REGIONAL

Two employees of the Power Development Department (PDD), who sustained critical injuries in a transformer explosion at the Budgam receiving station on June 13, have succumbed to their wounds at SMHS Hospital. The blast occurred while maintenance work was underway, severely injuring Junior Engineer Hitesh Wali, a resident of Jammu, and technician Manzoor Ahmad Dar, son of Mohammad Ismail Dar of Khanpora Budgam. Both were initially shifted to District Hospital Budgam for treatment before being referred to SMHS Hospital in Srinagar for specialized care. Despite the efforts of medical teams, the duo could not be saved and passed away late Saturday night, officials confirmed. [KNT]

Amid severe heatwave the government on Saturday announced summer vacations for all government and recognized private schools in the Kashmir division from June 23. A senior official in the education department told news agency JKNS, said, “All schools in the Kashmir division will remain closed for summer vacations from June 23 to July 7, 2025, as temperatures continue to rise sharply.” We Will be issuing an official order shortly, he said. The break will span 15 days, allowing students and staff respite from the sweltering conditions. Sharma added that the decision was taken to ensure the well-being and safety of schoolchildren amid the rising temperatures.

Suhail Dar Twenty days after the death of his mother, a 32-year-old daily wager working with the Power Development Department (PDD) died after falling from an electric pole during repair work in the Imoh area of Achabal, in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. The deceased has been identified as Imtiyaz Ahmad Lone, son of Nazir Ahmad Lone, a resident of Hillar Kokernag in Anantnag. Officials told The Kashmiriyat that Imtiyaz was carrying out electrical repair work on Saturday when he fell from the pole. He was rushed to Government Medical College Anantnag in critical condition, but he succumbed to his injuries shortly after. Imtiyaz is survived by his five-year-old son, his wife, and an elderly father. Locals and officials who spoke to The Kashmiriyat expressed deep anguish over ...

CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami and Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference Chairman Sajad Lone have called for immediate humanitarian intervention in the case of ailing Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah, who is reportedly suffering from prostate cancer and requires urgent surgery. Tarigami appealed to the Union government to consider granting bail to Shah or placing him under house arrest so that he can receive proper medical care surrounded by family. “In view of the deteriorating health of Shabir Shah, and considering his advanced age and multiple comorbidities, it is imperative that he be granted bail so his family can provide the necessary pre- and post-operative care in a stable and supportive environment,” Tarigami said in a statement. “Pending bail, placing hi...

Danishwar Hameed A worsening irrigation crisis has gripped South Kashmir’s Kulgam and Anantnag districts, where hundreds of acres of paddy fields are drying up due to an acute shortage of irrigation water—leaving farmers on the brink of despair as the sowing season enters its most crucial phase. Villages including Sherpora, Frisal, Wapora, Chinnigam, Kujar, Khudwani, Hassanpora, and Kharpora are among the worst affected, with large stretches of farmland turning brown instead of green. “This is the peak time for paddy cultivation, but many of our fields have not received a drop of water,” said Ghulam Rasool, a farmer from Frisal. “I’ve already lost over half my crop. If it doesn’t rain soon or water isn’t supplied, we won’t be able to survive the year.” A senior official from th...

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested a Tehsildar in Kupwara district of North Kashmir for accepting a bribe of Rs 50, 000. Details available with news agency JKNS stated that, an ACB team trapped Ghulam Rasool Bhat, Tehsildar Kralgund in Handwara sub-district, red handed with an amount of Rs 50, 000 at his private residence in Mangwalpora Handwara. An official said that he had demanded the amount from a person for allowing him to cut the walnut trees. (JKNS)

For the second straight day on Friday, Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu Kashmir, has once again surpassed the two-decade-old record as the mercury settled at 35.5 degree Celsius. Against yesterday’s 35.2 degrees, Srinagar has witnessed a further rise in the maximum temperature today, recording the hottest day of the season so far. According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Independent Weather Forecaster, Faizan Arif Keng, said that after 1988, Srinagar has recorded the highest June temperature today since 25 June, 2005. Meanwhile, intense heatwave continued across Kashmir for the fourth straight day while the weatherman here has predicted rains and thunder showers from tomorrow—(KNO)

A minor girl from Qalamabad, Kupwara, who became pregnant after being raped, died by suicide, police said on Friday. The accused has been arrested after DNA testing confirmed his involvement. The case was registered on May 6 at Police Station Qalamabad under FIR No. 17/2025, invoking Section 64 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and relevant POCSO Act provisions. Police said the girl was six months pregnant, pointing to prolonged abuse. She attempted suicide and was shifted to SMHS Hospital Srinagar, where she later died. An investigation led to the arrest of a Gulgam resident, confirmed as the unborn child’s biological father through DNA evidence. Legal proceedings are underway. (KDC)

Meer Irfan As the peak paddy season begins across Kashmir, farmers in Chogal, Handwara say their fields are drying up under the sun with no irrigation water in sight. They blame official apathy and say the Irrigation Department has failed them yet again. “The water has been missing from the canals for days. Our land is cracking open, and the saplings are wilting,” said Abdul Rashid, a farmer in Chogal, speaking to The Kashmiriyat. “If this continues for even a couple more days, we’ll lose the entire crop. We don't have another means of survival.” Dozens of farmers across the area echoed the same concern. They say their repeated pleas to the authorities have gone unheard. “We have visited the Irrigation office multiple times. They just offer verbal assurances. But the fields need w...

  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday raised serious concerns over the health condition of incarcerated Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah, who is reportedly suffering from prostate cancer and in urgent need of surgery. In a tweet, Mehbooba expressed anguish over the reported denial of permission for Shah’s family to be present during his treatment. “Deeply unfortunate that the Courts have barred his family from being present during his treatment,” she wrote. Appealing to Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan for immediate intervention, she added, “I appeal to the Home Secretary Govind Mohan ji to kindly intervene on humanitarian grounds and ensure that due compassion and care is extended in this critical time, and that his family is all...