KashmirLife

SRINAGAR: Around 75 per cent of the construction work on the 50-bedded hospital at Pahalgam has been completed, while the process for revised administrative approval of the project is underway, the government informed the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Friday. Minister for Health and Medical Education Sakeena Itoo said the remaining works were being []

SRINAGAR: A 15-year-old boy was killed after being hit by a tractor in the Goswami Wader Brariangan area of Uttersoo in Anantnag district on Friday evening, officials said. Quoting an official, news agency GNS reported that the accident occurred at Goswami Wader Brariangan when a tractor, bearing an unknown registration number and allegedly driven by []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has been recognised as the Best Performing Union Territory for achieving saturation of frontline workers with Ayushman Cards under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). The State Health Agency (SHA), J&K received the award at Aarogya Manthan 2026 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, held to mark eight years []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has 211 concessional timber sale depots catering to public requirements, with the Government saying adequate stocks of firewood and timber are being maintained to meet seasonal and harsh winter demand. The operation of the depots was entrusted to the Jammu and Kashmir Forest Development Corporation Limited under Government Order No.193 of []

SRINAGAR: As many as 320 posts are lying vacant across Sub-District Hospitals (SDHs) in North Kashmir, with government data showing significant gaps in both medical and paramedical manpower at several health institutions. The figures form part of an institution-wise assessment of staff strength submitted by the Health and Medical Education Department in response to an []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir is yet to have a comprehensive disaster risk mitigation and preparedness plan based on a completed multi-hazard assessment, with the Government informing the Legislative Assembly that the expert committee tasked with the exercise is still working and no implementation timeline has been fixed. The High-Level Committee for Hazard, Vulnerability and Risk []

SRINAGAR: The construction of an extension block at Government Lal Ded Hospital Srinagar, planned to accommodate infertility, gynaecology and oncology services, has achieved only 35.74 per cent physical progress despite financial progress crossing 71 per cent, the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly was informed. The project, being executed under the Jammu and Kashmir Economic Reconstruction []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has told the Legislative Assembly that there is currently no proposal under consideration to take back the existing NHPC power projects, while three major hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 2,356 MW are either under appraisal or construction under agreements with the central power utility. The disclosure came []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has identified 14 sewage treatment projects with a combined planned capacity of 82.5 MLD to address drainage and sewage discharge into the Jhelum, with the proposed 9.5 MLD plant for Sopore listed for Phase-II implementation, according to an Assembly reply. The projects are at different stages, ranging from preparation of detailed []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinhas Principal Secretary, Dr Mandeep K Bhandari, has been appointed chairman of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the Centre said on Friday. Bhandari, a 2001-batch AGMUT cadre IAS officer, is currently serving as Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor and also holds charge as Chief Executive []

SRINAGAR: The Ladakh Traffic Police has switched from its earlier sky-blue uniform to white following approval from Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, with the change aimed at improving the forces visibility and giving personnel a more distinctive and professional appearance. The new uniform is intended to provide traffic personnel with a neat and consistent look []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has earmarked Rs 40 lakh in the 2026-27 UT Capex Budget for completing the balance works of the NT-PHC building at Devar Lolab in Kupwara, the Legislative Assembly was informed on Friday. Health and Medical Education Minister Sakeena Itoo said the PHC building was approved under the district sector []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has intensified relief and restoration work in Rajouri and Poonch following heavy rains, flash floods and landslides that damaged roads, power infrastructure, water supply schemes, agricultural land and houses across the two districts. Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary informed the Legislative Assembly on Friday that Rs 300 lakh []

SRINAGAR: As many as 15,66,716 households across Jammu and Kashmir have been provided tap water connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission, up from 5,75,466 households recorded with such connections as of August 15, 2019, according to the Jal Shakti Department. The figures were provided in the Legislative Assembly in response to an unstarred question submitted []

