BengaluruMangaluru/Karwar day train cancellation during peak Dasara travel season upsets many
South Western Railway will cancel the services for 26 round trips in October, excluding a week during the peak Dasara season
Remembering Singeetham Srinivasa Rao
Having found an ally in Kamal Haasan, Singeetham discovered a sense of freedom, especially in the Tamil industry.
Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan would be hearing the case on October 5, 2026
Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said drinking water, fodder and employment could emerge as major concerns in the coming months, and demanded farm loans be waived
'Debris field' found from medical flight missing over Atlantic en route to Boston
Air traffic audio indicates that the medical transport may have been coming in blind with electrical problems when a storm loomed ahead shortly before it vanished
EOW Kashmir Chargesheets Man in Fraud , Forgery Cases
Srinagar, Oct 4: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir of the Crime Branch J&K on Sunday has filed two separate chargesheets against a Kupwara-based man in connection with cases involving alleged cheating, impersonation, forgery and fraudulent collection of money from job aspirants. According to a statement issued by the EOW Kashmir, the chargesheets were filed before the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Srinagar, against Abdul Majeed Mir , son of Abdul Rahim Mir, a resident of Kalaroos Lishtiyal in Kupwara district. The first chargesheet relates to FIR No. 13/2026 , registered under Sections 318(4), 336(3), 340(2) and 238 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). During the investigation, the EOW alleged that Mir cheated a job aspirant of Rs 2.10 lakh after promising to arrange employment. The accused allegedly supported the claim by producing a fake and forged appointment order purportedly issued by the Airport Authority of India . The second case pertains to FIR No. 10/2025 , registered under Sections 419, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 201 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). As per the investigation, the accused allegedly impersonated himself as a Duty Officer attached to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir and used the purported position to offer government jobs and land allotments at SDA Colony, Bemina. The EOW alleged that Mir collected approximately Rs 60 lakh from individuals on the promise of providing government employment and land. He allegedly issued fake appointment orders and land-allotment letters to those who paid money. The Crime Branch said the two chargesheets have now been presented before the court for judicial determination. The EOW further stated that Abdul Majeed Mir is allegedly involved in 15 separate criminal cases registered across the Kashmir Valley , underscoring the seriousness of the allegations against him. The Economic Offences Wing has also urged members of the public to exercise caution while dealing with individuals offering government jobs, official appointments or land allotments in exchange for money. The agency advised anyone who has fallen victim to such economic fraud to report the matter to the SSP EOW Srinagar, Crime Branch J&K , or submit a complaint through the official email address sspeow-kmr@jkpolice.gov.in .
Chennai resident Seshadri Sukumar kickstarted a career in sports photography, mid-life, turning his back on the familiar and the comfortable, including a long career in the banking sector, and that has made all the difference. He is right now covering the 20th Asian Games in Japan
Police say the complaint against ACP Vivek Bhagat is being verified and CCTV footage examined; journalists plan to gather outside the Parliament Street police station at 11 a.m.
ADDC Anantnag reviews road safety measures
Anantnag, Oct 3: Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) Anantnag, Vikas Ahlawat, on Saturday chaired a meeting of District Road Safety Committee to review the status of road safety measures being implemented across the district and assess the progress made by various concerned agencies towards reducing road accidents. The meeting also reviewed the status of compensation and relief being provided to road accident victims and their families, besides deliberating upon preventive and engineering measures required to enhance road safety. The meeting was attended by the SE R&B (Member Secretary), Chief Medical Officer (CMO), ARTO, representatives of NHAI, NHIDCL, Beacon, DySP Traffic, Chief Executive Officer, Municipal Council Anantnag and other officers and representatives of departments and agencies associated with road safety planning and implementation. At the outset, SE R&B, Syed Ishfaq Ahmad gave a detailed presentation on the decisions taken during the previous meeting of the District Road Safety Committee and the progress achieved on various directions. The Committee was informed about the preventive measures undertaken by the concerned agencies, including identification of accident-prone black spots, implementation of remedial measures, regular maintenance and strengthening of vulnerable road stretches, improvement and standardisation of road signage and installation of reflectors. The meeting was also apprised of the technical inspection of vehicles being undertaken to ensure roadworthiness and compliance with prescribed safety standards. The Committee held detailed discussions on the black spots identified through the Integrated Road Accident Database (iRAD) platform. The concerned agencies briefed the chair about the remedial