Health & Fitness

They're blatantly trying to kill him in there: Imran Khan's sons voice fears for his safety

London, Aug 28: Jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister and cricket great Imran Khan's sons, Sulaiman and Kasim, have expressed fears for their father's safety in prison, saying latant attempts are being made to kill him in there. The brothers appeared in an 18-minute interview on Sky Sports that was conducted by former England captain Mike Atherton, a signatory to the letter recently sent by 21 international greats of the game to the Pakistan government, demanding proper medical care for Imran. It's very, very clear what they're doing, which is they're just blatantly trying to kill him in there. They just want to keep him in there as long as possible and hopefully just silence him, said Kasim, voicing grave concerns about the current state of his 73-year-old father. The last time he was able to speak to our aunties and anyone else, he said the conditions have severely worsened recently. He has been relating it to other political prisoners who have been killed or who have died in prison. Right now, it is worse than ever, completely isolating him more than 23 hours a day in a cell, he added. The interview, which was aired during the lunch break of the second Test between England and Pakistan at the Lord's on Thursday, triggered a protest from the visiting team's Cricket Board which threatened to pull its players out of the match, according to well-placed sources. The PCB eventually filed a complaint with the broadcaster, expressing displeasure at the telecast. Besides being a politician, Imran is an iconic figure in international cricket, having led Pakistan to its first and only ODI World Cup triumph in 1992. He underwent a medical examination recently on the instructions of Pakistan's Supreme Court. He was taken to Shifa Hospital in Islamabad before being shifted back to the prison within hours of the check-up. Sulaiman said Imran has not been examined by independent doctors. ...it just makes us think, what are they hiding? Why are they so fearful of allowing him to get reported on by an unbiased, neutral doctor? Sulaiman said. We were cautiously optimistic (when court ordered medical check-up). Our fears were confirmed when, instead of being taken to the private hospital, where he was meant to be taken, he was just taken to a government medical facility for a few hours, and then taken straight back to jail, he alleged. He had an eye patch on for the eye situation, seemed visibly stressed, and that is something that is very hard for us to imagine because he embodies a very calm, assured presence, every time I have ever seen him, including being at gunpoint. A car we were in was robbed, and he was the calmest person there, including the robbers, he quipped. The two brothers said they have not seen Imran in flesh and blood since 2022 when he survived an assassination attempt and their last telephonic conversation with him was in March this year. Asked to share the details of that call, they said Imran had sounded stoic despite the difficult circumstances. Imran has been held at Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail since 2023 after being found guilty of corruption charges by the country's courts. The two brothers reiterated that their attempts to visit him are being actively thwarted by denial of visa. We tried to visit him. But the visas we applied for were blocked for technical reasons, Kasim said. ...Well, there's (also) probably a small risk that we'd be arrested, added Sulaiman. But ultimately, we just want to see him at this point...not to make any sort of noise and just minimal publicity, he added.

Third Vande Bharat on Jammu-Srinagar route soon: MoS Jitendra Singh

Jammu, Aug 28: Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh, on Friday said that the third Vande Bharat train between Jammu and Srinagar will be launched soon, terming it a major development for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. In a video message, Singh said that the Ministry of Railways has also approved a halt at Udhampur following a demand raised by the public. He said the approval for the Udhampur halt was particularly significant as it was earlier believed that a stop there would not be feasible. Singh also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of Railways and the Railway Minister for the development. Reflecting on the expansion of the railway network in Jammu and Kashmir, Singh said that when the Jammu railway station was established in 1972, it took nearly five decades for the railway network to advance further into the region. He said the expansion gained momentum after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, with railway connectivity extended to Kathua and subsequently to Udhampur and the Kashmir Valley. Singh further said that railway connectivity to the Kashmir Valley was once considered difficult because of the mountainous terrain, but the project was completed despite several challenges. He also highlighted the construction of the worlds highest railway bridge over the Chenab River in Reasi as a major engineering achievement. He said the railway journey has also emerged as an attraction for tourists, with many visitors travelling by train from Jammu to Srinagar to experience the scenic beauty along the route.(KNO)

Miffed with Sky's interview of Imran's sons, PCB considered pulling players out of Test against Eng

Karachi, Aug 28: The Pakistan Cricket Board had considered not sending its players to the field after lunch break on the opening day of their second Test against England at Lord's but eventually settled for a complaint after host broadcaster Sky Sports aired an interview of jailed former PM Imran Khan's sons. The PCB, when contacted, refused to comment on the matter but sources aware of the development said a formal complaint has been sent to Sky Sports over the matter. Former England skipper Mike Atherton conducted the 18-minute interview with Imran's sons, Kassim and Suleman. The two expressed fears about the well-being of their 73-year-old father, who is a celebrated former captain under whom the country won its first and only ODI World Cup in 1992. The PCB had objected to the telecast of the conversation recorded on Wednesday and even considered keeping its players off the field after lunch in protest if Sky went ahead with the broadcast, sources aware of the developments said. However, the visitors did take the field as scheduled and England ended the day at 248 for nine on Thursday. The PCB learned about the interview after Sky ran a teaser for the segment ahead of the Test. The Bard, it is learnt, contacted the broadcaster, asking it not to air the interview. In Pakistan, PTV, which is broadcasting the series, did not show the interview. Imran's health has become a major talking point globally in recent weeks. He was recently taken for medical examination at the Shifa Hospital in Islamabad on the directions of Pakistan's Supreme Court but was brought back to the prison after a check-up. Atherton and 20 other former captains including India great Sunil Gavaskar sent a letter to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a few days ago asking him to ensure proper medical care for Imran, who is believed to have lost significant vision since his imprisonment.

Congo begins vaccinations to fight the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history

Congo has started vaccinating people against Ebola to combat the fastest-growing outbreak of the disease in history

Two hand grenades recovered during naka checking in North Kashmir's Baramulla

Baramulla, Aug 28: Two hand grenades were recovered from a man during a naka checking operation at Wussan Bangil in Kunzer area of north Kashmirs Baramulla district, officials said. The checking was being conducted by a joint party comprising personnel from Police Station Kunzer, SOG Kunzer, CRPF 176 Battalion and Armys 2 Rashtriya Rifles. During the checking of vehicles and pedestrians, a man allegedly attempted to flee after noticing the security personnel. He was, however, apprehended at the spot. The man was identified as Shakir Nabi Lone, a resident of Hardu Aboora, Kunzer. Two hand grenades were allegedly recovered from his possession during a personal search. Following the recovery, FIR No. 115/2026 has been registered at Police Station Kunzer under relevant provisions of law. Further investigation into the case is underway. [KNT]

The Surprising Story Behind The Name Snickers And Its Link To A Horse

Snickers chocolate bar was named after the familys racehorse Snickers, who passed away right before the bars launch.

Beloved New Orleans hospital, wracked by floods and grief in Hurricane Katrina, to get a makeover

A beloved New Orleans hospital building where doctors and nurses heroically treated patients without electricity after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 is poised for redevelopment

Anantnag Police book political leader in Rs 8.25 lakh job scam case

Anantnag, Aug 28: Anantnag Police has booked a political leader in alleged 8.25 lakh rupees job scam case, oficials said on Friday. The officials said the accused, identified as Aabid Hussain Nengroo, has been booked in FIR No. 283/2026 registered at Police Station Anantnag. Police said the accused duped job aspirants of more than eight lakh rupees, promising them SPO jobs. They further said that the accused also promised Pahalgam tent permission for Amarnath Yatra in lieu of money. Further details are awaited as Investigation is underway, police said.

Death toll from Nepal-Tibet flash flood climbs to 469, search ops continue

The death toll from flash floods in central Nepal rose to 469 on Friday, with more bodies recovered as search and rescue operations continued for the third day following the disaster. In a statement, Nepal Police said the bodies were recovered from eight districts of the Himalayan nation. According to the police, 178 dead bodies have been recovered from Chitwan, 110 from Nawalparasi East, 44 from Gorkha, 37 from Nuwakot and 33 from Dhading district. Similarly, 28 bodies have been recovered from Tanahu, 27 from Nawalparasi West and 12 from Rasuwa. So far, 1,545 injured and stranded people have been rescued from various affected regions. Among them, 84 are currently undergoing treatment in various hospitals in Kathmandu. Search and rescue operations continued for the third day of the tragic incident with the mobilisation of 7,451 security personnel, including 2,391 Nepal Army personnel, the statement said. An ice-rock avalanche triggered by a glacial collapse near the Nepal-Tibet b

JKSA writes to HM Shah, seeks immediate intervention in minors rape and death case in Kishtwar

Srinagar, Aug 28: The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) on Thursday wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking his immediate intervention in the tragic and deeply disturbing case involving the alleged rape of a 14-year-old schoolgirl from the Gujjar-Bakarwal community in Chatroo, Kishtwar. In a statement, the National Convenor of the Association, Nasir Khuehami said that the minor was allegedly raped repeatedly by a teacher at her school over several months. The accused teacher and his brother have been arrested, while the circumstances surrounding the alleged sexual assault, the pregnancy, the attempted termination and the events leading to the childs death remain under under investigation. The Association urged the Home Minister to ensure an independent, comprehensive and time-bound investigation into the entire matter. It has also sought the constitution of a senior-level Special Investigation Team (SIT) and, if considered necessary to ensure greater independence and public confidence, the transfer of the investigation to the Crime Branch or another specialised agency. JKSA has also called for the immediate securing, preservation and examination of all relevant evidence, including medical and hospital records, post-mortem material, forensic and DNA samples, electronic communications, school records, attendance registers and other documentary or digital evidence.

'May The Bond Of Love, Affection Remain Forever': PM Modi Extends Greetings On Raksha Bandhan

PM Modi and Amit Shah greeted the nation on Raksha Bandhan, highlighting love and trust. In Gaya, students prepared a tricolour Rakhi for PM Modi and over 1,000 Army-emblem Rakhis for soldiers.

Scientists Find Clues In Satellite Imagery To the Cause of Catastrophic Floods in Nepal and Tibet

As rescue teams searched Thursday for missing people following catastrophic flooding along the Nepal-China border, Earth scientists reviewed satellite imagery for clues to the cause and assessed the devastation. The flooding killed hundreds of people in Nepal and Tibet on Wednesday.

Worlds 1st AI-assisted brain surgery successfully removes tumour

The worlds first patient to undergo brain surgery with live artificial intelligence assistance has had his tumour successfully removed, the BBC reported. Rhys Hibbert, a 48-year-old father of two from Bedfordshire, underwent the pioneering procedure at University College London Hospital. Surgeons said he could have lost his sight as the tumour was pressing on his optic nerves. The AI system analysed a live video feed during the operation and identified the likely location of crucial blood vessels and nerves, helping surgeons determine the safest areas from which to remove the tumour. Hibbert had an 11mm non-cancerous tumour on his pituitary gland, which sits close to the carotid arteries and optic nerves. His peripheral vision had begun to narrow, while he also suffered from fatigue and dizziness. The operation was performed through the nose using an endoscope. The tumour was partly hidden behind bone and a tough membrane, making it difficult for surgeons to identify the safest route for removal. The experimental AI tool, described as being similar to a surgical ChatGPT, tracked surgical instruments and highlighted important anatomical structures on a second screen in real time. Prof Hani Marcus, one of the surgeons, said the system had been trained using hundreds of videos of pituitary tumour operations and could act as an expert second pair of eyes. However, the surgeons retained full control of the procedure. The research team, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research and Google, now plans a larger clinical trial. Hibbert said his vision had improved significantly after the operation. Its given me my life back, he told the BBC.

New Delhi sends second relief consignment to flood-hit Nepal

New Delhi on Thursday sent a second consignment of relief material to flood-hit Nepal, with a military transport aircraft carrying 37.5 tonnes of humanitarian assistance, medicines and food packets. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the latest consignment followed the dispatch of 10 tonnes of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) material to Nepal on Wednesday. A second flight has just taken off, carrying 37.5 tonnes of HADR material, medicines & food packets for Nepal, Jaishankar said in a social media post. India remains in close and continuous touch with the Nepalese authorities. We will continue to strongly support the ongoing relief efforts, he said. India has stepped up assistance following devastating flash floods along Nepals border with Tibet, which have killed at least 270 people and caused widespread destruction. The first consignment sent yesterday evening included temporary shelters, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps and medicines. The relief effort was launched after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah and assured him of Indias support. More relief supplies are expected to be sent in the coming days as Nepal continues rescue and relief operations.

TAAI J&K Chapter elects new team for 202628

The Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), Jammu & Kashmir Chapter, held its Members Annual Meeting for 202526 at Radisson Collection Hotel & Spa, Srinagar, followed by the election of office bearers for the 202628 term. The meeting was attended by a large number of TAAI members, along with prominent heads and representatives of various travel trade associations and stakeholders from the tourism industry. Irshad Hazari was elected Chairman, Rahil Bashir Honorary Secretary and Muzamil Jan Honorary Treasurer for the 202628 term. The newly elected office bearers expressed gratitude to the members for placing their confidence and trust in the new team. The new team reaffirmed its commitment to working collectively for the growth and development of the travel and tourism industry in Jammu and Kashmir and to further strengthening the TAAI J&K Chapter. The meeting also provided an opportunity for members and tourism industry representatives to discuss the importance of collective efforts in promoting the regions travel trade and addressing issues affecting the sector.

JSW MG Motor India unveils Hector Tomahawk in EV, PHEV variants

JSW MG Motor India has unveiled the Hector Tomahawk, the first vehicle engineered on its Advanced Drive Architecture Platform Technology (ADAPT), which the company describes as Indias first multi-new-energy-vehicle (NEV) platform. The new SUV will be offered in both electric vehicle (EV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) versions, expanding the companys NEV portfolio and giving customers a choice based on their driving requirements. Under an introductory Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) offer available for a limited number of bookings, the Hector Tomahawk EV is priced at Rs 13.99 lakh plus a battery rental of Rs 4.90 per km. The PHEV starts at 21.79 lakh plus Rs 3.20 per km in battery rental. The company said the Hector Tomahawk combines intelligent technology, premium comfort, safety features and electrified performance, while offering the space and connected features expected in a SUV. Parth Jindal, Director, JSW MG Motor India, said the launch marked a milestone in the companys efforts to build a sustainable mobility ecosystem in India. He said the EV and PHEV variants reflected the companys focus on offering mobility solutions while supporting the countrys transition towards cleaner transportation. Anurag Mehrotra, Managing Director, JSW MG Motor India, said the future of mobility would involve multiple technology pathways rather than a single solution. He said the Hector Tomahawk was the first SUV to bring the ADAPT platforms multi-NEV approach to market, combining EV and plug-in hybrid technologies to address consumer needs and driving patterns.

Alkhuddam makes comeback in Hajj 2027 quota list

Alkhuddam Hajj and Umrah Services has been found eligible for registration as a Hajj Group Organiser (HGO) for Hajj 2027, bringing relief to the organisation. The Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India, in a notice dated August 22, 2026, published the list of eligible HGOs after scrutinising applications submitted through the HGO portal. The ministry said applications were evaluated against the eligibility conditions prescribed under the HGO Policy for Hajj 2027, including submission of required documents, fulfilment of eligibility conditions, financial eligibility, experience and compliance with the provisions of the policy. The development was welcomed by Sheikh Feroz, Managing Director of Alkhuddam Hajj and Umrah Services, who expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah and the Ministry of Minority Affairs for considering his application for qualification for the Hajj 2027 quota. I express my gratitude. All praise and thanks belong to Almighty Allah, who has blessed us with the restoration of the Hajj quota for Alkhuddam Hajj and Umrah Services, he said. Describing the development as more than a professional achievement, he said it represented hope after a difficult period. This moment is not just a professional achievement for meit is a sign of Allahs mercy, a ray of hope returned, and a response to sincere duas made in hardship and uncertainty, he said. Feroz said he had remained hopeful despite the challenges. When we were going through difficult phases, I never lost faith that Allah would open doors again. Today, that belief is strengthened, he said. He also thanked the Ministry of Minority Affairs for once again placing its trust in Alkhuddam, describing the approval as both an honour and a responsibility. The ministry notice states that eligible HGOs have been classified into Category-I Non-Lead, Category-II Experienced Applicant and Category-II New Applicant categories, while the list of Category-I Lead HGOs had already been published on August 12. Under the HGO policy, selected Lead HGOs are required to constitute Combined HGO Groups (CHGOs) by inviting eligible HGOs from different categories. Each CHGO must include at least one Category-I Lead HGO, one Category-I Non-Lead HGO and one new Category-II HGO, with the total quota preferably kept close to 2,000. Feroz also thanked his patrons, well-wishers, colleagues, friends and family for their support and prayers during the difficult period. He said the renewed opportunity would be approached with full sincerity, dedication and respect for the pilgrims served by Alkhuddam. May Allah accept our intentions, make this responsibility successful, and grant ease, safety, and honour to every pilgrim connected through Alkhuddam, he said.

11 officers transferred in J&K Finance Department reshuffle

The Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday ordered a major reshuffle in the Finance Department, transferring and posting 11 officers with immediate effect. The changes have been ordered as part of the administrations efforts to streamline financial management and improve administrative efficiency across various departments. The latest order also follows an earlier reshuffle issued by the government on August 4. Rajesh Chander Kotwal, who was serving as Director Accounts and Treasuries, Jammu, has been transferred and posted as Director Finance, School Education Department. He replaces Kulbushan Kumar, who has been shifted to the ARI & Trainings Department and will also hold additional charge of the Tribal Affairs Department. Anil Kumar Dogra has been appointed as Director Accounts and Treasuries, Jammu, replacing Kotwal. Santosh Kumari has been transferred from the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation to the Labour and Employment Department. Among the officers promoted to the rank of Director Finance, Shahid Majeed Kakroo has been posted as Director Finance, Jal Shakti Department, while Manav Gupta has been appointed Director Finance, Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation. Amit Mahajan has been posted as Director Finance, Cooperative Department, while Premlata Patial has been appointed Director Finance, Jammu and Kashmir Power Corporation Limited (JKPCL). Harjeet Kour, who has also been promoted to the rank of Director Finance, has been directed to await further orders regarding her adjustment within the Directorate General of Accounts and Treasuries. Rashim Deepika, who was holding additional charge of the Cooperative Department, has been relieved of the additional responsibility. She will continue to serve in the Tourism Department. Naila Zahoor has been posted as Director Finance, Youth Services and Sports Department, and Jasvinder Singh has been relieved of the additional charge of the post. The reshuffle affects several key departments, including School Education, ARI & Trainings, Tribal Affairs, Jal Shakti, Labour and Employment, Cooperative, Tourism, Youth Services and Sports, and the power sector. The government order said the transfers and postings would take effect immediately. The move is expected to bring fresh administrative assignments to the financial management wings of several departments and streamline the functioning of the Finance Department and its associated offices.

