KashmirLife

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday felicitated 12 winners of painting, photography and Instagram reel competitions organised during the Tulip Show and Badamwari Spring Festival, praising their creative efforts to showcase Kashmirs iconic gardens. The winners, including several students from government schools, were presented cash prizes and certificates at a ceremony held in Srinagar. []

SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday paid tribute to the victims of the 1947 Partition, saying their suffering remains an unhealed wound in the collective consciousness of the country and called upon the youth to ensure that such a tragedy is never repeated. Sinha was addressing a gathering at Tagore Hall, Srinagar, during an []

SRINAGAR: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), in a joint operation with the Jammu and Kashmir Police and Border Security Force (BSF), has arrested an alleged drug peddler and seized 603 grams of suspected heroin in Samba district, officials said on Friday. The accused, a resident of Vijaypur, was arrested from the Bari Brahmana area during []

SRINAGAR : Thirty-eight personnel of the Jammu and Kashmir Police have been awarded the Medal for Gallantry (GM) on the occasion of Independence Day 2026, according to the official list of awardees. The list includes personnel from different ranks, including Deputy Inspector General, Senior Superintendent of Police, Superintendent of Police, Inspector, Deputy Superintendent of Police, []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has accorded quasi-permanent status to Prof. (Dr.) Majid Jahangir, Head of the Department of Radio Diagnosis and Imaging at Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, who is currently holding the charge of Principal, GMC Baramulla. The decision was issued by the Health and Medical Education Department through Government Order No. []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Police has secured 52 medals for gallantry, distinguished and meritorious service as part of the Independence Day 2026 honours announced by the Union government. According to the official list, J&K Police personnel have been awarded 38 Medals for Gallantry (GM), one Presidents Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM) and 13 Medals for []

SRINAGAR: One person was killed and another critically injured after a Village Defence Committee (VDC) member allegedly opened fire at them in the Moungri area of Udhampur district on Friday, officials said. Quoting a senior police officer, the news agency KNO reported that the incident took place in the morning when the two men were []

SRINAGAR: A senior police officer from Jammu and Kashmir has been selected for the Presidents Medal for Distinguished Service as part of the Independence Day 2026 honours. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shoket Hussain Shah is the sole recipient from Jammu and Kashmir listed under the Police Service category in the official list of recipients. []

SRINAGAR : A year after a devastating cloudburst-triggered flash flood killed 93 people at Chasoti in Kishtwar district, the remains of 30 victims are yet to be recovered, leaving families trapped between grief and the absence of a final farewell. The tragedy struck on August 14 last year at Chasoti, the last motorable point on []

SRINAGAR:The SrinagarSonamargGumri (SSG) Road has been reopened to traffic after landslides at Zojila, Ranga Mod, Minamarg and other locations were cleared, officials said on Friday. The road had been blocked after an intense cloudburst hit the Ranga Morh and Sarbal areas of Sonamarg on the evening of Thursday, triggering a major mudslide and a sharp []

SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh has directed all its officers and officials to register themselves with the Biometric Attendance System, regardless of whether they are posted for duty inside or outside court complexes. The direction was issued through Circular No. 27 of 2026/RG/NG-277 (1), dated August 13, by Registrar General M []

SRINAGAR: Security has been intensified along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway ahead of Independence Day celebrations on August 15, with multiple security agencies increasing surveillance and vehicle checks at sensitive locations. Personnel from the BSF, CRPF, JK Police and other security agencies are maintaining heightened vigilance along the highway, particularly at vulnerable and strategic points, officials []

SRINAGAR: Concern is growing among saffron growers in south Kashmir over the continued shortage of quality saffron corms, with farmers and local stakeholders urging the authorities to strengthen measures to prevent their illegal transportation outside Jammu and Kashmir and establish dedicated nurseries for multiplying quality planting material. The demand comes at a time when Kashmirs []

SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has dismissed a writ petition filed by a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) engineer challenging disciplinary proceedings against him over alleged financial transactions totalling Rs 4.5 lakh with a labourer under his official command, holding that there was no ground to interfere with the charges at []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir is preparing to welcome the world of cinema for its maiden International Film Festival, with around 1,100 entries from nearly 80 countries and an elaborate four-day programme planned across Srinagar, Jammu and Gulmarg. At almost the same time, however, a section of the regions established film and television fraternity is asking []

SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has upheld the conviction and 10-year rigorous imprisonment of an 84-year-old godman for repeatedly raping a minor girl who subsequently became pregnant and delivered a stillborn baby, holding that the prosecution case was supported by sufficient and credible evidence including the victims testimony, medical evidence []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir is preparing a shelf of projects worth Rs 1,231 crore under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) for 2026-27, as Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo directed departments to complete approvals and tendering formalities in advance to ensure faster execution once funds are released. Dulloo chaired a meeting of Administrative []

SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has dismissed a petition by former General Manager of District Industries Centre (DIC), Pulwama, Laiq Parvez, seeking quashing of a corruption FIR against him, holding that the investigation could not be stifled at this stage as it was examining allegations concerning 48 allotments of industrial []

SRINAGAR: Gold prices declined in India on Thursday, with the precious metal trading lower than the previous session, according to data compiled by FXStreet. The price of gold fell to Rs 13,485.65 per gram from Rs 13,516.60 per gram on Wednesday, marking a decline of Rs 30.95 per gram. On a tola basis, gold was []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has recorded 36.68 lakh registrations of unorganised workers on the e-Shram portal, with more than 34.03 lakh registered workers enrolled under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), according to data placed before the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. The figures, based on data as of August 6, 2026, show that Jammu []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has received Rs 307.63 crore in central financial assistance under the Pradhan Mantri-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana since 2023-24, while 40,620 households in the Union Territory have benefited from the scheme, according to data presented in the Lok Sabha. The figures were provided by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has accorded approval to the Chief Ministers Digital Internship Programme 2026 (Batch-I), a six-month paid internship initiative aimed at providing talented local youth with hands-on experience in emerging areas of technology and digital governance. Executed by the J&K e-Governance Agency, the programme will offer eligible students pursuing BE/B.Tech, M.Tech, []

SRINAGAR: Two teenagers were killed and two others injured after lightning struck them at Gawran Nard in the Larnoo area of Kokernag in south Kashmirs Anantnag district on Thursday. Quoting officials, news agency GNS reported that the incident occurred at Gawran Nard in Larnoo tehsil. The deceased were identified as Faizan Ahmad, 18, son of []

SRINAGAR: The Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has announced scheduled power shutdowns in several areas of Kashmir from August 17 to 24 to facilitate maintenance work on various transmission lines and receiving stations. According to the KPDCL, power supply to areas fed by the 33 kV Kanir Tapline will remain affected from 8 am []

SRINAGAR: After months of deficient rainfall, Jammu and Kashmir finally got a wet July, with the Union Territory recording a 35 per cent surplus and bringing an end to an eight-month run of below-normal precipitation. Jammu and Kashmir received 259.7 mm of rainfall during July against the normal 192.6 mm, according to rainfall data shared []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has quashed a contempt notice issued against Shopian Deputy Commissioner Shishir Gupta, holding that the judicial magistrate had exceeded the limits of his authority while seeking action against the IAS officer. Justice Rahul Bharti, while hearing the matter on August 7, found that the Judicial Magistrate []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has one Sports Authority of India (SAI) Training Centre in Jammu, while an extension centre for water sports is operational at Dal Lake in Srinagar, according to data tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. The government said sports infrastructure and training facilities are primarily the responsibility of state and Union []

SRINAGAR: A Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter aircraft crashed during a training flight in the northwestern province of Yalova on Wednesday, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported. The pilot survived after ejecting safely from the aircraft, according to Turkeys Defence Ministry. In a statement shared on social media, the ministry said the F-16 was taking []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Police has activated the National General Emergency Response System, Dial 112, across the Jammu zone to provide immediate assistance to people through a single emergency helpline, officials said on Thursday. The service is available through all police stations in the Jammu zone, enabling people to seek assistance during emergencies, including fire []

SRINAGAR: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has commissioned 1,748 of the 1,843 planned 4G sites in Jammu and Kashmir, leaving 95 sites yet to be commissioned, according to data presented by the Union Government in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. The figures, as of July 31, 2026, show that 1,790 4G sites had been installed []

SRINAGAR: Ladakhs first international-level artificial ice hockey rink was inaugurated at NDS Stadium in Leh on Thursday, providing players with a year-round training facility at a cost of around Rs 42 crore. Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena inaugurated the facility, which has a 247 chilling system designed to allow ice hockey players to train throughout []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat on Thursday chaired a hybrid operational review meeting with senior officers of the JK Police and Central Armed Police Forces to assess the security situation and operational preparedness across the Union Territory. Senior officers from various formations of the JK Police and CAPFs participated in []