measures already undertaken as well as those proposed at the identified black spots. The ADDC directed the constituted teams to conduct physical inspections of all identified hotspots, black spots and vulnerable locations and undertake a detailed assessment of the causes contributing to accidents at these places. He called for location-specific remedial measures, particularly engineering interventions, to minimise the risk of accidents and improve the safety of road users. The meeting was further informed that 24 PM RAHAT-designated hospitals are presently available in the district to provide timely medical care and emergency support to road accident victims. The Committee also reviewed the analysis of accident data available through the iRAD platform, identification of remaining black spots and the measures required for their rectification. Detailed deliberations were also held on ensuring effective implementation of the PM Sadak Suraksha (Setu/Sehat) financial assistance scheme in the district. Emphasising the need for timely assistance to accident victims and affected families, the ADDC directed the concerned departments to expedite the identification of eligible beneficiaries and ensure prompt processing and disbursement of claims under applicable relief and compensation schemes. He stressed the need to streamline documentation and verification procedures while maintaining transparency and efficiency. The ADDC further directed the concerned agencies to undertake a comprehensive analytical review of road accident data to identify recurring causes, vulnerable locations and areas requiring targeted engineering and enforcement interventions. He called for in-depth examination of each identified black spot and formulation of permanent engineering solutions aimed at preventing serious and fatal accidents. The Executive Officers of the Municipal Councils were directed to take effective measures for the removal of encroachments along roads and footpaths, ensuring safe and unobstructed movement of pedestrians and commuters. They were also asked to maintain cleanliness and usability of footpaths and take necessary measures to regulate roadside parking, particularly at busy and accident-prone locations. The ADDC stressed that road safety requires coordinated efforts among all concerned departments and agencies and called for regular monitoring of the measures being implemented, with a focus on timely corrective action and sustained improvement in road safety standards across the district.
GMC Srinagar pays tribute to Prof. Mohammad Yousuf Bhat
Srinagar, Oct 3: The Postgraduate Department of Medicine, Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar organized a condolence meeting in Department Seminar Room to pay rich tributes to Prof. (Dr.) Mohammad Yousuf Bhat former Professor and Head Department of Medicine GMC Srinagar. His demise has left a profound sense of loss among colleagues, students and the medical fraternity. Prof Bhat had a long association with GMC Srinagar, he joined GMC Srinagar in 1960 as undergraduate medical student and took retirement as Prof and Head of internal medicine. The meeting was attended by Prof. (Dr.) Iffat Hassan, Principal/ Dean GMC Srinagar, Prof. (Dr.) Mohammad Ismail, Head of the Department of Medicine, Heads of Departments, senior faculty members, Senior Residents, postgraduate students and other staff of the Department of Medicine. Prof. (Dr.) Iffat Hassan expressed deep sorrow over the passing of one of the institution's most respected academicians and clinicians. She said that Prof Bhats distinguished contributions to Medicine, unwavering commitment to teaching and patient care will remain an enduring part of the intuitional legacy at Government Medical College Srinagar. Speaking on the occasion, Head of the Department of Medicine, described Prof. Bhat as an astute physician, accomplished academician, dedicated teacher, and compassionate human being. He said that Prof. Bhat possessed a remarkable ability to simplify complex clinical concepts and inspire students to develop sound clinical reasoning and ethical medical practice. His disciplined and rational approach to patient care set a benchmark for generations of medical professionals. He further highlighted Prof. Bhat's invaluable contributions to the Department of Medicine and to medical education, particularly in the fields of Emergency Medicine and Hypertension, which will continue to inspire future generations of doctors. Heads of Departments and faculty members, including Prof. (Dr.) Iqbal Saleem, Prof. (Dr.) Rakesh Kumar Koul, Prof. (Dr.) Ishrat Hussain Dar, Prof. (Dr.) Omar Farooq, Prof. (Dr.) Muzaffar Maqbool Rather, Prof. (Dr.) Arshad Hussain, Prof. (Dr.) Asifa Nazir, Prof. (Dr.) Lateef Ahmad Wani, Prof. (Dr.) Mehnaaz Sultan Khuroo, Prof. (Dr.) Salma Bhat, Prof. (Dr.) Arsalan F. Rashid, Prof. (Dr.) Bashir Ahmad Shah, Dr. Irfan Ali, Dr. Sobia Nisar, Dr. Javaid Ahmad Chachoo, Dr. Nazir Ahmad Pala, Dr. Aadil Hassan Sidiquee, and other faculty members fondly recalled Prof. Bhat's exceptional clinical expertise, humility, integrity and unwavering dedication to his students and patients. They observed that his legacy would continue to live on through the countless doctors he mentored and the values he instilled during his distinguished career. The Department of Medicine expressed its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and prayed to Almighty Allah to grant the departed soul the highest place in Jannat-ul-Firdous. The Department also prayed for strength, patience and fortitude for the family to bear this irreparable loss.