SKUAST-K trains Ladakh veterinarians in future-ready livestock farming

Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) has concluded a two-week capacity-building training programme for veterinary officers from Ladakh, equipping them with next-generation knowledge, skills and technology-driven approaches to livestock farming suited to the regions challenging agro-climatic conditions. The training programme on Future-Ready Livestock Farming was organised by the Division of Livestock Production and Management (LPM) at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, SKUAST-Kashmir, Shuhama. The initiative aimed to strengthen the technical and professional capacities of field-level veterinary officers and to familiarize them with emerging technologies and modern approaches to livestock development. Speaking at the valedictory function, Prof. Riaz Ahmad Shah, Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, SKUAST-Kashmir, who was the chief guest on the occasion, appreciated the efforts of the Division of LPM in organizing the programme and emphasized the importance of continuous capacity building of veterinary professionals working at the field level. Prof. Hilal Musadiq Khan, Head, Division of LPM, said the programme had been designed to provide participants with a holistic understanding of modern livestock production and management practices. Prof. Masood Saleem Mir, Associate Director Extension, highlighted the importance of taking scientific innovations and modern livestock management practices from the University to the field. Prof. M. T. Banday, Senior Professor, Division of LPM and former Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, emphasized the need to integrate scientific knowledge with locally suitable livestock production practices to address emerging challenges in the sector. Prof. I. U. Sheikh, Professor, Division of LPM, expressed hope that the knowledge and skills acquired during the programme would translate into practical interventions in the field and contribute towards making livestock farming in Ladakh more productive, sustainable and technology-driven. The programme concluded with the distribution of certificates among the participating veterinary officers. Dr. Henna Hamadani, Organizing Secretary, conducted the proceedings of the valedictory function. Other faculty members of the Division, Dr. Raoof Ahmad Pattoo and Dr. Shiekh Adil, were also present on the occasion.

Cooking up success: Women SHGs turn culinary skills into businesses

At around 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sumi Jan, 32, was busy preparing kehwa, carefully mixing almonds, saffron and other ingredients, while her fellow workers served biryani, rice and other dishes at a small food outlet on the premises of the Deputy Commissioners office in south Kashmirs Kulgam district. Jan and four other women came together under the Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission (JKRLM) to establish the outlet under the brand name Umeed Ka Zaika. The venture, which began around five months ago, has already recorded a monthly turnover of more than 2 lakh, Jan said. I formed a Self-Help Group a few years ago and later started this venture nearly five months ago, she said. The five women jointly operate the outlet, dividing responsibilities among themselves. Their work ranges from preparing traditional dishes and beverages to serving customers and handling the day-to-day management of the business. Jan said the group initially started with a small setup but has gradually built a regular customer base. The members divide the work according to their roles, with some concentrating on cooking while others handle serving customers and other daily operational responsibilities. She said the training and institutional support provided before the outlet was established helped the women understand the basics of running a food business. This included preparing a menu, managing customers and handling the financial aspects of the enterprise. A similar outlet is being run by Sabza Begum at a sub-district hospital in Poonch, where she and other women serve homemade food to patients, their attendants and hospital staff. We started it just a month ago, but the response has been overwhelming, Begum said. She said the income generated through the outlet was sufficient to help the women meet their basic household expenses, providing them with an additional source of livelihood. We were given proper training before starting this venture, she said. The two ventures are part of Umeed, an initiative of JKRLM and Kudumbashree NRO aimed at helping women associated with Self-Help Groups develop food-based enterprises and gradually move from small household-level economic activities towards organised businesses. Under the initiative, women are provided training and support to establish and manage food outlets. The programme seeks to help them convert existing cooking and food-preparation skills into structured, income-generating enterprises. The initiative is also creating opportunities for women who may have limited access to formal employment but possess skills that can be developed into viable businesses. For women such as Jan and Begum, the model provides a collective way of entering the market. Instead of operating individually, several SHG members work together, share responsibilities and participate in the income generated by the enterprise. The food outlets are part of a broader effort by JKRLM to diversify the livelihoods of women associated with Self-Help Groups. While many SHGs continue to remain engaged in activities such as agriculture, livestock rearing and handicrafts, newer livelihood opportunities are emerging in areas including food processing, catering and retail. The approach also seeks to take Self-Help Groups beyond their traditional role in savings and credit by helping members establish enterprises capable of generating sustained income. For Jan, the Kulgam outlet has already developed into an enterprise generating a monthly turnover of more than 2 lakh within five months of its launch. For Begum and her colleagues in Poonch, the hospital outlet is only a month old but has already attracted a strong response from patients, attendants and hospital staff. The experiences of the two groups point to a wider shift in the way women-led Self-Help Groups are approaching livelihood generation. With training, collective effort and institutional support, skills traditionally associated with household work are being taken into the marketplace and developed into organised enterprises. For the women running the two outlets, cooking is therefore no longer confined to the household. It has become a means of earning, contributing to family expenses and building a collective livelihood.

GDCT demands fast track trial, maximum punishment in Chatroo minor girls death

The Gurjar Desh Charitable Trust (GDCT) on Thursday demanded that a dedicated fast-track court be constituted for the expeditious trial of a case related to Chatroo minor girls death, with the proceedings conducted on a day-to-day basis. While expressing profound shock, grief and outrage over the alleged rape and murder of an innocent tribal Gujjar-Bakerwal minor school girl at Gurinallha, Chatroo, Kishtwar, GDCT, in a press conference at its complex in Gujjar Colony, Jammu, also sought that the investigation be completed expeditiously and impartially, preferably within a time-bound period of 15 days. Chairman GDCT, Arshad Ali Choudhary, said that such a barbaric crime against an innocent girl could not be allowed to undermine the sense of safety and dignity of children belonging to marginalized and tribal communities. While addressing the presser, Anwar Choudhary, general secretary, Mohammad Sadiq Azad and Financial Advisor Bashir Ahmed demanded that the investigation be pursued from all possible angles and that no individual involved, directly or indirectly, should escape the process of law. Zulkarnain Chowdhary, who recently led a fact-finding team to the crime spot at Chatroo, apprised the gathering of information emerging from the ground. He stated that the information gathered during the visit warranted a thorough investigation into the possibility of involvement of additional persons or accomplices. He accordingly demanded that the investigating agency widen the scope of investigation, identify and bring every person involved to justice, strictly on the basis of evidence and due process of law, within a time-bound period of 15 days. They demanded that the accused be prosecuted under all applicable provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and other relevant laws and senior administrative and police authorities should closely monitor the investigation to ensure transparency, accountability and freedom from any political, social or local interference. All available evidence be preserved and secured, including CCTV footage, forensic material, digital evidence and other relevant material, and the chain of custody of such evidence be maintained in accordance with law. A comprehensive safety audit of schools in remote and tribal areas be undertaken by the concerned authorities, with particular attention to the safety of girl students and vulnerable children, they demanded. They also sought adequate compensation, legal assistance and psychological support be provided to the victims family without delay, in accordance with applicable government schemes and legal provisions. Special measures be undertaken for the protection of tribal girl students residing in or travelling through remote and geographically difficult areas, so that such incidents are prevented in the future, they asserted.

Technical snag during launching operation seemingly caused Samba mishap: NHAI expert team

The expert team deputed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Jammu has stated that prima facie, the mishap during construction of the elevated corridor under package 15 of the DelhiAmritsarKatra Expressway at village Jakh in Samba on August 25, appears to have occurred due to a technical snag during the launching operation. A day after the mishap, the NHAI expert team on Wednesday (August 26) conducted a detailed technical examination of the incident. As part of the examination, three experts with extensive experience in the field were called to the site. The expert team, as per an official statement of NHAI, inspected all aspects of the techno-mechanical failure involving the highly sophisticated launching gantry and examined the relevant design details and sequence of operations. Prima facie, the incident appeared to have occurred due to a technical snag during the launching operation, the statement added. A detailed examination is continuing to establish the precise cause of the incident and to determine the necessary corrective and preventive measures, NHAI said, adding that the victims family was suitably compensated and the company also provided employment to the Next of Kin. While such assistance cannot compensate for the loss, it has been extended in solidarity with and support for the affected family. NHAI remains firmly committed to ensuring the highest standards of safety during construction activities as well as for highway users. All necessary measures will continue to be undertaken to uphold safety standards across the project, NHAI said. On August 25, two labourers were killed and one was critically injured in two separate mishaps involving under-construction flyover and Tawi bridge, as part of Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway in Samba and Jammu districts. In the first incident, the mishap occurred during the installation of a span at an under-construction flyover near Jakh Morh, Vijaypur in Samba district. During the installation work, the span collapsed and fell down. In the incident, one labourer identified as Gautam Sao, 25, son of Paltan Sao, resident of Ward number 10, Godah, Bihar, died on the spot. Another labourer namely Bisht Sao, son of Naresh Sao, resident of Bihar, sustained critical injuries. In the second incident on the same day, one labourer died when a part of fresh concrete slab of the under-construction Tawi bridge, also a part of Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, at Sidhra in Jammu outskirts, fell while he was engaged in construction work. The deceased was identified as the labourer Budhi Singh, 45, a resident of Ramban.

DH Kishtwar terminates services of arrested sanitation worker

The Medical Superintendent, District Hospital Kishtwar, has terminated the services of Farooq Ahmed, an HDF sanitation worker posted at the hospital, with immediate effect following his arrest in connection with the Chatroo minors death case. According to an official order issued on August 26, 2026, Farooq Ahmed, son of Sunaullah and resident of Sangrambhata, Kishtwar, was arrested by Police Station Chatroo on August 26 in connection with FIR No. 34/2026. The FIR has been registered under Sections 61(1), 65(2), 90, 91 and 92 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), besides Sections 4, 6, 8, 10 and 17 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The hospital authorities said they were formally informed about the arrest by the Station House Officer, Police Station Chatroo, through a wireless signal dated August 26. The order stated that the allegations and the nature of the offences were extremely grave and serious and had rendered the continuation of the individual in service incompatible with the discipline, integrity, reputation and functioning of a public health institution. In view of the aforesaid facts and circumstances, the services of Farooq Ahmed, HDF Sanitation Worker, District Hospital Kishtwar, are hereby terminated with immediate effect, the Medical Superintendent said in the order. Copies of the order have been forwarded to the District Development Commissioner Kishtwar, Director Health Services Jammu, Senior Superintendent of Police Kishtwar, Chief Medical Officer Kishtwar and the SHOs of Police Stations Kishtwar and Chatroo for information and necessary record. The termination comes amid heightened public concern and ongoing investigations into the death of the minor girl in the Chatroo area. The police investigation into the case is continuing.

Census 2027: Amit Sharma reviews preparations for special-charge enumeration in J&K, Ladakh

The Directorate of Census Operations, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, on Thursday convened a strategic coordination meeting with nodal officers of the Defence forces, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and other organisations to finalise preparations for population enumeration in Special Charges in the snow-bound areas of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The enumeration is scheduled to be conducted from September 1 to 30, 2026, as part of Phase-II of Census 2027. The meeting was chaired by Amit Sharma, IAS, Chief Principal Census Officer and Director, Census Operations, J&K and Ladakh. The meeting focused on ensuring complete, secure and accurate enumeration of all eligible personnel and members residing in Special Charges, which include Defence and CAPF establishments, training centres, research institutions and other restricted-access locations where civilian Census functionaries may not have access. Representatives of the CISF, ITBP, CRPF, Assam Rifles, Railway Board, Air Force, Border Roads Organisation (BRO), BSF and SSB from Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh participated in the meeting. Addressing the participants, Sharma said Census 2027 would be Indias first census to be conducted digitally, while the population enumeration exercise in Special Charges had been structured to meet the security and operational requirements of such establishments. He said the Directorates objective was to ensure that every eligible person was counted accurately, irrespective of the nature or location of the establishment, while maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality and security. Sharma explained that Census Charge Officers, Enumerators and Supervisors for Special Charges would be appointed from among officers and personnel of the respective establishments. The nodal officers of individual forces and organisations would coordinate with the Directorate for the appointment of Census functionaries, training, provision of Census material and timely completion of the enumeration. The population enumeration will cover questions relating to basic information, demographic and social characteristics, language, education, economic activity, migration, fertility and other particulars. Certain questions concerning economic activity and migration will follow specific provisions applicable to Defence and CAPF personnel. Detailed training will be provided to Special Charge Officers, Enumerators and Supervisors to ensure a uniform understanding of Census concepts, definitions and procedures. The meeting placed particular emphasis on training and standardisation. Training for nodal officers, Charge Officers, Enumerators and Supervisors deployed in Special Charges in snow-bound areas is scheduled to be conducted shortly. The Directorate will provide the necessary instruction manuals and Census material, while the respective nodal officers and Special Charge Officers will facilitate training and field arrangements in coordination with Census authorities. The participants also reviewed arrangements for supervision, data entry, secure handling and transfer of Census material, appointment of Census functionaries and coordination mechanisms required to complete the exercise within the prescribed timeframe. Sharma said the September enumeration was particularly significant for snow-bound areas of Jammu & Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh, where population enumeration is being undertaken ahead of the main national enumeration schedule due to the regions distinctive climatic and geographical conditions. He stressed that close coordination between the Census Directorate, Defence forces, CAPFs and other specialised organisations would be critical to ensuring complete Census coverage. The Chief Principal Census Officer expressed confidence that the coordination established with the participating organisations would facilitate smooth, secure and comprehensive population enumeration across all Special Charges, contributing to the successful conduct of Phase-II of Census 2027 in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

Kashmir students have potential, need better platforms: NITI Aayog team

A 10-member NITI Aayog delegation visiting Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday said its field visit was aimed at identifying development bottlenecks, improving coordination among government agencies and extending institutional support to the Union Territory for faster and more inclusive growth. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a visit to the Atal Tinkering Laboratory (ATL) at Government Girls Higher Secondary School (GGHSS), Nawakadal, NITI Aayog member Dr M. Srinivas, who is leading the delegation, said such field visits were part of the institutions mandate under the principle of cooperative federalism. We want to know what are the issues, what are the problems, whether there are issues with various government agencies, or inter-ministerial coordination that has to be done, he said. Srinivas said NITI Aayog representatives visit Jammu and Kashmir periodically, sometimes every three months and sometimes every six months, to assess developments on the ground and understand the challenges being faced by the government and various institutions. The delegation arrived in Kashmir on August 26 and called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. On Thursday, it held a meeting with J&K Chief Secretary and senior officers of various departments at SKICC. Later, Srinivas called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar. According to a post on X by the Chief Ministers Office, the meeting discussed Jammu and Kashmirs developmental priorities and ways to strengthen cooperation with NITI Aayog to accelerate inclusive and sustainable growth. In the second half of the day, the delegation visited GGHSS Nawakadal to inspect projects developed at the ATL and interact with students. Srinivas said the visit was also intended to determine whether the J&K government or individual institutions required hand-holding and support for specific projects. That is why we are here, to know, discuss with them, understand their problems and give a helping hand to them, he said. On the roadmap for a Viksit Jammu & Kashmir, Srinivas said the Union Territorys development would have to progress in sync with the broader vision of Viksit Bharat. He, however, stressed that the process must be undertaken in partnership with the people and institutions of Jammu and Kashmir. During his interaction with students at Nawakadal, Srinivas praised their capabilities and said young people in Kashmir possessed considerable potential but needed appropriate platforms and opportunities to translate their abilities into tangible outcomes. He described the school as an example of what students could achieve when provided with the right environment. The students presented projects developed with the support of the ATL, including practical solutions addressing issues related to households, their surroundings and ecology. It is very heartening to see them. They have wonderful theoretical knowledge as well as skills and practical knowledge, which they have put together to give solutions, Srinivas said. He said he was extremely happy with the performance and capabilities displayed by the students. These girls are far better than what we were at that age, he said. Srinivas stressed the need to provide young people with greater opportunities and platforms to develop their capabilities and convert their ideas into practical solutions. The delegation includes Anurag Goyal, Senior Advisor; Subhash Chandra Meena, Economic Adviser; Dr S.B. Muniraju, Deputy Adviser; Dr Shobit Kumar, OSD (Health); Sumaya Yousuf, Programme Lead, Atal Innovation Mission; Arpana Bhat, Consultant; Vishnuha, Consultant; Dr Janvi Prajapati, Young Professional; and Pratha Srivastava, Young Professional, besides Srinivas. On Friday, the delegation is scheduled to visit the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM) at Sanat Nagar, where it will receive an overview of the incubation centre and interact with faculty members and innovators.

