KashmirLife

SRINAGAR: The Hajj Committee of India has directed all pilgrims for Hajj 2026 to deposit an additional Rs 10,000 towards revised airfare, following a one-time increase approved by the Ministry of Minority Affairs. According to an official circular issued from Mumbai on April 28, the revision includes an additional USD 100 per pilgrim, applicable uniformly []

by Meraj Zargar A personal account traces Javed Ahmad Taks journey from tragedy to transformative social work, highlighting his role in redefining disability, dignity, and inclusive education in Kashmir In 2023, soon after my transfer to the Sub-Divisional Magistrates office in Bijbehara, I felt a strong desire to meet Javed Ahmad Tak. Although I was []

SRINAGAR: Cyber Police Kashmir has registered an FIR against PDP leader Iltija Mufti and others in connection with alleged separatist-related content circulated on social media, officials said on Thursday. According to sources, the case was initiated after a video posted on X (formerly Twitter) by Iltija Mufti featuring slain separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani []

SRINAGAR: Two persons were killed and another critically injured when a steamer exploded during installation at a cold storage facility in the Aglar area of this south Kashmir district on Wednesday late evening, officials said. The deceased were identified as Saroop Singhal and Dileep Kumar, both residents of Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh. The injured, Ram []

When nearly three-quarters of Jammu and Kashmirs lakes disappear or shrink, a regions ecological identity, and its peoples safety and livelihood, hang in the balance, reports Afreen Ashraf Picture a landscape once threaded with glittering water bodies. A valley with a network of lakes fed by rivers, while sheltering migratory birds, recharging aquifers, and steadying []

SRINAGAR: In view of the annual relocation of government offices from Jammu to Srinagar, authorities have issued a traffic advisory to ensure smooth movement of the secretariat convoy. Officials said that the movement of goods carriers, including heavy and medium motor vehicles (HMVs/MMVs), will be restricted on the JammuSrinagar National Highway from midnight of April []

SRINAGAR:The Union Territory Cabinet is set to meet on Thursday in Jammu in what will be its final sitting before the Civil Secretariat shifts to Srinagar for the summer session, with several significant administrative and policy matters listed for discussion. Sources said that the meeting, scheduled at 11 AM at the Chief Ministers official residence, []

SRINAGAR: West Bengal has registered a historic voter turnout of 92.47 per cent in the two-phase Assembly elections, marking the highest participation in the state since Independence. According to the Election Commission of India, polling in Phase II stood at 91.66 per cent as of 7:45 pm, while Phase I, conducted on April 23, recorded []

SRINAGAR: A blast at a cold storage unit in the fruit mandi area of Aglar in south Kashmirs Shopian district on Wednesday late evening left one engineer dead and two others injured during repair work. The incident occurred at Zum Zum cold store when a steamer being repaired exploded, injuring three engineers on the spot. []

SRINAGAR: The issue of missing village revenue records (Massavis) in Jammu and Kashmir has drawn increased attention, with official figures showing 545 records missing across 20 districts. Of these, 258 remain untraced or unresolved, raising concerns about the integrity of land record systems. District-wise data shows Udhampur with the highest number at 154 missing Massavis; []

SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, has approved the constitution of the Ladakh Union Territory Hajj Committee, with the appointment of its chairman and members for a period of three years. The decision follows the completion of the tenure of the previous UT Hajj Committee in 2025. Ghulam Abbas Abidi has been appointed as the []

SRINAGAR: At least six residential houses were destroyed in a fire incident in Halse Dar area of Trajan in Doru locality of south Kashmirs Anantnag district on Wednesday late night, leaving several families homeless. Officials said the blaze broke out in the locality and quickly spread, engulfing multiple structures before it was brought under control. []

SRINAGAR: The weather across Jammu and Kashmir is expected to improve slightly on April 30 with partly cloudy skies and isolated spells of light rain, while another wet spell is likely between May 3 and 5, the Meteorological Department said on Wednesday. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Jammu and Kashmir is likely to []

SRINAGAR: The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir and Divisional Commissioner Kashmir on Tuesday co-chaired a high-level meeting at Police Control Room Kashmir to review the implementation and progress of the ongoing Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyan, a 100-day campaign aimed at combating drug abuse and illicit trafficking across the Union Territory. The campaign, launched []

SRINAGAR: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has appointed 14 candidates as Associate Law Officers in the Jammu and Kashmir Legal (Subordinate) Service under the direct recruitment quota, following recommendations of the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board. The appointments were formalised through Government Order No. 5630-JK(LD) of 2026, issued by the Department of Law, []

SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh at Jammu has issued notice in a petition seeking compensation of Rs 50 lakh over allegations of false implication in a rape case and illegal detention. According to the court order available, the petition titled Mohammad Hunef and Another vs UT of JK and Others came []

