KashmirLife

SRINAGAR: National Conference (NC) president and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Monday strongly rejected the idea of dividing Jammu and Kashmir. These regions are one and cannot be separated. Any split would be like cutting off the head from the body, with Jammu as the head and Kashmir as the torso, Dr Abdullah said []

SRINAGAR: Authorities on Monday advised passengers and Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) operators to avoid travelling during night hours on the JammuSrinagar National Highway and to plan their journeys during the daytime. The Traffic Police, in its advisory, said that night movement of Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) between the Nashri Tunnel and Navyug Tunnel often causes []

SRINAGAR: Calling upon Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to categorize the electricity bills according to the paying capacities of the people, Member Parliament and senior National Conference leader, Aga Ruhullah, on Monday expressed concern over hike in the power tariff. Talking to reporters here, Ruhullah said, Most of the people here belong to the BPL category []

SRINAGAR: All Indian students in Iran, including those studying in Mazandaran, Kish, Ahvaz, Esfahan, Shiraz, Golestan, Tehran, Urumiyeh, Arak and Kerman, are safe, an office bearer of the doctors association said on Monday. Vice President of AIMSA and FAIMA Doctors Association, Dr Mohammad Momin Khan, said he is personally in touch with around 1,500 parents []

SRINAGAR: Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather, convened a high-level meeting on Monday with senior officials to review the progress of key infrastructure and development works in the Legislative Assembly complex and MLA hostels. The meeting covered the construction of a new Legislative Complex at Jammu, repair and renovation works []

SRINAGAR: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday issued orders re-designating several IAS officers of the JK segment of the AGMUT cadre after their promotion to higher grades by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. According to Government Order No. 43-JK(GAD) of 2026, dated January 12, the officers were re-designated following their []

SRINAGAR: The Democratic Medical Association (DMA) India, a national body representing medical students and doctors across the country, has sought early notification of the MBBS Final Year examination datesheet for Batch-2021 students affiliated with the University of Jammu, citing growing academic uncertainty and stress among students. In a formal representation, DMA India highlighted that the []

SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday urged artists, writers and cultural thinkers to contribute to reimagining Jammu and Kashmir as a hub of artistic excellence, during the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Kesar Art Circle at Kala Kendra, Jammu. Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor felicitated painter Bhushan Kesar, founder of Kesar Art Circle, lauding []

SRINAGAR: Senior advocate Kapil Sibal on Monday told the Supreme Court of India that Ladakh based climate activist Sonam Wangchuk does not even appear in the videos relied upon by authorities as grounds for his preventive detention. Appearing before a bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and PB Varale during the hearing of a habeas corpus []

SRINAGAR: The Court of the District Magistrate and Deputy Commissioner Srinagar has dismissed the appeals filed by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited against the eviction order issued by the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, clearing the way for recovery of eight kanals of land crucial for the institutes expansion plans. The land, comprising survey numbers []

SRINAGAR: Brick kiln owners in Kulgam have sought the intervention of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, urging waiver of environmental penalties, extension of operational consents and consideration of their units under the 2008/2009 siting guidelines, warning that delays could threaten the livelihood of thousands of workers. Brick kiln owners of Kulgam []

SRINAGAR: Pulwama Police on Monday continued its anti-narcotics drive, arresting one person and recovering poppy straw during a naka checking operation in the Newa area of the district. Pulwama Police said it achieved another success during naka checking at Newa. During the operation, a police party from Police Post Newa apprehended one individual identified as []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Monday sanctioned a substantial pay scale upgrade for Panchayat Secretaries, a move set to benefit thousands of rural development functionaries across the Union Territory. A senior civil administration official said that the pay level for Village Level Workers (VLWs), Multi-Purpose Workers (MPWs) and Gram Sevikasall designated under the []

SRINAGAR: Member of Parliament, Srinagar, Aga Syed Ruhulla, on Monday, accused a vocal fringe element linked to the RSS of communalising the atmosphere in Jammu. He alleged that this group forced the abrupt closure of a premier medical institution to prevent admissions based on merit. The MPs remarks addressed the recent withdrawal of permission for []

SRINAGAR: The Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences has modernised its Emergency Operation Theatre by installing advanced surgical equipment, a move aimed at strengthening emergency care and enabling faster and safer life saving interventions, officials said on Saturday. Authorities said the upgraded Emergency OT has been equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to improve precision and outcomes in []

SRINAGAR: Employees of the Sericulture Development Department, Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday staged a peaceful protest and made a strong appeal to the authorities to immediately halt the demarcation and proposed transfer of Sericulture land at Alochibagh in Srinagar. The protest followed reports that officials of the Revenue Department had initiated demarcation of Sericulture land []

SRINAGAR: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Monday expressed sorrow over the passing of Pandit Bhushan Bazaz, son of Kashmiri leader and intellectual Pandit Prem Nath Bazaz, describing his demise as a significant personal and collective loss. In a condolence message, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said Bhushan Bazaz was a close friend of his father and had been []