Untreated sewage threatens Sindh Nallah; CPCB flags high coliform levels

The pristine Sindh Nallah, a vital ecological artery of Ganderbal district and an important freshwater source for trout farming, is facing deterioration in water quality due to the discharge of untreated sewage, according to a comprehensive status report submitted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) before the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The CPCB report has identified elevated contamination levels at three key stretches of the waterwayKangan Akhal Bridge, Shutkadi Bridge downstream of Sonamarg and Sindh Nallah at Sonamarg. The pollution has been attributed to untreated domestic sewage entering the water body through multiple municipal and commercial drains. The report was submitted in compliance with directions of the NGT in proceedings concerning pollution of the Sindh Nallah and its potential impact on the trout habitat in the area. The latest findings are based on water samples collected during an extensive CPCB field inspection conducted on May 4, 2026. The NGT proceedings were initiated against the backdrop of a Greater Kashmir report titled Sindh Nallah Polluted Trout Habitat Threatened in Ganderbal, published on August 19, 2024. The Tribunal has been examining pollution in the Sindh Nallah and its impact on trout fish farming, with the waterway being an important source of freshwater for trout farming in the region. The investigation was ordered to assess environmental risks in Ganderbal district, particularly the potential impact of water contamination on the areas vital trout-farming ecosystem. During its May 4 inspection, the CPCB collected 11 water samples, including seven from different locations along the Sindh Nallah and four from drains discharging into the waterway. According to the CPCB report, all seven river sampling locations complied with the designated best-use criteria for propagation of wildlife and fisheries under Class D. However, three locationsKangan Akhal Bridge, Shutkadi Bridge downstream of Sonamarg and Sindh Nallah at Sonamargfailed to meet the Class B and Class C criteria due to elevated total coliform levels. Other parameters tested at these locations, including pH, dissolved oxygen and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), were found to be within the prescribed limits. The microbiological analysis of the drains feeding the Sindh Nallah, however, revealed particularly high levels of contamination. The CPCB recorded faecal coliform levels ranging from 210 to 2910 MPN/100 ml in the four identified drains. BOD levels in the drains ranged from 6 mg/l to 118 mg/l. The CPCB said the levels indicated the discharge of untreated sewage into the Sindh Nallah, highlighting the continuing pressure on the waterway from inadequately treated domestic wastewater. The report also flagged operational gaps in sanitation infrastructure at Sonamarg. During the inspection, the proposed 1.2 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) was found to be incomplete and had not yet become operational. Officials of the Sonamarg Development Authority informed the CPCB team that at least two additional months would be required to make the facility operational. The delay in commissioning the STP assumes significance as untreated sewage continues to enter the Sindh Nallah through drains, with the CPCB findings showing high faecal coliform and BOD levels in the inflows. The CPCB has recommended that the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (J&K PCC) issue immediate directions to ensure zero discharge of untreated sewage into the Sindh Nallah. It has also recommended continuous monitoring of water quality to track contamination and help protect the fragile high-altitude river habitat. The findings have renewed concerns over sewage management in settlements along the Sindh Nallah, particularly in and around Sonamarg and Kangan, where the waterway has ecological importance and supports trout-farming activities. The CPCBs recommendations now place greater emphasis on preventing untreated sewage from entering the nallah and ensuring that sanitation infrastructure, including the proposed STP at Sonamarg, is completed and made operational without further delay.

Divisional Commissioner reviews proposed road projects for Srinagar

Srinagar, Aug 27:Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg, today chaired a meeting to review various proposed road projects for Srinagar aimed at improving urban mobility, easing traffic congestion and strengthening the citys transportation network. The meeting was attended by the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Commissioner SMC, Chief Conservator of Forests, Chief Executive Officer, Cantonment Board, Chief Engineers of I&FC and R&B, and officers from PHE, NHAI, Police, Traffic and KPDCL, among other concerned departments. At the outset, the Superintending Engineer, PWD, presented replies to the observations raised during the previous meeting regarding the proposed ParimporaDalgate Flyover, along with a detailed analytical report on the project. While reviewing the report, the Divisional Commissioner directed the Commissioner SMC to submit the final report of the committee constituted under his chairmanship to assess the projects likely impact on traffic decongestion and improved mobility. He instructed to incorporate assessments, concerns and inputs from all stakeholder departments regarding the flyover. The Divisional Commissioner emphasized that the project should be evaluated through a comprehensive and integrated assessment, taking into account its impact on the overall transportation network rather than examining it in isolation. He stressed the need for detailed technical and stakeholder evaluation before taking the project forward. The meeting also reviewed the proposed Ring Road Part-III, particularly the stretch passing through the city from Lasjan to Pandach. The Divisional Commissioner examined the comparative statement of the three alternative alignments proposed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). He further reviewed the observations made by the I&FC Department and the Cantonment Board regarding the proposed 8-km flyover component from Lasjan to Dalgate. On the occasion, the Divisional Commissioner directed the Chief Engineer, I&FC, to convene a meeting with NHAI to deliberate upon the proposed alignment and associated technical aspects, with particular emphasis on ensuring that the project does not pose any threat to the embankment of River Jhelum. The Divisional Commissioner underscored the importance of coordinated planning among all concerned departments to ensure that major road infrastructure projects in Srinagar are technically sound, environmentally responsible and aligned with the broader objective of improving mobility and reducing congestion in the city.

CASO in Nowshera sector after suspicious movement

Security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Nowshera sector after troops detected suspicious movement on Wednesday evening. According to official sources, troops deployed at a forward location along the LoC observed the suspicious movement, following which an alert was sounded in the area. Amid the heightened alert, multiple gunshots were also heard from the area. It was not immediately clear whether the firing was from one side or both sides, sources said. Security forces have cordoned off the area, while a detailed search operation is expected to be launched early Thursday morning, officials said.

Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari visits fire victims at Watal Kadal

Srinagar, Aug 27:Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, along with several party colleagues, on Thursday visited Watal Kadal in Srinagar, where at least seven houses were gutted in a massive fire incident last evening. Bukhari and the accompanying party leaders met the affected families and expressed their sympathy and complete solidarity with them during this hour of immense grief and distress. Speaking on the occasion, Altaf Bukhari urged the administration to provide immediate relief and undertake necessary rehabilitation measures for the affected families. He said the administration must take concrete and prompt steps to rehabilitate the affected families and ensure that they are provided with all necessary assistance to help them rebuild their lives. The prominent party leaders accompanying the Apni Party President during the visit included District President Kupwara Raja Manzoor, Provincial Youth President Kashmir Jibran Dar, Joint Secretary District Srinagar Sumaira and others.

Deputy CM hopeful of Congress joining cabinet soon

Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Thursday hoped that Congress would soon take a decision to join the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah-led J&K government. Right from day one of the government formation in alliance, we always wanted the Congress to join the government. However, it (Congress) was not able to take a call on this account. Now it is in the process to take a call. We all should feel happy once it takes its final decision. The joining of Congress will further strengthen the government and bolster its performance. We will be able to deliver effectively and address the peoples issues, Choudhary said, while responding to media queries about cabinet expansion and the prospects of Congress joining it. They (Congress) are in alliance and it is their right to be part of the government. We will feel happy as and when they decide about it. Nevertheless, the final call on this account, as even National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah too has mentioned, is to be taken by the Congress itself, the Deputy Chief Minister remarked. He rubbished the allegations of horse-trading to induce Congress or others to join the cabinet. We are not BJP people who would resort to horse-trading. We (NC) dont believe in such tactics to bring parties or leaders to our fold. It is a relationship where hearts meet. Our alliance is based on mutual understanding and trust, Choudhary said. He asserted that Congress joined the alliance with a clear heart and clear intentions and NC was hopeful it would join the government too soon. Responding to media queries about criticism on power tariff hike, he challenged the political detractors, particularly BJP, to compare hike in electricity tariffs during its previous 12 years with those of the present government. You (media) should ask Sunil Sharma about tariff hikes during the BJP's tenure, how much electricity bills went up and how many times amnesty was given, Choudhary said, adding that the present dispensation gave amnesty to commercial and domestic consumers. Ask the LoP Sunil Sharma about the spiralling prices of onions, sugars, pulses, vegetables and other essentials or for that matter hiked fee in universities and other educational institutions, he dared.

Congress not to join cabinet till statehood restoration: Karra

Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hameed Karra on Thursday reiterated that his party was stuck to its principled stand, taken on day one of UT-government formation, of not joining Chief Minister Omar Abdullah-led cabinet till restoration of statehood to J&K. Putting at rest all speculations Karra, while responding to media queries on the sidelines of a party function in Reasi, asserted that Congress had taken a principled stand not to join the government till the statehood was restored and its stand was unchanged. However, in the same breath, he clarified it did not mean that Congress support for the National Conference government was flinching. We are solidly in alliance with the NC against the nefarious designs of BJP. In case of any attempt by it (BJP) to disturb or destabilise the UT government, NC will always find Congress with it, Karra reassured. In response to questions about the Congress stand on power tariff hike and other public grievances related to scarcity of power, water, dilapidated roads etc., JKPCC president stated that the partys alliance with NC would not affect its commitment to raise public issues and seek their redress. Karra maintained that the support for Congress among youth was growing in wake of senior party leader and the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhis stand and struggle in favour of Gen Z. Earlier while addressing the gathering in a joining programme organised by the District Congress Committee (DCC), Reasi, Karra said that in the past few days, there were a lot of speculations about the much-awaited J&K cabinet expansion after around two years and the prospects of Congress joining it. Let me make it clear. Congress, in order to join the government, cannot climb down from its principled stand vis-a-vis restoration of statehood and other constitutional rights taken away from J&K people. However, this is also our commitment that whenever BJP tries to disturb the stability of the NC government, Congress will always be there, solidly standing by its (NCs) side, JKPCC president said. He said that Congress support to the NC government also did not mean that it would remain silent on the issues of governance and the commitments to the people by the government. On the issue of power hike, Congress has already opposed burdening the common man who is already suffering. In fact, our party demands that the government should come out with a comprehensive amnesty scheme for power to give relaxation to the common man, Karra asserted. During the function, a large number of new members also joined the Congress family, expressing their faith in the ideology, policies and leadership of the Indian National Congress. The programme was also attended by Raman Bhalla, working president JKPCC; Lal Singh, former minister; Jugal Kishore Sharma, former minister; Babu Jag Jivan Lal, former minister; Rajesh Sadotra, general secretary JKPCC; Rakesh Wazir, general secretary JKPCC and Bhupinder Singh besides other leaders and workers. Addressing the gathering, Bhalla emphasised the need to further strengthen the Congress organisation at the grassroots level and called upon party workers to remain connected with the people and work for their welfare. He stressed the importance of unity, discipline and collective efforts in strengthening the organisation in Jammu and Kashmir. Lal Singh welcomed the new entrants especially the younger generation into the party and alleged that people realised the anti-people and anti-youth policies of the BJP government.

MLA Qaiser Lone seeks SDH status for PHC Dudi in Machil

Kupwara, Aug 27: National Conference District President Kupwara and Member Legislative Assembly (MLA) Lolab Qaiser Jamsheed Lone has sought the upgradation of Primary Health Centre (PHC) Dudi in remote Machil sector of the district to the level of a Sub-District Hospital (SDH) so that it will significantly strengthen healthcare services for people living near the Line of Control (LoC). Speaking to Greater Kashmir, Qaiser Lone said that residents of Machil face serious difficulties in accessing healthcare, particularly during the winter months when harsh weather and poor connectivity often make it difficult for patients to reach healthcare facilities outside the area. People in Machil have long been demanding the deployment of a gynaecologist and other specialist doctors at PHC Dudi, however the creation and posting of such specialist positions is not feasible under the existing PHC-level setup, Lone told Greater Kashmir. The upgradation of PHC Dudi to SDH would address this issue by allowing the creation of specialist posts and strengthening the overall medical infrastructure at the facility. I have recently met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and requested him to upgrade PHC Dudi to the level of a Sub-District Hospital so that the long pending demand of people to have better health care facilities may turn out to be a reality, Lone said. He added , The proposed upgradation would enable the health centre to have specialist doctors and better medical facilities, reducing the need for residents to travel long distances for treatment. He said that strengthening healthcare infrastructure in Machil is really important given its remote and border location. Better medical facilities in Machil will provide greater relief and a sense of security to the local population, especially during the harsh winter months when the area witnesses several feet snowfall, he added. Meanwhile locals have hailed the proposed upgradation of PHC Dudi and hoped that their long pending demand will be fulfilled without further delay.

Dr Syed Rafiq Ahmad Simnani invited to receive Honorary Doctorate in New Delhi

Dr Syed Rafiq Ahmad Simnani of Srinagar has been invited to an award ceremony in New Delhi where, according to a letter issued by the Socrates Social Research University Trust, he is proposed to be conferred an Honorary Doctorate Award. In a letter dated August 19, 2026, the Trust informed Simnani that its evaluation panel had considered his application and recommended him for the award in recognition of his achievement and social dedication in his specific field. The award ceremony is scheduled for September 5, 2026, at the Constitution Club of India, New Delhi. Socrates Social Research University Trust, registered with the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi under the Indian Trust Act, 1882, has sent the communique to Dr Simnani.

Speaker A R Rather launches Rs 2.5 crore development works, holds public outreach camp

Budgam, Aug 27: Speaker, Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather, Thursday convened an extensive public outreach programme in the Charari Sharief constituency at Hardu Dalwan to listen to the grievances, issues and developmental demands of the people. During the camp, the local residents and public representatives, as per an official statement, apprised the Speaker of various issues concerning road connectivity, water scarcity, electricity along with basic amenities and other developmental requirements of the area. The Speaker assured them that their genuine demands would be taken up with the concerned departments for redress in a phased and time bound manner. Rather emphasised that regular interaction with the public is essential for ensuring that development priorities remain aligned with the actual needs of the people. He said that concerted efforts would be made to resolve the highlighted issues through the concerned departments. The Speaker urged the people to continue providing constructive feedback regarding developmental works and public services. He said that active public participation and cooperation are vital for achieving balanced and sustainable development across the constituency. During his tour, the Speaker visited the Government Higher Secondary School, Hardu Dalwan and assessed the facilities and requirements of the institution. On the occasion, the students presented a colourful cultural programme, showcasing their talent and enthusiasm. During his interaction with the students, teaching staff and school management, the Speaker took detailed feedback on functioning of the institution. The school management apprised him of the need for adequate desks and benches and provision of smart-class facilities to enhance the learning environment for the students. Responding to the demands, the Speaker assured that the required funds would be made available and the identified requirements, including benches and smart classes, would be fulfilled at the earliest. He emphasised the importance of quality education in empowering the younger generation. He encouraged them to remain focused on their studies and actively contribute towards the development and progress of their communities. Earlier, the Speaker launched development works worth more than Rs 2.5 crore, giving further impetus to road infrastructure in the constituency. The works included macadamisation/blacktopping of a 1.5 kilometre long PMGSY road at Ahangar Mohalla and one-kilometre-long road at Kakawring.

Khelo India Samvad held at GDC Ganderbal

The NSS units of Government Degree College (GDC), Ganderbal, organised Khelo India Samvad Khel Ki Baat, PM Ke Saath on Thursday under the aegis of MYBharat and the NSS, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The highlight was a virtual interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi from 11 a.m. to noon. The programme began with the National Anthem, followed by a welcome address, NSS pledge and introduction of MYBharat volunteers. It also featured a screening of a Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) video, MYBharat registration, the VBYLD Idea Box Quiz and an interactive session with the moderator and sports personalities. Around 150 students, NSS volunteers, faculty members and officials participated. Sportsperson Afreen, sports coach Saima Jan, MYBharat Nodal Officer and NSS Programme Officer Dr Jamsheeda Akhter, NSS Programme Officer Dr Mansha Nisar, Sports Director Dr Ravinder Kour and MYBharat team representative Wasil Ayoub were among those present. Senior Professor Dr Rafiq Ahmad addressed the gathering, while Hadika moderated the interactive session. The programme was coordinated by Dr Jamsheeda Akhter and Dr Mansha Nisar. It concluded with addresses by the NSS coordinator and principal, felicitation of participants and a vote of thanks.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq expresses grief over Poonch road tragedy, Nepal floods

Srinagar, Aug 27:Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Mohammad Umar Farooq has expressed deep grief and anguish over the tragic road accident in Surankote, Poonch, in which six precious lives were lost and three people were injured, including a child stated to be in critical condition. Conveying his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, Mirwaiz, as per a statement, prayed to Almighty Allah to grant the deceased Jannat-ul-Firdous, give patience and strength to their families, and grant a complete and speedy recovery to the injured. Mirwaiz also expressed profound shock and concern over the reported rape and subsequent death of a minor tribal girl in Kishtwar. He said the circumstances surrounding the case are deeply disturbing and have understandably caused anguish across society. While noting the arrests and ongoing investigation, he stressed that the matter must be investigated thoroughly, impartially and without delay so that the truth is established and all those found responsible are held accountable under law. He said the protection and dignity of children, particularly those belonging to vulnerable and marginalised communities, is a collective moral and societal responsibility, and such cases demand both justice for the victim and institutional accountability wherever lapses are established. Mirwaiz further expressed deep sorrow over the catastrophic flash floods that have devastated parts of Nepal and the adjoining Himalayan region, causing a massive loss of life and leaving large numbers of people missing and displaced. He extended heartfelt condolences and solidarity to the people of Nepal and all those affected by the disaster, and prayed for the safety and early recovery of those still missing and stranded. Mirwaiz prayed that Almighty Allah protect people from calamities, grant comfort to all bereaved families, healing to the injured, and strength to the rescue personnel and communities engaged in relief efforts.

BSF honours 13 mountaineers who died scaling Saser Kangri in Ladakh

The Border Security Force (BSF) on Thursday held a wreath-laying ceremony at Panamik village in Nubra Valley near Siachen region. The ceremony honoured 13 BSF mountaineers who died in an avalanche on Aug. 27, 1995. They were attempting to scale Mount Saser Kangri in the Karakoram range. Senior BSF officers, civil administration officials, security personnel, villagers and family members attended the ceremony. BSF officers laid wreaths on behalf of the Director General. A contingent observed silence as buglers sounded the Last Post. Representatives of three martyr families also paid homage. The BSF also held a civic action programme. It distributed sports equipment and utility items among local residents and schoolchildren.

Dr Farooq expresses grief over Surankote Poonch road accident

Srinagar, Aug 27:The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah has expressed deep anguish and sorrow over the tragic road accident in Surankote, Poonch in which six people, including two women, lost their lives and three others were injured. He conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for eternal peace to those who lost their lives. He also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured, particularly the critically injured child. As per a statement issued, he urged the administration to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured and provide all necessary assistance and support to the affected families in this hour of grief. Dr Farooq said the loss of precious lives in such tragic circumstances is deeply painful and expressed solidarity with the bereaved families.

