RisingKashmir

Srinagar, Oct 17: Kashmirs water crisis may be unfolding long before its rivers run low. High in the Himalayas, where winter snowfall stores water for the warmer months, a worrying shift in snow cover and repeated winter precipitation deficits are raising fresh questions about the Valleys long-term water security. A satellite-based study published in the journal Climate in 2025 found that the snow-covered area across Jammu and Kashmir declined from 22,261.21 square kilometres in 2000 to 15,275.7

Kupwara, Oct 17: Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Abhishek Sharma on Saturday chaired a comprehensive review meeting of the Revenue Department to assess the functioning and progress of revenue-related activities across the district. The meeting reviewed the status of all Tehsils, including staff strength, the latest status of the Census, and the creation of Farmer IDs. The DC stressed expediting the work to ensure 100% coverage within the stipulated timelines. While reviewing the SVAMITVA scheme,

Srinagar, Oct 17: Prof. (Dr.) Twinkle Suri, Director Colleges, Jammu and Kashmir, held an interactive meeting with the Principals of Government Degree Colleges (GDC) of the Kashmir Division at Government College for Women, M.A. Road, Srinagar, to discuss institutional challenges and explore measures to strengthen the overall functioning of colleges. Prof. Seema Naz, Nodal Principal, welcomed the Director Colleges and Principals and assured her commitment to collective efforts towards strengthen

Shopian, Oct 17: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shopian, Charandeep Singh, on Saturday chaired a comprehensive review meeting of the Health and Medical Education Department to assess and streamline healthcare delivery across the district, with a focus on infrastructure, manpower and patient-centric services. Emphasizing a proactive, compassionate and gap-free approach to public healthcare, the DC called for strengthening infrastructure, optimizing manpower and ensuring seamless service delivery to me

Budgam, Oct 17: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Budgam, Jatin Kishore on Saturday visited Chrar-i-Sharief and chaired a public outreach program at Town Hall, Chrar-i-Sharief, to listen to the demands and grievances of local residents. During the public darbar, the Deputy Commissioner interacted with the locals and different stakeholders and took stock of issues concerning various departments. He directed the concerned officers to address public issues and demands promptly and ensure time-bound resolut

Ganderbal, Oct 17: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ganderbal, Shreya Singhal, on Saturday visited District Hospital Ganderbal to inspect the available healthcare facilities, assess patient care arrangements and review the functioning of various hospital services. During the visit, the DC inspected patient care wards, available medical equipment and hospital infrastructure. She also took stock of the availability of medical supplies, roaster of doctors and other staff, and the response of patients rega

Srinagar, Oct 17: Underscoring the importance of scientific assessment and coordinated action for safeguarding Jammu & Kashmirs groundwater resources, Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Shakti Department, Shaleen Kabra, today chaired a Union Territory-level Coordination Committee (UTLCC) meeting to review the assessment of groundwater resources across J&K under the Groundwater Resource Assessment (GWRA-2026). The meeting focused on strengthening inter-departmental coordination, streamlining data s

Srinagar, Oct 17: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Saturday laid the foundation stone for the revival and restoration of the historic Vittal Bhairav Temple at Motiyar, Rainawari, in Srinagar district, marking a significant step towards preserving Kashmirs rich cultural and architectural heritage. The restoration project is being undertaken at an estimated cost of Rs 2.84 crore under the Governments heritage conservation initiative. The project aims to preserving the temples historical, religious

Introduction: The Journey of Kashmiri Hospitality Every society has physical and cultural landmarks that anchor its collective memory. In Srinagar and the wider Valley, the evolution of hospitality, accommodation, and social gatherings tells a fascinating story of cultural transition. Long before glass-fronted cafes and luxury resorts dotted the landscape, guest care in Kashmir followed a distinct, intimate rhythm shaped by geography, trade, and traveller ingenuity. Tracing this journey reveals

The political history of Jammu and Kashmir has been marked by competing narratives of nationalism, separatism, regional identity and constitutional integration. For decades, Kashmir's political discourse remained entangled in questions of special status, autonomy and its relationship with the Indian Union. The emergence of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism further complicated this political environment, bringing violence, instability and immense suffering to ordinary citizens. Against this historical

Winter in Kashmir is not merely a season; it is an experience shaped by snow-covered mountains, frozen mornings, quiet villages and the warmth of Kashmiri hospitality. From the slopes of Gulmarg to the meadows of Pahalgam, from the snowbound landscapes of Sonamarg to the lesser-known villages of Kupwara, Gurez and Shopian, winter offers the Valley an opportunity to present a distinct tourism identity to the world. But this opportunity will remain limited if winter tourism is reduced to snowfall,

