KashmirLife

SRINAGAR: The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Jammu and Kashmir, has suspended the operating licence of Packaged Drinking Water at Kakan Maran in central Kashmirs Budgam district over alleged violations of food safety standards. The action was taken on Tuesday after an inspection by a Food Safety Officer identified shortcomings in water quality testing, monitoring []

by Iftikhar Hakim The government promises decongestion, resilient cities and GIS-based Master Plans, but building-rule amendments and Ease of Doing Business provisions raise concerns over planning safeguards, environmental protection and disaster resilience. Jammu and Kashmirs cities and towns face mounting pressures from unplanned growth, traffic congestion, inadequate infrastructure, environmental degradation and increasing exposure to natural []

SRINAGAR: A 73-year-old tourist from Haryana died after being shifted to SMHS Hospital in Srinagar following a complaint of chest pain, officials said. The deceased, identified as Mahipal Singh, a resident of Gharaunda in Karnal district, was staying with his wife and friends at Houseboat on Dal Lake. He was initially taken to Khyber Hospital []

SRINAGAR: Jammu Kashmir Police have cautioned people against a cyber fraud in which a senior citizen was allegedly cheated of Rs 1.62 lakh by a scammer impersonating a Jal Board official and threatening to disconnect the victims water supply over an unpaid bill. According to a cyber safety advisory shared by the police, the fraudster []

SRINAGAR: Secretary Tourism, Avny Lavasa, on Monday said that issues related to electricity supply, snow clearance and other requirements would be taken up with the Ganderbal district administration to ensure smooth tourism activities during the upcoming winter season in Sonamarg. Talking to reporters here Lavasa said, representatives of the Hotel and Market Association met her []

SRINAGAR: A Srinagar resident was among four persons apprehended by police after fake gold coins were recovered from their possession during checking in Banihal, officials said on Monday. An official said that the four were travelling from Jammu towards Srinagar when they were intercepted at the tunnel. He said fake gold coins were recovered during []

SRINAGAR: The Ladakh Administration has amended the composition of its Civil Services Board (CSB), replacing the designation of Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor with Chief Secretary and that of Principal Secretary with Commissioner/Secretary. The changes were notified through Order No. 520-LA (GAD) of 2026, issued by the General Administration Department on October 26. The amendment []

SRINAGAR: Police in Baramulla district have arrested a driver and seized his vehicle within three hours of a fatal road accident involving a 45-year-old woman in the Sheeri area on Sunday. The woman, identified as Gulshan, wife of Mohd Ramzan and a resident of Malpora, was allegedly hit by a vehicle on the MalporaHeewan Road. []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has designated the courts of the 1st Additional District and Sessions Judge in Jammu and Srinagar as Special Fast Track Courts to try offences under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. The designation was notified by the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs through Notification []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered the transfer and posting of three officers in the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs with immediate effect. According to Government Order No. 97-JK(FCS&CA) of 2026, issued on October 23, Khalil Ahmed, Assistant Director, Poonch, has been assigned the additional charge of Assistant Director, Rajouri, []

SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh has quashed a preventive detention order issued against an Anantnag man under the Public Safety Act (PSA), holding that criminal cases dating back nearly two decades, several of which ended in acquittal, did not establish a sufficient basis for his detention in 2024. Justice Sanjay Parihar, []

SRINAGAR: Indian airline IndiGo has extended the suspension of its flights to and from several Saudi Arabian cities amid security concerns, with services to Riyadh cancelled until October 31 and those to Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah suspended until October 27, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh said on Friday. In a post on X, the embassy []

SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh has upheld the preventive detention of a Kulgam man booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA), observing that his alleged repeated involvement in 11 cattle theft cases could create fear among local residents and disturb public order. Justice M A Chowdhary dismissed a habeas corpus petition []

SRINAGAR: A balloon bearing the marking of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was recovered near a resort in the Ghou Manhasan area of Jammu on Friday morning, prompting a police search of the surrounding area as a precautionary measure. According to reports, locals spotted the balloon at RR Resort in Mahavir Basti, falling under the jurisdiction []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has quashed a tribunal order imposing a cost of Rs 10,000 on a senior advocate without giving him an opportunity to be heard, holding that the decision violated the principles of natural justice. A Division Bench of Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice MA Chowdhary passed the order []

SRINAGAR: An elderly man was prevented from jumping into the River Jhelum from a footbridge in Srinagar after a man present at the spot intervened and caught hold of him, averting a possible tragedy. Eyewitnesses said that an elderly man was about to jump into the river when the bystander acted swiftly and stopped him []

