Kashmir Reader

SRINAGAR: Chief minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday ordered an inquiry into the bridge collapse in Jammu City that resulted in the death of three workers. The chief minister expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of three workers in a bridge collapse incident at Bantalab on the outskirts of Jammu city on Friday, an official []

KOLKATA:Over 16 per cent turnout was recorded in the first two hours of voting during repoll in 15 booths of two assembly constituencies in West Bengals South 24 Parganas district, an official said. Voting was underway peacefully in 11 polling stations of Magrahat Paschim assembly constituency and four in Diamond Harbour, where the EC ordered []

SRINAGAR: Security forces on Saturday arrested an overground worker (OGW) of terrorists in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. The OGW was identified as Umar Malik, a resident of the Kachipora area of the south Kashmir district, they said. According to the officials, a star pistol, two rounds of ammunition, a magazine, a []

Jammu: Three workers died after an under-construction bridge collapsed in Bantalabs Thathar area of Jammu, officials said, adding that the rescue operation has been concluded after all trapped labourers were recovered. An official said that four labourers were working beneath the bridge when a section of the structure suddenly gave way, trapping them under debris. []

Inaugurates 368 residential units for govt employees at Sempora 90.65 crore project to ease accommodation constraints Pampore: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday inaugurated 368 newly constructed residential quarters for government employees at Sempora in Pampore, developed across 23 blocks at an estimated cost of 90.65 crore. Constructed by the Estates Department, the project marks []

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said if the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls affects the outcome of the West Bengal assembly elections, it would set a dangerous precedent, against which the political parties need to safeguard themselves. Responding to a question about the high drama outside a strong room []

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday visited Shalina near Lasjan to inspect the site that had developed a breach during the floods in September last year. The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA Pampore Justice (Retd.) Hasnain Masoodi and other concerned officers. During the visit, the Chief Minister reviewed []

Says UT remains PM Modis focus Leh: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said Ladakh was a model of rapid transformation since the 2019 bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and listed sweeping political, social and economic changes in the Union territory. The region has remained at the centre of Prime []

Reaffirms resolve to work for peace, stability in J&K Srinagar: Lieutenant General Prashant Srivastava on Friday relinquished command of the Chinar Corps after 19 months at the helm, handing over responsibilities to Lieutenant General Balbir Singh, who officially assumed command. During his tenure, Lt. Gen. Srivastava oversaw key operational and administrative initiatives that contributed to []

Srinagar: National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah has expressed deep disappointment over the INDIA bloc, especially the Congress, not supporting the restoration of Jammu and Kashmirs statehood with the expected vigour. In a candid assessment of the opposition bloc, Abdullah said that while his party remains a committed member of the alliance, it has fallen []

Srinagar: National Conference (NC) chief Farooq Abdullah on Friday said he has never trusted exit polls and expressed hope they would prove wrong. I have never trusted exit polls. Exit polls have proved wrong in the past, and I hope they prove wrong this time, Abdullah told reporters here when asked about the exit polls []

Lok Bhavan J&K celebrates Gujarat & Maharashtras Foundation Day Jammu: The Foundation Day of Gujarat and Maharashtra was celebrated with great enthusiasm at J&K Lok Bhavan, Jammu, in the presence of the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha. Addressing a gathering, the Lieutenant Governor said that Gujarat and Maharashtra are growth engines of the nation and besides []

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Friday ordered repolling on May 2 in 15 polling stations in West Bengal, where voting was held on April 29 in the second phase of the assembly elections. In a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer of Bengal, the Election Commission (EC) said the repolling has been ordered based []

Jammu: At least five to seven workers are feared trapped after a portion of an under-construction bridge collapsed during construction work in the Bantalab area of Jammu on Friday, official sources said. Sources said that several labourers were present at the site when the incident occurred. Five to seven workers are feared to be trapped []

Srinagar: Lieutenant General Balbir Singh on Friday assumed charge as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the strategically crucial XV Corps (Chinar Corps) of Army. On assuming the command, Chinar Corps Commander Lt Gen Balbir Singh extended his warm greetings to the Awaam of Kashmir. Chinar Corps Commander reaffirmed his commitment to work in close []

LEH/JAMMU: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday described the return of sacred relics of Lord Buddha to Ladakh after 75 years as a historic reunion and said that the Union Territory has remained a living land of dharma, preserving and nurturing Buddhist knowledge for centuries. Stressing the relevance of Buddhas teachings in modern times, []

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of aiding the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Rajya Sabha. He claimed that the PDP is now raising the issue of Urdu merely to divert public attention from its role in helping the BJP. Speaking to reporters, Omar alleged that the []