Introduction: A Historical Review of Development, Governance and Regional Justice The history of Jammu and Kashmir is not merely a story of political transitions; it is also a history of administrative reforms, educational development, institutional growth, Dogra heritage and regional representation. During the reign of Maharaja Hari Singh, who ascended the throne in 1925, the princely state witnessed important initiatives in primary education, social reform, administrative institutions and cons

Srinagar, Oct 17: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has issued non-bailable warrants of arrest against respondent No. 4 in a contempt petition after he failed to appear before the court despite service of bailable warrants. Justice Sanjay Dhar passed the directions while hearing Contempt Petition (CPSW) No. 163/2019, filed by Zorawar Singh and others against Hilal Ahmed Parrey and others. The court observed that despite the service of bailable warrants upon respondent No. 4, nobody

Leh, Oct 17: Police in Ladakh have uncovered an alleged network involved in thefts targeting monasteries and religious heritage sites across the region, including a theft reported at Igoo village during the intervening night of September 3 and 4, 2026. According to police, five accused were identified in the Igoo case, of whom four have been apprehended and convicted, while the fifth, identified as Farid, remains absconding. The four accused are Mohd Manzoor Bakerwal, Meser Khan, Mohd Hanief and

Ganderbal, Oct 17: Long queues, repeated visits and mounting frustration have left vehicle owners and drivers in Ganderbal struggling to obtain fitness certificates, with many demanding more frequent fitness inspections and additional staff to clear the backlog. Several vehicle owners said they had to visit the fitness centre multiple times without getting their vehicles inspected, losing valuable working hours while waiting for their turn. Abdul Hamid, a vehicle owner from Ganderbal, said he ha

Budgam, Oct 17 : Improper garbage disposal near Budren Nallah in the Budran area of central Kashmirs Budgam district has raised concerns among local residents, who say the dumping of waste near two segregation sheds constructed by the Rural Development Department is creating problems for commuters and posing a threat to the water body. Locals alleged that people passing through the road, as well as some individuals arriving in vehicles, were dumping garbage near the sheds, turning the area into

Srinagar, Oct 17: The Uri-Baramulla highway remained closed for the fourth consecutive day on Saturday following massive landslides triggered by heavy rainfall at Rajarwani, even as electricity supply was restored in around 50 affected villages in Uri. Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Uri Gaurav Yadav told Rising Kashmir that electricity had been restored in the affected villages, while efforts were underway to reopen the highway for traffic. One-way traffic will be allowed temporarily during the

Srinagar, Oct 17: Srinagar Police organised a farewell ceremony at District Police Lines (DPL), Srinagar, to honour four outgoing officers for their dedicated service and contributions to policing in the district. The officers, as per the statement, honoured were Neha Jain, IPS, Shabir Khan, JKPS, Shah Umar, JKPS, and Hilal Khaliq Bhat, JKPS. According to the statement, the ceremony was presided over by Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Sujit Kumar Singh, IPS, in the presence of Deputy Inspe

Srinagar, Oct 17: The number of students benefiting from the Prime Ministers Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) in Jammu and Kashmir stood at 13,794 in 2026-27, according to figures shared by the Higher Education Department. Figures show that 3,589 beneficiaries belonged to Kashmir division, while Jammu division accounted for 10,205 students during the year. The figures also show that total beneficiaries stood at 14,526 in 2024-25 before declining to 14,411 in 2025-26 and 13,794 in 2026-27. In t

Srinagar, October 17: The Srinagar Traffic Police will launch a special enforcement drive over the next two to three days against wrongly parked vehicles and motorcycles causing congestion across the city, Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic City) Bisma Qazi said on Friday. She said indiscriminate parking reduces the effective width of roads, obstructs the smooth flow of traffic and causes inconvenience to commuters, particularly during peak hours. As part of the drive, vehicles found parke

Srinagar, Oct 17: Emphasising the need to channelise the energy of young people towards constructive pursuits, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar Dr GV Sundeep Chakravarthy on Saturday said playgrounds and libraries should become the preferred spaces for youth, rather than allowing them to fall prey to drug abuse and negative influences on social media. Speaking on the sidelines of the inauguration of a cricket tournament organised under the Civic Action Programme in Srinagar, Chakra

North Kolkata , October 17 : A stampede-like situation was reported at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Puja pandal in North Kolkata, West bengal on Saturday. The injured were shifted to the hospital. An eyewitness described a dire scene, stating that the crowd was so massive that many people were fainting and taken away. Many people lost consciousness; some were being taken on motorcycles. I witnessed this happening all aroundwhen people fainted, they were taken away on bikes. All of this took place, a

Srinagar, Oct 17: With the onset of pre-winters, Kashmir is reeling under power deficiency of nearly 300 MWsthus raising a question on the region's preparedness for upcoming peak winters. An official said In Kashmir, the power demand nowadays remains around 1350 Megawatts (MW). He said, During the peak hours, we generally nowadays have a power demand of 1300-1350 MWs in Kashmir division. However, the power availability is fluctuating between 1000-1150 MWs. The official further said that the powe

