KashmirLife

SRINAGAR: The 16-year-old boy who was critically injured after suffering an electric shock while taking photographs atop a train at Budgam railway station recently has succumbed to his injuries at SMHS Hospital here on Monday, officials said. The deceased has been identified as Reyan Ahamed, son of Shameem Ahmad Dar, a resident of Marajpora Batmaloo []

SRINAGAR: Former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Inderjit Singh Bindra passed away on Sunday at the age of 84. A prominent administrator, Bindra played a key role in transforming cricket administration and marketing in India. He served as BCCI president from 1993 to 1996, a period widely regarded as crucial in []

SRINAGAR: A fresh Western Disturbance is expected to affect Jammu and Kashmir from Monday evening, likely bringing rain and snowfall to the region with the possibility of moderate to heavy snow in the higher reaches. Independent weather forecaster Faizan Arif said that the system is not a strong one, but it is active enough to []

by Junaid Rashid Lone A quiet, unsettling portrait of how television news gradually shifts from information to emotional conditioning, normalising control, fear, and compliance without ever announcing the change. Every evening, at roughly the same hour, millions of homes across India glow with the same blue light. It is the hour when the nation gathers, []

SRINAGAR: Traffic movement on the crucial Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) was suspended on Monday as severe icy conditions made the road treacherous, officials confirmed. A senior traffic police official said that the suspension was necessitated after multiple vehicles experienced skidding and near-accidents on the slippery surface, particularly along the high-altitude stretch between Banihal and Ramban []

The law university dispute reflects how education in Jammu and Kashmir is repeatedly entangled in regional rivalry and mistrust. The controversy over the proposed National Law University (NLU) has once again exposed a familiar truth about Jammu and Kashmir: development debates here rarely remain about institutions alone. They almost inevitably slip into a contest of []

SRINAGAR: A Pakistani intruder was killed after the Border Security Force foiled an infiltration bid from Pakistan along the Indo-Pak International Border in Samba district, sources said on Sunday. Official sources said that Pakistani intruders attempted to enter Indian territory under the cover of darkness. Alert BSF personnel noticed suspicious movement and challenged the intruder. []

SRINAGAR: A fire broke out at a Darsgah in the Turkawangam area of Shopian on Sunday evening, causing damage to the attic and rooftop portions of the building, officials said. Fire officials said a distress call was received by the District Fire Control Room Pulwama at 21:44 hours, following which fire tenders from Zainapora and []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government sanctioned a host of state awards across bravery, literature, performing arts, crafts, public service, sports and media on the occasion of Republic Day 2026, according to a government order. The order by the General Administration Department lists awards in several categories, carrying cash prizes and citations. The highest cash []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday extended greetings to the people on the occasion of the 77th Republic Day of India, reaffirming commitment to constitutional values, unity and democratic governance. In his message, Dr Farooq Abdullah said Republic Day serves []

SRINAGAR: An old AK rifle was recovered from the riverbank of the Munnawar River in Ambkhori village of the Sunderbani area in Rajouri district on Sunday. Official sources said that a resident noticed the firearm lying near the riverside in Ambkhori village and immediately informed the police. Following the information, security forces rushed to the []

SRINAGAR: The Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) has renewed its demand for urgent intervention by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir to enable a one-time, structured and humane resolution of Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) and stressed accounts of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), arguing that most businesses were pushed into distress by circumstances []

SRINAGAR: As many as 52 officers and personnel of the Jammu and Kashmir Police have been conferred gallantry and service medals on the occasion of the 76th Republic Day, officials said on Sunday. According to an official statement issued by a police spokesperson, 33 personnel were awarded the Medal for Gallantry for acts of bravery []

SRINAGAR: A truck driver was injured after receiving an electric shock when his vehicle came into contact with a high-tension power line in the Sonpah area of Beerwah, officials said on Sunday. The injured driver was initially taken to Sub-District Hospital Beerwah, from where he was referred to SMHS Hospital Srinagar for advanced medical treatment. []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhury on Sunday issued a sharp warning to officials over the lack of preparedness for winter, stating that he will rely on public feedback rather than bureaucratic assurances ahead of another predicted snowfall. Choudhury expressed dissatisfaction with the administrative response following recent snow, despite prior directives to []

by Haseeb A Drabu Jammu and Kashmirs Industrial Policy 202130 prioritises subsidies over structure, returns over risk reduction. Without correcting trade imbalances, market failures, and infrastructure gaps, incentives alone cannot deliver sustainable industrialisation. Jammu and Kashmirs Industrial Policy 202130, now under review for tweaking, stands out less for its strategic clarity than for its remarkable []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir delivered a commanding performance to clinch the gold medal in the Team Game event at the 12th Winter National Ice Stock Sports Championship, held at the Ice Rink Gulmarg from January 23 to 25. Led by captain Mohammad Sarfaraz, the JK side dominated the tournament, registering emphatic victories in all their []

