KashmirLife

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday responded to PDP president Mehbooba Muftis recent letter calling for a united political outreach to the Centre, saying it gave a misleading impression that she had been awaiting an appointment for an extended period, which he described as incorrect. Mehbooba Mufti Sahiba, we spoke on []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Finance Department has appointed a senior official as the Union Territory-level nodal officer for a time-bound anti-drug initiative under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA), according to an official order issued on June 1, 2026. As per Government Order No. 86 Acctts. of 2026 issued by the Accounts Treasuries wing []

SRINAGAR: With only one to three per cent of women in India having undergone cervical cancer screening, health experts on Monday stressed the need for urgent expansion of screening and prevention programmes during a lecture organised at Government Medical College Srinagar. The lecture on Indias Preparedness for Cervical Cancer Elimination Program was organised by the []

SRINAGAR: The ongoing political dialogue between Ladakh leaders and the Union Government has hit a fresh hurdle after the Leh Apex Body (LAB) refused to sign the draft minutes of the May 22 meeting with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), alleging that a crucial point discussed during the negotiations was omitted from the []

SRINAGAR: The first group of Hajj pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir returned to Srinagar on Tuesday, marking the start of the return phase of this years pilgrimage. Officials said a flight carrying 144 pilgrims from Saudi Arabia landed at Srinagar International Airport in the afternoon. The returning pilgrims were received at the airport by Chief []

SRINAGAR: Despite what the Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) described as an unprecedented crackdown on its leadership and workers, thousands of supporters from different parts of North Kashmir gathered on Tuesday to bid an emotional farewell to Member of Parliament from Baramulla, Engineer Rashid, before he departed for Delhi. According to an AIP spokesman, the administration []

SRINAGAR: Khyber Cement was honoured as the Best Cement Brand of Jammu Kashmir at the Jammu Kashmir Business Conclave 2026 held at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar. The conclave brought together entrepreneurs, industrialists and business leaders to recognise organisations contributing to the economic and industrial growth of Jammu and Kashmir. Chief Minister []

SRINAGAR: National Conference chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq on Tuesday asserted that the NC-led government in Jammu and Kashmir is stable and will complete its full five-year term, dismissing the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) claims of political instability as dreams. The MLA from Zadibal said any decision regarding broader political unity would be taken after a []

SRINAGAR: A local court has awarded a one-year jail term to a Rajbagh resident in a 2024 cheque bounce case arising from an unfulfilled real estate transaction. The court of the 2nd Additional Munsiff and Judicial Magistrate First Class, Srinagar, presided over by Vikas Bhardwaj, also ordered the convict, Tahir Mushtaq Dar of Ikhrajpora, Rajbagh, []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Education and Health Minister Sakina Itoo on Tuesday accused former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti of being hungry for power and held her responsible for the loss of Article 370, statehood, and the current situation in the Union Territory. Itoo alleged that the PDP president had rejected an unconditional offer of support []

SRINAGAR: Srinagar experienced its hottest night of the season, with the minimum temperature settling at 19.2C, significantly above the normal level for early June, according to official weather data. The summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed unusually warm night-time conditions as temperatures remained elevated across much of the Kashmir Valley amid an ongoing spell []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has issued fresh guidelines clarifying that departmental disciplinary proceedings against government employees can continue simultaneously with criminal prosecution and should not ordinarily be delayed due to a pending criminal trial. The instructions were issued through Circular No. 12-JK-GAD of 2026 by the General Administration Department (Vigilance), following consultations with []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has assigned the routine functions of the posts of Chief Engineer (Mechanical) for Jammu and Kashmir divisions to the respective Superintending Engineers with immediate effect. The arrangement has been made under Government Order No. 185-PW (R and B) of 2026, issued by the Public Works (Roads and Buildings) Department, []

SRINAGAR: Three Indian Police Service (IPS) officers from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have been allotted cadres in Madhya Pradesh, Manipur and West Bengal under the latest cadre allocation following the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination. Mohammad Muneeb Bhat, a resident of Danter in Anantnag district of south Kashmir, has been allocated []

SRINAGAR: Kashmir fast bowler Rasikh Salam Dar has emerged as one of the biggest success stories of IPL 2026 after playing a decisive role in Royal Challengers Bengalurus title-winning campaign with a series of impactful performances throughout the season. The 26-year-old pacer from Kulgam delivered one of the defining spells of the IPL final at []

SRINAGAR: Repeated hailstorms and stormy winds over the past two months have devastated orchards across Kashmir, triggering panic among lakhs of families dependent on the horticulture sector and pushing many fruit growers deeper into debt. The Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union on Monday demanded a comprehensive relief package for orchard owners, immediate implementation []

