KashmirLife

SRINAGAR: Prof Ahsan Ul Haq Qurashi, Professor of Chemistry at Khalifa University in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has been awarded the Chartered Chemist (CChem) designation by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), UK, in recognition of his professional competence, scientific expertise and commitment to continued development in chemical sciences. Prof Qurashi was previously elected []

SRINAGAR: Jammu Police have arrested the main accused in an alleged Rs 4.10-crore fraud involving promises of securing jobs through the Railway Board recruitment process and arranging tenders for the supply of drinking water bottles to Northern Railway. The case is being investigated under FIR No. 262/2026 registered at Police Station Channi Himmat, police said. []

SRINAGAR: The Government has introduced an annual concessional toll pass for eligible owners of non-commercial vehicles living within 20 kilometres of a National Highway fee plaza, with charges fixed at Rs 1,500 or Rs 3,000 depending on the location of the toll plaza. The new provision will come into effect on November 1, according to []

SRINAGAR: Traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) will be allowed in both directions on October 28, subject to favourable weather and road conditions, while commuters have been advised to avoid night travel due to the risk of shooting stones, landslides and ongoing road construction. According to the Traffic Police Headquarters, traffic movement on NH-44 []

SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office to four new ministers on October 27, 2026, as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expanded his Council of Ministers. The four National Conference legislators include veterans Ali Mohammad Sagar and Mir Saifullah, who returned to the cabinet, and Shameema Firdous and Altaf Ahmad Wani (Altaf Kaloo), []

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullahs Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani on Tuesday acknowledged resentment and disappointment among National Conference (NC) legislators following the cabinet expansion, saying every MLA aspires to become a minister, but Jammu and Kashmirs Union Territory status poses its own challenges. Talking to media persons here, Wani said it was natural for legislators []

SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir at a Unified Headquarters (UHQ) meeting at Lok Bhavan, Srinagar, directing security agencies to intensify efforts against infiltration, terrorist networks and their sources of logistical and financial support. Sinha stressed the need for close coordination among security agencies, saying real-time []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has issued a roster of Administrative Secretaries who will remain available at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar during November 2026, with designated officers assigned duties in four weekly slots from November 2 to 27. The roster was issued through Government Order No. 1681-JK(GAD) of 2026, dated October 27, by []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir were trailing Baroda by 610 runs at stumps on the second day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match after the hosts posted 616 all out in their first innings at the Reliance Stadium in Vadodara on Tuesday. Jammu and Kashmir finished the day at 6 without loss in four []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL) has facilitated 34 compassionate appointments in long-pending cases under SRO-43, providing relief to eligible families of deceased employees. The cases predated the implementation of the Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme (RAS)-2022 and had remained pending due to the need for relaxation in the prescribed age and educational qualification criteria. []

SRINAGAR: Power supply to several areas of Kashmir will be affected by scheduled shutdowns of transmission and distribution lines on October 28, October 31 and November 3 and 7, the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has announced. According to the Chief Engineer, Distribution, KPDCL, the shutdown of the 220 kV ZainakoteAlusteng transmission line (Circuits []

SRINAGAR: National Conference Additional General Secretary and former minister Ajay Kumar Sadhotra on Tuesday welcomed the expansion of the Council of Ministers in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the move reflected Chief Minister Omar Abdullahs resolve to strengthen public outreach and make governance more responsive to peoples needs. In a statement, Sadhotra said the expansion was []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Governments Finance Department has constituted a committee to expedite the processing and resolution of cases involving government employees seeking coverage under the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), with a mandate to coordinate eligibility approvals, General Provident Fund (GPF) allotments and the transfer of accumulated pension funds. According to a government order, []

SRINAGAR: The Government of Indias Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered the transfer of two senior IAS officers of the AGMUT cadre from Jammu and Kashmir to the Delhi segment with immediate effect. According to an order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on October 27, 2026, Ashwani Kumar, a 1992-batch IAS officer, and []

SRINAGAR: The Special Crime Wing of Crime Branch Kashmir has filed a charge-sheet against a man accused of allegedly cheating 12 residents of Kashmir of Rs 16.78 lakh by luring them into investing in a purported foreign exchange (Forex) investment scheme that promised substantial returns within a short period. The charge-sheet has been submitted before []