SRINAGAR: Eminent Kashmiri scholar, poet, linguist and translator Prof Shafi Shauq has been named among the recipients of the Padma Shri Award 2026, Indias fourth-highest civilian honour, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to education and literature. The award places Shauq at the forefront of this years honourees from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, marking []

SRINAGAR : The Union Territory of Ladakh has announced the recipients of the State Awards for Republic Day 2026, recognising individuals and organisations for their outstanding contributions across fields including public service, bravery, sports, literature, social reform and progressive farming. As per an official order issued by the General Administration Department, sanction has been accorded []

SRINAGAR: Ahead of Republic Day celebrations, security forces on Saturday intensified security arrangements across several parts of Srinagar, with extensive checking and surveillance operations carried out in Habbakadal, Fatehkadal, and adjacent areas. Officials said the operations were conducted by police teams from Khanyar, Kothi Bagh and Shaheed Gunj divisions, assisted by personnel of the Central []

SRINAGAR: The Union Territory Administration of Ladakh has approved the conferment of the Lt Governors Gold Medal to eight individuals and organisations from Kargil and Leh districts on the occasion of Republic Day 2026. In Kargil, the awardees include Mohd Hussain Khalo of Tamosa for public service, Jamiat-ul-Ulama Isna Asharia for social reforms, empowerment and []

SRINAGAR: The wife of Kashmiri doctor Rouf Jeelani, a dentist, has died in a hospital in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, days after he made an emotional public appeal for urgent assistance to airlift her to Srinagar for advanced medical treatment. She had been admitted to a hospital in Mecca in critical condition after complaining of cough []

SRINAGAR: Asserting that its good if Bharatiya Janata Party doesnt have any agenda of carving out Jammu as a separate state, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday said (BJP) and its few friends in Kashmir had initiated this debate. Responding to BJP leader Tarun Chugs claim that demands for Jammus separation stem from the National []

SRINAGAR: The Dental Council of India (DCI) has directed all universities and dental colleges to ensure a minimum of 80 per cent biometric attendance for postgraduate dental students before allowing them to appear in examinations. According to a public circular issued by the DCI, a statutory body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, []

Surging dog-bite cases across Kashmir reveal a deepening public health crisis, driven by unchecked stray populations, waste mismanagement, delayed treatment, and systemic failure to prevent entirely avoidable deaths, writes Masood Hussain For nearly three months, Muhammad Rafiq Naik, an Assistant Sub-Inspector in Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP), lived with a virus he did not know []

SRINAGAR: In view of the unusually heavy passenger rush between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (SMVDK) and Srinagar (SINA) following road closures and suspension of flight operations due to adverse weather, the Railways have proposed operating a reserved special train on January 27 and 28, 2026. As per an official communication, the special service will []

SRINAGAR: Train services on the BaramullaBanihal section of the Kashmir rail line were affected on Sunday due to adverse weather conditions, officials said. Train number 74626, scheduled to depart from Baramulla to Banihal at 7 am, was short-terminated at Budgam owing to snowfall along the route. Similarly, train number 74614, also running from Baramulla to []

SRINAGAR: A potentially fatal incident was narrowly averted in the Heerpora area of Shopian district when a massive heap of snow suddenly slid off a rooftop and buried a man standing below, officials said on Sunday. The incident occurred within seconds, leaving the man completely trapped under heavy snow with no time to react. The []

SRINAGAR: The JammuSrinagar National Highway (NH-44) will remain closed to vehicular traffic today, January 25, due to heavy snow accumulation between Nachlana and the Navyug Tunnel in the Banihal sub-division of Ramban district, the Traffic Police Headquarters, Jammu and Kashmir, informed. According to the Traffic Plan and Advisory issued by the Traffic Police Headquarters, snow []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir is likely to witness another spell of rain and snowfall from January 26, with the Meteorological Department forecasting widespread precipitation, including moderate to heavy rain and snow at several places, accompanied by thunder and gusty winds. Officials said the weather is expected to change significantly from January 26, with rain and []

SRINAGAR: The JammuSrinagar National Highway remained closed for the second consecutive day on Saturday due to slippery road conditions caused by fresh snowfall, leaving over 3,000 vehicles stranded on the vital arterial road. Officials said that incessant snowfall for the second consecutive night on the RambanBanihal and Qazigund stretch rendered the highway non-motorable. Snow accumulation []

SRINAGAR: As the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained closed for the second consecutive day due to slippery conditions, train services witnessed heavy rush with coaches jam-packed. The railways arranged two additional reserved special trains to cater to the surge in passengers. Ishfaq, a tourist from Jaipur said that all roads in the Kashmir Valley were closed, []

SRINAGAR: Police in Sopore have solved a burglary case within 24 hours of its reporting, leading to the arrest of the accused and recovery of stolen property. According to a statement, police Station Sopore received a written complaint from Akash Ahmad Wani son of Hafeezullah Wani resident of Nowhamam, Sopore, stating that during the intervening []

SRINAGAR: Ahead of Republic Day, security has been tightened across Jammu and Kashmir with forces carrying out extensive area domination exercises, and sanitization operations. A senior security official said that the security has been beefed up in all the 20 districts of JK, particularly in the border areas. Sensitive areas in Kashmir have seen enhanced []