SRINAGAR: In continuation of its press release dated April 20, 2026, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday said that five accused persons have been convicted and sentenced in a long-pending embezzlement case related to misappropriation of food grains and empty bags. The convicted individuals as per ACB statement have been identified as Abdul Khaliq Shah, []

SRINAGAR: Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather, today reviewed the progress of construction work on the upcoming Legislative Assembly Complex at Jammu during a high-level meeting convened for the purpose. The meeting was attended by Secretary, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Achal Sethi; Engineer-in-Chief Purshotam Kumar; Chief Engineer R and []

SRINAGAR: The Office of the Chief Education Officer, Rajouri, in Jammu and Kashmir has suspended four teachers of Middle School Namblan with immediate effect over findings of prolonged unauthorized absence and serious administrative and academic lapses. According to an official order issued on April 28, 2026, action was taken after a complaint prompted authorities to []

SRINAGAR: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will flag off the 20-coach Vande Bharat Express train between Jammu and Srinagar on April 30, marking a major milestone in Jammu and Kashmirs rail connectivity, while regular public services on the route will commence from May 2. The direct rail link between Jammu Tawi and Srinagar is expected []

by Lilac Ali SRINAGAR: An afternoon of reading and discussion around City of Kashmir: A Popular History by Sameer Hamdani brought together a cross-section of Srinagars intellectual community at a riverside caf, as the Jhelum River flowed quietly in the background. Organised by the Friday Book Club and moderated by journalist Shakir Mir, the session []

SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti on Wednesday accused Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of attempting to erase Urdu from Jammu and Kashmirs administrative and cultural framework, alleging that his government is systematically removing the language from official systems. Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Mufti claimed that the Revenue Department, headed by the []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Police, in coordination with the civil administration, on Wednesday demolished multiple structures worth crores raised on state land along NH-44 in Sangam, targeting individuals allegedly involved in narcotics-related offences. According to reports, the demolition drive focused on properties illegally constructed on state land and linked to persons booked under provisions of []

SRINAGAR: Rainfall activity is expected to impact Jammu and Kashmir from April 29, with generally cloudy conditions and spells of light rain and thundershowers forecast across many areas, accompanied by gusty winds and the possibility of hailstorms later in the day. The advisory indicates that the weather system is likely to remain active through the []

SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh has issued a circular directing all bar associations in the Union Territories to avoid organizing or associating with any vulgar or inappropriate events, and to strictly maintain professional decorum. The circular, issued by the Registrar General under directions of the Supreme Court of India, calls for []

SRINAGAR: Authorities on Wednesday demolished shops belonging to two accused in a narcotics case in Wachi area of Zainapora in south Kashmirs Shopian district. Officials including Sub-Divisional Magistrate Zainapora, Naib Tehsildar, Sub-Divisional Police Officer Zainapora and Station House Officer Zainapora reached the locality and carried out the demolition action. The structures demolished were identified as []

by Syed Ahfadul Mujtaba Live-streamed courtrooms transform legal proceedings into shared public experiences, where memory, perception, and rhetoric shape justice beyond formal records and influence democratic trust The life of a play begins and ends in the moment of performance. This is where authors, actors, and directors express everything they have to say. If the []

SRINAGAR: Police in Kokernag area of South Kashmir arrested a suspected drug peddler and recovered a quantity of contraband during routine naka checking, as part of action against drug trafficking in the district. Anantnag Police strikes again: 4.4 Kg charas seized in Kokernag, one peddler arrested. Anantnag Police urges public to share info on drug []

SRINAGAR: Police in South Kashmirs Anantnag district on Wednesday, in coordination with the civil administration, demolished illegal properties belonging to drug peddlers worth crores along National Highway 44 under the jurisdiction of Police Station Bijbehara. Police stated that the drive was conducted as part of an ongoing anti-narcotics campaign aimed at targeting assets allegedly acquired []

SRINAGAR: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Crime Branch Kashmir has registered a case after a man was allegedly cheated by a fake overseas job consultancy and trafficked to Cambodia under the guise of employment. According to an official statement, the complaint alleges that the victim was approached by an unauthorized consultancy operating from the []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Governments General Administration Department (GAD) has ordered the promotion of Multitasking Staff (MTS) of the JK Secretariat (Subordinate) Service under Government Order No. 846-JK(GAD) of 2026 dated April 28, 2026. As per the order issued following the recommendations of the Departmental Promotion Committee meeting held on April 10, 2026, Firdousa []

SRINAGAR: Senior leader of Jammu and Kashmir National Conference and Chief Ministers Advisor, Nasir Aslam Wani, on Tuesday dismissed claims regarding the removal of Urdu from the Tehsildar examination syllabus, asserting that no such decision has been taken by the government. Responding to remarks by PDP leader Iltija Mufti, Wani told reporters here that the []

SRINAGAR: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday forecast generally cloudy weather with spells of light rain and thundershowers across Jammu and Kashmir over the next two days, accompanied by gusty winds and possible hailstorms at isolated places. According to the Meteorological Centre Srinagar, many places are likely to witness intermittent rain and thunderstorms on []