Shopian: The body of a four-year-old boy from Pulwama, who had gone missing after slipping into a stream in south Kashmirs Shopian district, was on Friday recovered from the Ranbiara nallah in the Hirpora area. An official said that the deceased, identified as Mohammad Hanzala of Tiken village in Pulwama, had accidentally fallen into the []

Srinagar: The Special Crime Wing Kashmir has filed a chargesheet in a major job fraud case, accusing three men of duping people of lakhs on the promise of government jobs, officials said. They said the accused posed as influential officials and issued fake appointment orders, exposing a well-organised scam now before a Srinagar court for []

WASHINGTON:US President Donald Trump has said that Iran was dying to make a deal to end the now paused war and virtually ruled out resuming air strikes. Trumps remarks during a media interaction at the Oval Office on Thursday afternoon came at a time when Iran threatened fresh strikes if the US resumed the war []

Train service has become lifeline of J&K: Vaishnaw Promises rail link to Poonch, Rajouri, Uri Srinagar: As the first direct Vande Bharat Express from Jammu chugged into the Kashmir valley on Thursday, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw promised to focus on connecting remote areas like Poonch, Rajouri and Uri to the countrys rail network. Following the []

Calls for inland dry port to boost exports Attends flag off ceremony of Vande Bharat Express Jammu: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday attended the flag-off ceremony marking the historic extension of the Vande Bharat Express service from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Jammu, enabling for the first time a direct rail connection between []

Jammu: People across Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday hailed the launch of the direct Vande Bharat Express service between Jammu and Srinagar, calling it a major step towards improved connectivity, tourism and economic growth. Passengers and stakeholders termed the development a game changer, highlighting that the service would significantly reduce travel time, cut costs, and []

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has carried out a significant administrative reshuffle, transferring 179 officers from the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) and related services across various departments. The move, effective immediately, affects key sectors including revenue, rural development, housing, mining, education, and social welfare. The following transfers and postings have been made: []

Narcotics smuggling no less than terrorism; those involved will face stringent punishment Jammu: Lieutenant Governor, Shri Manoj Sinha today ignited the Drug-Free Jammu Kashmir Campaign in Doda, rallying citizens against narcotics. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor said the peoples movement against drug abuse reflects their determination and unity, and this menace []

Srinagar: Jailed Lok Sabha member Sheikh Abdul Rashid on Thursday arrived here to meet his ailing father after the Delhi High Court granted him a weeks interim bail, officials said. Rashid, alias Engineer Rashid, the Lok Sabha MP from Jammu and Kashmirs Baramulla, arrived at the Srinagar airport here on Thursday afternoon and drove straightaway []

Jammu: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday extended warm greetings to the people on the auspicious occasion of Buddha Purnima. In his message, the Chief Minister recalled the teachings of Gautama Buddha and said they continue to guide humanity towards the path of peace, compassion and non-violence. He said that []

Srinagar: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir of the Crime Branch Jammu and Kashmir submitted a chargesheet in case FIR No. 84/2022 under Section 420 RPC against Bashir Ahmad Bhat, son of Abdul Gani Bhat, a resident of Astanpora, Tailbal, Hazratbal, Srinagar, before the Honble Court of Judge Small Causes, Srinagar. According to police, in []

They cannot just inspect. They must mentor. Heterogeneous classrooms require teachers to function simultaneously as planners, facilitators, mentors, and evaluators capable of addressing multiple learning levels within a single instructional framework. Muhsin Ahmad Malik Academic visits undertaken by educational functionaries such as Chief Education Officers (CEOs), Deputy Chief Education Officers (Dy. CEOs), Zonal Education Officers []

Srinagar:The Economic Offences Wing Kashmir (EOW) of Crime Branch J&K submitted a chargesheet in case FIR No. 84/2022 under Section 420 RPC against Bashir Ahmad Bhat S/o Abdul Gani Bhat R/o Astanpora, Tailbal Hazratbal Srinagar before the Honble court of Judge Small Causes Srinagar. In a handout to the CBK said that the key details []

Leh: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday arrived in Leh on a two-day visit, during which he is scheduled to attend a series of official and ceremonial engagements, officials said. An official said that the visit coincides with Buddha Purnima and the first-ever international exposition of the holy relics of Gautama Buddha, set to []

Baramulla: Kashmiri Pandits returned to the historic Ganesh Temple in Kachua village of Baramulla after nearly 36 years, reviving a pre-1989 tradition that once drew large gatherings from across communities. Located around 15 kilometres from Baramulla town, the temple used to host annual congregations on April 29 and 30 before the eruption of militancy. This []

Anantnag: A youth was critically injured after falling from a moving train on the PanzgamBijbehara railway section on Thursday, officials said. An official said that the incident occurred while the train was in motion, leaving the youth seriously injured. Locals and railway officials rushed to the spot and shifted him to Sub-District Hospital Bijbehara for []

