The Jammu Kashmir RTI Movement has issued a scathing condemnation of the ongoing, large-scale felling of Kashmir Poplars and Willows along the banks of River Jhelum, calling the act "nothing less than an ecological disaster." In a statement issued today, founder and chairperson Dr. Shaikh Ghulam Rasool said, "The unchecked, unscientific tree felling being carried out under the guise of post-flood dredging operations is a catastrophe in the making. These trees were not accidental — they were planted intentionally to stabilise riverbanks, reduce erosion, and support local biodiversity." He added that the trees along the river have become a vital part of the ecosystem. "Their wide canopies reduce summer temperatures by several degrees, they provide nesting grounds for birds, attract but...

Danishwar Hameed  Two residents of Kulgam district lost their lives while two others sustained critical injuries in a road accident on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway at Padgampora in Awantipora on Tuesday evening. Officials said the mishap occurred when an Alto car, bearing registration number JK18B 5329, crashed into a stationary truck parked along the highway in Pulwama district. One person died on the spot, while three others were critically injured. One of the injured later succumbed to his injuries at SMHS Hospital in Srinagar. The deceased have been identified as Rouf Gull, son of Gull Mohammad Lone from Dardgund, and Abdul Rashid Sheikh, son of Ghulam Hassan Sheikh from Devsar. The injured have been identified as Showkat Ahmad Lone from Dardgund and Firdousa, wif...

Suhail Dar A 14-year-old girl, Rutba Rahil, has gone missing from the Cheeni Chowk area of Anantnag city, prompting her family and police to launch a search operation. According to family members who spoke to The Kashmiriyat, Rutba was last seen on July 13 and has not returned home since. A missing person report has been filed at Police Station Shair Bagh under F.I.R No. 150, dated 13-07-2025. Authorities have urged anyone with information regarding Rutba’s whereabouts to contact the family at 6005898149 or report to Police Station Shair Bagh, Anantnag. The family has appealed to the public for support, expressing deep concern over the teenager’s disappearance. Police said they are actively investigating the matter and following all leads. Further details will be share...

Danishwar Hameed  At least four persons were critically injured in a road accident that took place on the Srinagar-Jammu highway near Awantipora on Tuesday evening, officials said. According to initial reports, received by The Kashmiriyat, the injured persons—all residents of Devsar in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district—were traveling in an Alto K10 vehicle bearing registration number JK18D 5329 when the mishap occurred under unclear circumstances. The injured were immediately shifted to a nearby medical facility for treatment. Their condition is reported to be critical. Authorities have reached the spot and initiated an investigation to ascertain the cause of the accident. More details awaited.

The Jammu Kashmir government is preparing to unfreeze nearly 3,300 General Line Teacher (GLT) posts, years after they were held back in a controversial decision that left many schools understaffed. The move comes after Education Minister Sakina Itoo held a departmental review meeting this week, where she instructed officials to initiate the process of reclaiming 50% of the 6,576 GLT posts that had been blocked in December 2018 under the administration led by the then governor Satyapal Malik. These posts were originally frozen under a State Administrative Council (SAC) directive to accommodate salary disbursal for Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers transitioning into regular roles. Officials familiar with the matter said that the proposed unfreezing would enable new recruitment through...

Meer Irfan A dispute over accommodation among non-local labourers turned violent late Monday night at a plywood factory in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, leaving four workers injured, police sources said. According to officials, the clash broke out between two groups of labourers following a disagreement over shared living arrangements. The situation quickly escalated into a physical confrontation. The injured were immediately rushed to the District Hospital Pulwama. One of them, a worker from Assam, sustained a serious head injury and was referred to SMHS Hospital in Srinagar for specialized treatment. Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the incident.

A tragic accident unfolded on Tuesday in the Ponda area along the Doda-Barath road when a tempo traveller plunged into a deep gorge, leaving several feared dead. The ill-fated vehicle, bearing registration number JK06-4847, reportedly skidded off the road under unknown circumstances. According to officials, the vehicle was carrying multiple passengers when it veered off the mountainous road and tumbled into the gorge. Rescue teams comprising local police, volunteers, and SDRF personnel were immediately pressed into action. “Three bodies have so far been recovered from the spot,” an official confirmed, adding that many more are feared dead or critically injured. The rescue operation is still underway, hampered by the steep terrain and difficult access. Emergency medical teams ha...

Danishwar Hameed A 46-year-old Amarnath Yatra pilgrim from Maharashtra died of a cardiac arrest in the Pahalgam area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, officials said on Tuesday. The deceased has been identified as Sanjay Musurkanth, son of Shankar Masurkath, a resident of Maharashtra. According to officials who spoke to The Kashmiriyat, the pilgrim suddenly fell unconscious near the upper side of the exit gate at Chandanwari, a key point on the Yatra route. Army personnel present at the location immediately shifted him to the Base Hospital Chandanwari for medical assistance. However, doctors declared him brought dead, confirming that the cause of death was a cardiac arrest. Police have taken cognizance of the incident and further proceedings have been initiated.