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday reached the Deputy Commissioners Office in Jammu on foot from his residence to chair an official review meeting, officials said. The Chief Minister walked from his residence to the DC Office, drawing attention as he opted to move on foot rather than use a convoy. Officials said the []

SRINAGAR: Westland Books has announced the opening of pre-orders for Maryam & Son, the much-anticipated fourth novel by award-winning author Mirza Waheed. The book will be published under Westlands literary imprint, Context, on January 26, 2026, and is already being positioned as one of the publishers lead fiction titles for the year. Set primarily in []

SRINAGAR: Marine commandos Monday launched a search operation in the Jhelum River at Gandbal in Srinagar following yesterdays recovery of suspected human remains along the riverbank. The deployment came after locals demanded that specialised marine forces be pressed into service to trace and retrieve the body believed to be linked to the April 2024 boat []

SRINAGAR: The Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather, met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to discuss key aspects of the upcoming budget session, including the budget presentation date and other important legislative matters, sources said. Sources said that the meeting focused on finalising the budget session calendar, which is expected to []

R S PORA The historic Railway Station at Ranbir Singh Pura, Jammus first rail gateway, is undergoing conservation and heritage-led redevelopment to preserve its pre-Partition transport legacy and promote heritage tourism. Approved under the Scheme for Revival, Restoration, Preservation, and Maintenance of Architecture and Heritage, the Rs 1.05 crore project is being executed by the []

SRINAGAR: A cold wave continued to prevail across the Kashmir region as minimum temperatures remained below the freezing point in most areas. According to data compiled by Kashmir Weather, Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 2.4 degrees Celsius, while colder conditions prevailed in south and north Kashmir, with Qazigund and Kupwara registering minus 3.6C []

SRINAGAR: Traffic on the national highway was disrupted on Monday after a landslide blocked the road at Shiedra near Kalai, officials said, adding that men and machinery were immediately deployed to clear the debris and restore connectivity. Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent of Police Traffic Rural, Farooq Qaiser, said the Mughal Road has been reopened for light []

SRINAGAR: A Border Security Force (BSF) constable died after a fire broke out in a barrack of the 62nd Battalion camp in north Kashmirs Bandipora district late last night, officials said. An official said that the incident occurred in the Madar area of Bandipora, where a fire engulfed the barrack, completely gutting the structure. The []

by Khushboo Wani Shelleys verse evolves from poetic promise into lived truth, illuminating how suffering, endurance, and quiet hope guide the human journey through lifes metaphorical winters toward renewal. Ages ago, seated in one of my literature classes, I encountered a line that continues to echo within me. It came from Ode to the West []

SRINAGAR: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused the Omar Abdullah-led government in Jammu and Kashmir of administrative negligence, alleging that the failure to appoint a permanent Chairman to the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) for nearly a year was jeopardising students academic futures. In a statement, the BJP said the prolonged absence []

SRINAGAR: The Sonamarg Development Authority (SDA) has implemented a mandatory, uniform fee structure for all vehicular entry and associated services within the tourist destination. Officials said the measure is designed to eradicate long-standing malpractices and shield both visitors and residents from arbitrary and excessive charges. A senior tourism official said that the SDA has issued []

SRINAGAR: The Indian Army on Sunday evening opened fire at a Pakistani drone spotted in the Nowshera sector of Rajouri district along the Line of Control (LoC), sources said. Official sources said that, so far this evening, at least five drone sightings have been reported at different locations along the International Border (IB) and the []

SRINAGAR: An eight-year-old child was killed in a road accident involving an e-rickshaw in the Barshala area of Doda district, officials said on Sunday. According to officials, the minor was driving the e-rickshaw when it met with an accident in the area. Another child was also on board the vehicle at the time of the []

SRINAGAR: A fire broke out on Saturday evening in Drabgam area of Pulwama district, damaging a double-storied residential house and threatening a nearby Jamia Masjid before firefighters brought the situation under control, officials said. Fire and Emergency Services officials said a fire call was received by the District Fire Control Room at around 5:18 pm, []

SRINAGAR: Police in Udhampur district arrested three persons and recovered heroin during a routine traffic checking operation at Chenani on the JammuSrinagar National Highway, officials said on Sunday. A police team from Police Station Chenani, led by the Station House Officer, intercepted a Maruti Suzuki Wagon R taxi at the Motor Shed naka near Chenani []

SRINAGAR: An outsourced electricity department employee lost his life after suffering a fatal electric shock while carrying out repair work on a transformer in Kathar village of the Bishnah area in Jammu district on Sunday, officials said. The incident occurred when the worker was engaged in routine maintenance of a power transformer in the village. []