Diagnosed with tuberculosis at 16, Maroofa recalls the stigma, isolation and rejection she faced during her illness. She says awareness has improved over the years, bringing hope that other survivors will not endure the same suffering. Maroofa sits in the quiet of her room, holding a warm cup of Kashmiri pink tea, or nun chai. She takes a sip and begins recounting a chapter of her life that remains painful even after 15 years. Her gaze drifts into the distance as she recalls being diagnosed with

Srinagar, Oct 17 : Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Sujit Kumar Singh, on Saturday directed all police stations across Kashmir Zone to adopt SMART Policing and Digital Beat Policing as part of their daily functioning, with a focus on technology-driven services, accountability and public outreach. The directions were issued during a conference on SMART Policing and Digital Beat Policing attended by Range DIGs, district SSPs, Additional SSPs, Zonal SSPs, DySPs and Station House Officers

Srinagar, Oct 17: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar has expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Singh for approving Strategic Investment Plans (SIPs) worth 475.41 crore under PM-SETU to upgrade key ITI clusters across Jammu & Kashmir. In a post on X, Office of CM wrote, Under this initiative, the Jammu ITI Cluster comprising ITI Jammu as hub along with R.S. Pura, Nowshera, Samba, and Kathua as spokes will be upg

Srinagar, Oct 17 : A 19-year-old girl, who was injured in a motorcycle accident in Ladakh, succumbed to her injuries at Srinagar hospital on Saturday, 55 days after the accident, officials said. An official said that the girl was referred to Srinagar hospital from District Hospital Leh on August 23 in critical condition. He said the girl was travelling as a pillion rider on a motorcycle when the rider lost control, resulting in the accident. The deceased was identified as Reeta Kumari (19), daug

Srinagar, Oct 17: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday expressed support for agriculture graduates protesting over recruitment issues, saying their 27-day peaceful protest reflects the deep frustration among qualified youth in the region. In a post on X, Mehbooba Mufti wrote, 27 days of peaceful protest reflect the deep frustration of J&Ks qualified agriculture graduates. Dedicated professionals should not have to take to the streets simply to ask for fair recruitme

Srinagar, Oct 17: MLA Uri Dr Sajjad Shafi on Saturday visited the landslide-affected spot on the UriBaramulla national highway. He appreciated the efforts of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), the construction company and the Power Development Department (PDD) for their dedicated work. He praised the teams for working tirelessly under challenging conditions to restore road connectivity and electricity supply in the affected areas. Shafi said that the restoration work is continuing on a war foo

Srinagar, Oct 17: Jammu and Kashmir is likely to witness generally dry weather conditions over the coming days, with light rain and snowfall over higher reaches expected at scattered places on October 24 and 25, according to the Meteorological Centre Srinagar. As per the weather forecast, generally dry weather is expected on October 17, with a brief spell of light rain possible at isolated places. Dry conditions are likely to prevail from October 18 to late afternoon on October 23. On October 24

Srinagar, Oct 17: Srinagar Police organised a farewell ceremony at District Police Lines (DPL), Srinagar, to honour four outgoing officers; Neha Jain, IPS; Shabir Khan, JKPS; Shah Umar, JKPS; and Hilal Khaliq Bhat, JKPS in recognition of their dedicated service, professional excellence and valuable contributions to policing in the district. The ceremony was presided over by Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Sh. Sujit Kumar Singh, IPS, in the presence of Deputy Inspector General of Police, Ce

Srinagar, Oct 17 :Srinagar Police has secured the Conviction of three accused persons in a murder case registered in 2022 at Police Station Batamaloo, Srinagar. The Honble Court of the Additional Sessions Judge, Srinagar, has awarded life imprisonment to the convicts. The case pertains to FIR No. 109/2022 of Police Station Batamaloo, registered under Sections 498-A, 302, 120-B and 201 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Upon conclusion of the trial, the Honble Court convicted Mst. Hafeeza Begum, Par

Kupwara, Oct 17 : Security forces on Saturday foiled an infiltration attempt along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Jumgund area of Keran sector in north Kashmirs Kupwara district, sources said. Sources said that suspicious movement was detected along the LoC in the area in the morning, following which security forces launched an operation to thwart the infiltration attempt. The operation was underway when this report was filed, while further details were awaited.(KNO)

Srinagar, Oct 16: The Wushu competitions of the 70th National School Games 2026 commenced formally at College of Physical Education, Ganderbal, Srinagar, with Under-17 boys and girls representing various states and Union Territories participating in the national-level sporting event. The games are being organised by the Directorate of Youth Services and Sports, Jammu and Kashmir, under the aegis of the School Games Federation of India (SGFI). All necessary arrangements for the smooth and succe

Srinagar, Oct 16: Director Agriculture Kashmir, Sartaj Ahmad Shah, on Friday inaugurated a Sale Centre for Agricultural Products at the Directorate of Agriculture, Lal Mandi, Srinagar, in the presence of Joint Director Agriculture (Extension), Joint Director Agriculture (Inputs) and other concerned officers of the department. The establishment of the Sale Centre marks an important initiative towards promoting agricultural products and strengthening their marketing through an organised platform.