SRINAGAR: Around 85 students enrolled up to Class 8 at Upper Primary School (UPS) Kandi Bala in Karnah are being taught in just one classroom, highlighting an acute shortage of teaching space at the school in north Kashmirs Kupwara district. The school has three rooms in all, but only one is available for regular academic []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Department has transferred and posted eight Associate and Assistant Professors of Clinical Biochemistry to various government colleges with immediate effect. The transfers were ordered through Government Order No. 336-JK(HE) of 2026 dated September 25, 2026, under the departments Faculty Transfer Policy notified through Notification No. 01-JK(HE) of 2026 []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Department has transferred and posted six Associate and Assistant Professors of Philosophy to various Government Degree Colleges with immediate effect. The transfers were ordered through Government Order No. 338-JK(HE) of 2026, issued on September 25, 2026, in accordance with the Transfer Policy for Faculty of the Higher Education []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Department has transferred and posted 24 librarians to various Government Degree Colleges and other higher education institutions across the Union Territory. The transfers were ordered through Government Order No. 339-JK(HE) of 2026, dated September 25, in accordance with the Transfer Policy for Faculty of the Higher Education Department []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Department has transferred and posted 27 College Directors of Physical Education and Sports to various Government Degree Colleges and the Government College of Education Jammu, with immediate effect. The transfers were ordered through Government Order No. 340-JK(HE) of 2026, issued on September 25, 2026, under the faculty transfer []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has told the Legislative Assembly that no in-service engineer facing a CBI, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), criminal case or Regular Departmental Action (RDA) was prematurely transferred, while disciplinary proceedings remain pending against several officials over alleged misconduct. The Public Works (R&B) Department said 124 Executive Engineers and 402 Assistant Executive []

SRINAGAR: Police in north Kashmirs Baramulla district have arrested eight tourist guides for allegedly accosting, harassing and obstructing tourists and passengers in Tangmarg, officials said. The arrested persons are being produced before the Judicial Magistrate for further legal action, police said. Baramulla Police said it would not tolerate harassment, intimidation or unnecessary approaches towards tourists []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma on Thursday questioned the Omar Abdullah-led Government over its commitments on free electricity and LPG cylinders, while also raising concerns over the proposed Cabinet reshuffle. Speaking to reporters, Sharma alleged that the Government had not implemented its earlier commitment to provide 200 units of free electricity. []

SRINAGAR: At least 30 people, including actors and politicians, were arrested on Thursday during a protest outside the United Nations headquarters in New York against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, hours before he addressed the UN General Assembly. According to Reuters, Oscar-winning actor Susan Sarandon, Emmy Award winner Hannah Einbinder, Democratic congressional candidate Darializa Avila []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has acknowledged concerns over poor-quality road works, premature deterioration and delays in project completion, while informing the Legislative Assembly that nine road contracts worth a combined Rs 98.49 crore had been terminated for contractual defaults. The disclosure was made in response to a starred question by BJP MLA Sunil []

SRINAGAR: The Government has reduced Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on major imported crude edible oils, a move aimed at lowering domestic prices and easing inflationary pressure linked to higher international edible oil prices. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said the BCD on crude sunflower oil had been reduced from 10 per []

SRINAGAR: The Mini Maternity-cum-Child Care (MMC) Hospital at Zakura in Srinagar has yet to become fully functional, with the Health and Medical Education Department attributing the delay to pending repair, renovation and finishing works as well as continued occupation of the hospital building by security forces. The issue was raised by Hazratbal MLA Salman Ali []

SRINAGAR: Peoples Conference chief and Handwara MLA Sajad Lone on Thursday alleged that elected representatives were being undermined in decisions concerning development works in their constituencies, and questioned whether legislators had the authority to determine local projects. Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Lone said he had submitted []

SRINAGAR: The Deputy Commissioner Kathua has suspended Naib Tehsildar Subash Chander over recurring deficiencies in work disposal, attendance, supervisory responsibilities and progress in the digitisation of revenue records under AGRISTACK. The suspension, ordered with immediate effect on September 21, follows reports from the Tehsildar, Kathua, about persistent pendency and inadequate progress in assigned work. According []

SRINAGAR: Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union on Thursday held a protest outside the Civil Secretariat and Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly here, demanding enhancement of honorarium, timely monthly payments and social security benefits. The protesters, highlighted their demands, including an increase in the UT share of honorarium, release of pending Poshan Tracker payments since September []

SRINAGAR: Saudi Civil Defence issued a warning for the holy city of Mecca and several other parts of the kingdom on Thursday amid a fresh escalation involving Yemens Houthis. The agency said the National Early Warning Platform had issued an alert in Mecca City over a potential danger. Similar warnings were issued for Yanbu on []

SRINAGAR: More than 30 per cent of sanctioned teaching posts are vacant in government schools across the Kupwara constituency, with lecturer posts recording the highest vacancy rate, according to figures placed before the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. In a reply to a question by MLA Mir Mohammad Fayaz, the minister in charge said 403 []

SRINAGAR: The Power Development Department (PDD) is enforcing 6 hours of daily forced power cuts in the areas having Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT and C) losses of over 40 percent. Furthermore, the areas having an AT&C losses of 15-40 percent faces a power curtailment of three hours. However, the government further said that the []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department is developing and promoting new tourist destinations in Bandipora constituency, including Athwatoo, Wular Lake, Watlab and adjoining areas, as part of efforts to diversify the tourism circuit and promote lesser-known locations. In a written reply to a starred question by Bandipora MLA Nizam-ud-din Bhat, the Government said several []

