deficiency recorded between October 1 and December 18, 2024. The persistent dry spell has exacerbated the deficit, coinciding with a cold wave gripping the region. Data reveals a 75% shortfall in precipitation across Jammu and Kashmir from October 1 to December 19, with only 21mm of rainfall recorded against the normal 97.1mm. After Shopian, Poonch reported a 95% deficit, followed by Kulgam and Budgam at 94% and 90%, respectively. Srinagar recorded an 87% deficit, while Samba stood out as the sole location with above-normal precipitation, ...

Kashmir Valley experienced its coldest night of the season on Friday, with Shopian recording a frigid -10.0°C, making it the coldest place in the region. Anantnag followed closely with a minimum temperature of -9.9°C, while Pulwama registered -9.5°C. The intense cold wave gripped the valley, with Pahalgam and Sonamarg recording -8.2°C and -9.0°C, respectively. Srinagar, the summer capital, recorded a bone-chilling -6.2°C, while Kupwara and Budgam saw lows of -6.5°C and -7.6°C, respectively. Kokernag recorded -5.8°C, and Khudwani saw a low of -8.5°C. The Jammu region experienced a milder chill. Jammu city recorded a minimum temperature of 6.9°C, while Banihal was among the colder areas at -3.8°C. Udhampur and Samba saw lows of 1.4°C and 2.1°C, respectively, with Bhaderwah recording...

Danishwar Hameed A 50-year-old man from Kulgam district in south Kashmir died on cardiac arrest on Thursday. Locals told The Kashmiriyat that early on Thursday morning as the sound of gunfire and blasts raged in the Kader area, Bashir Ahmed Malla suffered a cardiac arrest. "Bashir, a mathematics teachers by profession had gone out to the washroom at 3:39 A.M. when bullet sounds suddenly rang in the area and fell down unconscious," a local said. He said that when Bashir was found by his family members, he had passed away. "Bashir's death has brought everyone to tears. He was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard in Kader, Kulgam," he told The Kashmiriyat. An official confirming the death to The Kashmiriyat said that the cause of his death is being investigated.

SIA Kashmir on Thursday filed a supplementary charge sheet against senior lawyer and former president High Court Bar Association Kashmir Mian Abdul Qayoom in Babar Qadri murder case. Babar Qadri was allegedly killed by militants at his residence, in Hawal area of Srinagar in September 2020. In a statement, SIA said that a case FIR No.62/2020 U/S 302 IPC 7/27 I A Act 13/16/18/20/39 UAPA was registered and investigation was taken up by an SIT framed by IGP Kashmir to be headed by SP Hazratbal.   “The SIT conducted the investigation and presented the chargesheet against six accused persons on 06.05.2021 before the Special NIA Court, Srinagar. Thereafter, further investigation in the case U/S 173 (8) CrPC was started by SDPO Zadibal. However, on 20.07.2023, PHQ J&K transfe...

Srinagar Police has solved a burglary case within 24 hours and recovered stolen property. In a press release, Police said that in December 17, 2024, taking cognizance of a written complaint by an individual namely Naseer Ah Bhat son of Ghulam Ahmad Bhat resident of Deviahangan Hawal that unknown thieves had broken into his house and stolen various items, including cash. "PS Nowhatta registered case FIR No. 57/2024 under relevant sections of law and constituted a Special Investigation Team headed by SHO PS Nowhatta to carry out thorough investigation of the matter," the statement read. With swift and strenuous efforts and assistance of human and technical intelligence, the accused persons namely Mohd Shamim Boya son of Mohd Mamoom Boya resident of Ganga Rampur District Ulbarya Kalk...

Farooq Ahmed Nali, the longest surviving Hizb ul Mujahideen commander has been killed in the encounter at Kader area of Kulgam district of south Kashmir. Officials told The Kashmiriyat that on Thursday morning Government forces that 34 RR and 9 RR of Indian army, 18 BN of CRPF and Jammu Kashmir Police launched a cordon and search operation in the area. During the operation, launched following a specific input about militant movement in the area, the militants fired upon government forces. "Two government force personnel were injured in the firing who were rushed to the hospital, where they are being treated," they said. Though the DIG of south Kashmir range said the identities of slain militants are being confirmed, sources told The Kashmiriyat that the five slain militants were ...

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair a high-level security meeting related to Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday evening, officials sources said. This will be the first such meeting after the formation of popular government in Jammu Kashmir in October this year. Top official sources told news agency Kashmir News Observer, that the meeting will focus on key security issues related to Jammu and Kashmir They said that Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha will also attend the meeting as he head the Unified Command. The meeting would also be attended by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Director of Intelligence Bureau Tapan Deka, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Director General of CAPFs, Chief Secretary, DGP Jammu and Kashmir, and other top officials. This is the firs...

Danishwar Hameed Five militants have been killed during the ongoing encounter between militants and government forces in the Kader area of Kulgam district. Official sources told The Kashmiriyat that the encounter raged on Thursday morning when militants opened fire on a team of government forces that had launched a cordon and search operation in the area. The encounter was suspended for night for precautionary measures, however, security forces had sealed all the exits points near the targeted house, leaving no chances for militants to escape, they said. Today, with first light of morning operation was resumed and during the exchange of gunfire five militants have been killed.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday expressed grave concern over the environmental consequences of several developmental projects in Kashmir, urging that progress should not come at the expense of natural resources and agricultural land. Addressing a press conference, Mufti highlighted three specific projects — the Rajouri-Baramulla highway, the ring road from Galander to Ganderbal, and the expansion of the railway line — as major threats to Kashmir's fragile ecosystem. “Our land, forests, and resources are in danger. Lakhs of kanals of agricultural land and countless trees in our forests are being affected by these projects,” Mufti said, adding that agricultural land in most districts of the Kashmir valley is under threat. She raised apprehensions...

The Government of India has confirmed the discovery of significant lithium and titanium deposits in the Salal-Haimana area of Jammu Kashmir’s Reasi district. These findings emerged during preliminary bauxite explorations conducted by the Geological Survey of India (GSI). The mineral samples have been submitted to the Indian Bureau of Mines and the Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology for further studies to evaluate their potential. In a response during Parliament's question hour, the government revealed plans to intensify exploration in Reasi district. Two new preliminary lithium exploration projects are scheduled for the Salal East and Panasa areas in the 2024-25 field season. Recognizing the growing global demand for lithium, essential for electric vehicle batteries...