Anantnag, Oct 16: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Anantnag, Dr. Bilal Mohi-ud-Din Bhat on Friday chaired a review meeting at the DC Office Complex, Anantnag, to take stock of the progress of the Transit Accommodation Project being developed under the Prime Ministers Development Package (PMDP) for PM Package employees in the district. He directed the concerned departments to expedite the pace of work, resolve pending issues on priority and ensure timely completion of the project with all requisite infr

Jammu, Oct 16: The Krishi Branding Centre (KBC), SKUAST-J ABI Foundation, organised a three-days training programme titled From Farm to Market: Strengthening Animal Husbandry through Strategic Planning, Innovative Ideas, Value Addition & Branding from October 14-16, 2026, under Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), Project No. 04: Strengthening Agricultural Marketing in the Union Territory of J&K. The programme aimed to strengthen entrepreneurial capabilities in the animal husbandr

Srinagar, Oct 16: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) has constituted a grievance-cum-monitoring cell to address examination related grievances, complaints and queries from stakeholders during the forthcoming annual examinations. The cell has been established to ensure timely redressal of the grievances and mitigate problems of the stakeholders cropping up during the course of examinations. The cell will register grievances for timely disposal and making prompt corrective

Srinagar, Oct, 16: The Alumni Association of NIT Srinagar, in collaboration with the Office of the Dean of Alumni and International Affairs, organised an Alumni Back to Campus (ABC) Programme featuring distinguished alumnus Dr. Ing Ubaid Manzoor, Project Group Leader at Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials, Germany, at the Hi-Tech Hall, NIT Srinagar. The programme was hosted by Prof M. A. Shah, Dean of Alumni and International Affairs, along with Toyiba, Joint Secretary-II of the Alum

Srinagar, Oct 13: For a woman who has lost her husband, a monthly pension can be the difference between buying essential medicines and going without them, meeting household expenses and borrowing money, or living with dignity and depending on others for survival. Across Jammu and Kashmir, widows who have lost their primary source of household income often depend on government assistance to meet basic needs. Yet, despite an expansion in the overall social-security pension network and a revision o

Rash driving has become one of the most visible and dangerous forms of indiscipline on Kashmirs roads. What is often dismissed as youthful bravado or a momentary act of impatience can end in shattered families, permanent disabilities and preventable deaths. Every day, motorists overtake from the wrong side, jump signals, drive at excessive speed and treat public roads as private racing tracks. The consequences are borne not only by those behind the wheel but also by pedestrians, cyclists, passen

Food is more than just survival; it is the essence of life, a necessary source of nutrition, and, in many cultures, a symbol of the sacred. In Indian culture, food is treasured. We believe that what sustains life deserves our highest veneration. Annam Brahma is a Sanskrit term that identifies food with Brahman, the ultimate truth. This attitude is a strong reminder of the importance of every grain of rice, every crumb of bread and every drop of nutrition. The paradox of hunger and food waste in

Cloning has long lived in the uneasy space between scientific imagination and ethical anxiety. It has appeared in films as a path to immortality, in laboratories as a biological technique, and in public debate as a warning about what happens when human ambition moves faster than human wisdom. The birth of Dolly the sheep in 1996 transformed cloning from science fiction into an undeniable scientific reality. Since then, advances in genetics, stem-cell research and reproductive medicine have broug

Since time immemorial, Kashmir has been the abode of many deities, Sufi saints, seers, and savants of very high spiritual splendour, intensity, and grace who enriched the culture and thought process of the people. The land has been blessed by deities Lord Shiva, Parvati, Brahma, Vishnu, Lord Ram, Sita, and Lord Krishna. Sufi saints and Rishis Lal Ded, Nund Rishi, Shah Hamdani, and Sayed Sharaf-ud-Din Rehman (Bulbul Shah) advocated the oneness of God and brotherhood through divine preachings. Kas

Handwara, Oct 16: Kupwara district has vast potential for religious tourism, with several ancient temples, shrines and historic gurdwaras reflecting its rich cultural and religious heritage, Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Abhishek Sharma said during a visit to Bhadrakali Sthan in Handwara. Sharma said many historic religious sites across the district remain relatively unknown to the public despite their historical significance and potential to attract pilgrims and tourists. He stressed the need to