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said his government is making every effort to ensure development across Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that his visit to Beerwah is aimed at advancing development works in the constituency. I am trying my best to bring progress in every area. This was my purpose of coming to Beerwah []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is scheduled to inaugurate and lay foundation stones for developmental projects worth Rs 25 crore during his visit to Budgam on Friday. The Chief Ministers Office announced the programme in a post on X, stating that the projects are intended to strengthen public infrastructure, improve essential services []

by Iftikhar Hakeem Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) is a legitimate and necessary objective. Jammu and Kashmir needs investment, employment, efficient administration and predictable regulatory procedures. But facilitating investment should not require weakening the statutory framework governing land use, building development and environmental protection. The critical question is whether regulatory reform is simplifying approvals or []

by Azhar Yousuf The loss of his beloved father, Abu Ji, in October 2025 brings cherished memories, the shock of bereavement, enduring grief, faith, and the difficult journey towards acceptance. The pain and agony of losing someone close to us, particularly a parent, can be an overwhelming psychological and physical experience, registering in the brain []

SRINAGAR: Two doctors of Kashmiri origin working in the United Kingdom have earned international recognition after their research was selected for an oral presentation at the 2026 Congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) in Munich, Germany. Dr Saalis Maqbool and Dr Abir Aijaz, who work in the Acute Medicine Department at Weston General []

SRINAGAR: The hunger strike by residents of Gurez in north Kashmirs Bandipora district entered its second day on Friday, with protesters demanding improved medical facilities, an inquiry into the deaths of a pregnant woman and her baby, and a reshuffle of the local administration. The protesters are seeking the deployment of four-wheel-drive ambulances in Bagtore, []

SRINAGAR: At least 16 people were killed and 46 others injured after a magnitude-7.0 earthquake struck Baqen County in Nagqu City, in Chinas Xizang region, at 10.33 pm on Thursday, with rescue and relief operations under way in the affected area. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquakes epicentre was about 191 kilometres []

SRINAGAR: Traffic movement on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) remained very slow between Dawal in Udhampur and the Marog-Kishtwari Pather stretch due to single-lane road conditions, an uneven surface, vehicle breakdowns and the movement of nomadic herds, the Traffic Police Headquarters said on Thursday. The advisory, covering the period from 4 pm on October 21 []

SRINAGAR: Ladakh Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Thursday laid the foundation stone for an open exhibition ground at Melong-Thang in Leh, with the proposed facility aimed at promoting cultural activities, tourism and local enterprise. The ground will provide a venue for exhibitions, trade fairs and community events, including national and international gatherings, Saxena said. It []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has announced special prizes for local runners in the third edition of the Kashmir Marathon, scheduled to be held in Srinagar on October 25, as the government seeks to encourage greater participation in both the half-marathon and full-marathon categories. Speaking to reporters in Srinagar on Thursday, Omar []

SRINAGAR: Police in Handwara area of north kashmirs Kupwara district on Thursday have attached properties belonging to three accused in connection with a case registered in 2023 at Police Station Handwara under charges including murder, attempt to murder, arson and criminal conspiracy. The action was carried out on Thursday in the presence of revenue officials, []

SRINAGAR: Residents of Gurez in north Kashmirs Bandipora district have launched a hunger strike demanding improved healthcare facilities, an inquiry into the recent deaths of a pregnant woman and her baby, and changes in the local administration. The protesters have demanded the deployment of 44 ambulances in Bagtore, Tulail and Dawar, along with the permanent []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has appointed Additional Deputy Commissioner Reasi Sushil Kesar, JKAS, as Executive Magistrate and Additional District Magistrate within his territorial jurisdiction in Reasi district. The appointment was notified by the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs through Notification S.O. 261, under Section 14(1) and Section 14(2) of the Bharatiya []

SRINAGAR: Traffic restrictions will be imposed on several roads in Srinagar on October 25 in view of the third edition of the Kashmir Marathon 2026, with restrictions on key routes beginning at 5 am and continuing on some stretches until the event concludes, the Traffic Police have said. In an advisory issued on October 21, []

SRINAGAR: The Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) has asked Chief Education Officers across Kashmir to provide details of teachers and Masters who did not apply for transfers under the Annual Transfer Drive (ATD) 2026, specifically requiring information on benchmark disabilities or serious illnesses affecting them or their dependent family members. In a communication dated []

SRINAGAR: A 40-year-old woman sustained burns over around 70 per cent of her body after her stepson allegedly set her on fire at their residence in Housing Colony, Udhampur, on Wednesday evening, Daily Excelsior reported. The woman, identified as Sushma Devi, wife of Keshav Verma, was taken to District Hospital Udhampur by her family members. []

SRINAGAR: Traffic movement on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) is likely to remain slow at vulnerable stretches due to single-lane roads, ongoing construction work and the movement of nomadic herds, with the Traffic Police advising commuters to avoid night travel. According to the Traffic Police Headquarters, very slow movement was recorded on NH-44 between 4 []

