Danishwar Hameed An on-duty traffic policeman was among four individuals injured after being hit by a speeding motorcycle during duty in the Kilam area of south Kashmir's Kulgam district on Thursday, officials said. According to officials the incident occurred when a motorcycle carrying two pillion riders struck the on-duty traffic cop, identified as Fayaz Ahmad, a resident of Ganderbal. The collision resulted in injuries to all three riders and the police official, officials told The Kashmiriyat. The motorcyclist and the pillion riders have been identified as Hilal Altaf Itoo, Haziq Rashid Itoo, and Muzamil Ahmad Itoo — all residents of Mandhole village. All four injured individuals were initially shifted to Primary Health Centre (PHC) Kilam for treatment and were later ref...

Suhail Dar In a remarkable act of collective resolve, residents of several areas of south Kashmir’s Anantnag and Kulgam districts took it upon themselves to restore irrigation water to the Nandi canal, one of the largest traditional irrigation channels in the region, after years of official apathy and destructive mining practices rendered it nearly dry. The water for the Nandi is drawn from the Weshav river, a once reliable source, which has seen a dramatic drop in water levels in recent years. Locals have blamed unregulated mining and extraction of riverbed materials, stating it has caused the riverbed to sink far below the canal’s traditional intake point. MLA Devsar, Feroz Ahmad Shah recently said, "Unregulated and illegal mining has degraded the natural water catchments. This ...

The Union Rural Development Ministry has sanctioned Rs 4,224 crore for the construction of 316 roads across 19 districts in Jammu Kashmir under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana Phase 4 (PMGSY-4), with a total project length of 1,781 kilometres. Sources said that the highest number of roads stand sanctioned in Rajouri district. It will see the construction of 41 roads with an allocation of Rs 588 crore 12 lakh. Rajouri’s road projects include multiple locations such as Manjakot, Darhal, Kalakot, Dhangri, Nowshera, and Budhal among others. Poonch follows closely with 40 roads sanctioned, funded at Rs 484 crore 92 lakh. These include roads in Bufliaz, Lasana, Mankot, Surankot, Loran, Mendhar, and Poonch town itself. Doda district has 31 roads planned with a budget of Rs 661 crore, cov...

Two pilots of the Indian Air Force (IAF) were killed on Wednesday morning in a crash of a Jaguar fighter jet near Churu in Rajasthan, the third such accident since March involving the twin-engine bomber. The IAF said a court of inquiry has been constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident. "An IAF Jaguar Trainer aircraft met with an accident during a routine training mission and crashed near Churu in Rajasthan, today," it said in a brief statement. "Both pilots sustained fatal injuries in the accident. No damage to any civil property has been reported," it said. The IAF said it "deeply regrets" the loss of lives and stands firmly with the bereaved families in this time of grief. "A court of inquiry has been constituted, to ascertain the cause of the accident," it said....

A flood-like situation has thrown life out of gear in several areas of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district, with villages like Raiyar Khansahib, Kangripora, and nearby localities bearing the brunt of incessant rainfall. The downpour, continuing since the last two days, has led to widespread waterlogging, damage to kucha houses, and inundation of shops and roads—leaving locals desperate and helpless. Villagers are deeply concerned about what they describe as a complete lack of administrative response. Many allege that no official from the district administration or even the local MLA has visited the area to assess the damage or offer assistance. “We are suffering badly. Water has entered our homes and shops, and no official has come to see our plight. We appeal to the district adm...

In yet another disturbing incident targeting a place of worship, unidentified miscreants have looted cash from a donation box inside the revered shrine of Hazrat Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani (RA) at Khanyar in Srinagar. The shrine, managed by the Jammu Kashmir Wakaf Board, has been a prominent spiritual site attracting devotees from across the Valley. Sajad-e-Nisheen of the shrine, Khalid Jeelani, confirmed the theft while speaking to Kashmir News Trust, stating that one of the donation boxes was found broken and looted. While he refrained from disclosing the exact amount stolen, he acknowledged that the incident has deeply upset the shrine management and the devotees. “We noticed the damage early in the morning. The donation box had been forcefully broken open, and the cash inside...