REGIONAL

A man from Pakistan was nabbed by Border Security Force troops after he inadvertently infiltrated from International Border in Jammu, Officials said Saturday. BSF officials told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that one Pakistani national crossed over inadvertently to Indian side at Balhad border point today at about 01 PM. "He came about 200 meters inside India our alert troops apprehended him," the BSF officails said, adding that on preliminary questioning, it was found that he had crossed inadvertently and will be handed over back to Pakistani Rangers on proper receipt through flag meeting after completing formalities. In an official statement, BSF added that the person belongs to border area of Shakargarh tehsil of Pakistan—(KNO)

As Omicron variant of virus casts shadow over the Kashmir’s winter tourist spot—Gulmarg, hoteliers and tour operators here are worried as bookings have started to get cancelled while as tourism activities are coming to a halt gradually. Tour operators say that 30 per cent bookings have got cancelled in the past few days. People associated with different business sectors at the winter wonderland Gulmarg expressed their concerns saying that their work has got affected largely and the flow of tourists has come down highly. “We have witnessed 30 per cent cancellation of bookings,” said a tour operator, while speaking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO). “This all happened due to the outbreak of new virus variant Omicron.” J&K has recorded over 22 cases of Omicron recently w...

Even after the government orders biometric attendance, the biometric attendance is still in place at Government Dental College Srinagar. Doctors while talking with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that biometric attendance is still in place irrespective of government orders, “there by principle is putting the lives of doctors at risk.” They said the hospital is mostly run by post graduates and senior residents and risking their lives needs strict intervention from higher authorities. They said that since the resurgence of Covid-19 through the past one week or so, many of them have returned as Covid positive. “We are still being forced to come to the hospital for marking our biometric attendance as there are verbal orders that the isolation period will be marked ...

As J&K braces up for light rains and snowfall till January 19, night mercury recorded an increase even as it stayed below freezing point with Srinagar recording a low of minus 1.2 °C on Sunday. A meteorological department official told GNS that the minimum temperature in the summer capital of the J&K was up by more than three degrees Celsius than previous night’s minus 4.5°C. Kashmir is presently under the grip of 40-day long harshest period of winter, known locally as ‘Chillai Kalan, which started from December 21. It is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ and a 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’. Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 7.0°C against minus 9.5°C on previous night, he said. The temperature was 0.7°C above normal for this time of the year in the famous resort in nor...

Unknown persons stole 650 apple boxes from a truck in South Kashmir’s Shopian district. Reports said that Aqib Ahmed, a truck driver from Vehil Shopian reported at a police station claiming that during the intervening night, unknown persons stole 650 apple boxes from his truck. The truck bearing registration number JK22B-3177 had been parked in Rai village of the district. Police have taken cognizance of the complaint and registered a case under relevant sections of law. (KNT)

Travel Agents Association of Kashmir TAAK has expressed surprise at the administration's decision to impose an unannounced lockdown in the Valley putting public, commuters and tourists to a lot of inconveniences. In a statement issued to KNS, TAAK President Farooq A Kuthoo urged the authorities to allow the tourist vehicles to proceed to the resorts as per their scheduled itinerary. TAAK said a lot of tourists are currently travelling to different resorts and administration should allow their movement during the lockdown. Kuthoo said tourist vehicles have been stopped at many places which have disrupted the travel itineraries. "The tourists who have already come here have made bookings with respective hotels as per their itineraries. Disrupting their movement to the resorts wil...

The process of installation of solar lights in different Panchayati segments of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district has been put on hold by the administration after some DDC members alleged that lights have been procured at higher rates, a charge refuted by District Administration Pulwama. Rural Development Department with the consent and approval from the District Development Council (DDC) members and PRIs installs street lights in Panchayat Halqas out of the PRI funds in Jammu and Kashmir. The tenders are floated by the Rural Development Department with the approval of the Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD) through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal. Some DDC members alleged that work was allotted to ‘blue-eyed’ contractors and a single light which costs Rs 14,000 has ...

The upsurge in Covid-19 infection continued unabated in Jammu and Kashmir as 3251 new cases have been reported while four persons succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours, officials said on Saturday. They said that 1129 of the cases were reported from Jammu Division and 2122 from Kashmir Valley, taking the overall tally to 355874. There were also four deaths in the last 24 hours, two each from Jammu division and Kashmir Valley. So far 4561 people have succumbed to the virus and include 2218 in Jammu and 2343 in Kashmir. Giving the district wise details of the fresh cases confirmed in J&K, the officials told GNS that Srinagar reported 624 , Baramulla 471, Budgam 416, Pulwama 67, Kupwara 137, Anantnag 228, Bandipora 117, Ganderbal 21, Kulgam 37, Shopian 4, Jammu 685, Udhampur...

Police on Saturday said that they have arrested a man involved in misusing social media, cyber bullying and cyber stalking in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district. In a statement to GNS, the police said that Police Pulwama registers case against Mir Mushtaq Ahmad son of Abdul Gani resident of Bonora Pulwama for misusing social media platforms and taking cognizance case Fir No 06/2022 registered in Police Station Pulwama under relevant sections of law. The statement further stated that Mir Mushtaq through his social media account is indulging in activites which are pre-judicial to soverignity, integrity and union of India and UT J&K and advocates abets unlawful activites, and commits offences which is likely to disrupt the public tranquility, Harmony. Man is involved in criminal in...

In view of the surge in Covid-19 cases, authorities at Cluster University of Srinagar (CUS) have deferred all the scheduled that he scheduled to be held after January-17. The controller of examination of the varsity has said, “All the examinations of Cluster University Srinagar scheduled from 17th of January 2022 have been deferred till further orders.” “Revised schedule for these examinations shall be notified separately,” reads the order—(KNO)