SRINAGAR: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Chowdhary on Monday said the Leader of Opposition (LoP), Sunil Sharma, is daydreaming and is issuing statements to remain in the limelight. The Deputy CM said the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah-led government was elected by the people and they only can remove it. Speaking to reporters while accompanying CM Omar []

SRINAGAR: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has been informed of extensive riverbed mining activities in Sukhnag Nallah of Budgam district, with an inspection panel highlighting severe ecological concerns linked to the large-scale extraction of minerals from the water body. A joint team, tasked with examining the situation, carried out a field visit in March and []

SRINAGAR: To put an end to overcharging, the Transport Department has made fare meters compulsory for all auto-rickshaws across Baramulla district. Operators failing to comply with the order risk legal action under the Motor Vehicles Act, officials said. Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO), Baramulla, Mudasir Wani, in an order directed all categories of auto-rickshaws, including []

SRINAGAR: The return phase of Hajj-2026 pilgrims from Jammu Kashmir will commence tomorrow, June 02, with the first flight carrying 144 pilgrims scheduled to land at Srinagar International Airport. JK Haj Committee Chief Executive Officer Shujaat Ahmad Qureshi said the Hajj return operations for pilgrims from Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh will continue till June 16. []

SRINAGAR: In a record of sorts, as many as 6.67 lakh households in Jammu and Kashmir have voluntarily submitted census details through the self-enumeration portal before the commencement of Houselisting Operations, which began on Monday in Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing media today, Amit Sharma, Chief Principal Census Officer and Director Census Operations for Jammu Kashmir []

SRINAGAR: Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Suhail Qasim Mir, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir, has been transferred to a new posting in Punjab. According to official orders, Mir, who was serving as Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Amritsar Rural, has been posted as Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Personnel-I at Punjab Police Headquarters in Chandigarh. []

SRINAGAR: The Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has announced a series of scheduled power shutdowns across multiple parts of Kashmir between June 2 and June 13 to facilitate maintenance works on several 33 kV transmission lines, officials said on Monday. According to the Chief Engineer, Distribution, KPDCL, the shutdowns will affect electricity supply in []

SRINAGAR: Monika Dhami on Monday assumed charge as the Principal Commissioner of Income Tax in Srinagar, becoming the highest-ranking Income Tax Department officer in the region covering the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. A 2001-batch Indian Revenue Service officer, Dhami has held several key assignments in the Income Tax Department and the []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir is accelerating its clean energy transition with Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo directing the fast-tracking of solarisation across 8,000 government buildings and pushing for urgent implementation of major renewable energy projects, including the Union Territorys first 100 MW solar park with battery storage. Chairing a high-level review meeting of the Science and []

SRINAGAR: The Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh has directed all government departments to ensure 100 per cent saturation of rooftop solar plants on government buildings under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, in line with the Government of Indias mandate for complete solarisation of public infrastructure. According to a circular issued by []

SRINAGAR: The June 2026 Term-End Examinations of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) for Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and Online Programmes commenced today across Kashmir Division and the Union Territory of Ladakh. The examinations, being conducted in both pen-and-paper and Computer Based Test (CBT) modes, will continue till July 21, 2026. The IGNOU Regional []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary has hit out at the opposition, particularly Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, stating that those raising questions were not able to handle their microphones. Choudhary dismissed Sharmas remarks as dreams of Mungeri Lal and asserted that the Omar Abdullah-led government was neither nominated nor weak. He []

SRINAGAR: Two persons were injured after a vehicle reportedly went out of control and skidded off the road in the KG Sector of Mendhar in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch district on Monday, officials said. According to reports, the vehicle lost control under circumstances that are yet to be ascertained and subsequently veered off the road. []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has transferred JKAS officer Asgar Hussain, who was serving as Special Secretary in the Home Department, with immediate effect. As per an order issued by the General Administration Department (GAD), the transfer has been carried out in the interest of administration. The officer has been directed to report to []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has sought the intervention of the Union Civil Aviation Minister over delays in the transportation of baggage belonging to Hajj pilgrims returning to the Union Territory. In a formal communication addressed to the Union Minister, the Chief Minister highlighted that pilgrims returning after performing the sacred Hajj []

SRINAGAR: The arrival phase of Haj flights for pilgrims to Jammu and Kashmir will begin from June 2, 2026, according to a notification issued by the Jammu and Kashmir Haj Committee. As per the communication received from the Hajj Committee of India and Akasa Airline, the first three Haj flights are scheduled to land at []

SRINAGAR: Passengers travelling from Delhi to Srinagar on a SpiceJet flight on Monday experienced delays, leading to inconvenience and prolonged waiting at the airport. According to passengers, SpiceJet flight SG-160, scheduled to depart Delhi at 7:05 am and arrive in Srinagar at 10:05 am, did not take off as planned, resulting in uncertainty among travellers. []