SRINAGAR: The Food Safety Department in Bandipora has prohibited the sale of Bansal turmeric powder, batch number HP-37, across the district after laboratory testing found the presence of Metanil Yellow, a colouring agent not permitted under food safety regulations. The order, issued on October 21 by Zahoor Ahmad Sheikh, Designated Officer for Food Safety, Bandipora, []

SRINAGAR: The JKSET/LASET 2026 examination, to be conducted by the University of Kashmir (KU) this year, has been rescheduled to 1:30 PM on October 25 across Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh. As per the revised schedule notification issued by the Member Secretary JKSET agency under No. F(Timing/JKSET/LASET-26), dated: 21.10.2026 candidates have been asked to report to []

SRINAGAR: The body of an unidentified woman was found floating in water along Dharap Road in Jammu on Wednesday, reports said. Local residents spotted the body and alerted the authorities, following which a police team reached the scene and initiated legal proceedings. The body is being shifted to Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital, Jammu, for []

SRINAGAR: The Director General of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS and CA), Jammu, Rajesh Kumar Shavan, has approved the promotion of 64 employees across various categories on the recommendations of the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC). The DPC meeting, chaired by Shavan, was held on Monday and comprised the Special Secretary to the Government, []

SRINAGAR: Two youths were killed after their motorcycle hit a road barricade when a kite string got entangled in its wheel on the National Highway at Sarore in Samba district on Wednesday evening, officials said. An official said that the motorcycle, bearing registration number JK21M 9002, was travelling from Bari Brahmana towards Samba when the []

SRINAGAR: Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Anantnag has ordered the transfer and posting of eight police officers in the district in the interest of administration and to ensure the smooth and effective functioning of police stations and police posts. According to Order No. 909 of 2026, dated October 21, Inspector Parveez Ahmad (4155/NGO), who was []

SRINAGAR: The State Election Commission of Ladakh has proposed November 21 as the polling date for general elections to all Panchayat Halqas in the Union Territory, with the election process scheduled to conclude by November 30. In a press note issued on October 21, State Election Commissioner Sudhanshu Pandey said the proposed schedule had been []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has assigned additional charge of four District Information Officer (DIO) posts to serving officers, with the arrangements to continue until further orders. As per Government Order No. 53-JK (ID) of 2026, issued by the Information Department on October 21, Mukesh Kumar, Jr. JKAS, who is posted as DIO Reasi, []

SRINAGAR: Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has notified 100 constituencies for the regions eight Autonomous Hill Development Councils, increasing the total number of councillors from the existing 52 to 100 under the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (Amendment) Regulation, 2026. The Revenue Department issued the notification, S.O. 290, on October 21, 2026, which was []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) has announced 127 vacancies for Junior Engineer (Mechanical) in the Public Works (Roads and Buildings) Department, with the online application process scheduled to begin on November 16. According to Advertisement Notification No. 10 of 2026, dated October 21, eligible candidates can submit their applications online until []

SRINAGAR: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has set December 31, 2029, as the deadline to eliminate the drug menace in India, urging a concerted national effort to combat narcotics. Speaking at the Police Commemoration Day event at the National Police Memorial in New Delhi on Wednesday, Shah said the remaining months of 2026 and the []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Handicapped Association staged a peaceful protest at Srinagars Press Enclave on Wednesday, demanding that the government address the long-pending issues and concerns of persons with disabilities. Association State President Abdul Rashid Bhat called for concrete measures to protect the rights and improve the welfare of persons with disabilities across Jammu []

SRINAGAR: At least 12-15 passengers were injured when a bus travelling from Pechound to Ramnagar met with an accident at Gulli Gala Latti in Udhampur district on Wednesday. The bus, bearing registration number JK02AL-3477, was involved in the accident at Gulli Gala, according to reports. The injured passengers were shifted to a nearby hospital for []

SRINAGAR: More than 250,000 people have been displaced across Yemen between August 1 and October 17 as hostilities intensified, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Tuesday, warning that thousands of families remain in need of shelter amid severe funding shortages. The figure has risen from nearly 213,000 reported earlier, with Taiz accounting for []

SRINAGAR: Fifty-three people were killed and 200 injured in an attack on a government security forces training camp in Yemens Shabwa province on Monday, according to the Associated Press (AP), amid escalating fighting between the Iran-aligned Houthis and government forces. Local authority sources, speaking to AP on condition of anonymity, said the Houthis had fired []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has posted JKAS officer Parvinder Kour as Deputy Commissioner, Relief Organisation (Migrants), Jammu, against an available vacancy. According to a government order, Kour was previously serving as Registrar, District Doda, with the additional charge of General Manager, District Industries Centre (DIC), Doda. The order formalises her posting to the []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu Railway Division is set to establish an Integrated Control Office (ICO) at Jammu Tawi to bring the control units of various departments under one roof and improve coordination, train operations and operational efficiency. The foundation stone for the facility was laid by Divisional Railway Manager Jammu Vivek Kumar on Monday, a railway []