SRINAGAR: Police in south Kashmirs Anantnag district have apprehended six suspected drug peddlers in separate operations and recovered contraband substances from their possession, officials said on Tuesday. The recoveries included around 2 kg of a ganja-like substance, 114 grams of a charas-powder-like substance and smaller quantities of substances suspected to be charas. Cases have been []

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday chaired the first Cabinet meeting following the reshuffle of the Jammu and Kashmir Government, with the allocation of portfolios to newly inducted ministers likely to be among the key issues under discussion. The meeting began at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar, hours after four National Conference legislators were []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has permitted a woman to present two additional witnesses in her divorce proceedings after she alleged that her husband had contracted another marriage during the subsistence of their marriage, observing that the evidence could have a bearing on the outcome of the case. Justice Sanjay Dhar, while []

SRINAGAR: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday welcomed the expansion of the Jammu and Kashmir Council of Ministers, expressing hope that the newly inducted ministers would work to address public grievances and ease peoples difficulties. Describing the Cabinet expansion as a positive development, Abdullah said the ministers would make efforts to resolve issues faced []

SRINAGAR: Newly inducted Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet Minister Mir Saifullah on Tuesday said he would work to fulfil the expectations of the National Conference leadership and address public grievances, describing his elevation to the Council of Ministers as the fulfilment of a long-standing ambition. Speaking to reporters after taking oath at Lok Bhawan in Srinagar, []

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 []

SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh has restored a trial court decree recognising a woman as the daughter of a deceased landowner and upholding her claim to a share in his property, ruling that the appellate court wrongly dismissed her suits on grounds of limitation and failure to establish paternity. Justice Shahzad []

SRINAGAR: Police have arrested two alleged domestic helpers and recovered gold ornaments worth around Rs 45 lakh in connection with a theft at a house in Khanyar area of Srinagar, officials said on Tuesday. The case came to light on October 25, when Police Station Khanyar received a complaint from Basharat Hussain, son of Gh []

For generations, Punjab was where Kashmiris went to trade, study and heal. Today, those who make the journey travel with caution, struggle to rent rooms and stay wary of drugs and hostility, reports Asrar Syeed Historically, the neighbouring state of Punjab was a place Kashmiri artisans, shawl weavers, and traders travelled to frequently. For most []

SRINAGAR: Police in south Kashmirs Kulgam district have recovered the entire Rs 9.5 lakh allegedly stolen from a woman through an ATM card exchange fraud and arrested two women accused of receiving the proceeds, while the two alleged main perpetrators remain absconding. The case is registered as FIR No. 254/2026 under Sections 303(2) and 318(4) []

Analysis of nine sub-watersheds in the north-western Himalaya identifies fault-controlled river networks, ongoing uplift and erosion-prone terrain, offering new evidence to inform geological hazard assessment and water-resource planning. SRINAGAR: A study of the Poonch Basin in Jammu and Kashmir has found that active tectonic processes are significantly shaping its valleys, river networks and landscape. The []

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: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is set to expand and reshuffle his two-year-old Council of Ministers on Tuesday, with four National Conference leaders expected to join the government as it moves towards filling the available ministerial positions. The reshuffle follows the resignation of the existing ministers, paving the way for Omar Abdullah []

SRINAGAR: Traffic movement on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) remained very slow over the past 24 hours due to single-lane stretches, uneven road surfaces, vehicle breakdowns and the movement of nomadic herds, the Jammu and Kashmir Traffic Police said on Monday. In its advisory issued for October 27, the Traffic Police Headquarters said slow movement []

SRINAGAR: A 22-year-old Border Security Force (BSF) woman constable, identified as Savita Devi, died in a road accident in the Panjtilla area of Jammu and Kashmirs Samba district while she was heading home on her scooty. Devi was reportedly on leave when her scooty collided with an unidentified vehicle, resulting in her death. Police have []

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: Priyanshu Moliyas unbeaten century helped Baroda recover from a middle-order collapse to reach 259 for six at stumps on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match against Jammu and Kashmir at the Reliance Cricket Ground in Vadodara on Monday. Moliya was unbeaten on 113 off 220 deliveries, anchoring the innings []