SRINAGAR: The Union Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) on Monday clarified the baggage restrictions imposed on Hajj pilgrims returning to Srinagar, stating that the measures have been introduced due to ongoing runway maintenance and operational limitations at Srinagar Airport. Due to a NOTAM issued for Srinagar Airport and ongoing runway maintenance resulting in temporary runway []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday said the administration remains committed to eliminating the drug menace from society and will continue its efforts until the Union Territory becomes drug-free. Addressing a public gathering in Kulgam, the Lieutenant Governor said the government has intensified its anti-narcotics drive and is taking strict action []

SRINAGAR: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has appointed senior IPS officer Vidhi Kumar Birdi as Inspector General (IG) in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on deputation basis. According to an Office Memorandum issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on June 1, 2026, Birdi, a 2003-batch IPS officer of the AGMUT cadre, has []

SRINAGAR: Gujarat Titans players and support staff had a narrow escape after the team bus reportedly caught fire due to a suspected short circuit while returning to the hotel following their defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2026 final, according to media reports. As reported by The Tribune and The Times of India, []

SRINAGAR: Construction work on the 240 MW Uri-I Stage-II Hydroelectric Project formally commenced on Sunday with the successful execution of the first blast at Adit-3 in Mohura area of Uri in north Kashmirs Baramulla district. The inaugural blast was carried out in the presence of the Chairman and Managing Director of NHPC, who officially launched []

SRINAGAR: In Kashmir, where rivers swell with snowmelt, and roads wind through crowded villages and tourist towns, Sunday became a day of unbearable grief for several families. In three separate tragedies across the Valley, fathers and sons were caught together in moments of death and survival, revealing, once again, the instinctive and eternal bond between []

SRINAGAR: Young Jammu and Kashmir pacer Rasikh Salam Dar from south Kashmirs Kulgam district played a decisive role as Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Gujarat Titans by five wickets to clinch the IPL 2026 title, marking a notable achievement for cricket in the Union Territory. Dar delivered an impressive spell of 3 for 27 in his []

SRINAGAR: The sixth edition of the Patnitop Marathon commenced successfully on Sunday, drawing more than 800 runners from over 30 cities and 15 states, reaffirming its status as Jammu and Kashmirs largest multi-category hill race. Organised by IKA Sports and Events Pvt Ltd in collaboration with the Patnitop Development Authority, Directorate of Tourism Jammu, and []

SRINAGAR: An old mortar shell was recovered from a temple well in the border area of Jammu and Kashmirs Samba district and was later safely defused by the bomb disposal squad, officials said on Sunday. The shell was found by locals in Gadwal village of the Ramgarh border area on Saturday while they were near []

SRINAGAR: The self-enumeration phase of the House Listing and Housing Census in Jammu and Kashmir concluded on Sunday, with the main field exercise scheduled to commence across the Union Territory from Monday. Officials said enumerators and supervisors will carry out door-to-door visits from June 1 to June 30 to collect comprehensive information related to housing []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday hit back at opposition criticism over the meeting convened with National Conference legislators, saying those speculating about the discussions were the least informed about its purpose. I love how the people who know the least about the meeting Ive called with my MLAs are talking []

SRINAGAR: Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather, on Sunday inaugurated a New Type Primary Health Centre (NTPHC) at Challyan in the Chrari Sharief constituency, marking a boost to local healthcare infrastructure. The newly inaugurated facility is expected to strengthen primary healthcare delivery in the area by improving access to basic []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (JK BOPEE) on Sunday successfully conducted the Common Entrance Test (CET) for B-Pharmacy and D-Pharmacy courses for the academic session 202627 at centres in Jammu and Srinagar. The examination was held simultaneously at the University of Kashmir, Srinagar, and Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, []

SRINAGAR: A massive joint anti-militancy operation in the forested areas of Rajouri district entered its ninth day on Sunday, with militants still untraced despite repeated contacts and intermittent exchanges of fire with security forces. The operation, codenamed Operation Sheruwali, is underway in the dense forest stretches of Gambhir Mughlan and Dorimal in the Manjakote sector, []

SRINAGAR: More than twelve years after the sensational murder and mutilation of a sadhu whose chopped body parts were recovered from the Tawi river near Jammus Bhoothnath Temple, a Jammu court has sentenced the main accused to life imprisonment, holding that the murder was a crime against humanity committed brutally and inhumanly. The sentence was []

SRINAGAR: Amid the festivities of Eid-ul-Adha, a growing number of undergraduate aspirants in Kashmir are staring at the possibility of missing admission deadlines, prompting a formal appeal to college authorities for an extension. The final dates for submission of online application forms at several institutions May 27 to 30 coincided with the peak []

SRINAGAR: The Central Government has announced a temporary exemption on customs duty for cotton imports from June 1 to October 31 this year, a move aimed at ensuring adequate raw material availability for the textile sector and stabilising the domestic market. In a notification, the Ministry of Textiles said the decision has been taken keeping []