KU DSW hosts series of programmes to commemorate Gandhi Jayanti
Srinagar, Oct 3: The Department of Students Welfare (DSW), University of Kashmir, organised a series of programmes to commemorate Gandhi Jayanti 2026, celebrating the life, ideals and legacy of Mahatma Gandhi through art, creativity, dialogue and social responsibility. The programme was presided over by Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir, Prof. Nilofer Khan, as the Chief Guest, while Registrar Prof. Naseer Iqbal and Controller of Examinations Prof. Majid Zaman Baba were the Guests of Honour. Addressing the gathering, Prof. Nilofer highlighted the continued relevance of Mahatma Gandhis philosophy in contemporary society. She said that Gandhis ideals of truth, non-violence, peace and service remain important for guiding young people towards responsible citizenship. The Vice Chancellor also connected Gandhian philosophy with the growing concern of drug addiction among young people, observing that when young lives are destroyed by addiction, it amounts to a form of violence against their own lives. She stressed the need for collective efforts to protect and guide the younger generation towards healthy, creative and productive pursuits. The VC appreciated the Department of Students Welfare for using creative and participatory activities to engage students with Gandhian thought. Registrar Prof. Naseer Iqbal said that Gandhis message of truth, simplicity, compassion and peaceful social change continues to offer valuable lessons for society. He emphasised that students, as future citizens and leaders, have an important role in translating these values into action in their daily lives. Controller of Examinations Prof. Majid Zaman Baba appreciated the participation of students and said that such programmes provide young people an opportunity to express their understanding of Gandhian philosophy through art, speech and creative expression. The programme featured a range of activities, including a Painting Competition on the theme Gandhian Values in Contemporary Society, a Poster Making Competition on Truth, Non-Violence and Peace, and a Caricature-making activity portraying Mahatma Gandhi. A Speech Competition was also organised on the topic Gandhian Philosophy and Its Relevance in the Contemporary World, providing students a platform to reflect on the continuing relevance of Gandhis ideas. Students from 22 institutions of vally participated in the competition. A special exhibition of artworks based on Gandhian philosophy was also organised, showcasing the creative expressions of students and young artists. Earlier, the Dean Students Welfare welcomed the dignitaries, faculty members, officers and students and highlighted the objective of organising the celebrations through creative and socially relevant activities. The programme was coordinated and curated by Dr. Shahid Ali Khan, Cultural Officer, University of Kashmir, who also presented the vote of thanks. A large number of students, faculty members and officers of the University attended the programme. The event was organised by the Department of Students Welfare in association with the Institute of Music and Fine Arts, University of Kashmir.
AISA members alleged that a male police officer manhandled Neha Bora during the police action and that another Delhi Police officer abused her
KMCH Sempora observes World Rabies Day
Srinagar, Oct 3: Kashmir Medical College and Hospital (KMCH), Sempora, on Saturday observed World Rabies Day with an awareness and academic programme organised by its Department of Community Medicine, highlighting the importance of timely prevention, vaccination and treatment of rabies. The programme was held under the supervision and guidance of Managing Director KMCH, Tausif Ahmad, and Executive Director, Insha Qazi. Principal, KMC, Prof. Nazir Ahmad Khan, Medical Superintendent Dr Syed Mubashir, heads of various departments, faculty members, doctors and other healthcare professionals attended the event. Principal Prof. Nazir Ahmad Khan emphasised that rabies is a preventable but fatal disease, stressing the need for greater public awareness, responsible animal management and prompt medical care following animal bites. Prof. Dr Shahnaz Nabi, Head of the Department of Community Medicine, highlighted the importance of the One Health approach, involving the healthcare, veterinary and community sectors, to achieve rabies elimination. Dr Sheikh Mohd Saleem, Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, said rabies leaves no second chance once symptoms appear, adding that every rabies-related death is preventable through timely intervention. He stressed that immediate wound washing, timely vaccination and appropriate post-exposure prophylaxis can save lives. The programme featured scientific presentations by Dr Muzamil Nazir, Associate Professor, and Dr Muzaffar Hussain, Assistant Professor, who discussed key aspects of rabies prevention and management. An interactive rabies quiz, conducted by Dr Saima Nazir, Assistant Professor, engaged participants in practical scenarios related to rabies prevention and treatment. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Dr Syed Aadil, Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, who acknowledged the contributions of the college administration, faculty members and participants in making the event meaningful. The programme concluded with a public health message: Dont wait after a bite. Wash the wound, seek medical care and complete vaccination. Rabies is preventable, and every life matters.
