KashmirLife

SRINAGAR: Health Minister Sakina Itoo on Sunday said that an inquiry has been ordered into the death of a youth at GMC Anantnag, asserting that any negligence in patient care will invite strict action. Speaking to media persons, Itoo said, We have ordered an inquiry into the childs death at GMC Anantnag; patient care cannot []

SRINAGAR: Commuters in central Kashmirs Ganderbal district are facing severe daily traffic congestion, with residents, students and government employees reporting prolonged delays and growing frustration over the unresolved issue. The NagbalBeehama corridor, one of the busiest routes in the district, experiences frequent gridlocks that often last for hours. Locals said the situation has deteriorated in []

SRINAGAR: A leopard attack in the Batpora and Sheikhpora areas of Khansahib in central Kashmirs Budgam district left at least four people injured, triggering panic among local residents. According to locals, the animal suddenly appeared in the area and attacked multiple individuals, leaving them injured before moving through nearby habitations. The injured were shifted to []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (JKBOPEE) on Sunday conducted the Common Entrance Test (CET) for admission to BE/BTech engineering courses for the academic session 202627 across the Union Territories of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh. The examination was held at multiple centres in Srinagar, Baramulla, Anantnag, Doda, Rajouri, Jammu, and Leh, []

SRINAGAR: The Deputy Commissioner of Poonch on Sunday announced the cancellation of a scheduled Civil Defence mock drill, stating that there is no cause for public concern as the exercise was part of routine preparedness measures. Update: Routine mock drill (20-24 Apr) by Civil Defence & SDRF cancelled. No cause for alarmthis was just []

SRINAGAR: Three people fell into the Chenab River in the Mughalmaidan area of Kishtwar district in Jammu and Kashmir, reportedly due to the absence of a bridge. Initial reports said that two women were rescued safely by local residents and emergency responders after the fall. However, a four-month-old infant died in the incident, sparking widespread []

SRINAGAR: The Executive Engineer, Power Distribution Kashmir, has informed that scheduled shutdowns of multiple transmission lines and grid stations will be carried out on different dates, affecting power supply in several areas of the Valley. According to the statement, shutdown of the 33 kV BeminaFatehkadal line and 33 kV BeminaBarbarshah line will be observed on []

SRINAGAR: Police have arrested seven drug peddlers in separate operations conducted in Anantnag, Budgam, and Awantipora, recovering significant quantities of narcotic substances along with Rs 10,450 in cash. Cases have been registered and investigations are underway. In Anantnag, a police team from Police Station Anantnag arrested four individuals at Danter. They have been identified as []

SRINAGAR: Police in north Kashmirs Baramulla district conducted searches at the residential houses of several NDPS accused across multiple locations as part of an ongoing anti-drug operation. Police said the searches were carried out strictly in accordance with legal procedures and in the presence of respectable local witnesses to ensure transparency and accountability. The action []

SRINAGAR: Police in central Kashmirs Budgam district have solved a theft case registered at Police Station Chadoora, recovering stolen copper utensils worth around Rs 40,000 and apprehending those involved. According to police, the case pertains to FIR No. 32/2026 registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). During the investigation, police conducted multiple []

SRINAGAR: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo on Sunday visited SMHS Hospital to inquire about the health condition of the ailing father of Member of Parliament Sheikh Abdul Rashid. The Minister was accompanied by MLA Hazratbal Salman Sagar, Principal Government Medical College Srinagar Dr Iffat Hassan Shah, Medical Superintendent []

SRINAGAR: A two-year-old boy drowned in the Mitrigam area of South Kashmirs Pulwama district on Sunday. An official said the child accidentally slipped into a small canal near his residence in the morning. Locals retrieved him from the water and rushed him to a hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. The deceased has been []

SRINAGAR: The Deputy Commissioner of Poonch has ordered a district-wide Civil Defence mock drill involving air raid and blackout scenarios from April 20 to April 24, 2026, to enhance emergency preparedness and coordinated response. According to an official communication issued by the Assistant Commissioner (Revenue), acting on directions from the Deputy Inspector General of Civil []

SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA from Pulwama, Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra, on Sunday appealed to the government and judiciary to consider granting bail to MP Engineer Rashid, whose father is reportedly on ventilator support in critical condition. As someone who has witnessed the pain of many undertrials and their families suffering, appeal to the government and []

SRINAGAR: A Power Development Department (PDD) employee died after receiving an electric shock while carrying out repair work in North Kashmirs Baramulla district on Sunday. Reports said that the deceased has been identified as Abdul Khaliq Sheikh, son of Mohammad Sultan Sheikh, a resident of Binner Baramulla. The employee sustained a severe electric shock during []

SRINAGAR: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare, and Education, Sakeena Itoo, on Saturday laid foundation stones for several development projects and inaugurated key public infrastructure in Kulgam district, underscoring the Governments focus on rural development, education, healthcare, and connectivity across Jammu and Kashmir. Among the major initiatives, the Minister laid the foundation stone []