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: Police seized 11 vehicles in different parts of north Kashmirs Baramulla district on Monday for alleged involvement in illegal mineral extraction and transportation, officials said. During a late-night operation in Jahama, police intercepted six tractors and two tippers suspected of being involved in illegal sand extraction. Legal proceedings were initiated under the Mines and []

SRINAGAR: Around 5,000 Congress leaders and workers from Jammu and Kashmir will participate in a national rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on November 1 to protest alleged electoral irregularities, party leaders said. The rally is being organised under the Congresss Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao campaign and is expected to draw party workers and []

SRINAGAR: The Consulate General of India in Jeddah has assured all possible assistance to Indian Umrah pilgrims affected by flight disruptions, saying efforts are underway to facilitate the early return of those stranded in Saudi Arabia. In a communication to Jammu and Kashmir National Conference MP Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzan, Fahad Suri of the Consulate said []

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday expressed deep anguish over a devastating fire at Shiv Market, opposite Jammu Railway Station, which gutted around 35 to 40 shops. The Chief Minister directed the administration to extend all possible assistance to the affected shopkeepers, whose business establishments suffered extensive damage in the blaze. The fire broke []

SRINAGAR: Police in south Kashmirs Anantnag district have traced all 125 people reported missing across various police stations during 2026, providing relief to their families. Of the 125 people traced, 90 were adults and 35 were minors, according to the police. The police attributed the outcome to prompt action, sustained follow-up and the efforts of []

SRINAGAR: The India Islamic Cultural Centre (IICC), New Delhi, has invited online applications from eligible Indian students for its Merit-cum-Means (MCM) Scholarship Scheme for the 202627 academic year, with the last date for submission set for November 25, 2026. This is the first time that IICC is offering scholarships to deserving students across the country. []

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: The Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) has urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to press the Union Government for the establishment of a Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) in Jammu and Kashmir, citing the financial burden, legal difficulties and inconvenience faced by local borrowers who are required to pursue cases in Chandigarh. In a []

SRINAGAR: Ahead of the cabinet reshuffle, all ministers in the National Conference-led government have submitted their resignations to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, sources disclosed. Sources confirmed that all five ministers have submitted their resignation letters to the Chief Minister. The ministers have submitted their resignation. It is now upto the CM whether to retain them []

SRINAGAR: Pakistan all-rounder Saim Ayub has been released from the squad for the remainder of the ongoing ODI tri-series, with Sahibzada Farhan named as his replacement, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said. According to a PCB press release, Ayub spoke to head coach Mike Hesson and expressed a desire to return to domestic cricket to []

SRINAGAR: National Conference spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq on Monday said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah would take the final call on the reshuffle or expansion of the Jammu and Kashmir Council of Ministers, in consultation with party president Farooq Abdullah. Addressing reporters, Sadiq said the decision regarding the new ministers had been taken, with their names expected []

SRINAGAR: A 22-year-old man from Kupwara district in north Kashmir died in a road accident in Haryana on Sunday while travelling back from Delhi. Aashiq Hussain Baig, son of late Habibullah Baig, hailed from Jahama village in Qalamabad tehsil. He had been working as a driver for the past one to two years to provide []

by Asad Mirza Israels election tests Benjamin Netanyahus leadership amid war, accountability demands and coalition uncertainty, with the outcome carrying significant implications for Gaza, Iran, US relations and regional stability. Benjamin Netanyahus political strength rests on a potent argument: that Israel faces existential threats and that he alone has the experience and resolve to confront []

SRINAGAR: Security forces launched a search and combing operation in the Karnadi area of Jammu and Kashmirs Kathua district on Monday after villagers reported spotting suspicious men. Teams from Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Special Operations Group (SOG), the Army and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) joined the operation to search the area and []

SRINAGAR: Police in south Kashmirs Anantnag district have apprehended seven persons, registered eight cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and seized a vehicle during a series of operations against drug trafficking, recovering more than 7.86 kilograms of suspected contraband substances. During one of the operations, a police team from Anantnag Police []