SRINAGAR: The Crime Branch of Jammu and Kashmir Police has registered a case against a man for allegedly duping two individuals by issuing fake appointment letters in the name of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, officials said on Saturday. According to officials, the accused has been identified as Mohd Tahir of Banola in Poonch []

SRINAGAR: Traders and business representatives in Jammu have strongly opposed the demand for a separate Jammu state, asserting that division would severely harm the economy, weaken trade, and adversely affect national interest. Members of the trading community said Jammu lacks sufficient independent resources and is already facing economic distress due to declining business activity, the []

SRINAGAR: The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is set to achieve a new milestone in healthcare with a government-proposed telemedicine initiative, building upon significant advancements already made across its medical institutions. The project will establish a telemedicine network, enabling patients at local Primary Health Centres (PHCs) to consult directly with specialists at district hospitals, []

SRINAGAR: Police on Sunday released a Kashmiri man who had been detained for allegedly attempting to offer namaz inside the Ram Mandir complex, after his family produced medical records confirming that he suffers from mental illness, according to multiple national media reports. The man, identified as Ahmed Sheikh of Shopian district in Jammu and Kashmir, []

SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday criticised National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval over his recent remarks on avenging historical wrongs, describing them as a dog whistle that she said could inflame communal sentiments. In a post on X, Mehbooba said it was unfortunate that a senior official responsible for national security []

SRINAGAR: Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology and Environment, Javed Rana, said that National Conference leadership can take a decision regarding the expansion of the cabinet at any time. Minister Rana said that under the leadership of President Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, a decision on the cabinet expansion will be taken at []

SRINAGAR: The winter vacations in the summer zones of the Jammu Division have been extended till January 14, 2026. A senior official said that on the directions of Education minister the vacations have been extended till 14th January. The decision was taken in view of prevailing weather conditions and other related considerations, official said. Further []

SRINAGAR: A 16-year-old boy was killed in an accidental shooting at his home in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday night, officials told Daily Excelsior. The incident occurred when Pyare Lal, a village defence guard (VDG), was cleaning his rifle at their residence in Loyee Dhar village of Mughal Maidan around 9:30 pm. []

SRINAGAR: As many as 54 young participants from Jammu and Kashmir will be part of a select group of 3,000 youth from across India and abroad who will interact with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026 in New Delhi on January 12. The selected youth will present their ideas []

SRINAGAR: The historic Mughal Road was reopened for vehicular traffic on Sunday after remaining closed for the past seven days due to adverse weather conditions and road clearance operations. Confirming the reopening SSP Traffic Rural, Farooq Qaisar, urged motorists to exercise utmost caution while travelling on the road, particularly in high-altitude stretches, in view of []

SRINAGAR: Nearly two years after the Gandbal Srinagar boat tragedy that claimed eight lives, fresh hope emerged after locals reported spotting what appeared to be a human foot emerging from the sand near the Jhelum riverbank on Sunday. The discovery was made by residents engaged in sand collection along the river, prompting immediate alert to []

SRINAGAR: Pacer Umran Malik, one of Jammu and Kashmirs most high-profile cricketers in recent years, has been left out of the Union Territorys squad for the Ranji Trophy preparatory camp scheduled to be held in Pondicherry, triggering fresh discussion around team selection ahead of the crucial second phase of the tournament. Malik, who has represented []

Recurring harassment of Kashmiri traders and migrants in the plains is fuelling fear, insecurity and deepening alienation despite police action. Every winter, tens of thousands of people from Kashmir step out of the Valley and disperse across the plains of India in search of work, education, training and survival. Men and women travel as students, []

SRINAGAR: Security forces in Jammu Kashmir have intensified vigilance along the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC) following multiple incidents raising concerns over cross-border smuggling. The move, the officials said, aims to strengthen border security and prevent any attempts at infiltration or ceasefire violations during the holiday season. Key frontier zones, including []

SRINAGAR: Jammu Kashmir has geared up for Census 2027, with the Union Territory-level Census Coordination Committee expected to soon decide on a 30-day window for houselisting operations (HLO) between April 1, 2026, and September 30, 2026. Amit Sharma, Director of Census Operations and Director of Citizen Registration for the Union Territories of Jammu Kashmir and []

SRINAGAR: Minimum temperatures plunged across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, with Shopian recording the lowest in the Kashmir Valley at minus 8.6C and Drass emerging as the coldest location in the region at minus 24.5C, according to data compiled by Kashmir Weather. In the Kashmir region, Srinagar registered a low of minus 5.2C, while Qazigund []

SRINAGAR: A middle-aged pedestrian was critically injured after being hit by an unidentified vehicle on the National Highway in the Barsoo area of Awantipora in south Kashmir, officials said. The injured has been identified as Fayaz Ahmed Hajam, son of Bashir Ahmed Hajam, aged about 45 years, an inhabitant of Jamnagari area of Shopian district. []