Justice Sanjeev Kumar visits Child Care Institutions Palaash and Pareesha at Nishat, Srinagar
Srinagar, Oct 3: Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Judge, High Court of J&K and Ladakh and Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority on Saturday visited Palaash (Children Home for Boys) and Pareesha (Children Home for Girls) at Nishat, here to take stock of the facilities being provided to the children in these Homes. On his arrival at Pareesha, Justice Sanjeev Kumar was accorded warm welcome by the District Child Protection officer Srinagar, CWC Srinagar Chairperson, Superintendent, Pareesha and staff of the homes. Justice Sanjeev Kumar interacted with children staying there and enquired about their studies and other activities of interest. The DCPO, Superintendent Pareesha informed Justice Sanjeev Kumar about the various upgraded facilities provided at Pareesha like improved Computer room, open gym, and facility of evening Tutor. The Home for Boys Palash situated adjoining to Pareesha was also inspected where boys of different age groups were present. Similar facilities were available in the said Home. During an interaction with the children both at Palaash and Pareesha, Justice Sanjeev Kumar was informed that they are being provided with nutritious and satisfactory meals, educational and health facilities. They further informed that they are being provided with books as well as sports equipment. Justice Sanjeev Kumar gave some onspot directions to the DCPO, Superintendent of these Home to provide all required facilities to the children in Home and to involve IMHANS for mental health psycho social camps and for referrals in case of any severity. Thereafter, Justice Sanjeev Kumar visited Observation Home Harwan, Srinagar and inspected the facilities being provided to the inmates. While interacting with inmates of the Home, Justice Sanjeev Kumar issued necessary directions to the management for ensuring that the facilities are maintained and the needs of the inmates are duly attended to. Justice Sanjeev Kumar appreciated the efforts of the Social Welfare Department in ensuring satisfactory services and care for children, while maintaining cleanliness and the required standards of living in the child-care institutions. He directed the authorities to organize district and UT-level programmes on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, with the active involvement of District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs), District Social Welfare Offices, Department of Education and relevant stakeholders. Justice Sanjeev Kumar further emphasized leveraging the technical expertise and long-standing collaboration of UNICEF with the J&K Legal Services Authority (JKLSA) to strengthen awareness, prevention, child-friendly responses, and effective implementation of the POCSO framework across the Union Territory. This visit underscored the commitment of the J&K Legal Services Authority to the welfare of children in institutional care, ensuring they receive the necessary support and opportunities for their development.