SRINAGAR: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced stricter service-level standards for ambulances deployed on national highways, mandating that they reach accident sites within 10 minutes when the incident occurs within a 10-kilometre radius. The new guidelines are aimed at reducing delays in emergency medical assistance, improving road safety and strengthening the Incident []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir is likely to experience spells of rain and thundershowers over the coming days, with the Meteorological Centre Srinagar warning of brief intense and heavy showers in some districts, particularly between August 16 and 19. According to the latest forecast, rain or thundershowers are expected at many places across JK on August []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has approved the establishment of two Permanent Lok Adalats at Jammu and Srinagar to provide an alternative forum for settling disputes, particularly in matters covered under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. The Permanent Lok Adalats will be established at the divisional level under Section 22-B of the Legal []

SRINAGAR: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday warned that Moscow would retaliate if European countries seize Russian merchant vessels, as the European Union steps up efforts against what it describes as Russias shadow fleet. According to Russias state-run TASS news agency, Putin said the seizure of Russian ships would amount to piracy and banditry and []

SRINAGAR: The fisheries sector contributed about 7.43 per cent to Indias Agricultural Gross Value Added (GVA) during 2023-24 and 1.09 per cent to the countrys overall GVA, the Union Government informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. The figures were provided by Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh []

SRINAGAR: An earthquake of magnitude 5.5 struck Leh in Ladakh early Thursday morning, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS). The tremor occurred at 6:05 am at a depth of 10 kilometres, with its epicentre located at 36.881 degrees north latitude and 74.402 degrees east longitude, the NCS said. There were no immediate reports []

SRINAGAR: Police in South kashmirs Anantnag district have arrested two persons in Anantnag district for allegedly extorting Rs 24,000 from a man by threatening to falsely implicate him in a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Police Station Srigufwara received a complaint from Ajaz Ahmad Shah, son of Mohd Maqbool of []

SRINAGAR: The bodies of two men who drowned in the Chenab River while bathing were recovered on Wednesday, four days after the incident, officials said. The deceased were identified as 30-year-old Gajay Singh and 35-year-old Rakesh Singh, both residents of Khour area of Akhnoor. According to officials, the duo had gone to bathe in the []

SRINAGAR : A 30-year-old labourer was critically injured after being hit by an unidentified vehicle in the Salasan area of Boniyar in north Kashmirs Baramulla district on Wednesday evening. The injured has been identified as Mohd Ismail Dhaker, son of Ashmali Dhaker, a resident of Salasan, Boniyar. According to locals, Ismail was hit by a []

SRINAGAR: Gold prices rose for the seventh straight session on Wednesday, climbing Rs 2,600 to Rs 1,59,800 per 10 grams in the national capital as strong investor demand and global market gains pushed the precious metal higher, according to the All India Sarafa Association. Gold of 99.9 per cent purity, including all taxes, was quoted []

SRINAGAR : The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Wednesday launched JK Karigari, an official marketplace for authentic handicrafts and local products from the Union Territory, at the Bharatiya Vyapar Mahotsav in New Delhi. The initiative, launched by the Housing and Urban Development Department under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), aims to connect []

SRINAGAR: The government has approved the Reserve Bank of Indias proposal to introduce one billion polymer banknotes each in the Rs 10 and Rs 20 denominations for field trials, Parliament was informed on Tuesday. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, said the RBI had submitted the proposal following a []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has dismissed a Watcher (MTS) of the Department of Wildlife Protection from service under Article 311(2) of the Constitution of India, following a departmental inquiry into his alleged involvement in two narcotics-related cases. According to a government order, the employee, identified as Vinod Kumar Raina, a resident of Kandikhas, []

Heavy vehicles allowed one-way; commuters advised to avoid halts between Ramban and Banihal

SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has upheld the disengagement of a Special Police Officer (SPO) who stopped reporting for duty after allegedly receiving threats from militants, holding that SPOs do not enjoy the service protections available to regular police officers and that, in any event, refusal to perform police duties []

SRINAGAR: The Awami Itihaad Party has questioned the priorities of the High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes in Jammu and Kashmir, saying any comprehensive assessment must also account for indigenous families and entire population pockets displaced from their ancestral homes along the Line of Control. AIP Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi said the Committees assessment should []

SRINAGAR : Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) Additional General Secretary and former minister Ajay Kumar Sadhotra on Wednesday said the Omar Abdullah-led government was committed to equitable development of all regions and sections of Jammu and Kashmir. He said the government would continue to raise the voice of the people and work towards their []

SRINAGAR: Security arrangements have been intensified across Kashmir ahead of Independence Day, with police and paramilitary forces stepping up patrolling, area domination, vehicle checks and frisking to ensure peaceful celebrations, officials said on Wednesday. Security personnel have been deployed in large numbers at sensitive locations across Srinagar and other parts of the Valley, particularly around []