Execute works on war footing ahead of winter season: Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani

Kupwara, Aug 27:Advisor to Chief Minister, Nasir Aslam Wani on Thursday visited the far-flung area of Moorie in Kalaroose of Lolab Sub-Division to take stock of the developmental issues and problems being faced by the people of the area. The Advisor, as per an official statement, was accompanied by SE R&B Circle Kupwara, ACD Kupwara, ACP Kupwara and other officers of the concerned departments. During the visit, the Advisor visited Sona Pend village in Moorie, where several residential houses and a mosque were damaged in a recent cloudburst. Interacting with the affected residents, the Advisor said that the government has announced special assistance for restoration and rehabilitation of the affected families and infrastructure. During his day-long tour, the Advisor also inspected the identified land near Lastiyal Bridge in Kasba Kalaroose, proposed for establishment of a Sports Stadium. He directed the Executive Engineer, Sports Council Srinagar, to initiate the construction work within a week positively. Nasir Aslam also interacted with various public delegations from Moorie, who apprised him of their day-to-day developmental issues, including road connectivity, water supply, ration and other basic amenities. He assured them that their genuine issues would be taken up with the concerned departments for timely redress. On the occasion, the Advisor directed the concerned officers to accord top priority to the issues of the far-flung and hard-to-reach areas. He asked them for ensuring execution of developmental works on war footing, particularly in view of the approaching winter season. Nasir Aslam undertook a detailed tour of various villages and hamlets, including Sona Pend Gali, Narizeb, Ladah, Kothiyan, Nagsri, Thayan Gujran, Moorie and adjoining areas. He took stock of the developmental requirements of the local population. Earlier, the Advisor chaired a meeting of concerned officers at Sogam and sought detailed feedback regarding the progress of ongoing developmental works and the major issues requiring immediate attention. ACD Kupwara, ACP Kupwara, AD Food, Executive Engineer Sports Council and other senior officers and representatives of various departments attended the meeting.

Take decision on KVIB 2016 recruitment process: HC to Govt

The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has directed the government to take decision on the Khadi and Village Industries Boards (KVIB) selection process initiated by the Board in 2016 for various posts, including Accounts Assistant and Junior Auditor and Junior Assistant and Record Keeper. In their plea, Mahboob Ali Mir and eight others had assailed a government order dated June 28, 2019, whereby all selections made in KVIB pursuant to advertisement notice dated October 8, 2016 had been cancelled and the Board was directed to provide opportunity of being heard to all the candidates appointed to different categories of posts pursuant to the advertisement notice before cancelling the appointment of these candidates. A bench of Justice Sanjay Dhar in its decision in response to the aggrieved candidates plea directed the government to take decision on the KVIBs selection process. According to their plea, the petitioners had participated in the written test and were shortlisted for the respective posts. Candidates applying for the post of Junior Assistant/ Record Keeper also appeared in a type test, while all the petitioners subsequently appeared in interviews. While selection lists were issued for several other posts, including Executive Officer, Publicity Officer, Assistant Executive Officer, Field Publicity Officer and Junior Statistical Assistant, no selection lists were issued for the posts of Accounts Assistant, Junior Auditor and Junior Assistant/Record Keeper. The petitioners had earlier approached the court, which directed the authorities to proceed with the selection process. During subsequent contempt proceedings, however, the government cancelled the entire selection process through the impugned order. The court pointed out that the cancellation order of June 28, 2019, had already been quashed in connected litigation and that the decision had attained finality. A division bench had also ordered reinstatement of candidates whose selection process had culminated in appointments, while allowing the authorities to conduct a fresh inquiry in accordance with law. The court noted that the present petitioners stood on a different footing as the selection process for the posts they had applied for had not culminated in the issuance of selection lists or appointment orders. No direction could, therefore, be issued for their selection or appointment, it said. Moreover, with the government order cancelling the selection process having been quashed, the court noted that the authorities were required to proceed with the process as if the cancellation order had never been issued. Disposing of the plea, the court, accordingly, directed for taking decision regarding the fate of the selection process initiated under the 2016 advertisement, either by taking it to its logical conclusion or by taking any other action deemed appropriate after conducting an inquiry into the matter.

J&K Sports Council launches 4-day sports activity calendar

Srinagar, Aug 27: The Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council on Thursday launched a 4-day sports activity calendar as part of National Sports Day celebrations, 3 Months Calander, Major Dhyan Chand Memorial Hockey Event, an exhibition football match, junior girls trials and the unveiling of the Kashmir Super Leagues second-season jersey and trophy highlighting the days programme in Srinagar. The proceedings, as per a statement, were led by Sports Minister Satish Sharma, joined by Commissioner Secretary for Youth Services and Sports Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, and Secretary Sports Council Nuzhat Gull. Together, they unveiled a 4-day activity calendar and 3 Months Activity Calander that will see sporting events roll out across every UT centre, extending National Sports Day's energy well beyond the opening week and in step with celebrations taking place across the country. The action centred around the Synthetic Turf Football Ground at TRC, Srinagar, which played host to many marquee events. An exhibition football match between J&K Heroes and J&K Stars drew spirited support from the stands. International & National Gymnasts also performed during the event, while earlier on the same turf, young footballers from across the Union Territory turned out for the UT-level junior girls' football trials, a platform aimed at identifying the next generation of talent from the grassroots up. The event also carried a distinct league flavour, with the unveiling of the Kashmir Super League (KSL) 2.0 jersey and trophy setting the tone for the upcoming season. Minister Sharma spent time in conversation with KSL franchise owners, underlining that the league exists first and foremost as a talent pipeline, built to scout and nurture young players and prepare them for bigger stages ahead. Looking to tomorrow, the Minister announced that the Dhyan Chand Hockey Cup, fittingly named for the day's honouree, will get underway on August 28 and run over four days, adding another discipline to a week already rich with sporting activity. Beyond the formalities, the day had the feel of a genuine community gathering. Minister Sharma took the time to speak directly with football fans and hockey players present at the ground and used the moment to reinforce the Nasha Mukt Abhiyaan, JKSC's anti-drug campaign, urging young athletes and spectators alike to see sport as a path away from substance abuse and toward discipline and purpose.

DPS Srinagar shine with 13-1 win, SRM Welkins win on penalties

Srinagar, Aug 27: The fourth day of the 5th Canon C.E. Tyndale-Biscoe Invitational Football Tournament witnessed a vibrant mix of high-scoring football, closely fought contests and an exciting penalty shootout, as participating school teams continued their quest for glory. The day, as per a statement, began with a dominant performance in Match 11, where DPS Srinagar registered an emphatic 131 victory over New Bonvivant English School. Qazi was adjudged Man of the Match for his outstanding contribution to the team's commanding win. In Match 12, Tyndale-Biscoe School produced a determined performance to defeat Kashmir Valley School 21. The match remained competitive, with Tyndale-Biscoe converting its opportunities effectively. Baris was named Man of the Match for his impressive performance. The excitement intensified in Match 13, where SRM Welkins Sopore and Foundation World School played out a thrilling 11 draw in regulation time. Mueen put Foundation World School ahead in the 11th minute, while Azaan equalised for SRM Welkins Sopore in the 60th minute. The match eventually went into a penalty shootout, where SRM Welkins Sopore prevailed 43 to secure a hard-fought victory. The final encounter of the day, Match 14, saw Iqbal Memorial Institute edge past JK Public School 10 in a closely contested fixture. Rayaan was declared Man of the Match for his valuable contribution to the team's victory.

Sheetal made J&K, India proud by winning paralympic medal: PM Modi

Jammu, Aug 27: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, while lauding the inspiring spirit of para-athletes, asserted that famed archer Sheetal Devi made her home state Jammu and Kashmir and entire India proud by winning a medal in Paralympics. I, myself, have drawn great inspiration from the resilience-induced success of our specially-abled sportspersons. You would have heard all these names. Like in archery, one of our daughters is a wonderful sportsperson. You all know her name she is Sheetal. When in the Paralympics, she won a medal, the entire Jammu and Kashmir the entire India was swollen with pride, PM Modi stated, while participating in the Khelo India Dialogue via video conference. Para-archer Sheetal Devi, who hails from a remote area in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, had won bronze medal in the mixed team compound event at 2024 Paris Paralympics, becoming the youngest Indian Paralympics medalist. Born with phocomelia, a rare congenital disorder, armless Sheetal has also won two gold medals in Asian Para Games, 2023; gold in World Para Archery Championships 2025. Honoured with the Arjuna award in January 2024, 19-year-old Sheetal was named Para Archer of the Year-2025. Highlighting the profound societal benefits of sports, the Prime Minister noted that true sportsmanship was essential for fostering a healthy society, strong family structures, and a superior work culture. He emphasised that the athletic arena uniquely teaches individuals not just how to become champions, but how to resiliently face failures and rise again. Sports do not only teach us to become champions, but sports also teach us to become better competitors, he remarked. Praising the incredible transformative power of sports, the Prime Minister singled out the nation's para athletes for their profound ability to alter societal perspectives on life and adversity. He noted that the success of a specially-abled athlete fundamentally would revitalise their entire family, elevate the courage and dreams of parents and siblings who supported their early struggles. Expressing deep personal inspiration, the Prime Minister celebrated the remarkable achievements of para-athletes like archer Sheetal, double Paralympic medalist Avani Lekhara, Sumit Antil, Nitesh Kumar, and Jhandu Kumar. He noted that their victories would always bring immense pride to their home states and the entire nation. When I meet Avani, I feel very proud; every such companion inspires us, PM Modi said. Framing sports as a fundamental guarantee for a better quality of life, the Prime Minister cited the legendary centenarian athlete Fauja Singh as the ultimate example of lifelong fitness and athletic passion. He emphasised that Fauja Singh's life perfectly illustrated the deep interconnection between physical activity and overall well-being. His life is a very big inspiration of how sports and quality of life are interconnected, he noted.

The Luxury of Liberty

Winston Churchill famously quipped that democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others that have been tried. It is a messy, inefficient, and deeply frustrating system. Yet, history has shown it is the least worst option we have for ensuring peaceful transitions of power, protecting civil liberties, and holding leaders accountable. But there is a glaring blind spot in the Western promotion of this ideal: we treat democracy as a universal, plug-and-play system that simply requires setting up ballot boxes. The philosopher-poet Allama Iqbal famously critiqued this mechanical approach to governance, observing: Jamhooriat ik tarz-e-hukoomat hai ke jis mein Bandon ko gina karte hain, tola nahi karte (Democracy is a certain form of government in which / Men are counted, but they are not weighed.) When we examine the struggles of democracy in the developing nations, the profound truth of Iqbals words emerges. Merely counting heads does not create a functioning state. For a democracy to take root and flourish, it requires a basic threshold of development. A harsh reality persists: democracy cannot feed a starving family. Abstract political rights mean little when basic survival is on the line, paving the way for systemic corruption, compromised elites, and a fractured moral compass. The Developmental Threshold Democracies do not exist in a vacuum. To function, they require an ecosystem of stability. Political scientists have long noted that a functioning democracy usually requires a robust middle class, widespread literacy, and a baseline of economic security. Critics often counter this by pointing to early Western democracies, asking how the United States or the United Kingdom achieved democracy before modern economic development existed. The answer is simple: they didnt. Early Western democracies were highly restricted oligarchies where voting was limited exclusively to wealthy, property-owning men. To be clear, acknowledging this history is not an argument for restricting voting rights in the developing world today. Universal suffrage is a non-negotiable human right. Rather, it exposes a profound double standard. The West artificially created a stable electorate by silencing the poor, and spent centuries building strong states before gradually expanding the vote. Today, developing nations are expected to run flawless, universal mass democracies while their populations are still fighting for basic survival. When a society actually reaches a developmental threshold, citizens have the time, education, and security to engage in the political process. They can afford to vote based on ideology, long-term policy goals, and institutional integrity. But in many developing nations, this foundational infrastructure simply does not exist. The Politics of Survival To understand why democratic institutions frequently collapse or erode in the Global South, we must look at human nature. When a population is deeply insecure, when the next meal is not guaranteed, when physical safety from violence is absent, and when there is no tangible hope for a better future, priorities shift radically. A mother living in extreme poverty cannot afford to cast her vote based on abstract concepts like separation of powers or freedom of the press. She is forced to vote for immediate survival. If a populist strongman or a local political boss offers a bag of rice, a temporary job, or protection from a rival faction in exchange for a vote, she will take the deal. In these environments, elections cease to be a democratic choice about the future of the nation. Instead, they devolve into transactional auctions for basic necessities. The electorate is essentially held hostage by their own vulnerability. The Roots of Endemic Corruption This desperate fight for survival is the direct engine of the higher levels of corruption seen in many developing nations. In the West, corruption is often viewed as a moral failing. In much of the developing world, it is a rational survival mechanism. When the state is too weak, impoverished, or inept to provide a social safety net, people must rely on informal networks. Nepotism and tribalism thrive because trusting your family or ethnic group is safer than trusting a faceless, broken government institution. Politicians exploit this insecurity, looting the state treasury not just to enrich themselves, but to fund the patronage networks that keep them in power. The citizens, in turn, tolerate the grand corruption of their leaders because those leaders are the only ones providing them with a trickle of resources. The Paradox of the Educated Elite This heavy reliance on tribal and family networks helps explain one of the most baffling realities of corruption in developing nations: it is rarely confined to uneducated warlords. Much of the grand corruption is orchestrated by highly educated bureaucrats, technocrats, and politicians, people with degrees from prestigious universities who have sworn formal oaths of office to uphold the constitution. How do these individuals, who understand the devastating macroeconomic impacts of corruption, participate in it so willingly? The answer lies in flawed motivations, systemic capture, and a culture of impunity. First, many of these individuals pursued these high positions not out of a genuine desire to serve society or build the nation, but because of immense societal pressure to achieve status and prestige. Because their ascent was driven by social expectations and personal elevation rather than civic duty, the internal moral barrier against corruption is already inherently weak. Once in office, they enter a deeply corrupt governmental structure where they face a stark choice: participate, or be expelled. In these systems, anti-corruption is not a virtue; it is a threat to the established order. Furthermore, an individual who achieves high office is burdened with immense expectations from their extended family, community, or village.. This kinship tax demands that the official use their power to secure jobs and resources for their community. In this twisted moral framework, an official who refuses to be corrupt is often viewed by their own people not as a hero of integrity, but as a selfish traitor. The formal oath to the state is easily drowned out by ancient obligations to the tribe. Finally, this cycle is sustained by a complete lack of accountability. These officials indulge in grand corruption because they know they will rarely face harsh punishment if challenged. Even on the rare occasions they are caught, they intimately understand the punitive system; they know exactly who to bribe, which political strings to pull, and how to buy their own freedom. The very institutions designed to hold them accountable are simply another transactional layer in the same corrupt ecosystem. Religion Without Civic Ethics This brings us to a final, striking paradox: the high level of religiosity in the Third World. By virtually every metric, developing nations are far more religious than the secularized West. Since every major world religion heavily emphasizes truthfulness, morality, and justice, one would logically expect these societies to be bastions of ethical governance. Instead, we see a glaring disconnect. How can a society pray so fervently yet steal so openly? In highly insecure environments, religion often morphs from a framework of universal ethics into a transactional coping mechanism. When the state provides no safety net, people turn to God for daily survival, protection, and miraculous intervention. Citizens and leaders alike learn to sharply compartmentalize their lives. A bureaucrat might solicit a bribe on Friday morning and sit in the front row of a religious service that afternoon, feeling no cognitive dissonance. Allama Iqbal captured this exact tragedy of hollow piety when he lamented: Reh gayi rasm-e-azaan, rooh-e-Bilali na rahi Falsafa reh gaya, talqeen-e-Ghazali na rahi (Only the ritual of the call to prayer remains, the true spirit of Bilal is gone / Only empty philosophy remains, the moral teachings of Ghazali are lost.) Religion becomes a badge of community belonging and a ritual for personal salvation rather than a compass for civic behaviour. When faith is divorced from civic duty, and only the ritual of the call to prayer remains, you are left with a society that is immensely pious, yet systematically corrupt. A Stained Dawn Democracy remains the best system for human flourishing, but it is a fragile structure. We cannot expect a house to stand if it is built on quicksand. When many developing nations first adopted democratic systems, there was immense hope for a brighter, equitable future. Yet, the reality of poverty and systemic corruption has often crushed those hopes, leaving behind an illusion of freedom. The poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz captured this profound disappointment in his famous poem Subh-e-Azadi (The Dawn of Freedom): Yeh daagh daagh ujala, yeh shab gazeeda sahar Woh intezaar tha jis ka, yeh woh sahar to nahi (This stained, pockmarked light, this night-bitten dawn / This is not the dawn we had been waiting for.) If we want to see genuine democracy thrive and ensure the dawn is no longer stained, the focus cannot solely be on holding elections, writing constitutions, or administering oaths of office. The focus must be on establishing the threshold of human dignity: economic development, physical security, and a reliable social safety net that diminishes the desperate reliance on tribalism. Until a population is free from the daily panic of survival, and until civic ethics outweigh transactional survival tactics, democracy will remain an imported luxury rather than a lived reality. Khalid Bashir Mir is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Karmanos Cancer Institute in the United States specializing in molecular oncology and high-dimensional data analysis. He writes on science, society, and governance.

