KashmirLife

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. []

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is also Finance Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, on Saturday participated in the pre-Budget consultations meeting chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Chief Minister today participated in the pre-Budget consultations in New Delhi, chaired by the Union Finance Minister, and shared key perspectives and concerns of the Government []

SRINAGAR: A major disaster was narrowly averted on Saturday night in the Arampora area of Qamarwari after a fire broke out in a residential house that was illegally being used for commercial storage and handling of hazardous chemical material, officials said. Fire and Emergency Services officials said a fire call was received at the State []

SRINAGAR: Police on Saturday recovered three smartphones during evening raids conducted inside the High Security Central Jail, Kot Bhalwal, Jammu, officials said. Official sources said that the recovered devices include two Redmi smartphones and one broken Samsung handset, all found without SIM cards during routine checking inside the jail premises. They said the recovery has []

SRINAGAR: Uttar Pradesh Police on Saturday claimed that a man from Kashmir was detained at the Ram Mandir after he allegedly attempted to offer namaz within the temple complex. According to UP Police, the individual, identified as a 55-year-old from Shopian district of south Kashmir, entered the Ram Mandir premises during the day as a []

SRINAGAR: A Muslim resident of a remote village in Jammu and Kashmirs Doda district has donated his private land for the construction of a public health facility, addressing a long-standing gap in basic healthcare access in the region. Rafi Ahmed, a resident of Phagsoo village in the hilly Chenab Valley, has voluntarily donated one kanal []

SRINAGAR: The Transport Department in Kishtwar has disqualified driving licences of accused persons and initiated proceedings against vehicles involved in narcotics cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. Officials said Assistant Regional Transport Officer Kishtwar, Tasleem Javed Wani, ordered the action following cases registered by District Police Kishtwar at Police Station Kishtwar. []

SRINAGAR: A mortar shelllike device was found on Saturday in the Muratha (Lohai) area of Sector Malhar in Kathua district. A senior police officer said that the suspicious object was noticed earlier today, following which the concerned authorities were informed. Security forces rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area as a precautionary measure. []

SRINAGAR: Seeking to link sports development with large scale job creation, Jammu and Kashmir minister Satish Sharma has requested financial support of Rs 600 crore over five years to establish 10 Border Sports and Employment Hubs across the Union Territory, along with additional livelihood and apprenticeship schemes worth Rs 570 crore aimed at border and []

SRINAGAR: The Chief Engineer, Distribution, Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL) on Saturday announced a series of planned power shutdowns next week that will affect large parts of Srinagar and north Kashmir as teams carry out work on 33 kV and 132 kV lines. KPDCL said the 33 kV NihalporaGulmarg line will be shut down []

SRINAGAR: A pigeon bearing a coded ring was found by a local boy in the Akhnoor area on Saturday afternoon, officials said. Official sources said that the boy immediately informed the police after noticing the coded ring on the bird. Police reached the spot and took the pigeon into custody for examination. They said that []

SRINAGAR: Acting on a complaint, the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Jammu and Kashmir, on Saturday said it has arrested a Patwari from Budgam for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 out of a demanded amount of Rs 30,000 for the issuance of a revenue extract and bank lien certificate. According to a statement, the []

SUV buyers today are far from a single, uniform group. Some prioritise space, comfort, and long-distance touring, while others look for compact dimensions, urban convenience, and easy manoeuvrability. The Maruti Suzuki Victoris and the Hyundai Venue illustrate how manufacturers address these different expectations within the broader SUV category. Although both vehicles fall under the SUV []

SRINAGAR: Often described as the mini Kashmir, Bhaderwah is witnessing a renewed surge in tourist arrivals this winter, driven by fresh snowfall, heightened security arrangements and renewed focus on winter tourism. However, even as visitor numbers climb and new projects are announced, deep-rooted environmental and civic challenges continue to trouble the picturesque hill town. Over []

SRINAGAR: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to interfere with a judgment of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court directing the completion of a long-pending recruitment process for Jail Warders advertised nearly two decades ago, bringing closure to a prolonged legal and administrative impasse. A Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta []

JAMMU: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has dismissed a seven-year-old service writ petition challenging the selection of a Female Multi Purpose Health Worker (FMPHW) under the National Health Mission (NHM) in Doda district, holding that the authorities had rightly preferred a local candidate in accordance with the applicable preference norms. Justice []

The SUV category has expanded far beyond a single definition. Buyers today can choose from a wide spectrum of vehicles that vary significantly in size, design philosophy, and intended use. Two models that clearly demonstrate this diversity are the Tata Curvv and the Hyundai Exter. Although both are marketed as SUVs, they sit at opposite []

SRINAGAR: The justification given by the National Medical Commission for revoking the letter of permission of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College has come under sharp scrutiny, with students of the institution publicly contradicting the regulators claims. Speaking to reporters, students of the medical college said that classrooms, laboratories and other infrastructure facilities are fully []

Breast cancer is steadily emerging as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Kashmir. In a detailed conversation with Kashmir Life, noted breast cancer surgeon Dr Shabnam Bashir discussed the scale and challenges of the crisis, condensed by Afreen Ashraf for clarity and readability KASHMIR LIFE (KL): What is the state and status []

SRINAGAR: Authorities on Saturday restored vehicular movement on the BandiporaGurez road following snowfall that had rendered the stretch slippery and unsafe for travel. Officials said traffic has been permitted only in one direction, from Bandipora to Gurez, keeping in view the prevailing road and weather conditions. They said commuters must strictly adhere to the cut-off []

SRINAGAR: Security forces recovered a cache of arms and ammunition from Paloora village near the International Border in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir following suspected drone movement in the area, officials said. Official sources said local residents late last night noticed a drone hovering over the area for nearly two minutes and immediately alerted []