Meer Irfan Authorities have filed a case after a towering deodar tree, nearly 50 feet tall, was found illegally felled inside the premises of Government Middle School Padpavan in south Kashmir’s Shopian district. The incident took place within the jurisdiction of Herpora Police Station, barely 100 metres away from the office of the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), raising serious questions about monitoring and enforcement. Officials told The Kashmiriyat that unidentified persons used cutters and saws under the cover of darkness to chop down the tree. A senior forest official confirmed that an FIR (No. 44/2025) has been registered at Police Station Herpora, and an investigation has been initiated. Locals expressed strong anger, describing the act as an “open loot of green gol...

A trout hatchery in Karshangam Aishmuqam area of Pahalgam, Anantnag, suffered massive loss after five thousand fishes were found dead on Sunday morning, allegedly due to poisoning by unknown persons. Hatchery owner Abdul Rahim Wani told news agency Kashmir News Corner --- KNC, said that his livelihood has been completely devastated, five thousands fishes are dead. “This was my only source of income and everything has been ruined. Nothing is left. We urge the administration for immediate help,” Rahim said. Locals have demanded swift action from authorities to investigate the matter and provide compensation to the affected family. (KNC)

Meer Irfan A 60-year-old man was critically injured after his scooty was hit by a truck at DPS Crossing, Panthachowk, on Saturday. A Police officer told The Kashmiriyat that the truck (JK05G-9730), driven by Abdul Hameed Bhat of Khanmoh, collided with a scooty (JK13G-5978) ridden by Altaf Ahmad Pandit, son of Abdul Gani Pandit, a resident of Watoora, Pulwama. The injured was shifted to SMHS Hospital, Srinagar, where his condition is stated to be critical. Authorities said further details are being ascertained.

A devastating fire broke out on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday in Kandi area of Karnah, a remote border belt of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, completely gutting the historic Dar-ul-Mominat Madrasa. Local sources told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that the blaze reduced the revered institution to ashes, inflicting financial losses worth lakhs of rupees and leaving the community in shock. For over three decades, Madrasa Dar-ul-Mominat had stood as a center of Islamic learning and spiritual guidance in Karnah, shaping the lives of countless students. Its destruction has created a profound void in the religious and educational fabric of the area. Soon after the fire erupted, the Indian Army rushed to the spot and extended crucial support in containing the blaze....

Students of paramedical sciences at Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar have expressed serious concern over what they termed as administrative failure and mismanagement in handling their examinations. The students said that despite having backlogs in their first year, they were allowed by Kashmir University and GMC Srinagar administration to submit examination forms for both the second year regular examinations and the first year backlog examinations. The forms were accepted on June 27, 2025, and students were preparing to appear in the examinations scheduled for this week However, just two days before the commencement of exams, the students alleged that the college administration issued an informal notification barring those with first year backlogs from appearing in the second ...

Forest department has taken stringent action against three habitual timber smugglers under the Public Safety Act (PSA) in Kupwara district. The action was formalized through orders issued by the Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, following the recommendations from the Divisional Forest Officer of Kamraj Forest Division. The offenders were found consistently involved in illegal timber smuggling activities that pose a serious threat to public order and the region’s ecological integrity. Irfan Ali Shah, Conservator of Forests, Kashmir North Circle, emphasized that this action delivers a clear and firm message to all offenders. “Forest Department, in close coordination with the district administrations of Kupwara and Baramulla, remains resolute in its mission to safeguard our green asset...

At least seven people are feared dead after a massive landslide flattened a residential house in Mahore area of Reasi district in Jammu Kashmir on Saturday, officials said. The landslide struck in the early hours, burying the house under a huge mound of debris. Locals rushed to the spot but were unable to rescue those trapped inside due to the sheer volume of earth and rocks. Officials said all seven members of the family living in the house are feared to have been killed. Soon after the incident, police, SDRF and civil administration teams launched a rescue operation, though efforts were hampered by continuous rain and the hilly terrain. Heavy machinery has been pressed into service to clear the debris and locate the victims. Authorities said the region has been witnessing int...

A cloudburst accompanied by heavy rainfall struck the Rajgarh area of Ramban, resulting in the three persons losing life and causing several people to go missing. Details available with news agency Kashmir News Corner --- KNC, cloudburst struck Gadgram are of Rajgarh Ramban. An official told KNC that three dead bodies were recovered while two people are still missing, "Efforts are ongoing to locate two individuals who are still missing," official added. Following the incident, senior administrative officials, including Deputy Commissioner Ramban Ilyas Khan, have reached the spot to oversee the rescue and relief operations. "The entire administration is on high alert, working to manage the situation and provide all necessary assistance to those affected," official said. (KNC)