THE KASHMIRIYAT

A photojournalist working at a local daily has expressed disappointment that nobody from the administration called on him after he lost his eyesight in an accident nearly two weeks ago while covering the Srinagar Smart City development ahead of the G-20 Summit. Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Bilal Ahmad, from the Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, said he was “not merely an observer but an active participant” in highlighting the government’s development in the city. Recalling the fateful incident, Bilal said he was assigned to cover the night view of the Srinagar Smart City. “After completing the coverage, I was walking alongside a path in the city centre Lal Chowk near a construction site. It had no lights at all. I suddenly fell into a water...

A driver and a helper of Jal Shakti department died after a tanker fell into a gorge in Rain Chowgund village of South Kashmir's Anantnag district on Friday. An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a water tanker of Jal Shakti department skidded off the road near Rain Chowgund area of Verinag and fell into a gorge. He said that in the incident driver and helper of the vehicle died on the spot. The deceased have been identified as Gowhar Hussain Lone (driver) and Wazir Ahmad Khan (helper). Meanwhile, police have taken cognisance of the incident—(KNO)

The Waqf Board on Friday ordered the re-designation of the posts of 323 employees, who have failed to submit a genuine 10th pass academic qualification certificate to date. According to an order issued by Executive Magistrate Tehsildar, Ishtiyaq Mohi-ud-din, J&K Waqf Board, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) the J&K Waqf Board has recruited, engaged several categories of employees over the years without prescribing well-defined criteria. "Such employees have been randomly given designations like Chowkidars, Sweepers, Peons, Orderlies, Tehveeldars, Bus Conductors, Malies, etc., and their services have only been utilized as per their designations," reads the order. It reads that no fresh recruitments have been made after the constitution of...

Amid controversy over the imposition of property tax in Jammu Kashmir, the administration of Union Territory has extended the deadline for filing property tax returns. The Housing & Urban Development Department (H&UDD) has amended the rules governing the imposition of property tax in Jammu & Kashmir after the deadline for furnishing of property tax returns elapsed. The amendment in the Rules governing the imposition of property tax in Municipal Corporations and other Municipal Bodies state that the particulars of the property and the tax due thereon for the financial year 2023-24, shall be furnished by July 31, 2023. “Provided that the particulars of the property and the tax due thereon for the financial year 2023-24, shall be furnished in Form-1 by July 31, 2023,” rea...

In a significant move, the J-K government has directed authorities to refrain from regulating prices of mutton and other livestock products. The Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs on Tuesday issued a notification directing authorities to refrain from regulating prices of livestock products. “…the Directorates of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer affairs, Jammu/Srinagar, all district administrations and other enforcement agencies who are regulating prices of livestock products by issuing price notifications quoting SRO-646 dated 19.12.1973 are henceforth directed to refrain from issuing or enforcing any order based on the said order,” reads the notification. The government also revoked the Jammu and Kashmir Mutton (Licensing and Control) order, 1973 issued vi...

The public washroom block constructed in 2014 in the Rafiabad area of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district is yet to be made functional, causing great inconvenience to the general public, especially women folk and children. The construction of the washroom in the Watergam area of Sopore was started in 2014 at an estimated cost of Rs 18 lakh. It falls within the municipal limits but has been left abandoned. It is now in shambles and has been left at the mercy of God. Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the locals said the lavatory block is like a “showpiece”. What is worse is that the passers-by relieve themselves along the roadside, said a local Javeed Ahmad. “The town is home to a number of commercial establishments and schools. People from all walk...

A person died while another was injured after a car and a load carrier collided with each other in the Arampora area of north Kashmir's Kupwara district on Thursday. An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) a car and a load carrier collided head-on, resulting in injuries to two persons. He said that soon after the incident, they were rushed to SDH Kupwara, where one of the injured was pronounced dead on arrival. He added that the condition of the injured is critical and is being treated at the hospital—(KNO)

A house was damaged due to a landslide in the Chandgam Tahab area of south Kashmir's Pulwama district on Thursday. An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that incessant rains triggered a landslide in the Chandgam area, resulting in damage to a residential house. He said there was no report of any injury in the incident. Tehsildar Pulwama Mohammad Iqbal confirmed to KNO that a residential house suffered damage in Chandgam. He added that teams have reached to the spot to evacuate the family to safer place and take steps for safety of other people living close to the spot—(KNO)

A body was on Wednesday found floating over waters in the Jhelum River near Bijbehara in south Kashmir's Anantnag district, officials said. They told GNS that the body was sighted by non-local labourers, who intimated the authorities about it. Soon after intimation, SDRF reached the spot and subsequently started an operation to retrieve the body, they said. The operation was going on when this report is being filed. (GNS)

Rains continued to lash Jammu Kashmir and barring Pahalgam and Kupwara, night temperatures were recorded below normal on Wednesday. The meteorological department here has also forecast widespread intermittent light to moderate rain, thunder and lightning with the possibility of hailstorms and gusty winds at a few places till Friday. A meteorological department official here told GNS that in the last 24 hours till 0830 hours today, Srinagar received 16.2mm of rain, Qazigund 7.6mm, Pahalgam traces, Kupwara 0.4mm, Kupwara 10.6mm, Gulmarg 8.8mm, Jammu 1.3mm, Banihal 11.8mm, Botote 33.6mm, Katra 4.8mm, and Bhaderwah 13.4mm. Regarding temperature, he said, Srinagar recorded a low of 11.6°C against 11.8°C on the previous night and it was below normal by 0.9°C for the summer capital. Q...