Global experts to discuss AI, robotics in agri at SKUAST-K
Srinagar, Oct 3: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) will host the 60th Annual Diamond Jubilee Convention of the Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers (ISAE), alongside an international symposium on Smart Farming and Gen-Z Agriculture, from October 5 to 7, 2026, at its Shalimar campus. Jointly organised by SKUAST-K and ISAE, New Delhi, the three-day international event will focus on the convention theme, Women-Led Engineering Innovations in Smart Farming, and the symposium theme, AI & Robotics for Gen-Z Farming. It will bring together scientists, innovators, policymakers and technocrats from India and abroad to deliberate on emerging technologies and innovations in agricultural engineering. The selection of SKUAST-K as the venue highlights the universitys growing focus on digital and precision agriculture. Ranked the third-best State Agricultural University in India, SKUAST-K has introduced several technology-driven initiatives, including Indias first dedicated Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Agriculture, the countrys first BTech programme in AI in Agriculture in collaboration with IIT Mandi, a state-of-the-art FabLab, a 20,000-square-foot Design and Manufacturing Centre, and a 95-hectare IoT-based automated fertigation network. Speaking ahead of the convention, Vice Chancellor SKUAST-K, Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, underscored the role of emerging technologies in transforming agriculture. The integration of frontier technologies, from artificial intelligence and autonomous robotics to high-throughput phenotyping, is no longer a theoretical exercise; it is an urgent imperative for climate-resilient and sustainable food production, Prof. Ganai said. Hosting the Diamond Jubilee Convention of ISAE at SKUAST-K is a testament to our universitys transformation into an epicentre of digital and precision farming. Our objective is to bridge global technological breakthroughs with grassroots farming realities, demonstrating how empowered youth and women can lead this change to build a sustainable, technology-driven bio-economy for Jammu and Kashmir and the country, he added. Highlighting the technical scope and collaborative objectives of the event, Prof. Rohitashw Kumar, Associate Dean, College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology (CoAET), SKUAST-K, and Event Convener, said the convention would provide a platform for meaningful exchange between researchers, industry representatives and students. By bringing together over six decades of ISAEs legacy with cutting-edge domains like drone swarms, digital twins, and sensor-based quality evaluation, we are fostering direct dialogue between global researchers, industry leaders, and our students, he said. Dr Mudasir Ali, Head, Division of Renewable Energy Engineering, SKUAST-K, and Organising Secretary, said the event would help develop practical approaches to emerging challenges in agriculture. We are fully prepared to deliver an intellectually rigorous convention that outlines actionable roadmaps for Gen-Z agriculture, he said. The event is being organised under the guidance of a national and international advisory panel comprising experts from India, the United States, Canada and Australia. The programme will include keynote lectures, technical sessions, industry exhibitions, academic presentations and visits showcasing the agro-ecological diversity of the Kashmir Valley.
A hobby evolves to meetGen Zerson their terms
Advances in technology, easier licensing procedures and affordability are among the factors that make amateur radio attractive to youngsters, even those still in school. Here are perspectives of amateur radio enthusiasts and a seller of hobby-related equipment from Chennai
Satyagraha website launched by Rahul Gandhi: What is it?
Satyagraha website launch comes amid protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
Vithya Ramrajs record run: How far has India come in the 400m hurdles?
She broke P.T. Ushas 42-year-old record to win bronze, while also anchoring India to gold in the womens 4400m relay and silver in the mixed 4400m relay. Vithyas coach, Nehpal Singh Rathore, explains why she needed to train for both the 400m hurdles and the flat.
Nolo becomes Category 3 Hurricane in remote Pacific Ocean
The storms maximum sustained winds rapidly intensified to 115 mph (185 kph), the Miami-based National Hurricane Center reported, meaning it was a Category 3 hurricane
Arunachal: Govt explores coffee expansion to create opportunities for young entrepreneurs
Guwahati: Arunachal Pradesh is looking to expand coffee cultivation and develop a stronger value chain aimed at improving productivity, bean quality and returns for growers, Chief Minister Pema Khandu said. Khandu was speaking at the inaugural Hills to Cup Coffee Workshop, organised by the Coffee Board of India in collaboration with the state Agriculture Department. [] The post Arunachal: Govt explores coffee expansion to create opportunities for young entrepreneurs appeared first on NorthEast Now .