Ruhullahs Real Arithmetic

Malik Daniyals column makes one confident claim after another about Agha Ruhullah Mehdi that he owns nothing beyond his own voice, that his Article 370 politics is a lucrative pose, that he has never once threatened to leave his party. Each of these claims sounds sharp on the page. None of them survives contact with the actual record. Lets go through them one at a time. 1. His victory belonged to the party, not to him. Prove it. Daniyal states, as settled fact, that Ruhullahs 2024 Srinagar win was built upon the National Conferences organisational apparatus and was not a personal following assembled independently. He offers no polling data, no booth analysis, nothing. He just asserts it. Heres what the actual numbers say. Ruhullah won Srinagar with 356,866 votes 52.85% beating Waheed Para by 188,416 votes. Compare that to 2019, when NCs Farooq Abdullah arguably the most recognisable name in Kashmiri politics won the same seat with only 106,750 votes, on a turnout of barely 14%. In 2024, turnout rose and Ruhullahs vote count more than tripled Farooqs. You cannot explain that gap by pointing at the party symbol alone. Something about the candidate mattered. Daniyal never engages with this, he simply declares the conclusion he needs and moves on. And Kashmirs own recent history undercuts the voters belong to the institution theory anyway. In 2014, Farooq Abdullah the NCs own patriarch lost Srinagar to PDPs Tariq Hameed Karra. The institution didnt save him that year. Voters in this city have moved between NC, PDP, independents and abstention for two decades. Thats not blind institutional loyalty. Thats an electorate making live judgments, election to election. 2. He has never threatened to leave. He had eight days before this was published. This is the essays most serious factual problem. Daniyals piece appeared on 25 August 2026 built around the idea that Ruhullah talks like a rebel but never risks anything. But on 17 August a full week earlier Ruhullah had already said, in his own words, made up my mind to resign from Parliament within a few months, once he had taken the fight for constitutional restoration to a certain level. He said this knowing exactly what it would cost him. I wont have the Parliament. The lobbying that I can do through the Parliament, the outreach that I can do, I wont have that. That is a man naming the price of his own position and saying hell pay it. Since then, matters have moved further, not less, in the direction that damages Daniyals thesis. Farooq Abdullah himself has publicly challenged Ruhullah to resign and seek a fresh mandate if he believes his 2024 win was personal, saying, we will see how many votes you get. That is the party leadership calling what it believes is a bluff the opposite of an MP quietly enjoying incumbency while talking tough. Whatever you think of how this ends, a man who has never once threatened to leave is simply not an accurate description of where things stood by publication day, and it was demonstrably inaccurate before the essay even ran. 3. Chasing Article 370 is keeping a wound lucrative. No its keeping a promise. Daniyal frames the demand for restoration as either constitutional illiteracy or a cynical grievance industry. He skips the obvious third possibility, that this was a promise the National Conference itself made to get elected and Ruhullah is one of the people who wrote it. The NCs 2024 manifesto, its 12 guarantees explicitly promised to strive to restore Articles 370 and 35A and statehood as prior to August 5, 2019. That document was drafted by senior leader Abdul Rahim Rather and by Ruhullah himself. So when Ruhullah now says the party is walking away from a commitment it sought votes on, he is not inventing a grievance to sell. He is holding his own party to a document he helped write. Calling that keeping an old wound lucrative only makes sense if you also believe the NCs own manifesto was itself a cynical exercise, which is not the argument Daniyal is making but its the argument his logic requires. Difficulty is not the same as dishonesty. Yes the Supreme Court upheld the abrogation in 2023. Yes reversing it needs a parliamentary majority nobody currently has. That is a real obstacle. It is not proof that raising the demand is insincere, by that standard almost every hard political struggle in India from federal autonomy movements to reservation battles would have to be dismissed as fake the moment it wasnt instantly winnable. 4. The essay talks about Ruhullahs motives. It never once asks if hes right. This is the real gap in Rebel Arithmetic. Ruhullah has made specific, checkable complaints, that hes been excluded from internal party deliberations, that the party has stopped striving for the restoration it promised, that it has quietly settled for statehood alone. Daniyal repeats these charges in a line or two and then spends the rest of the essay asking whether Ruhullah is being clever, careerist or performing for a future comeback. He never asks whether Ruhullahs actual complaint, that the party is retreating from its own manifesto is true. That is a very old trick in political commentary, when someones argument is inconvenient, write about their ambition instead of their argument. 5. The historical comparisons dont do the work Daniyal needs them to do and they dont even mean what he thinks. Yes, Ghulam Mohammad Shah, Sajad Lone, Altaf Bukhari, Imran Ansari and Muzaffar Baig all left their parties and none of them became a Valley-wide force. Thats a real pattern and its worth taking seriously. But look at why each of them left. They all left for a chair. Shah broke away with Delhis backing to grab the chief ministers seat. Bukhari left to become a minister under an administration favourable to him. Ansari and Baig moved from party to party chasing position, cabinet berths, proximity to power. Strip away the individual details and the pattern is identical, every single name on Daniyals list left because he wanted office and left toward it. Power was the destination in every case. Ruhullah is the only name on this list moving in the opposite direction threatening to give up the seat he already holds, not manoeuvring for a better one, and doing it on a point of principle his own party leadership doesnt want raised. Comparing a man risking his seat over a manifesto commitment to men who abandoned their parties chasing ministries is not a fair comparison. Its the wrong shelf. Theres also the plain fact that every one of those cases is about a man who left. Ruhullah, as of the point Daniyal was writing, had not left and even now, any resignation he pursues would be a fresh mandate contest from his own sitting seat, not a defection to a new outfit built from scratch, which is a materially different gamble than what Shah or Bukhari attempted. Using the fate of people who exited to predict the fate of a man testing his standing through re-election is comparing two different bets. Even Sajad Lones case, the closest parallel Daniyal offers, cuts against him on closer look. Lone won Handwara in 2024 by only 662 votes and lost Kupwara outright. That shows how hard it is to build a durable, geographically broad organisation from nothing. It does not show that a sitting MP who has just posted an 188,000-vote margin and who is now being dared by his own party president to test that margin directly will suffer the same fate. And there is Srinagars own electoral memory the 2017 bypoll. This cuts even harder against the voters belong to the institution, not the man theory. In the 2017 Srinagar bypoll, Farooq Abdullah won with just 48,555 votes on the lowest turnout the seat has ever recorded, 7.13%, after separatists called for a boycott in the tense aftermath of the 2016 unrest and much of the electorate stayed away from the booths in protest. The seat was effectively decided by whoever could still turn out a vote in that climate and the constituencys concentrated in Budgam and some parts of Srinagar city like Zadibal, Alamgiri Bazar etc, was the bloc that came out. Ruhullah, the most prominent political figure in central Kashmir played a central role in holding that vote for the NC that year. With most voters boycotting, it was his core constituencys turnout that helped deliver Farooqs winning margin. That is not a footnote. It means the partys survival on this very seat has at least once before depended directly on Ruhullahs own standing with a constituency the NC could not otherwise turn out. If the institution, not the individual theory were as absolute as Daniyal claims, that 2017 win shouldnt have needed him at all. The real question, reversed Daniyal asks whether Ruhullah can survive without the National Conference. Thats a fair question for some future date. The more urgent one, given where things stand right now, is this; can the National Conference keep telling voters it stands for restoration of Article 370 while trying to silence the MP who co-wrote that very promise into its manifesto and is refusing to let the party quietly walk away from it? Kashmirs political history does punish men who overestimate their own gravity Daniyal is right about that much. But the honest test of whether Ruhullah is one of them is the fresh mandate his own party president has now dared him to seek. Dont crown him before that test. But dont bury him with an essay built on a threat to leave that had already been made, and a motive-question that avoids the substance of what hes actually saying. Sahil Parray, a Student Activist.

No Junk Food, FDA tells J&K schools

The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Jammu and Kashmir, has directed the School Education Department to ensure strict enforcement of food safety rules in all government and private schools. In a communication to the Director School Education, the FDA invoked the Food Safety and Standards (Safe Food and Balanced Diets for Children in School) Regulations, 2020. The order directs school authorities to ensure that no person sells or offers for sale, including free sale, or permits the sale of food products high in saturated fat, trans-fat, added sugar or Sodium (Junk Foods) within the school premises or campus. The restriction also covers the area outside school gates. Under Regulation 5(1), the order says: No person shall advertise market, sell or offer for sale, including free sale, or permit the sale of such food products within the school campus or to schoolchildren in an area within 50 metres from the school gate in any direction. The FDA said the rules are aimed at ensuring safe, hygienic and nutritionally balanced food for schoolchildren. Schools that serve meals or run canteens must ensure food business operators shall be registered/licensed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. They must also follow prescribed sanitary and hygiene practices, including requirements for food safety display boards and food safety supervisors. The order makes meal timings mandatory, saying designated meal times in schools shall be mandatory to inculcate healthy eating habits among children. It also directs schools to ensure safe drinking water is provided free of cost to all students. The order puts the responsibility on the School Authority, including the principal or headmaster and the institution's management. It requires schools to have a system of regular inspection of food premises to ensure safe, balanced and hygienic food is served. Schools may also appoint a Health and Wellness Ambassador or constitute a Health and Wellness Team to monitor food safety and hygiene. The FDA has asked the School Education Department and school authorities to ensure strict compliance with the regulations across Jammu and Kashmir.

A Continuing Challenge

Kashmiri Pandits, the Hindu community indigenous to the Kashmir Valley, have faced prolonged insecurity since the late 1980s and early 1990s. Although large-scale violence and forced displacement are the most visible chapters, the security challenge today is multidimensional like physical safety, political marginalization, economic vulnerability, cultural erosion, and the psychological impact of displacement. Understanding these threats and practical responses is essential for durable peace, justice, and reintegration. The rise of militancy in Kashmir created an atmosphere of fear among Kashmiri Pandits. Killings, threats and intimidation contributed to the mass displacement of families from the Valley around 19891990. Many fled to Jammu and other parts of India. Government records indicate that 44,167 Kashmiri migrant families were registered as having moved from the Valley since 1990 because of security concerns 39,782 of these were Hindu migrant families. The Government of India has also acknowledged that militant violence against Kashmiri Pandits was a major factor behind their displacement. In a 2019 government statement, the killings of Kashmiri Pandits by the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front were described as having triggered their exodus from the Valley. According to a Ministry of Home Affairs reply in the Rajya Sabha, six Kashmiri Pandits were killed by militants between 2020 and July 20, 2022 one in 2020, four in 2021 and one in 2022 up to that date. The 2022 attacks particularly highlighted the vulnerability of Pandit employees who had returned to the Valley for government employment. One prominent case was the killing of Rahul Bhat, a Kashmiri Pandit revenue official, who was shot inside a government office in Budgam district in May 2022. Contemporary reporting described it as a targeted attack on a member of the minority community. The Ministry of Home Affairs subsequently stated that 14 people belonging to minority communities, including three Kashmiri Pandits, had been killed in Jammu and Kashmir between January and November 30, 2022. These figures are important because they demonstrate that, even when overall terrorist violence declines, minority members can remain vulnerable to selective or targeted attacks. Individual attacks against minority civilians can create fear disproportionate to their numerical scale. The objective of such attacks can be to intimidate the community and discourage its return to the Valley. The Government has acknowledged these concerns and implemented several security measures. These include static guards, day-and-night area domination, round-the-clock checking at strategic points, patrolling, security deployments and a strengthened intelligence and security grid. The Government has also attempted to facilitate rehabilitation through employment and housing. Under the Prime Ministers Development Package, 5,502 Kashmiri migrants had been provided government jobs, while plans for transit accommodation were also approved. These measures indicate that the issue is recognised as both a security and rehabilitation challenge. At the same time, the available evidence should be presented carefully. Kashmiri Pandits are not the only community affected by terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. Government data shows that civilians, security personnel, migrants and other minorities have also been victims of militant violence. In 2022, for example, police data reported by The Indian Express recorded 22 people killed in 20 targeted attacks, with victims including minorities, migrants and security personnel. Therefore, protecting Kashmiri Pandits should be understood as part of a broader strategy to protect all civilians from terrorism and targeted violence, while recognising the communitys particular history of displacement. The long-term solution requires more than physical security. It requires effective intelligence, rapid response mechanisms, secure residential arrangements, protection of vulnerable employees, prosecution of perpetrators and conditions that allow displaced families to return voluntarily and with confidence. The ultimate measure of success should be a Kashmir in which Kashmiri Pandits and every other community can live, work and worship without fear. Security, justice and reconciliation must therefore remain central to any sustainable rehabilitation policy. Dr. Makson Tickoo, BJP Social Media in-charge, J&K.

Understanding tariff, and the hike

The recent power tariff hike in Jammu and Kashmir has created quite a fierce debate on the social media and amongst the society. Many statistics were tossed around in news reports about the hike in different categories of consumers, the cost of purchase of energy and the recovery thereof. The standard practice across the country is to determine the tariff every year. In case of J&K it was last done in 2023 and hence was overdue. As a matter of fact, this exercise should have been completed before the start of the financial year i.e., latest by end of March. It is now being done after five months into the current financial year. As per the Electricity Act of 2003, electricity tariff is determined by the appropriate electricity regulatory commission. For state distribution utilities (like JPDCL and KPDCL), the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) decides retail supply tariffs for consumers within the state. Prior to reorganisation of the State in 2019, Jammu & Kashmir had its State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) which determined the tariff. After the reorganisation SERC was replaced by Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC). The operating principles of the Commission, however, remain the same i.e., to determine tariff in a transparent way while being guided by the need to ensure efficiency, protect consumer interests, and progressively reduce cross-subsidies while moving toward the actual cost of supply. The tariff policy under the Act also requires a fair, open, and transparent process for all parts of the electricity sector i.e., generation, transmission, and distribution. The Commission determines the tariff through a cost-based approach, where the regulator examines expenses such as power purchase cost, operation and maintenance, capital cost, return on equity, and other approved costs. The process involves submission of a petition by the utility (JPDCL or KPDCL in our case) to JERC in which it submits its accounts as regards the purchase of energy, the losses, the cost of distributing it to consumers. The JERC is expected to check these in detail and satisfy themselves to their correctness. Once found in order the expense is allowed in case the expense is not admissible or it is more than the standard norm the Regulator can allow part, or completely disallow the expense. If the State Government wants to keep consumer tariffs below the level fixed by the Commission, it can provide a subsidy in advance through its budget provision. This means the legal tariff can remain cost-reflective while selected consumer groups receive relief through government support. The case in point is the often discussed 200 units of free power. While the utility will submit its petition and the Regulator will fix the tariff, the government can decide to foot the bill for 200 units of the consumers at the rate determined by JERC. This way there is no adverse impact on the financial health of the utility (JPDCL or KPDCL). The utilities (JPDCL or KPDCL) estimate the cost of purchasing and distributing the energy and these calculations are to be checked and verified by the Regulator who then accordingly determines the tariff to be paid by the consumers. Prior to unbundling of the power sector, which led to creation of the utilities, the Power Development Department worked out the costings and petitioned the Regulator for determination of tariff. The utilities are commercial entities who are mandated to provide energy to the consumers in an efficient and competitive manner. It is worth mentioning here that the electricity tariff in J&K is amongst the lowest in the country. Based on existing tariff structure our average domestic tariff is Rs 3.90 per unit while the two states having tariff lower than us were Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, both with average domestic tariff marginally lower at Rs 3.80 per unit. States like Maharashtra and West Bengal have an average domestic tariff of Rs 8.20 and Rs 7.40 per unit. Incidentally, J&K had the highest T&D Losses in the country. In the year 2023-24 J&Ks losses stood at 48% followed by Arunachal Pradesh at 34% while the All India average was well below 20%. In the last few years these losses have been now substantially reduced are somewhere between 35 to 40%. This is a huge achievement and with the efforts of the utilities and cooperation of the consumers it should be possible to bring the figure down to the national average of around 15%. With the reduction in the T&D losses the tariff will also stabilise and the subsidy component currently funded by the UT Government will be used towards funding other welfare schemes. Equally, the other big achievement is the installation of pre-paid meters. The pre-paid concept itself is so alien to most of us particularly when it had been ingrained in us that electricity should be supplied free of cost. Though there is still a lot of work to do on that front commendable strides have been made in this important area. Without the cooperation of the consumers neither of these two achievements would have been possible. Frankly, a few years back nobody could have thought that such reduction in the losses and on installation of meters was achievable in such a short duration. Both the initiatives needed a complete change of mindset to be successful. Now looking at the financials projected in the tariff petition for the year 2026-2027 the projected cost of purchase and distribution of electricity for the two utilities i.e., JPDCL and KPDCL, is Rs 10276 crores. Out of this, Rs 7856 crores are expected to be collected leaving a shortfall in revenue collection of Rs 2421 crores. This amount of Rs 2421 crores is being funded by the government and will not be passed on to the consumers. Since an amount of Rs 502 crores is expected to be collected by increasing the tariff it implies that the actual shortfall in revenue collection, without increase in tariff would have been Rs 2923 crores. While a figure of 6.83% increase in tariff has been mentioned, this figure for consumers other than domestic, is much higher. Only in case of the BPL consumers it is unchanged at Rs 1.40 per unit subject to a maximum of 30 units per month. A preliminary review of the 334-page order issued by the JERC throws up a number of questions that demand clarification: i. If both JPDCL and KPDCL in their tariff petitions had asked for only a 5% across-the-board increase why did JERC approve a much higher tariff structure across different categories of consumers? What is the rationale behind this additional increase? ii. As per the Order the current hike will be effective 1 Sep 26 and will be valid till 31 Mar 27. What happens after Mar 2027? iii. Since the cost of purchase and distribution of electricity is for the full financial year (26-27) and the new tariff regime will be implemented only from 1 Sep 26, how will the full amount of Rs 502 crores be collected by billing at revised tariff for only 7 months (Sep 26 to Mar 27) instead of estimated 12 months in the petition? iv. The Order has considered Time of Day tariff. While it will have an impact the billing for domestic consumers during the peak hours because of 10% surcharge, it will positively effect the commercial and industrial consumers during the solar hours. Most of the commercial establishments and industries operate during the day and thus their bills for solar hour consumption will be reduced by 20% because of the rebate on ToD tariff. The impact of the rebate and of surcharge has not been captured in the calculations. v. The Order has not considered the impact of roof top solar units. Because of the generation from these roof top solar installations there will be lesser withdrawal of energy from the system and thence lesser purchase of energy from grid. Even though the installed capacity is small, it is only proper to capture its impact in the Order. For the hearing on KPDCL petition there hasnt been much of a public consultation and participation. Only three stakeholders attended the hearing of KPDCL and as can be seen from the Order they did not engage in any interaction during the hearing nor had they submitted any objections against the KPDCL petition. However, in the hearing held in Jammu for the JPDCL petition there were 32 stakeholders / consumers present in the hearing and a total of 13 objections were submitted against the proposed hike of 5% in the JPDCL petition. Going forward, for utilities to win the confidence of consumers, it is time to invest in transparent public outreach and shift toward a partnership-based approach. Engaging stakeholders is not optional; continuous engagement with stakeholders is critical to ensuring that the public not only understands but also supports the initiatives and programmes launched by the utilities. Iftikhar A Drabu is a Civil Engineer

Setting of stars in the universe

Furthermore I call to witness the setting (positioning) of the Stars. And that is indeed a mighty adjuration (oath) if ye but knew (56: 75, 76) The Holy Verses in Surah Al Waqiah (events) relates to events in Universal Order or Universal Scheme of things. Waqiah is the pleural of Waqu (occurrence) such as the event/occurrence of setting (positioning) of stars. The Holy Verses in the related Surah have a mystical aura besides stating a scientific fact, 1400 years before it was established as an astronomical fact, and established by norms of physics as well, what we may jointly call Astrophysics. The mystical aura relates to the fact that is universally accepted by men of faith, All Light is relative, except the Light of Allah the setting/positioning of stars is a symbol of humility before the power, beauty and goodness of Allah (SwT). On a similar mystical plane, the import of if ye but knew relates to a discerning mind turning deep attention to the mysteries of nature, as enshrined in Holy Quran. The discerning mind takes us to scientific know-how of balance of stars being maintained between the expansions due to nuclear reactions on the one hand and intense gravitation on the other. The billions upon billions of stars in the universe are balanced within an incredibly computerized order. According to one view, nuclear reactions also serve as the seeds to galaxies in the form of quasars. Quasars (White Holes) the stellar location is a store of incredible amounts of energy, while Black Holes signify the location left vacant by the demise of a star. While the mystical aura is the feed of the soul, the astrophysical fact relates to the Hikmat (Wisdom) of Quran-ul-Hakim.

