REGIONAL

A day after reports emerged about the destruction of Karewas in the Parigam Newa area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama, authorities have canceled all related permits. Locals had raised concerns, alleging that the Karewas, which are unique elevated plateaus, were being disfigured under the guise of development work. District Mineral Officer, Er Manzoor, clarified that the permits for clay extraction were initially issued for government projects of an emergent nature, following the necessary approvals and No Objection Certificates (NOCs). He told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that after reports surfaced indicating violations of regulations, the permits were promptly revoked, and the access ramps to the site were dismantled. Locals earlier had expressed concern over the environment...

Jammu Kashmir's caesarean delivery (CD) rate stands at 41%, significantly higher than the national average of 21.5 per cent, as per data from the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–2021), analyzed by The Lancet Journal. The report highlights disparities in CD rates across India, with J&K showing patterns closer to southern states like Telangana and Tamil Nadu, where over-medicalization and reliance on private healthcare are major contributors. Dr. Masuma Rizvi, HOD of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at LD Hospital, attributes the rising trend in J&K to late pregnancies, often in women over 35. Conditions like hypertension and diabetes, coupled with inadequate round-the-clock maternity services, leave many opting for cesareans over riskier vaginal deliveries. "The global C...

The Meteorological Centre Srinagar has forecast that a feeble western disturbance will likely impact Jammu Kashmir on December 21 and 22, bringing light snowfall to some isolated higher reaches of the region. However, the MeT department has indicated no significant weather activity until December 25. According to the MeT official, the weather will remain generally dry from December 16-17, with cloudy conditions expected on December 18. Dry weather is expected again from December 19-20. The western disturbance will bring light snow to higher reaches on the night of December 21, continuing into the early morning of December 22, followed by dry weather thereafter. From December 23-26, dry conditions are expected to persist. The region will continue to experience a cold wave, with su...

The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has announced that the National Conference government will provide 200 free electricity units to the people of Jammu Kashmir starting in March 2025. This initiative, which aligns with the party's election manifesto, is set to offer significant relief to households, especially during the winter months when electricity demand traditionally spikes. Speaking in a recent interview with a Delhi news channel, Abdullah emphasized that the immediate priority is ensuring a consistent power supply throughout the harsh winter. "At present, our focus is to ensure maximum electricity availability during winter, and we will introduce 200 free electricity units from March next year," he said. The Chief Minister also addressed concerns over employment, revealing...

Kashmir Valley continued to reel under a severe cold wave on Monday, with Shopian recording the coldest temperature at -6.3°C. The freezing conditions have caused discomfort among residents and increased reliance on heating appliances. Anantnag followed with a low of -5.5°C, while Pulwama and Larnoo registered -5.7°C and -6.1°C, respectively. Other areas also faced sub-zero temperatures, including Pahalgam at -5.0°C, Khudwani at -4.9°C, and Kulgam at -5.2°C. Srinagar, the summer capital, recorded a minimum temperature of -3.4°C, while Gulmarg and Qazigund saw lows of -4.0°C each. In the Jammu region, the chill was milder but still noticeable. Jammu city recorded a minimum of 5.0°C, while Banihal stood at 1.0°C, and Udhampur and Samba registered lows of 0.6°C and 0.5°C, respecti...

Shah Basit A 20-year-old woman was found hanging in her home in Nunner, Ganderbal, on Sunday. According to local sources, the young woman (name with held) reportedly hanged herself with a rope inside her residence. Family members immediately rushed her to the District Hospital in Ganderbal, but doctors declared her brought dead. Authorities have initiated an investigation into the incident to determine the circumstances that led to the tragic death. A police official stated that the body has been sent for postmortem examination, and further legal proceedings are underway. This incident has sent shockwaves through the quiet locality of Nunner, with neighbors and relatives mourning the untimely demise of the young woman.

Kashmir Valley shivered under freezing temperatures on Sunday, with Shopian emerging as the coldest place at -6.1°C. The biting cold wave has tightened its grip across the region, disrupting daily life. Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of -3.4°C, while Anantnag dropped to -5.1°C. Pulwama and Larnoo also faced severe cold, registering -5.3°C and -5.2°C, respectively. Other parts of the valley, including Qazigund at -4.0°C, Pahalgam at -4.8°C, and Budgam at -3.9°C, also experienced a significant dip in temperatures. In Jammu, the chill was less pronounced, with Jammu city recording a low of 6.6°C. However, Samba and Udhampur saw temperatures dip to 2.2°C and 2.9°C, respectively. Ladakh continued to endure sub-zero temperatures, with Kargil at -11.2°C and Leh at -10.5°C. ...

Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has sharply criticized the dual governance model in the Union Territory, describing it as a "recipe for disaster." He urged the Centre to honor its commitment to restoring statehood to the region without delay. In his first interview since assuming office in October, Abdullah expressed cautious optimism about the Centre’s repeated promises to restore statehood. However, he noted that these promises, made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah during election campaigns, have yet to materialize. “Having two power centres anywhere is a recipe for disaster. No organization works well with multiple leaders. You don’t have two captains for a sports team or two prime ministers in the government of India. Most of India has on...

Senior CPI(M) leader M.Y. Tarigami on Saturday strongly criticized the central government’s push for the “one nation, one election” proposal, describing it as a move against the foundational principles of India’s federal structure and diversity. Speaking to reporters in Jammu, Tarigami said, “In our opinion, the ‘one nation, one election’ concept is against the spirit of the idea of India and its federal structure, which gives protection to the country’s immense diversities.” He emphasized that India's strength lies in its diverse cultures, identities, and faiths, which have historically unified the nation against external and internal challenges. “These diversities are the real face and real strength of India that helped thwart all attempts in the past to disintegrate the country. T...

Police on Friday attached a residential property in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district where four militants were killed in an encounter in July, an official spokesperson said. The single-storey house was attached under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. “In a significant move to counter militancy, police in Kulgam have attached a property under Section 25 of the UAPA,” the spokesperson said. The property is registered in the name of Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Chenigam, Frisal. The property was attached as its owner allegedly provided shelter to the four terrorists who were neutralised in the house on July 6, 2024, he added. The attachment was executed in the presence of a duly constituted police team and the executive magistrate, ensuring full compliance with leg...