REGIONAL

A 50-year-old Jal Shakti Department employee is battling for life after he was attacked and critically injured by a leopard in Haril area of Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district this afternoon. Reports reaching GNS said that the individual came under attack while he was on way to a water valve (on/off point) at his native village in Darbal. The injured person was subsequently shifted to District Hospital Handwara from where he was referred to GMC Baramulla. The doctors at GMC Baramulla on sensing emergency referred the seriously wounded person to SKIMS Soura. The person is said to have suffered serious injuries in neck and chin with his overall condition said to be critical – on filing of this report. It is being suspected that the leopard attacking the elderly man is the ...

The Srinagar district administration has said that it has taken an initiative to establish the "largest" Chinar park of Kashmir ‘ChinarZaar’ (The Valley of Chinars) on the foothills of the Zabarwan mountains. The ChinarZaar will be spread over nearly 400 kanals of land and would be developed as an exclusive green zone to attract more tourists and local visitors. As many as 75 chinar trees are being planted by August 15 to celebrate 75 years of the independence. Srinagar Deputy Commissioner (DC), Mohammad Aijaz Asad directed the officers of all departments to work in a coordinated manner for the development of the largest Chinar park and complete the prestigious project within a set timeline. The DC said that Chinar tree is the legacy of Kashmir and is a living heritage and has ...

Ashoora, the 10th day of holy month Muharram, will be observed with religious zeal and fervour across Kashmir today. However, except Abi Guzar locality, no restrictions shall be imposed anywhere in Srinagar, officials said. The 10th Muharram is observed as Youm-e-Ashoora when over 1,400 years ago, Imam Hussain (AS), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was martyred along with his family members and companions in Karbala, Iraq. According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the biggest Muharram procession is scheduled to be carried out in Bota Kadal area to Zadibal area to remember the sacrifices of Karbala martyrs. The Muharram procession will also be taken out at Bemina and other places including Budgam district, in Pattan and Delina areas of Baramulla district, Wula...

Srinagar, Aug 08 (KNO): The Jammu and Kashmir government is likely to take action against more empanelled private hospitals after an investigation agency found discrepancies in several hospitals. Top officials of State Health Agency (SHA) told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that they have taken action against nine private hospitals which were empanelled under Ayushman Bharat scheme and many more are under radar. Last week, the government suspended empanelment of Hakeem Sanaullah Hospital Sopore while penalty was imposed on Florence hospital Srinagar, Mohammadia Nursing Home Pulwama, Ibn Sena Hospital Budgam, Quality Healthcare Hospital Kupwara, Waseem Memorial Hospital Handwara, North Kashmir Hospital Handwara, Ess Bee Hospital Kupwara and Narayana Hrudayalaya Hospital Katr...

Gurez, Aug 08 (KNO): Gurez, a picturesque valley, in north Kashmir's Bandipora district is not even connected to the power grid even though the 330 megawatt Kishanganga power projected is functional in the area. The Gurez valley which still doesn’t have access to grid connected electricity gets just about six hours of power supply daily through government installed generators. It gets power from 5 am to 6 am and then again in the evening for five hours from around 6 to 11 in the night. An official told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that a proposal to construct 33-KV Line from Bandipora to Gurez, was sanctioned under DDUGJY/IPDS in 2015-16 but the government and KPDCL's distribution wing failed to construct the proposed line for the area and the scheme was subsequently...

The Jammu and Kashmir police claimed to have arrested two bovine smugglers and rescued fifteen bovine animals from the Dessa area of the Doda district. In a press release, Police said, Doda Police said that on the basis of specific information about bovine smuggling, a police party led by Head Constable Shiv Charan laid a Naka and apprehended two bovine smugglers identified as Noor Hussain, both residents of Korna in Kishtwar. The Police said that the duo was taking 15 bovines from Chatroo Marg Dhar to Shapurshal Dhar Dessa towards Kashmir for selling purposes. In this connection, case FIR No.09/2022 under the relevant section has been registered at Police Station Dessa and an investigation has started.

A 4-year-old boy was killed in a bear attack in Wagoora area in north Kashmir's Baramulla district, official sources said. They told GNS that one Ehsaan Ahmad Shah was outside his home, when a black bear caught hold of him this evening. "As the news spread, the family and locals tried to rescue the boy, however the boy succumbed to his injuries suffered during the attack", the sources said. A police official has also confirmed the incident to GNS. "A team is on the spot to collect more details", the official added. (GNS)

State Investigation Agency (SIA), today, produced a supplementary charge sheet against PDP leader Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra in the Designated court Srinagar in FIR NO:31/2020 PS CIK. According to the sources, "The supplementary charge sheet also consists Abate challan against the OGW and terrorists involved in different terrorism acts (now killed) with whom accused waheed-ur-Rehman had developed links and hatched criminal conspiracy for political gains." (KNS) 

On the eve of Ashoora, the authorities here have decided not to impose any restrictions in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu Kashmir. However, police said that the curbs would be imposed only near Abi Guzar area of Srinagar. “Except near Abi Guzar area, there will be no restrictions anywhere in Srinagar on Ashoora,” Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar, Rakesh Balwal told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO). The biggest Muharram-ul-Haram processions will be carried out tomorrow in Zadibal area in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir including Budgam—(KNO)

Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Monday said older adults who were vaccinated against smallpox many decades before could be protected from monkeypox. “People who received smallpox vaccination prior to its discontinuation in 1980 might still have some protection against the related monkeypox virus,” said DAK President and influenza expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan. Dr Hassan said research has found that those who have been vaccinated against smallpox decades ago persist with a very high level of antibodies and the ability to neutralize the virus. Routine smallpox vaccination stopped in 1980 after the disease was eradicated globally. “This means that any individual under the age of 42 certainly did not receive the smallpox vaccine,” he said adding “the current monkeypox outbreak is ...