VC JKLCMA takes on-site assessment of cleanliness around SKICC, LalitGhat

Srinagar, Aug 27:The Vice Chairman, Jammu and Kashmir Lake Conservation and Management Authority (JKLCMA), Khurshid Ahmad Shah, on Thursday undertook an extensive on-site assessment of the areas around SKICC and LalitGhat in connection with the forthcoming 1st International Film Festival, scheduled to be held from September 7 to 10, 2026. The Vice Chairman was accompanied by Collector LCMA and other senior officers during the inspection. During the visit, the Vice Chairman reviewed the cleanliness and overall maintenance of the designated areas and directed the concerned field staff to undertake necessary cleaning measures on priority. He stressed the need to ensure that the surroundings of SKICC and LalitGhat remain clean, well-maintained and presentable ahead of the international event. For the special cleanliness drive, four machines, including three harvesters and one Water Master, have been deployed. The machinery will facilitate the removal of aquatic weeds and other floating material, thereby improving the overall appearance and water surface conditions around the designated areas. The Vice Chairman called for timely completion of all cleanliness-related measures and emphasized sustained monitoring of the area to maintain high standards throughout the festival period. The JKLCMA has reiterated its commitment to ensuring clean and well-maintained surroundings at the venues and adjoining areas, in view of the participation of national and international guests in the 1st International Film Festival.

Former SMC Commissioner Ghazanfar Ali passes away

Srinagar, Aug 27:Former senior bureaucrat, politician, and Commissioner of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Ghazanfar Ali, passed away on Thursday night at SMHS Hospital. According to his family, Ghazanfar Ali had suffered a major heart attack on May 18, 2026, following which he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of SMHS Hospital, Srinagar, where he underwent treatment. He was later discharged from the hospital. However, his condition reportedly deteriorated on Thursday, and he breathed his last at around 10 pm, leaving his family, friends, colleagues and well-wishers in deep shock and grief. His demise has been widely mourned, with condolences pouring in from people who knew and worked with him.

Providing quality health care to citizens is our obligation: CM Omar

Srinagar, Aug 27:Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday called for a balanced and integrated healthcare strategy that combines the development of advanced quaternary care with strengthening of primary and secondary healthcare services across Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing the valedictory function of the Quaternary Healthcare and Research Summit: 4th J&K Medical Conference-2026 at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), CM Omar said that while scaling tertiary healthcare into the fourth tier would enhance the capacity to provide highly specialised treatment, it must be accompanied by focused efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery at the grassroots. The three-day summit, held from August 25 to 27, was organised by the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, under the aegis of NITI Aayog, Government of India, in strategic collaboration with AIIMS New Delhi and PGIMER Chandigarh, along with AIIMS Jammu and AIIMS Awantipora. The conference was themed 'Scaling Tertiary into Quaternary Healthcare: A National Strategy for Advanced Care.' The CM said providing quality healthcare to citizens was one of the fundamental obligations of the government, adding that the medical profession was characterised by continuous learning, innovation and advancement. Referring to the concept of quaternary healthcare discussed during the summit, CM Omar said the fourth tier could play an important role in decongesting tertiary care institutions. However, he cautioned that merely creating a higher tier would not adequately address the pressures confronting premier healthcare institutions unless the underlying gaps in the primary and secondary healthcare system were addressed. While there are certain aspects of quality care that can certainly be improved by upgrading SKIMS to a quaternary healthcare institution, the fact is that it will not resolve the pressures that SKIMS finds itself under. These pressures are not because of a top-down vacuum; they are because of a weakness at the foundation level, the CM said. He said that institutions such as SKIMS were essentially referral hospitals meant to cater to patients requiring highly specialised treatment. However, gaps at the primary and secondary levels often resulted in premier tertiary institutions having to undertake procedures and treatments that should ideally be available at lower levels of healthcare. CM Omar cited routine surgical procedures such as gallbladder and appendicitis surgeries as examples of the burden being placed on tertiary institutions because of deficiencies in the lower tiers of the healthcare system. This defeats the purpose of the entire three-tier model of tertiary, secondary and primary healthcare, he said, stressing that strengthening the foundation of the healthcare system was essential for the successful functioning of both tertiary and quaternary institutions. The CM welcomed the conference held under the aegis of NITI Aayog and described the participation of leading institutions such as AIIMS New Delhi, PGIMER Chandigarh and J&Ks own institutions as an important opportunity for meaningful collaboration. He expressed hope that the engagement would translate into sustained cooperation, knowledge-sharing and institutional partnerships, particularly as J&K works towards strengthening its advanced healthcare ecosystem in line with the vision of a developed India by 2047. CM Omar said the government would have to remain equally focused on ensuring access to good-quality basic healthcare beyond the two major urban centres of Jammu and Srinagar. We need to ensure good quality healthcare in rural J&K. I am not saying that we can either target or expect to provide SKIMS quality care in rural J&K. That is not the aim. But what we need to be able to ensure is that we can provide good quality basic healthcare beyond the two twin capital cities of J&K, he said. The CM said a combination of strong primary and secondary healthcare services with an advanced level of specialised quaternary care would place Jammu and Kashmir in a stronger position to meet the healthcare needs of its people. He also underlined the importance of ensuring that patients from J&K do not have to travel outside for advanced treatment. CM Omar recalled that SKIMS was established with the fundamental objective of providing the most needy patients with the best possible healthcare within J&K. That is what we hope going ahead as SKIMS transitions from tertiary care to the fourth tier, he said, assuring that the government would make every possible effort, within the financial limitations of J&K, to provide SKIMS with the infrastructure required for its next phase of development. The CM said infrastructure remained one of the principal factors determining the ability of healthcare institutions to retain and attract highly skilled professionals. He expressed confidence in the quality of human resources available in J&K, saying its doctors, nurses and paramedical staff were second to none. Our human resource is second to none. Our nurses, our paramedics and more than anything else our doctors are the best that you will find, CM Omar said. Highlighting the presence of J&K-trained doctors in every continent around the world, particularly in the Gulf and Middle East, he said many professionals were compelled to seek opportunities outside of J&K because of limitations in facilities and infrastructure. The CM called for a concerted effort to create conditions that could facilitate a reverse brain drain, enabling doctors from J&K working outside to return and contribute to the healthcare system in their home state. How do we ensure that we provide the best possible facilities, the best possible infrastructure so that we can create a situation where tomorrow there is a reverse brain drain? Instead of exporting our doctors from J&K, we start welcoming many of them back to our own shores, he said. CM Omar said achieving this objective would strengthen both tertiary and quaternary healthcare in J&K and contribute significantly towards building a self-reliant and advanced healthcare system. He emphasised that the recommendations emerging from the summit should move beyond being a theoretical exercise and be translated into action on ground, practically . I hope that the recommendations are not only a theoretical exercise but are put in a shape where they can be given practical implementation, the CM said. He said the summit had provided a valuable platform for collaboration among premier healthcare institutions, NITI Aayog, policymakers, clinicians and researchers, and expressed hope that the deliberations would result in tangible improvements in healthcare delivery and advanced medical services in J&K. On the occasion, CM Omar released the book Platinum Pearls in General Surgery Super Specialities and the souvenir SKIMS Journey of Transformation. He also presented awards to nine winners of the Quiz Competition, Poster Presentation and Oral Presentation categories. Minister for Health and Medical Education Sakeena Masood Itoo, MLA PamporeRetd Justice HasnainMasoodi, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Director SKIMS Prof Mohammad Ashraf Ganie, Dean SKIMS Medical College Prof Fazlul Q Parray and Organising Co-Chair Prof Aejaz Ahsan Baba were present on the occasion. Former Directors of SKIMS, faculty members, officers of SKIMS and officers and officials of the Health and Medical Education Department also attended the valedictory ceremony. The summit brought together leading medical institutions, clinicians, researchers, policy makers and healthcare professionals to deliberate on advanced care, research, institutional collaboration and the roadmap for scaling tertiary healthcare into a quaternary healthcare ecosystem.

Recruitment rules of most departments are outdated, obsolete: PSC

Srinagar, Aug 27:The Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (PSC) has called for an overhaul of Recruitment Rules across government departments, observing that rules framed decades ago have become very old, outdated, obsolete and, in several cases, redundant in the face of rapidly changing administrative, technological and professional requirements. The recommendation figures prominently in the commissions annual report for 2025-26 and comes against the backdrop of a recruitment system that handled a massive volume of applications during the year. As reported earlier, JKPSC received 94,546 applications against 1263 posts during 2025-26, eventually making 1152 selections. The commission has now linked the scale and complexity of contemporary government recruitment with the need to fundamentally update the rules governing entry, qualifications, promotion and career progression in government service. Recruitment Rules of most of the State Government Departments framed decades ago are very old, outdated, obsolete and have become redundant and require their revision and updating to keep pace with the fast changing social, economic and technological scenario, the commission states in its report. It says the revision is necessary not merely to update old provisions but also to ensure that the government has the efficiency and expertise required for handling assignments of complex nature in view of the diversification and specialisation taking place in governance and the functioning of government organisations. The commission has specifically identified Education, Medical Sciences, and Computer Sciences as areas where the recruitment framework needs to accommodate and incentivise diversification. It is also necessary to accommodate and incentivise diversification in the field of Education, Medical Sciences and Computer Sciences, the report states. The commission has also made a direct connection between outdated Recruitment Rules and service litigation. It says aligning the rules with the actual functional requirements of government departments would help reduce disputes arising from recruitment and promotion provisions. The updating and revision of Recruitment Rules to the matching requirement of the functioning of the Government Departments will also bring down the incidence of litigation, it observes. The commission has consequently recommended that Recruitment Rules across government departments be revised and updated urgently, including a review of categories of posts falling within the purview of the Departmental Promotion Committees (DPCs) and the Public Service Commission. The report goes beyond recruitment qualifications and calls for restructuring the career hierarchy within government services. While reviewing the recruitment rules, there is a need to build proper pyramids to provide reasonable vertical movement in the ladders, the commission says. It acknowledges that the structure cannot be uniform across all government services but maintains that career progression can be made compatible across different services. The concern is significant because the absence of a properly structured promotional hierarchy can create bottlenecks in career progression, particularly where large numbers of employees compete for a limited number of higher-level posts. The commission has also raised questions over the minimum qualifications prescribed for promotional positions. While amending the Recruitment Rules, the Departments also need to consider the minimum qualification for the posts, it states. The report notes that it has come across cases in which employees holding certain categories of posts are eligible for promotion to the next level despite not possessing the basic minimum qualification prescribed under the existing Recruitment Rules of the concerned department. The commission has therefore called for departments to examine qualification requirements as part of the revision exercise rather than merely modifying recruitment or promotional ratios. Another procedural issue highlighted in the report is the mechanism for obtaining vigilance clearance. Mechanism of Vigilance Clearance needs to be reviewed as the delays in submitting the Vigilance Clearance cause delays in clearance of the proposals, the commission says. The observation points to an administrative bottleneck in the processing of promotion and other service-related cases, with delays in obtaining vigilance clearance affecting the disposal of proposals. The commission has also proposed a different mechanism for handling selection-grade cases. It has recommended that departments constitute screening committees for considering officers for the grant of selection grade instead of placing such proposals before the DPC or PSC. The departments should constitute screening committees for considering officers for the grant of selection grade, and such proposals need not be placed before the DPC and PSC, the report states. It further recommends that necessary amendments be made to recruitment rules wherever required to exempt selection grade from the DPC and PSC process. The commission has also sought greater adherence to its advice and recommendations by the government. The advice and recommendations tendered by the commission need to be followed, it states, adding that where the government delays in acting on its advice, the commission should be kept informed. The recommendations acquire greater significance when viewed against the workload handled by JKPSC during the year. The commission received 94,546 applications for 1263 posts - an average of nearly 75 applications for every post referred to it. Despite the large volume of applications, it made 1152 selections during 2025-26.

Birdi passes the baton, Kumar takes charge

Srinagar, Aug 27:Senior IPS officer Sujit Kumar on Thursday evening took over as Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir Zone, after the Jammu and Kashmir Home Department transferred him from IGP Security, J&K, as part of a 14-officer police reshuffle ordered with immediate effect. Kumar, a 2007-batch officer of the AGMUT cadre, has been posted as IG Kashmir Zone against an available vacancy, succeeding Vidhi Kumar Birdi, who headed the Kashmir police establishment and also held additional charge of IGP Armed Police Kashmir. Birdi, a 2003-batch officer, had earlier been cleared for central deputation as Inspector General in the CRPF; his relieving had been held back during the Amarnath Ji Yatra and is now linked to the vacancy at the Kashmir Zone. The takeover places Kumar at the head of the Valley police force at a time when the security grid remains focused on counter-terror operations, intelligence coordination, protection of vital installations and close working with the Army and Central Armed Police Forces. Kumar assumed the new charge after more than two years as IGP Security J&K, a posting he held from August 2024 following his functional promotion to the IGP rank. In that role he oversaw the security architecture for protected persons and key installations. Earlier this month, Security Headquarters granted in-situ promotion to 1,028 personnel of different ranks under a process chaired by him. His field record in the Union Territory includes DIG North Kashmir, DIG Central Kashmir with additional charge of South Kashmir, DIG CID Kashmir, DIG Udhampur-Reasi Range and DIG Jammu-Kathua-Samba Range. He has also served in Ladakh during his career. In March 2025 the Ministry of Home Affairs approved his deputation as DIG in the CRPF for five years, but he was not relieved and continued in J&K.

Nepal floods spotlight westward GLOF threat in Ladakh, Chenab Valley, Kashmir

Srinagar, Aug 27:A deadly glacial collapse and debris flow along the Nepal-Tibet border has renewed concern over risks from retreating glaciers and changing high-altitude catchments across the Himalaya, including Ladakh and the Chenab Valley in Jammu and Kashmir. The August 26 disaster sent water, ice, mud, and debris through valleys in Nepal and Tibet, killing more than 180 people and leaving more than 1300 missing, according to preliminary reports. Roads, bridges, and settlements were damaged or destroyed. The US Geological Survey said seismic activity initially interpreted as an earthquake was instead generated by a glacial collapse and debris flow that caused catastrophic downstream impacts. The Nepal disaster comes as a new study warns that climate change could shift Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) hazards westward, from the eastern Himalaya toward the central and western Himalaya, including Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Western Himalaya emerges as climate hotspot Researchers from Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, and Ashoka University analysed 120 years of temperature and snow-cover changes along with climate projections. The research, 'Vulnerability of the Himalayan region under climate change,' was published online June 9, 2026, in the Journal of Earth System Science. It identifies the western Himalaya - covering Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh - as the most climate-sensitive of the three Himalayan sectors examined. The study lead by Protyusha Mukhopadhyay of the Department of Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics, BIT Mesra; also included T P Sabin of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology; Swagata Payra and Akhouri Pramod Krishna of BIT Mesra; and Parthasarathi Mukhopadhyay of Ashoka University. The east has become a hotspot for glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), the study said. That risk is expected to spread westward in the future, driven by retreating glaciers and the new lakes they leave behind, not by temperature alone, it said. The western Himalaya has warmed by about 1 degree Celsius since the early 20th century, the study found. Under a high-emissions pathway, winter temperatures during 2081-2100 could rise 7.18 degrees Celsius above early-20th-century levels in the western Himalaya. The projected rise is 6.71 degrees in the central Himalaya and 5.82 degrees in the eastern Himalaya. The western Himalaya is also projected to experience the sharpest snow loss, with implications for glacier retreat, meltwater flows and downstream water availability. The western Himalaya consistently emerges as the most sensitive stretch - it warms the most and loses the most snow under every pathway we tested, the study said. In the west and centre, winters are warming faster than springs, it said. Less snow on the ground would mean a darker surface, which absorbs more heat, which melts more snow, the study said. Nighttime temperatures are also rising faster than daytime temperatures across the western and central Himalaya, potentially altering the timing and pace of snowmelt, the study found. The researchers called for sustained monitoring of glaciers and glacial lakes, stronger ground observations and improved early-warning systems. Ladakh, Chenab Valley face greater concern Climate scientist Prof Ghulam Jeelani, dean of the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Kashmir, said the immediate GLOF concern in Jammu and Kashmir is higher in Ladakh and the Chenab Valley than in the Kashmir Valley. anskar, Nubra and Shyok are particularly vulnerable because glaciers are retreating rapidly and new glacial lakes are forming, Dr Jeelani told Greater Kashmir. These lakes originate due to glacial recession. Most are moraine-dammed lakes, formed behind loose glacial debris, and such lakes are inherently more vulnerable to outburst floods, he said. Dr Jeelani said glacier-fed upper catchments in Chenab valley - Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban also warrant scrutiny because a breach upstream could send floodwaters rapidly through narrow valleys. The wider western Himalayan belt, including Himachal Pradesh, also requires closer monitoring as glaciers retreat and snow patterns change. But Dr Jeelani cautioned against treating the presence or expansion of a glacial lake as evidence of imminent GLOFs. In Kashmir, many of these lakes have existed for centuries and have never burst. Their stability cannot be judged only through satellite imagery, he said. Remote sensing can identify lakes and monitor their expansion, but it cannot determine the geological stability of a moraine dam. That requires detailed field investigations, Dr Jeelani said. He said potentially hazardous lakes should be assessed through field investigations, while downstream exposure, monitoring and early-warning systems should be strengthened.