SRINAGAR: From 17,489 Million Units (MUs) in 2020-21 to just 14,660 MUs in 2025-26, Jammu and Kashmir in nearly past five years has recorded a decline in hydel power generation by over 16 percentreflecting an average annual fall of nearly 3-5 percent. The official figures available reveal the power generation of JK in MUs from []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following an RTI disclosure that has raised serious questions over the PDPs role in the recent Rajya Sabha elections. Reacting sharply, JKNC State Spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said the RTI findings have completely exposed the duplicity []

SRINAGAR: Police in south Kashmirs Pulwama district on Tuesday issued an advisory urging the public not to circulate unverified or misleading content on social media related to an alleged sexual assault incident reported in an educational institution. In a statement, a police spokesperson said that Pulwama Police has taken note of certain unverified and misleading []

SRINAGAR: Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Tuesday highlighted Jammu and Kashmirs growing sporting and industrial potential while announcing a three-year fee exemption on all intellectual property (IP) registrations related to sports. The announcement came during the World Intellectual Property Day celebrations in New Delhi, even as the Minister felicitated the Jammu []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected recent remarks made by the National Conference (NC), terming them factually incorrect and based on a misinterpretation of the Rajya Sabha voting process. PDP spokesperson Mohit Bhan said the appointment of polling agents is solely the responsibility of contesting candidates. He stated that the []

SRINAGAR: A political controversy has emerged in Jammu and Kashmir after the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) cited information obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act, alleging procedural irregularities during the recent Rajya Sabha elections in the Union Territory. According to the JKNC, the RTI response indicates that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has assigned additional charge of Chief Engineer, Jal Shakti (PHE) Kashmir to Showkat Hussain in the interest of administration. According to Government Order No. 80-JK(JSD) of 2026 dated April 28, Showkat Hussain, In-charge Chief Engineer, IFC Kashmir, shall hold the charge of Chief Engineer, Jal Shakti (PHE) Kashmir with []

SRINAGAR: Jammu Rural Police on Tuesday said that it foiled an attempt to smuggle cattle, rescuing 18 animals and arresting two accused in the Manwal area. Acting on credible information about the illegal transportation of cattle, a police team from Police Post Manwal, under Police Station Jhajjar Kotli, set up a checkpoint in the Nadhal []

SRINAGAR: Police in Srinagar have attached immovable property worth approximately Rs 1.5 crore belonging to an accused drug peddler in the Rainawari area as part of ongoing action against narcotics networks. According to officials, Police Station Rainawari, acting under Section 68-F of the NDPS Act, attached a single-storey residential house along with 11 marlas of []

SRINAGAR: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted one week of interim bail to jailed Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid to enable him to visit his ailing father. A bench of Justice Vikas Mahajan observed that Rashid has been in custody for over six years and, after examining the records, found it to be a fit []

SRINAGAR: Police in central Kashmirs Budgam district have sealed five medical shops in the Narbal area during a joint inspection drive conducted to curb the misuse of pharmaceutical drugs and enforce regulatory compliance. The operation was carried out under an ongoing anti-drug enforcement campaign, with joint teams comprising officials from multiple police units and the []

SRINAGAR: Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday handed over the approval letter for road projects worth Rs 3,566 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)-IV (Batch-II) for Jammu and Kashmir to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at a function here. The programme was held at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre and was attended by []

SRINAGAR: A day after announcing the creation of new districts in Ladakh, the Union Territory administration has appointed Deputy Commissioners for the newly established administrative units to facilitate the implementation of the reorganization process. As per an order issued by the General Administration Department, several officers have been transferred and assigned responsibilities to oversee the []

SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti on Tuesday strongly criticized the National Conference (NC)-led government in Jammu and Kashmir over its decision to remove Urdu from the mandatory eligibility criteria for the Tehsildar examination. Calling the move an attack on the regions cultural and linguistic identity, Iltija said the government was targeting the []

SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh has partly allowed a criminal appeal in the 2014 RS Pura murder case, acquitting three of the four convicted persons while upholding the life sentence of the principal accused, Deepak Singh. A Division Bench comprising Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice Sanjay Parihar delivered the judgment on []

SRINAGAR: Rajouri Deputy Commissioner and District Panchayat Election Officer Abhishek Sharma has suspended Block Development Officer (BDO) Plangher, Mohtshim Hanief, with immediate effect for poor performance in the ongoing Panchayat Electoral Roll Revision-2026. Officials said Hanief, who was also serving as Assistant Electoral Registration Officer, had been repeatedly cautioned over the slow pace of revision []

SRINAGAR: Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday launched PMGSY-IV (Batch-II) at SKICC Srinagar, saying that Jammu and Kashmir holds special emotional and developmental importance. Addressing the gathering, Chouhan stressed that road connectivity is critical for inclusive growth, saying development remains incomplete without roads and highlighted continued challenges in remote areas due to lack of []