SRINAGAR: The Chief Engineer (Distribution), Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL), has announced scheduled power shutdowns in several areas of Jammu district on January 25 and January 27 due to maintenance works. According to an official statement, electricity supply to Changran, Chak Desa Singh, Manke Talab, Shiva Nagar, Durga Nagar, Government Degree College, Ward No. []

SRINAGAR: CPI(M) leader and MLA Kulgam, Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami, on Saturday urged the government to immediately assess damage caused to residential houses by strong winds across Kashmir and provide compensation to families who have suffered losses. Tarigami said that powerful gusts of wind, followed by snowfall in several parts of the Valley, damaged rooftops, power []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmirs Lok Bhavan hosted the Uttar Pradesh Foundation Day celebrations on Saturday, with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha addressing the gathering. LG Sinha extended his greetings and best wishes to the people of Uttar Pradesh, paying tribute to the states luminaries, freedom fighters, and revolutionaries, and acknowledging their role in shaping modern India. []

SRINAGAR: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo, on Saturday virtually inaugurated key infrastructure projects worth Rs 640.78 lakhs at Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag from the Civil Secretariat. The projects include a state-of-the-art fire-fighting system, G+3 lift facilities and a comprehensive Water Supply Scheme (WSS), aimed at strengthening patient []

SRINAGAR: A high alert was sounded in the Billawar area of Kathua district after villagers spotted suspected persons and chased them before they fled into a nearby forest area, officials said on Saturday. Soon after the information was received, security forces rushed to the area and launched a cordon and search operation to track down []

SRINAGAR: Heavy slippery conditions on the Gulmarg road on Saturday led to long traffic jams, causing major inconvenience to commuters and tourists heading towards the famed ski resort, officials said. Authorities said frosty and icy road conditions resulted in slow vehicular movement, with gridlock witnessed at multiple points along the Gulmarg road. Several vehicles were []

SRINAGAR: Sonamarg reeled under extreme cold conditions as the minimum temperature plunged to minus 10.5 degrees Celsius, making the high-altitude area one of the coldest places in the Kashmir Valley, officials said on Saturday. The sharp drop in temperature followed recent snowfall and subsequent clearing of skies, which intensified the night-time chill in the region. []

SRINAGAR: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg on Saturday said that the restoration of essential services across the Valley is progressing rapidly following widespread snowfall. Power supply and road connectivity have been restored in most areas. Garg stated that all power stations are expected to be fully operational by Saturday, with repair work on damaged lines []

SRINAGAR: Police on Saturday said they had launched a large-scale search operation in the Lawaypora area on the outskirts of Srinagar district in central Kashmir. An official said multiple security units have been deployed, and a comprehensive cordon has been established in the area. All houses and open fields are being thoroughly searched, particularly those []

SRINAGAR: The Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered the transfer of IPS couple Divya D and Ragav S of the AGMUT cadre from Jammu and Kashmir to Puducherry with immediate effect. According to an official order issued by the Government of India, Divya D (AGMUT: 2018) and Ragav S (AGMUT: 2018), both presently posted in []

SRINAGAR: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the extension of the inter-cadre deputation tenure of Akshay Labroo, IAS (Tripura: 2018), from the Tripura cadre to the AGMUT cadre for his posting in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. According to an official order, the deputation has been extended for a further []

SRINAGAR: A power lineman was seriously injured after receiving an electric shock while carrying out repair work on an electricity transmission line in the Batpora Kanihama area of Magam in central Kashmirs Budgam district on Saturday. Officials said the injured lineman has been identified as Bashir Ahmad Dar. The incident occurred while repair work was []

SRINAGAR: The road stretch connecting Zero Point Kulan to Gagangir in Ganderbal district, once considered a vital link before the opening of the tunnel, is now facing neglect, with snow and ice left uncleared, making the surface extremely slippery and unsafe for commuters. Locals said that prior to the tunnel becoming operational, this stretch witnessed []

SRINAGAR: A Delhi court on Saturday permitted Baramulla Member of Parliament Engineer Rashid to attend the upcoming Budget Session of Parliament, scheduled to begin on January 28, 2026, subject to the conditions earlier imposed by the court, The Indian Express reported. Additional Sessions Judge Prashant Sharma allowed Rashids application after noting that a similar judicial []

SRINAGAR: A fire broke out at a guesthouse near Dal Gate in Srinagar district of central Kashmir on Saturday morning, damaging the property and injuring one civilian. According to officials, the blaze erupted in the guesthouse, prompting an immediate response from fire and emergency services. Several fire tenders were rushed to the spot to contain []

by Iqbal Ahmad Can modern scientific methods and Kharoshthi evidence compel a re-dating of the Harwan terracotta site, challenging colonial-era Buddhist attributions and refining Kashmirs early cultural history? We all know that mostarchaeological sites explored and excavated during the late 19th and early 20th centuries lacked modern excavation technology and scientific dating methods, such as []