Kashmir summer to end with brief late-August heat

Srinagar, Aug 27:Kashmir's summer is set to end with a brief heat spell, as the Meteorological (MeT) Department forecasts temperatures to rise toward 35 degrees Celsius in the Valley plains over the next few days. Friday and Saturday are expected to be the hottest days. Srinagar recorded 32.9 degrees Celsius on Thursday. Kupwara recorded 33.3 degrees Celsius and Qazigund 32 degrees Celsius. Kokernag recorded 31.7 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam 27 degrees Celsius and Gulmarg 24 degrees Celsius. Jammu city recorded 35 degrees Celsius and Katra 32.7 degrees Celsius. Banihal recorded 30.1 degrees Celsius, Bhaderwah 30.2 degrees Celsius, and Batote 28 degrees Celsius. The MeT has forecast dry and warmer weather through the end of August, mainly in the plains with showers at isolated places. Higher reaches are likely to remain cooler. A moderate summer May was cooler, with temperatures mostly in the 20s and occasional days touching 30s. The plains received mostly light to moderate rain, while higher reaches experienced frequent and intense, localised showers. Some spells were more widespread, while isolated areas also reported hailstorms. June and July remained moderate overall. Cloud cover, rain, and wet spells kept temperatures in check, although both months saw brief heat spells. However, the month of June ended with a brief heat spell lasting a few days. Srinagar touched 35.3 degrees Celsius on June 29 and 35.5 degrees Celsius on June 30. July began relatively cool before a brief mid-month heat spell pushed Srinagar to 35 degrees Celsius on July 17 and 35.9 degrees Celsius on July 18, the season's highest so far. Temperatures eased afterward, with another short warm spell toward the end of July. Rainfall during June and July was mostly localized, though some spells were widespread. Intense showers also caused hailstorms, landslides, mudslides and flash floods in parts of the Valley and Jammu. August stayed moderate August was mostly dry, but temperatures remained moderate, generally around 30-32 degrees Celsius in the Valley plains. Rainfall was largely confined to isolated, intense showers in higher reaches and brief light to moderate spells in the plains. The late-August rise in temperatures is expected to be brief. Cooler than 2025 The contrast with last summer is marked, as Kashmir witnessed prolonged heat spells in June and July. Srinagar recorded 37.2 degrees Celsius on July 6, 2025, and 36.2 degrees Celsius on July 29. June 2025 was the hottest June in Srinagar since 1978. The city recorded an average maximum of about 33 degrees Celsius, nearly three degrees above normal. For 10 consecutive days, temperatures crossed 34 degrees Celsius. A prolonged dry spell and about 50 percent rainfall deficit contributed to the heat. Even consecutive wet spells in late July and August did little to end the heat. Conditions remained largely hot and humid. This summer, wet spells during May, June and July repeatedly checked temperatures. Heat spells were brief, while August remained moderate despite mostly dry weather. Srinagar's seasonal high of 35.9 degrees Celsius was 1.3 degrees below last year's 37.2 degrees Celsius peak. Summer gives way to autumn June, July, and August mark Kashmir's summer period. With August ending, the Valley is entering its seasonal transition. Warm afternoons can persist through September, even as nights gradually become cooler. The transition becomes more noticeable after September 21, with warmer days and cooler nights signalling the approach of autumn. The shift strengthens through October as temperatures decline. For now, Kashmir is set for one final late-summer heat spell after a significantly milder summer than 2025.

Yatharth Hospitals draws interest from Aster, Advent as healthcare consolidation heats up

Aster DM Quality Care is negotiating to acquire a controlling stake in Yatharth Hospitals. This potential acquisition aims to consolidate the hospital sector amid private equity interest. Yatharth Hospitals' stock has seen a significant rise in anticipation of a potential trade. The deal would trigger an open offer for additional shares, expanding the acquirer's ownership. This move would significantly strengthen Aster DM Quality Care's presence in northern India.

US officials tie cyclospora outbreak involving iceberg lettuce to 3 more states

Demand for vaccines surges as H1N1, other influenza cases see a sharp rise

Demand for flu vaccines has significantly increased this year. At-home vaccination services are seeing a substantial rise in bookings. Rapid testing requests are also growing from various Indian cities. This surge is driven by elevated viral spread and increased awareness. Experts recommend annual vaccinations and usual protective measures.

Nepal-Tibet flash floods: Toll surges to 392; nearly 1,500 missing as fresh flood threat looms

Kathmandu, Aug 27: The death toll from the massive Nepal-Tibet flash floods rose to 392 on Thursday, as rescuers raced against time to trace hundreds of people still missing, including 290 Indian nationals. Of the 392 victims, 389 died in the flash floods in Nepal, while three were killed in neighbouring Tibet. A Nepal Police statement said 796 people, including 50 foreigners, have so far been rescued from affected areas by helicopters, while another 796 have been evacuated by land. It did not, however, specify the nationalities of the foreigners. The death toll from the floods has risen to 389, the statement said. An ice-rock avalanche triggered by a glacial collapse near the Nepal-Tibet border sent a torrent of water, mud and debris downstream through central Nepal on Wednesday, devastating towns and villages, washing away homes, vehicles, roads and bridges, and damaging hydropower projects. A fresh flood threat persisted downstream after a new barrier lake formed near the source of the Bhote Koshi river system, with authorities warning that a possible breach could trigger another surge in the river and downstream areas. Nepal authorities reported 910 people missing, as rescuers searched river corridors clogged by mud and debris and families crowded hospitals in a desperate hunt for loved ones. The disaster also left 558 people missing in Tibet, officials said, taking the number of people reported missing on the two sides of the border to 1,468. The disaster has also triggered an urgent effort by India to trace its nationals, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) saying 290 Indian nationals remain uncontactable. New Delhi is making urgent efforts to ascertain their whereabouts and coordinate their rescue, the ministry said. The MEA said 84 Indian nationals had been rescued, including 63 workers employed at the under-construction Trishuli-I run-of-river hydroelectric project and 21 from Tamil Nadu. Around 200 Indian nationals on the Tibet side have sought assistance for evacuation, the MEA said. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, after a high-level meeting attended virtually by India's envoys in Kathmandu and Beijing, said urgent efforts were underway to ascertain the status and well-being of Indians in the flood-affected areas. He said the ministry was coordinating with the Nepalese side, other ministries, state governments, tour operators and relevant authorities. India has also stepped up relief assistance to Nepal. After sending 10 tonnes of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) material on Wednesday, it sent another 37.5 tonnes of HADR material, medicines and food packets on Thursday in a military transport aircraft, taking the total dispatched to 47.5 tonnes. Chinese authorities estimated that about 2 million cubic metres of water had accumulated in the new barrier lake by Thursday morning, with another 3 million cubic metres potentially flowing into it over the next three days, raising concerns that the natural barrier could breach. The lake has formed near the confluence of the Chhochen Khola and Purepu Tsangpo rivers, which originate in Tibet and flow into Nepal as part of the Bhote Koshi river system. Nepal's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology said it had received information from Chinese authorities about the lake and warned of a continuing risk of flooding in the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river areas. It urged people to stay away from riverbanks and remain in safe places. Travellers, security personnel and search-and-rescue teams were also advised to remain alert. Chinese authorities are monitoring the lake and carrying out flood simulations and risk assessments. A Chinese rescue team with communications and detection equipment has reached Gyirong to assess the upstream blockage, which officials fear could cause a secondary disaster and complicate ongoing rescue work. Nepalese security personnel have so far evacuated more than 800 people from affected districts, while helicopters, drones and ground teams continue to search isolated settlements, riverbanks and downstream areas. The floods first devastated Rasuwa district, about 160 km from capital city Kathmandu, after the ice-rock avalanche and debris flow near the Nepal-Tibet border. A torrent of water, mud, rocks and debris tore through settlements including Timure and Rasuwagadhi before surging downstream through the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river system. A preliminary assessment by Nepalese authorities and a revised analysis by the US Geological Survey (USGS) have identified a glacial collapse and debris flow, rather than an earthquake, as the trigger for the disaster. The ice-rock avalanche struck the Lhende River, temporarily blocking its flow before the natural barrier gave way and unleashed a massive surge downstream into the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river system. Nepal's disaster management authority said a debris-laden flood occurred in the Lhende River following an ice-rock landslide near the Nepal-China border, about 20 km northeast of Rasuwagadhi border city. The same flood subsequently entered the Trishuli river after passing through Timure, it said. The USGS said its analysis of long-period seismic waves showed that the event initially reported as a 4.4-magnitude earthquake was generated by a glacial collapse and debris flow, rather than an earthquake. Authorities are still assessing the full extent of the destruction. Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah visited Bidur Municipality in Nuwakot on Thursday to inspect areas affected by the flash floods. Meanwhile, Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited flood-hit Gyirong Township on Thursday to oversee rescue and relief operations. Chinese state media reported that the People's Liberation Army's Western Theatre Command had also sent a directing group to the affected area to coordinate military rescue operations. Images and videos from the affected areas showed the scale of destruction, with buildings swept away or left standing amid thick deposits of mud and debris, vehicles buried or carried away, roads ripped apart and bridges washed away. Large stretches of riverbank settlements in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts were covered in mud, rocks and wreckage. The Department of Roads in Nepal said the entire 42-km road section between Betrawati in Nuwakot and Rasuwagadhi was damaged at multiple points, while several concrete bridges were washed away. Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said the floods damaged 35 motorable bridges, 45 suspension bridges and about 40 km of black-topped roads, severely disrupting movement across the affected districts. The Trishuli and Devighat hydropower projects, along with other power infrastructure, were also damaged. Efforts were underway to reopen the Galchhi-Baireni road in Dhading, which was blocked after the flash floods in Rasuwa. The route is a key link between Kathmandu and other parts of Nepal and serves as an important transit corridor for heavy and light traffic, including during regional blockades and disaster-response operations. The destruction has severely complicated rescue operations. Security personnel and local authorities have been scouring riverbanks and downstream areas for survivors and recovering bodies carried by the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers. Nepal Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal on Thursday held telephone conversations with top officials in the US, the UK and several other countries. They expressed solidarity with Nepal and committed to helping the government in its search and rescue works, Khanal's office said. Nepal Police said 137 bodies have been recovered from Chitwan, the highest number among the affected districts. Bodies have also been recovered from Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Tanahun and Nawalparasi districts. At least 44 Nepali Army personnel, 28 Nepal Police personnel and 13 Armed Police Force personnel are among those whose whereabouts remain unknown, officials said. Around 160 people working at hydropower projects and customs offices have also been reported missing. The search has extended to hospitals, where hundreds of relatives have gathered to look for family members and friends missing since Wednesday. At Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, authorities posted lists of people brought to the facility so families could check whether their relatives had been rescued or were receiving treatment. Photographs of those who died were also displayed, while desks were set up to record details of people whose whereabouts remained unknown. The scenes were similar at Bharatpur Hospital in Chitwan, where families searched for relatives as authorities struggled to cope with the growing number of bodies and the mortuary was reportedly running out of space. Officials rescued 27 foreign tourists stranded in Rasuwa on Thursday, including 11 Indians, four South Koreans, two Italians and two US citizens. The nationalities of the remaining eight had not been confirmed by the Nepal Tourism Board. They were airlifted to Kathmandu by the Nepal Army. Most of the Indian tourists affected were travelling towards Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet or Gosainkunda in Nepal's Bagmati Province. The disaster could rank among Nepal's deadliest in many years, with rescuers still unable to reach some areas because of damaged roads, washed-away bridges, deep deposits of mud and debris and the continuing risk of further flooding.

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14 police officers transferred in J&K; Sujit Kumar posted IG Kashmir, Tejinder Singh IG Jammu

Srinagar, Aug 27: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Thursday ordered transfers and postings of 14 police officers with immediate effect. As per Government Order issued by Home Department, Shri M.K. Sinha, IPS (AGMUT:1996), ADG HQ, has been transferred and posted as ADG CID J&K vice Shri Nitish Kumar, IPS. Shri Nitish Kumar, IPS (AGMUT:1999), ADG CID J&K has been transferred and posted as ADG Armed Police J&K, against an available vacancy. Shri Uttam Chand, IPS (AGMUT:2002), IGP (Police Operations & Services) Police Headquarters has been transferred and posted as IGP Railways, J&K vice Shri Vivek Gupta, IPS. The officer shall also continue to hold the additional charge of IGP (Police Operations & Services) Police Headquarters, till further orders. Shri Bhim Sen Tuti, IPS (AGMUT:2004), IG Jammu Zone has been transferred and posted as IG HQ, J&K, against an available vacancy. Shri Sujit Kumar, IPS (AGMUT:2007), IG Security J&K has been transferred and posted as IG Kashmir Zone, against an available vacancy. Shri Vivek Gupta, IPS (AGMUT:2007), IGP Railways, J&K has been transferred and posted as IGP Security J&K vice Shri Sujit Kumar, IPS. Shri Tejinder Singh, IPS (AGMUT:2008), IG CID J&K has been transferred and posted as IG Jammu Zone vice Shri Bhim Sen Tuti, IPS. Shri Shakti Kumar Pathak, IPS (AGMUT:2009) has been designated as Director, Anti-Corruption Bureau. Shri Mubassir Latifi Ameer, IPS (AGMUT:2011) DIG (Personnel) PHQ holding additional charge of DIG Training, PHQ, has been transferred and posted as DIG IR Kashmir, against an available vacancy. Shri Sahil Sarangal, IPS (AGMUT:2017), SSP Handwara has been transferred and posted as SSP Pulwama, against an available vacancy. Shri Sunny Gupta, IPS (AGMUT:2020), Addl SP Anantnag has been transferred and posted as SSP Kishtwar vice Shri Naresh Singh. Shri Tahir Saleem Khan, (JKPS:2001), SO to IG Kashmir Zone has been transferred and posted as SSP Handwara vice Shri Sahil Sarangal, IPS. Shri Muzaffar Ahmad Shah, (JKPS:2004), SSP SCW Kashmir has been transferred and posted as SO to IG Kashmir Zone vice Shri Tahir Saleem Khan. Shri Naresh Singh, (JKPS:2004), SSP Kishtwar has been transferred and posted as SSP Rajouri, against an available vacancy. The order has been issued by order of the Lieutenant Governor. (GNS)

Northern Army commander reviews security in south Kashmir

Srinagar, Aug 27: Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma on Thursday reviewed security scenario and operational preparedness of the troops in south Kashmir, and directed them to remain proactive and mission-ready to sustain operational dominance. During his interaction with the troops, the Army commander admired them for their professionalism and indomitable spirit. Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, #ArmyCdrNC, visited South #Kashmir to review the security environment and operational preparedness of deployed troops. He was briefed on evolving security dynamics, operational challenges and measures undertaken to strengthen the security grid, the Army's Northern Command said in a post on X. It said deliberations focused on technology integration for enhancing surveillance, intelligence and operational awareness to render a swift and decisive response to emerging threats. In a motivational interaction with the troops, the Army Commander commended them for their professionalism, high morale and indomitable spirit. He exhorted them to remain proactive, adaptive and mission-ready to sustain operational dominance, the Northern Command added.

Congress will not join Cabinet until statehood restored: Tariq Karra

Srinagar, Aug 27: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President Tariq Hameed Karra on Thursday ruled out the party's entry into the Omar Abdullah-led government, asserting that the Congress would not join the Cabinet until statehood was restored to Jammu and Kashmir. In the past two years, our stand has been absolutely clear. We will not become part of the Cabinet until statehood is restored. Supporting the National Conference government does not imply that we will join the Cabinet, Karra told Kashmir News Service (KNS). The JKPCC chief said the Congress had extended support to the National Conference with the sole objective of safeguarding the communal harmony and unity of Jammu and Kashmir. He said the restoration of statehood and protecting the rights of people over land, jobs and natural resources remained the party's foremost demand. Asserting that the Congress would continue to support the government against the BJP and divisive forces, Karra made it clear that the party reserved the right to raise issues concerning the people. Support does not mean silence. The Congress will stand with the people and continue to speak on issues that directly affect them, he said. Reacting sharply to the recent power tariff hike, the JKPCC chief termed the decision unjust and said the Congress had opposed it from the very beginning. He said the tariff increase came at a time when consumers were already grappling with mounting outstanding bills and the threat of disconnection. This power tariff hike is neither fair nor just. Placing an additional burden on consumers in such circumstances is not in the interest of the people. The government must look into the difficulties faced by ordinary consumers and protect their interests, Karra said, adding that supporting the government did not mean remaining silent on public issues. Earlier, a six-member Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was sworn in on October 16 last year, which did not include any Congress member. The National Conference, which is part of the INDIA opposition alliance, is opposed to the revocation of Article 370. In the elections held last year, the NC emerged as the single largest party and staked claim to form the government with Congress support. The Congress has since been extending outside support to the government while keeping the party's options open on joining the Cabinet.