SRINAGAR: Nineteen schools in Srinagars Eidgah Assembly constituency are currently operating from rented, temporary or other non-permanent accommodation, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has informed the Legislative Assembly. In a reply to Starred D. No. 1/6/86 tabled by Eidgah MLA Mubarik Gul, the School Education Department said the schools were functioning from such premises and []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has said funds under the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA-JGUA) had to be withdrawn and re-authorised after the original mother sanction was rendered inactive on the PFMS portal by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. In a reply to Un-Starred D. No. 1/6/630 tabled by Kangan MLA Mian []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly is scheduled to take up a number of issues of public importance, besides private members resolutions, during its sitting on Friday, according to the List of Business issued by the Assembly Secretariat. The sitting is scheduled to begin at 10 am, with questions listed as the first item []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday expressed grief over the loss of nine lives in a bus fire on the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families. In a post on X, Abdullah expressed his deepest condolences to the families of those killed in the []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has approved 459 claims under the Forest Rights Act during 2025-26 and the current financial year so far, with the highest number recorded in Poonch and Kishtwar, according to a reply submitted by the Department of Tribal Affairs in the Legislative Assembly. The figures were provided in response to []

SRINAGAR: A shutdown was observed across parts of Ladakh, marking a year since four people were killed during protests in Leh over demands for statehood and safeguards under the Constitutions Sixth Schedule. Shops and business establishments remained closed in Leh and Kargil, while thin traffic affected normal activity. The day was observed by some groups []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir School Education Department has ordered the transfer and posting of six principals and lecturers across the Union Territory with immediate effect. The orders were issued through Government Order No. 392-JK (Edu) of 2026 by Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, School Education Department Ram Niwas Sharma. As per the order, Jai Bharat, []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has said that the report of the Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted to review and rationalise the reservation policy has completed its prescribed process but is still awaiting a final decision from the Competent Authority, nearly two years after the panel was constituted, even as the government has declined to specify []

SRINAGAR: Fresh snowfall was recorded in the upper reaches of Chattapani, Pir Panjal range and along the Mughal Road on Thursday. Officials said that snow accumulated in higher areas, while lower reaches received rainfall, leading to a dip in temperature. Authorities have advised commuters to exercise caution while travelling on Mughal Road and to confirm []

SRINAGAR: The proposed construction of a new G+4 building at Chest Diseases Hospital, Dalgate, Srinagar, is awaiting the requisite permission from the J&K Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) or the Building Operation and Controlling Authority (BOCA), delaying the grant of administrative approval for the project. The Health and Medical Education Department disclosed the status []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has received Rs 5,537.32 crore in direct financial benefits from six major NHPC hydropower projects over the last five financial years through water usage charges and its entitlement of 12 per cent free power plus 1 per cent Local Area Development Fund (LADF), according to a detailed government reply tabled in []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has approved the transfer of three kanals of land at Arampora in Sopore for establishment of a vegetable mandi aimed at improving the marketing, storage and post-harvest management of locally produced vegetables. The decision was approved by the Council of Ministers through Decision No. 113/11/2026 dated September 10, 2026, []

SRINAGAR: Apple orchards in Zainapora constituency suffered hailstorm damage during the current year, while the Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered an inquiry into reports of premature apple fruit drop in the area, officials said in a reply to the Legislative Assembly. The Agriculture Production Department said details of the hailstorm damage and compensation proposed []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir will have 1,750 MBBS seats across 11 medical colleges for the 2026-27 academic session, 75 more than listed in the National Medical Commissions earlier seat matrix issued in July. The revised figures were published by the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) on September 18, 2026, as part of the NMCs []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has told the Legislative Assembly that it is following a regulated and sustainable approach to mineral extraction to balance environmental protection with the availability of construction material for developmental and infrastructure projects. The government gave the response in a written reply by the minister in charge of the Mining []

SRINAGAR: The Higher Education Department has recorded an 18 per cent rise in first-year admissions this year despite difficulties in making newly established degree colleges fully operational and weak student response to some newly introduced courses, Education Minister Sakina Itoo told the Legislative Assembly. Itoo was responding during the ongoing autumn session to concerns raised []

SRINAGAR: Three private members bills seeking prohibition of liquor in Jammu and Kashmir are among the first five bills listed for business in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday, raising the possibility of their introduction and discussion during the ongoing autumn session. The bills have been moved separately by PDP MLA Mir Mohammad Fayaz, BJP legislator []