Shopian: Two persons lost their lives and one other was injured after a steam boiler explosion at a cold storage facility in the Aglar Pinjura area of Shopian on Wednesday late evening, officials said. An official said that the blast occurred at Zum Zum Cold Store in the fruit mandi while a steam boiler was []

LEH/JAMMU: Reinforcing the Centres commitment to last-mile connectivity in the border areas, the chief postmaster general of the Jammu and Kashmir circle, D S V R Murthy, visited a remote branch post office near the India-China border in Leh district, officials said. Accompanied by the superintendent of post offices, Arvind Kher, Murthy reviewed postal operations []

Train rake augmented from 8 to 20 coaches Two pairs of daily services to operate from May 2 Srinagar: Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw is set to inaugurate the extended Srinagar-Katra Vande Bharat Express service from Jammu Tawi Railway Station on Thursday, April 30, 2026. This milestone event marks a significant enhancement in the []

Reviews security scenario, progress on Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyaan, preparations for forthcoming pilgrimages Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting to review the security scenario, progress on Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyaan and District wise preparations for the forthcoming pilgrimages. The meeting was attended by Sh Atal Dullo, Chief Secretary, Sh Nalin []

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Government has approved an 18% increase in fares for various categories of public transport vehicles across the Union Territory, revising rates for the first time since the year 2021. According to an official notification issued by the Transport Department, the Transport Commissioner, J&K has been directed to fix revised maximum chargeable []

Call for coordinated action to combat drug menace Srinagar: IGP Kashmir and Divisional Commissioner Kashmir co-chaired a joint meeting on Wednesday to assess the implementation and progress of the Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyan at PCR Kashmir. The 100-day Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyan was launched by the Lieutenant Governor, UT of J&K, []

Srinagar: Continuing outreach efforts to engage stakeholders in the fight against drug abuse and to build a narcotics-free society, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg, on Wednesday held a meeting with religious leaders from various faiths. The meeting was attended by Imams, members of the Shia Community, Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, and representatives of the migrant Hindu []

Another wet spell likely May 35: MeT 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 []

Srinagar: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Srinagar of the Crime Branch Kashmir has registered a case following a complaint alleging fraud in connection with overseas job placement, in which a man was allegedly lured by an unauthorized consultancy operating from the Pattan area and later trafficked to Cambodia under false pretences. The complaint states that []

Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday launched the book, Healer in Exile: The Untold Story of Dr. Sushil Razdan authored by his son Sachin Razdan. Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor said that Dr. Sushil Razdan stands among Indias leading neurologists and his contributions in the medical field remain unmatched. The story of Dr. []

Anti-drug drives intensified Contraband seized, peddlers arrested Land & poppy fields destroyed Awareness campaigns launched Zero-tolerance policy enforced Srinagar: In a relentless pursuit to eradicate the drug menace and promote a drug-free society, Jammu & Kashmir Police have intensified their operations across multiple districts under the ongoing Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyan. The efforts []

LUCKNOW: ( Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday hit back after Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the party of being anti-development, saying that the SP believes in unity, inclusiveness and equitable growth. Samajwadi Party has always worked to unite people. Our name itself is derived from the Constitution. We believe in removing discrimination and []

SRINAGAR: Is Bengali not being trusted, asked veteran politician and three-time former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah, on Wednesday while slamming the Election Commission for the deployment of a large contingent of central police forces and bureaucrats during the West Bengal polls. Abdullah, who is the president of the ruling National Conference, []

Srinagar: Scores of residents, mostly women, on Wednesday staged a protest in Mir Abad area of Batmaloo here against acute water shortage, blocking the Batmaloo-Tengpora main road and disrupting traffic movement for some time. Eyewitnesses said the protesters assembled on the road in the morning, raising slogans against the authorities for failing to ensure regular []

Srinagar:The Economic Offences Wing, Srinagar of Crime Branch Kashmir has registered a case following receipt of a complaint alleging fraud in connection with overseas job placement. In a handou, the CBK said that the complaint states that an individual was lured by an unauthorized consultancy operating from the Pattan area, which falsely promised employment abroad []

KOLKATA: Voting began on Wednesday in 142 constituencies in the second and final phase of the West Bengal assembly elections, amid unprecedented security arrangements and a high-stakes contest that could decide whether the ruling TMC retains its dominance over southern districts or the BJP can force open the gates of power in the state. Polling []

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed that Iran has just informed the US that it is in a state of collapse. They want us to Open the Hormuz Strait, as soon as possible, as they try to figure out their leadership situation, Trump posted on social media. He added that he believes they will []