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Nepal flash floods: MEA sets up round-the-clock control room in Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 27: In view of the flood situation in Nepal, the Ministry of External Affairs has set up a round-the-clock control room here to assist people. As the death toll from Nepal's devastating flash floods surged to 359 on Thursday, rescuers launched a race against time to trace hundreds still missing, including 288 Indian nationals. We have set up a control room in the Ministry of External Affairs here, which will function round-the-clock. Details of the helpline and the control room telephone numbers are being put out on our X handle, and you should be getting them soon. Our embassies, both in Kathmandu and in Beijing, have also set up 24x7 helplines, ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a media briefing here. Later, the MEA shared details of the control room in a statement. The control room can be contacted at +91 11 2308 8718 +91 11 2308 8719. For WhatsApp calls/messages: +91 9968291988. Email: situationroom@mea.gov.in, it said. The emergency contact numbers of the Indian embassy in Kathmandu are (also on WhatsApp): +977 985 131 6807; +977 970 910 7500; and +977 981 032 6117. The massive flash floods originating in Tibet swept through central Nepal on Wednesday, devastating several towns and villages, washing away critical bridges and crippling a dozen hydropower projects, affecting multiple districts. India on Thursday said it stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Nepal to help it deal with the crisis as rescue operations gathered momentum in the Himalayan nation. According to the MEA, Nepali authorities can be contacted at the following helpline numbers: Tourist Police: +977 9851289445; Nepal Army: +977 9851072914 (email: dgmi-foreign@nepalarmy.mil.np); NDRRMA: +977 9851320269 /+977 9849281097; Rasuwa Police: +977 9851254960; Assistant chief district officer, Rasuwa: +977 9851164422; Nuwakot Police: +977 9851282380; Assistant chief district officer, Nuwakot: +977 9851248777; Dhading Police: +977 9851229860; Chief district officer, Dhading: +977 9851247777; Chitwan Police: +977 9855013999; Assistant chief district officer, Chitwan: +977 9855088891.

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Gold extends slide, falls Rs 800 to Rs 1.65 lakh/10g ahead of Rakshabandhan

New Delhi, Aug 27: Gold prices fell for the second straight session, declining by Rs 800 to Rs 1,65,700 per 10 grams in the national capital on Thursday, even as local markets geared up for Rakshabandhan celebrations. The yellow metal of 99.9 per cent purity had closed at Rs 1,66,500 per 10 grams on Wednesday. However, silver remained unchanged at Rs 2,50,500 per kilogram (inclusive of all taxes), according to local traders. The decline in gold comes a day before Rakshabandhan, when consumers traditionally step up purchases of gifts and jewellery. The festival, to be celebrated on Friday, is marked by the exchange of gifts between brothers and sisters, with gold and silver jewellery contributing significantly to festive purchases. Analysts said gold prices also fell due to a rebound in the US dollar and Treasury bond yields. Spot gold traded lower on Thursday as a recovery in the US dollar and Treasury yields weighed on the yellow metal following stronger-than-expected US inflation data, Saumil Gandhi, Senior Analyst of Commodities at HDFC Securities, said. Gold declined Rs 1,400 over the last two trading sessions, after touching Rs 1,67,100 per 10 grams on Tuesday. Akshat Siddhant, Lead Quant Analyst at investment platform Mudrex, said silver remained steady after its initial sell-off in the local markets. Market participants are also keeping an eye on the US Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh's Jackson Hole speech on Friday, he said. Analysts said that any signal on the Fed's approach to inflation and interest rates could influence the dollar and Treasury yields, which in turn affect the appeal of assets such as gold. Globally, spot gold slipped marginally to trade at USD 4,585.88 per ounce. Spot gold prices traded lower as the US dollar index firmed up on inflation data, as Fed rate hike probability increased, Praveen Singh, Head of Commodities at Mirae Asset ShareKhan, said. Silver, however, showed greater resilience in the overseas markets, rising 0.31 per cent to USD 68.32 per ounce. Spot silver moved higher in Thursday's session as investors continued to seek safe-haven assets, with the white metal hovering around USD 68 per ounce, Gaurav Garg, Head of Research, Lemonn Markets Desk, said. On the broader commodity market, crude oil prices remained under pressure amid increased possibilities of the Strait of Hormuz reopening, Singh said. Investors will track the July advance trade balance and weekly jobs data from the US for fresh cues on the monetary policy, he added.

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Pilot, instructor killed in training aircraft crash in Kanpur

Kanpur, Aug 27: A trainee pilot and an instructor were killed on Thursday when a training aircraft crashed in Kanpur along the banks of Ganga, a senior police official said. The Tecnam aircraft operated by Garg Aviation took off around 11:30 am and crashed about 20 minutes later near Nathapurwa village in the Katri area. The cause of the crash was not immediately known. The civil aviation ministry said the probe agency, AAIB, will investigate the crash and a team of three officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will be visiting the crash site for necessary regulatory oversight and coordination. Citing preliminary information, the ministry in a statement said a Tecnam P2006T twin-engine aircraft, bearing registration VT-NBV, met with an accident, approximately 5 nautical miles from Kanpur Civil Airport near Ganga Barrage. The aircraft was on a training flight in the Local Flying Area of Kanpur civil airport. There were two persons on board, a trainee pilot and an instructor. Both sustained fatal injuries in the accident, the ministry said in a statement. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has been informed and will undertake a detailed investigation into the accident in accordance with the applicable rules. The circumstances and cause of the accident will be determined through the investigation, it said. Commissioner of Police Raghubir Lal told PTI that instructor Sachin Bhatia from Gujarat and trainee pilot Abhishek Pujari from Karnataka died in the crash. Bhatia had around 3,000 hours of flying experience, he said. Police and fire personnel rushed to the site after the crash, cordoned off the area and secured the wreckage as evidence for investigation into the crash, the officer said. Videos from the crash site showed the aircraft reduced to a wreck, with debris scattered around the area. A seat was also seen outside the wreckage, though officials have not confirmed whether the pilots attempted to escape the plane. Commissioner Lal, Additional Commissioners of Police Vipin Tada and Sankalp Sharma and Chief Fire Officer Deepak Sharma went to the spot following the crash. Police said the DGCA will examine the aircraft's airworthiness, maintenance records and other technical aspects. The aircraft, which had been with Garg Aviation Ltd, Kanpur, since 2023, had no maintenance-related deficiencies, the company claimed.

Panchayati Raj Ministry launches 'DAANVEER' initiative to strengthen rural digital infrastructure

New Delhi, Aug 27: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj invites public participation to become DAANVEERs and contribute towards strengthening digital infrastructure at the grassroots. DAANVEER, a people-led Computer Crowdsourcing Initiative, enables individuals and organizations to donate desktop computers directly to verified Gram Panchayats through a simple, transparent and technology-enabled mechanism. Complementing infrastructure support provided under Government programs, including the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA), the initiative seeks to harness voluntary public participation to strengthen digital governance and service delivery at the grassroots. DAANVEER makes donating a computer to a Gram Panchayat as simple and convenient as an online purchase. Through the Meri Panchayat App, citizens can view Gram Panchayats verified by the respective State Governments requiring desktop computers and choose to support their own or any other eligible Gram Panchayat, all from their phone. On clicking Donate Computer, the donor is securely redirected to DigiHaat, an ONDC-enabled digital marketplace, without the need for separate registration. The selected Panchayats delivery address and recipient details are automatically populated, eliminating manual data entry. Donors can choose from standardized computer bundles aligned with prescribed technical specifications, make the payment digitally and track the order from confirmation and dispatch to delivery and acknowledgement. Following acknowledgement by the Gram Panchayat Secretary, the donor receives a digitally generated Certificate of Appreciation. Hence under the initiative, every stage of the donation journey, from order placement to delivery, can be tracked in real time, ensuring complete transparency. A computer donated through DAANVEER can strengthen a Gram Panchayats capacity to effectively use digital governance platforms for planning, financial management, record-keeping and citizen service delivery. The initiative combines this impact with a transparent donation process, enabling public to view the donation status of their Gram Panchayat and donors to digitally track their contribution. It also offers citizens living away from their native villages, including the Indian diaspora, philanthropic organizations and CSR partners, a credible avenue to contribute to grassroots digital infrastructure and reconnect with their villages. With more States onboarding eligible Gram Panchayats, DAANVEER has the potential to evolve into a nationwide movement for stronger and digitally empowered Panchayats. As on 27th August 2026, 75 donations have already been made, marking an enthusiastic response and growing public acceptance of this initiative. On successful completion, donors receive a Certificate of Appreciation, recognizing their contribution to strengthening local governance. DAANVEER represents an innovative model of participatory governance, enabling voluntary public participation to complement Government efforts in strengthening grassroots institutions. Citizens, philanthropists, organizations, CSR partners and members of the Indian diaspora are encouraged to come forward and become a DAANVEER.

Tanks are 'iron wall' on borders, boost soldiers' morale: Rajnath Singh

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India highlights scientific techniques for Snow Leopard Conservation at Moscow roundtable meeting

Srinagar, Aug 27: India participated in the Russian-Indian Roundtable Meeting on Snow Leopard Study and Conservation, held on 26.08.2026, at the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow, Russia. The meeting was organised within the framework of the Partnership Agreement between the Interregional Association Irbis and the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), signed in December 2025, with the objective of strengthening international cooperation in snow leopard research and conservation. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India, delegation highlighted the countrys progress in the snow leopard conservation agenda through evolving science-based initiatives. Officials from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) elaborated on advances in snow leopard population estimation, radio telemetry and genetic analysis, underscoring the growing role of scientific tools in strengthening conservation efforts. The meeting also brought together representatives of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation, A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow Zoo, Rosprirodnadzor and leading experts in the field of snow leopard research and conservation. The Indian delegation participated in the Roundtable and thematic discussions focused on advancing collaborative approaches for conservation and scientific study of the species. The Roundtable provided an important platform for India and international partners to exchange knowledge and experiences and to strengthen cooperation in snow leopard research, monitoring and conservation.

MLAs get salary hike on Omar Abdullahs request, our plea still unaddressed: Sajad Parray

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Watal Kadal Srinagar blaze leaves families devastated as at least 8 residential houses damaged

Officials from the Fire and Emergency Services Department said the fire call was received at around 4:47 pm, following which firefighting units from Fire Station Safa Kadal, M R Gunj, Headquarters, Rainawari and Babademb were rushed to the spot. Initially, one house caught fire, but because the houses are closely built and interconnected, the flames spread rapidly to adjoining structures. A total of seven houses were gutted in the incident while 2 other houses received minor damages due to water and heat, an official said, adding that the cause of the fire is under investigation. Witnesses said huge flames and thick plumes of smoke could be seen rising from the attic portions and upper floors of the houses, creating panic in the densely populated locality.

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J-K police seizes 3 trucks carrying 49 cattle in Kathua, smugglers escape

Jammu, Aug 27: Police foiled three separate bovine smuggling bids in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, rescuing 49 cattle and seizing three trucks allegedly used for transporting them, officials said on Thursday. In all the incidents, the trucks were heading from Punjab and the alleged smugglers managed to escape. In the first incident, a police team intercepted a truck at the dispatch point in Lakhanpur during a naka and check on Thursday, officials said. During checking, police found 17 cattle loaded in the vehicle in an inhumane manner and rescued them, besides seizing the truck, while its driver escaped from the spot, they said. A case under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act was registered at Police Station Lakhanpur, the officials said. In the other two incidents, police on Wednesday intercepted two trucks at Hatli Morh and Sawan Chak areas of Kathua. At Hatli Morh, the driver of the truck stopped the vehicle a few metres before the naka point and fled. During checking, 17 cattle were found loaded in the truck and rescued. The vehicle was seized, and a case was registered at Police Station Kathua, police said. At Sawan Chak, the truck driver also fled after stopping the vehicle a few metres away from the naka point. Fifteen cattle were found loaded in the truck and rescued, while the vehicle was seized. A case was registered at Police Station Kathua, they said. Further investigation is underway.

J&K Deputy CM says Congress likely to join government soon, attacks BJP over discrimination against Jammu

Srinagar, Aug 27: Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary said on Thursday that the Congress is expected to join the National Conference-led government soon, describing the move as a natural development given the two parties alliance. Choudhary said the National Conference had wanted Congress to become part of the government since the alliance was formed, but that the final decision had rested with the Congress. As far as Congress is concerned, ever since this government was formed, when we entered into the alliance, it was our desire and we wanted Congress to join, he said. But Congress was unable to take a decision. Now Congress is taking a decision, and I think everyone should be happy because it is an alliance partner. He said Congress joining the government would strengthen the administration and help it deliver for the people. If Congress also comes in, the government will run with greater strength and we will be able to work for the people, Choudhary said. Because it is our alliance partner, they have a right to come into the government. Asked what the National Conference was offering Congress, including the number of ministerial berths, Choudhary rejected the suggestion that the party was negotiating through inducements. We are not BJP people. We are not like the BJP people who do horse-trading, he said. These are relationships of the heart. We are people who connect hearts, and decisions taken from the heart last long and are for the betterment of the people. He added: It does not happen that we will bring someone by giving them greed or temptation. This is the work of the BJP. Deputy CM attacks BJP over Jammu discrimination Choudhary also launched a broadside against the BJP, accusing it of failing to address what he described as discrimination against Jammu. Responding to BJP claims that a cabinet reshuffle could bring down the government, he said the BJP should focus instead on issues affecting the region. He questioned why, according to him, there was no Jammu-based professor serving as vice-chancellor at any of Jammus universities and why no local doctor had become director of AIIMS. Is this not discrimination that professors and doctors from Jammu do not have the right to become vice-chancellors or directors? he asked. Are our professors so incompetent? Are our doctors so incompetent that they cannot become vice-chancellors? Can they not become directors of AIIMS, IIM or IIT? He urged the media in Jammu to question the BJP on these issues rather than focus on the National Conference. Tell them not to talk about things here and there. Tell them why discrimination against Jammu is still not ending, he said. Choudhary also alleged that Jammus business sector was suffering and challenged the BJP to explain how it planned to revive trade and industry in the region. He referred to the 28,000-crore industrial package for Jammu and Kashmir and questioned whether existing industries in Jammu had benefited from it. Go to the Gangyal Industrial Estate, go to Bari Brahmana Industrial Estate, go to Samba, go to Kathua and wherever our industrial estates are, he said. Ask whether the old industries of Jammu and Kashmir have received anything from the package. Nothing has been given. Power tariffs, inflation and cost of living The Deputy Chief Minister also defended the government on electricity tariffs, arguing that the issue should be viewed against the record of the previous BJP-PDP administration. You should compare the last 12 years, he said. Find out how much electricity rates increased during the BJP period and how high electricity bills were. He also pointed to the governments electricity amnesty measures and challenged the BJP to answer questions about the rising prices of basic commodities. Ask the BJP people how much sugar costs. Is it 70 or 75 a kilo? he said. Ask them how much pulses cost. Ask them the price of vegetables and onions. Choudhary said the impact of inflation was particularly severe on ordinary households. For a poor man who has only one bulb, what does he know whether the bill is bigger or smaller? he said. He knows the price of the sugar he needs for his tea. He also accused the BJP of failing to address rising education and healthcare costs. Ask them why fees in universities have increased, he said. Ask them about the fees in hospitals. These are important issues. We will take back Article 370 and statehood On Article 370 and statehood, Choudhary said the National Conference remained committed to restoring Jammu and Kashmirs special status and statehood. We will take back 370. We will take back special status. We will protect our childrens jobs and will not allow our poor peoples land to be taken by outsiders, he said. He argued that the BJP had itself made commitments regarding employment and land during the parliamentary debate following the 2019 changes. This was a promise made by the BJP, Choudhary said. It was said in Parliament that the jobs of Jammu and Kashmir would not be taken by outsiders and the land of the people of Jammu and Kashmir would not be taken by outsiders. He said the BJP therefore had an even greater responsibility to address the issues of special status and statehood. Stop counting the sacrifices of children Choudhary also criticised BJP leader Ashok Kaul over remarks concerning the number of BJP children who had died during militancy. He said the deaths of young people should not be turned into a political calculation. A child may belong to a poor family, a child may be a BJP workers child, a child may be from the National Conference, PDP, Congress or any other party, or even an ordinary persons childif someone is killed in militancy, it is a matter of great sorrow, he said. What kind of counting is this that you have started, Ashok Kaul sahib? he asked. He also questioned BJP leaders over their participation, or that of their children, in the Ram temple movement and said political leaders should stop comparing sacrifices. Stop talking about the sacrifices and martyrdom of children, he said, urging the BJP to instead answer questions about Jammu and Kashmir. BJP challenged over unemployment and vacant posts Choudhary further challenged the BJP to explain its record on unemployment and the regularisation of temporary workers. Ahead of the BJPs proposed September 2 protest at the Civil Secretariat, he asked the party to explain why vacant posts had not been filled over the past 12 years. Ask them why they did not fill them, he said, referring to vacant government posts. He also questioned why various categories of temporary workersincluding SPOs, Home Guards, daily wagers and workers associated with horticulture, agriculture and other departmentshad not been regularised. They talk about unemployment. Ask them, you had promised that you would provide two crore jobs, Choudhary said. Of that two crore, what share did Jammu and Kashmir get? He also invoked the BJPs earlier promise of depositing 15 lakh in peoples bank accounts, saying the party should fulfil that promise before coming to the Civil Secretariat. We are politicians; we move towards the destination On speculation about internal divisions within the National Conference and whether political developments could affect the party, Choudhary said his focus remained on fulfilling the commitments made to the people. We are politicians. We move towards the destination, he said. We do not calculate into plus or minus. We know that the destination is in front of us, and that destination is oneto work for the welfare of the people and fulfil the promises we have made. Choudhary also dismissed suggestions that he was afraid of the BJP, pointing out that he had previously defeated its state president. If I was afraid of the BJP, I would not have left after defeating its state president, he said.