Here is a select list of stories to start the day
Lula ahead in polls for Brazils first-round vote; runoff likely
If no candidate wins more than 50% of valid votes which exclude blank and null ballots on October 4, the two frontrunners advance to a second-round runoff on October 25
Annual Report 2025-26 Part 2 : J&K Bank sets Rs 5 lakh crore business target by FY 2029-30
Srinagar, Oct 03: Jammu & Kashmir Bank has set an ambitious long-term roadmap to build a stronger, more resilient and future-ready institution, targeting a Rs 5 lakh crore business milestone and net profit of more than Rs 5,000 crore by financial year 2029-30. The targets form the centrepiece of the banks business strategy outlined in its Integrated Annual Report 2025-26, which was released during the Annual General Meeting of Jammu and Kashmir Bank Limited on September 22. The bank has also set an objective of taking business per employee to Rs 40 crore by FY 2029-30, up from Rs 23.64 crore in FY 2025-26, signalling a sharp focus on productivity, operational efficiency and technology-driven banking. Articulating its long-term vision, the bank said it was aiming to create an institution capable of navigating changing economic conditions while sustaining growth and delivering enduring value to its stakeholders. Our vision for FY 2029-30 is to build a stronger, more resilient and future-ready institution, the bank said in its annual report, stressing that the roadmap would be driven by sustainable growth, disciplined execution, customer-centric innovation and technology-led transformation. The strategy comes as the bank seeks to strengthen its core franchise while expanding into new growth opportunities and reinforcing operational resilience. According to the report, the business strategy is anchored around four broad pillarssustainable growth, prudent risk management, superior customer experience and technology-led transformation. The bank plans to pursue a balanced growth model by strengthening its liability franchise, accelerating the expansion of quality credit and improving operational efficiency. At the same time, the lender has reiterated its developmental role in the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, positioning financial inclusion and economic development alongside commercial growth. The Rs 5 lakh crore business target represents a significant scale-up ambition for the bank, with the strategy seeking to combine growth in deposits and advances with tighter risk controls and improved productivity. The annual report also places considerable emphasis on technology as a key enabler of the banks future growth. Customer-centric innovation and digital transformation are expected to support improved service delivery, operational efficiency and the banks ability to compete in an increasingly technology-driven financial sector. The bank said its approach would remain focused on disciplined execution rather than growth at any cost, with prudent risk management forming a central component of the strategy. The Rs 5,000 crore-plus net profit target by FY 2029-30 also reflects the banks ambition to translate expansion in its business franchise into stronger earnings and greater value for shareholders. The productivity target of Rs 40 crore business per employee, compared with Rs 23.64 crore in FY 2025-26, further underlines the emphasis on efficiency. The objective will require the bank to leverage technology, streamline processes and improve employee productivity as its business expands. The annual report said the overall strategy was designed not only to strengthen the banks financial position but also to create long-term value for stakeholders while supporting inclusive economic development in the markets it serves. With Jammu & Kashmir Bank occupying a distinctive position in the regional economy, the FY 2029-30 roadmap places the institution at a critical juncturebalancing its traditional franchise and developmental responsibilities with the need to modernise, scale up and build greater resilience. The bank said it remained committed to strengthening its core business, pursuing quality growth and building capabilities that would allow it to remain future-ready in a rapidly changing financial landscape.
Excerpt from Ramachandra Guhas Arguments with Gandhi
Gandhi and Ambedkars legacies need not be seen as competing, argues the historian
Wildlife Week 2026 : Dont post exact locations of migratory birds on social media
Srinagar, Oct 03: Ahead of the seasonal arrival of migratory birds in Valleys wetlands, the Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Protection Department has advised birdwatchers, wildlife photographers and visitors against sharing exact locations, GPS coordinates or other identifiable details of bird congregations on social media. The advisory was issued by the Office of the Range Officer, Lakes Range Hokersar, Wetlands Division, Srinagar, in view of the expected arrival of large numbers of migratory birds in the regions wetlands. The department said responsible wildlife photography and social-media posts can play an important role in creating awareness about Kashmirs rich avian diversity and highlighting the ecological significance of its wetlands. However, it cautioned that disclosure of precise locations of bird congregations and sensitive habitats could expose them to poachers, hunters and others engaged in illegal wildlife activities. Kashmirs network of wetlands provides vital feeding and resting grounds for migratory birds during their seasonal movements. Large congregations of birds are expected in the wetlands during the coming season. The department urged wildlife enthusiasts and visitors to exercise caution while documenting sightings and sharing photographs online. It particularly advised against posting photographs or accompanying information that could reveal the precise location of large bird gatherings or other sensitive habitats. The advisory comes during Wildlife Week, observed from October 2 to 8, which seeks to promote awareness about wildlife conservation and the protection of natural habitats, including Kashmirs wetlands and their seasonal migratory bird populations.