SRINAGAR: The Meteorological Centre Srinagar has predicted partly to generally cloudy weather across Jammu and Kashmir today, with intermittent spells of light rain and thundershowers expected at several places. The forecast also indicates the possibility of gusty winds reaching speeds of 4050 kmph, along with isolated hailstorms, particularly during the afternoon and late afternoon hours []

by Sri Varshith Kumar Reddy E The global Silver Economy is emerging as a major growth driver. India, facing rapid ageing, must shift policy toward a longevity framework, with regions like Jammu and Kashmir offering scalable models The world is ageing faster than it is growing. Global population growth is now decelerating below 1 per []

SRINAGAR: Athletes from south Kashmirs Anantnag and Pulwama districts have raised concerns over inadequate sports infrastructure. They have called on authorities to urgently upgrade facilities at local stadiums to support the regions growing sporting talent. Players from Anantnag said the existing ground in the main town is too small to accommodate multiple sports, leading to []

SRINAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday strongly criticised opposition parties after the womens reservation bill failed to pass in Parliament, describing the development as a setback to womens long-pending demand for greater political representation. Addressing the nation a day after the bill was defeated in the Lok Sabha, Modi said the opposition had blocked []

SRINAGAR: Jammu Kashmirs Minister for Rural Development Javid Ahmad Dar has called for an increase in MGNREGA wages in hilly areas from Rs 272 to Rs 311, citing difficult terrain and local economic conditions, during a national review meeting held on Saturday. The online meeting, chaired by Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, reviewed []

SRINAGAR: Authorities spent Rs 73548 on conducting the Rajya Sabha elections in the Jammu Kashmir Union Territory in October 2025. According to official documents, the JK Election Department had transferred Rs 1 lakh for the exercise, out of which Rs 73548 was utilized to make necessary arrangements for polls to four vacant Rajya Sabha seats. []

SRINAGAR: An army soldier was injured in a landmine blast near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, while a rusted explosive shell was later detected and safely defused in the area. The incident occurred during a routine patrol along the LoC, when the soldier reportedly stepped on []

SRINAGAR: The Government on Saturday commenced distribution of ration under the Special Relief Ration Scheme for Kashmiri and Jammu migrants, as notified under Government Order No. 15-JK(FCS and CA) of 2026 dated March 5, 2026. The distribution process was launched simultaneously at 32 ration depots designated for migrants in District Jammu, along with other earmarked []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday arrested five drug peddlers and recovered significant quantities of contraband during coordinated operations in Anantnag and Sopore. In Anantnag, four individuals were apprehended in separate operations, with police recovering charas powder, cannabis, and other narcotic substances from their possession. In Sopore, another peddler was arrested during a naka []

SRINAGAR: India on Saturday summoned Irans ambassador and lodged a strong protest after two India-flagged vessels came under gunfire in the Strait of Hormuz, forcing multiple ships bound for Indian ports to turn back amid a rapidly escalating security situation in the region, according to official sources and media reports. Sources cited by WION said []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Saturday issued two separate administrative orders assigning additional responsibilities to senior officers and effecting a key field posting in Rajouri. As per Government Order No. 806-JK(GAD) of 2026 dated April 18, Piyush Singla, IAS (AGMUT: 2012), Secretary, Information Technology Departmentwho is already holding additional charge of Administrative Secretary, []

SRINAGAR: The Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) Kishtwar, under the supervision of Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) Tasleem Wani, has ordered a major enforcement action against habitual traffic offenders, suspending Registration Certificates (RCs) and Route Permits of 246 vehicles across the district with immediate effect. Of the total, 203 vehicles have had their RCs suspended, while []

SRINAGAR: Four Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers of the AGMUT cadre, serving as Deputy Conservators of Forests, have been reassigned to different administrative segments. According to the official order, Satyaprakash Singh and Atharva Tiwari have been posted to the Delhi segment, while Sandeep Divyajyoti Behera has been moved to the Jammu and Kashmir segment. In []

SRINAGAR: As many as 172 government employees were found absent during surprise inspections ordered by the District Magistrate in Poonch district, officials said on Saturday. An official said that special teams constituted by the administration conducted raids across various offices, including at the district headquarters, to check absenteeism and enforce discipline. The absent employees were []

SRINAGAR: The Fire and Emergency Department has sought action against an eatery in Lal Chowk after 19 LPG cylinders were recovered during a fire incident in the attic portion of the restaurant on Saturday morning. The blaze broke out around 7 am in the attic of the Eat Out restaurant located in the busy commercial []

by Shoaib Nazir / Umar Dar SRINAGAR: In the emotionally charged atmosphere of Hajj 2026 departures, where pilgrims bid tearful farewells to their loved ones, a single photograph captured a moment that transcended the boundaries of religion and identity. Shot by intern Shariq Shafi of Kashmir Life, alongside multimedia journalist Shoaib Nazir, the image shows []

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday directed authorities to ensure the timely completion of the under-construction Extension Block at Government Lalla Ded Hospital, stressing strict adherence to quality standards and faster execution. The project, being developed as a dedicated Infertility and Gynaecological Oncology Centre, is aimed at strengthening specialised maternal and neonatal healthcare services []

SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday led an intensified anti-drug campaign in Rajouri, joining a padyatra and addressing a public gathering as part of a time-bound offensive against narcotics across Jammu and Kashmir. Participating in the Drug-Free JK campaign, the Lieutenant Governor said border district Rajouri remains vulnerable to cross-border drug smuggling but asserted []

SRINAGAR: Transporters across Kashmir Division have called for a complete chakka jam on Monday in protest against the proposed expansion of Smart City bus services to various districts, raising concerns over its impact on the local transport sector. Transporters representative Shabir Matta expressed strong resentment over the move, stating it could jeopardize the livelihood of []

SRINAGAR: Jammu Police on Saturday demolished a residential property allegedly linked to drug trafficking in the Javaid Nagar area of Niki Tawi, as part of an intensified crackdown under the administrations anti-drug campaign. The demolition was carried out using a bulldozer, with authorities citing the ongoing drive aimed at curbing narcotics trade and dismantling assets []

SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday dedicated a memorial, museum and library in Rajouri in honour of martyr Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) Raj Kumar Thapa. Thapa was martyred in unprovoked shelling by Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. Paying tribute, the Lieutenant Governor recalled Dr Thapas selfless service and unwavering commitment to public welfare, stating []

SRINAGAR: The Centre has increased the Dearness Allowance (DA) by two per cent for all government employees, with the revised rate effective from January 1. The government revises the DA twice a yearfor January and Julythough the formal notification is often issued later, typically around major festivals such as Holi or Diwali. This time, however, []

SRINAGAR: Two persons, including a minor, were injured after a scooty skidded off the road in Tral area of south Kashmir on Saturday, officials said. The injured have been identified as Irfan Hamid, son of Hamid Ahmad Sheikh, a resident of Tral, aged about 39 years, and Gazi Irfan, son of Irfan Hamid, aged about []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Saturday ordered the takeover of management committees of 58 schools linked to the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and its Falah-e-Aam Trust, officials said. Official sources informed that the action follows adverse intelligence reports and the expiry of the schools management validity. The School Education Department invoked Ministry of Home []

SRINAGAR: The collegium of the High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh, headed by Chief Justice Arun Palli, has recommended 11 names for appointment against vacant posts of Judges in the High Court. Reliable sources said that the list comprises 10 candidates from the Bar quota and one from the Bench quota. Notably, this is []

SRINAGAR: An earthquake of magnitude 5.6 struck Afghanistan on Saturday, with its tremors felt across several parts of the Kashmir Valley, officials said. The seismic activity caused brief panic among residents, including in Srinagar and other areas, where people rushed out of homes as a precaution. However, officials confirmed that there were no immediate reports []

As climate change and shrinking land reshape Kashmirs farming, a quiet revolution in mechanisation, spanning drones, AI, and biotech, is about to transform how the valley grows, irrigates, and harvests its crops, writes Masood Hussain Kashmir is witnessing a quiet revolution in its fields. Once known primarily for its terraced rice paddies and orchard-draped hillsides, []

by Asad Mirza Irans endurance under pressure highlights how decentralised structures, institutional cohesion, and a shared sense of purpose can sustain resilience beyond conventional strategic expectations As tensions intensify between Iran, Israel, and the United States, one thing has become increasingly clear: Iran has managed not only to respond to sustained pressure but to endure []

SRINAGAR: Mild earthquake tremors were felt across several parts of Kashmir at around 8:26 am on Saturday, triggering brief panic among residents. The tremors prompted people in multiple areas to rush out of homes and buildings as a precautionary measure. However, there were no immediate reports of damage to property or loss of life at []

SRINAGAR: The first batch of Hajj pilgrims from Kashmir departed for Saudi Arabia on Saturday, with authorities operating three flights from the Hajj House, Bemina, carrying 431 pilgrims. A senior official said the group comprised 230 men and 201 women. The first flight carried 79 men and 66 women, the second 78 men and 65 []

SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh has quashed an FIR and subsequent criminal proceedings in a matrimonial dispute, holding that the allegations of cruelty, dowry demand, and intimidation were vague, omnibus, and appeared to be a counterblast to earlier litigation. In a judgment pronounced on April 16, 2026, Justice Shahzad Azeem allowed []

SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh has upheld a Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) order granting retrospective appointment, seniority, and old pension benefits to a Junior Engineer who was earlier denied selection despite higher merit. A division bench comprising Justice Sindhu Sharma and Justice Shahzad Azeem dismissed a writ petition filed by the []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered a comprehensive inspection of all high and higher secondary schools across the Union Territory to assess infrastructure, academic functioning, and staffing. According to an order issued by the General Administration Department (GAD), a total of 1,742 schools939 in Jammu division and 803 in Kashmir divisionhave been identified []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday arrested nine drug peddlers in coordinated operations across Anantnag, Sopore and Awantipora, recovering heroin, charas and psychotropic substances in multiple naka and search operations. In Anantnag district, police arrested five individuals during separate naka checking operations. At Hangulgund Kokernag, Nazir Ahmad Dar of Bumdoora was apprehended with 7.84 []