Yemens Houthis say they attacked Aramco facility in Riyadh with missiles, drones
The reported attack comes amid escalating hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, who have stepped up attacks on Saudi cities and energy infrastructure
Ireland press conference ahead of Israel game in Nations League cut short
Ireland defeated Israel 3-0 last Sunday (September 27, 2026) but only after Irish players took a vote on whether or not to go ahead with the game, due to bitter opposition in Ireland over Israel's actions in Gaza
Lokesh outlines States strategy to become leading destination
Speed, service and stability are the core principles, says the HRD Minister, adding that focus is on converting investment commitments into projects, jobs and long-term economic growth
Centre plans new hydropower projects in J&K
Srinagar, Oct 03: The Government of India (GoI) is planning to take up new hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir, with discussions currently underway on the proposed Sawalkote project, Secretary, Union Ministry of Power, Pankaj Agarwal, said on Saturday. Talking to reporters here, Agarwal said the work was already progressing on major hydropower projects in J&K, including Rattle, Pakal Dul, Kiru and Kwar, while the Centre was also looking at taking up additional projects in the Union Territory. At present, discussions are underway regarding Sawalkote. Surely, we intend to take up work on this project soon as well, he said. Replying to a query on new projects to end power paucity, Agarwal said the Centre was developing several projects on the Chenab in J&K through various arrangements, including the Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Limited, and was receiving full cooperation from the UT administration. He said the hydropower projects being developed in J&K would not only cater to local electricity demand but also contribute towards meeting the power requirements of other parts of the country. The Power Secretary was in Srinagar to review developments in the power sector in J&K, including projects being implemented under the Centre's Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) and the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. On the rooftop solar scheme, Agarwal said J&K had achieved its first milestone of 100 MW under PM Surya Ghar and hoped that the programme would gain momentum in the Union Territory. Initially, it takes some time to build momentum. Once the momentum builds up, it will take off, he said, adding that around 50 lakh people across the country had so far joined the scheme. He said the subsidy disbursement under the scheme was portal-driven and had been streamlined, with the Central subsidy flowing directly to beneficiaries. He added that the possibility of streamlining the UT's top-up subsidy would also be discussed with the Chief Secretary.
Valley sees 28% drop in road accidents, 35% decline in fatalities
Srinagar, Oct 03: Kashmir Valley has recorded a sharp decline in both road accidents and fatalities in 2026, with mishaps falling by 27.7 per cent and deaths by 35.26 per cent till September 30 compared to the same period last year. According to official details available with Rising Kashmir, the Valley recorded 1,495 accidents till September 30, 2026, compared to 2,067 in the corresponding period of 2025. In 2025, of the total 2,067 accidents, 312 people lost their lives, while 482 people sustained injuries during the same period. In 2026, the figures show a decline of 35.26 per cent in fatalities, with 202 people losing their lives, while injuries also witnessed a decline of 32 per cent, with a total of 328 injuries reported till September 30. According to these figures, a total of 514 people have lost their lives in 3,562 accidents from January 2025 till September 2026. According to the data, Traffic Police Kashmir has stated that overspeeding is one of the major causes of fatal accidents. Other reasons include rash and negligent driving (sudden manoeuvres and violation of traffic rules), dangerous overtaking (especially on curves, narrow roads and hill stretches), poor road engineering (black spots, sharp curves, inadequate signage and road protection) and drunk/impaired driving (reduced judgement, reaction time and vehicle control). Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Traffic, Kashmir, Haseeb-ur-Rehman, told Rising Kashmir that the number of road accidents, especially along the highways, has declined as a number of measures have been taken to ensure there is no norm violation. I have personally taken up the matter of erecting sign boards of speed limits with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), following which the NHAI erected speed-limit boards from Qazigund to all the highways across Kashmir, he said. He appealed to people to follow the speed limit signboards. The people should remain cautious, and anyone found violating the sign board directions will face hefty fines, he said.
Kashmir gets first machine-sown direct-seeded rice crop
First Time in Kashmir: SKUAST-K Demonstrates Mechanised Direct-Seeded Rice at Khudwani Khudwani (Kulgam), Oct 03: For the first time in the Valley, rice has been sown by machine straight into the main field, skipping the nursery, the puddling and the transplanting that have defined paddy cultivation in Kashmir for generations. At the Mountain Research Centre for Field Crops (MRCFC), SKUAST-Kashmir, in Khudwani, scientists this season demonstrated mechanised Direct-Seeded Rice (DSR) over one hectare, with half the plot under DSR and the other half under conventional puddled transplanted rice, grown side by side under identical conditions for direct comparison. Dr Tasneem Mubarak, the project's Principal Investigator, said the demonstration marked a historic first for the Valley, where direct-seeded rice, known locally as Votur, was sown through a machine for the first time. The technique is not entirely new to Kashmir, Dr Mubarak told Rising Kashmir. Before the Green Revolution, farmers in the Valley practised a form of direct sowing they called 'Vothur', broadcasting pre-germinated seed by hand across the field. But the method came with serious drawbacks. The biggest problem farmers faced was weeds, he said, explaining that without proper tilling and a lack of novel herbicides, weeds overran the fields. Since sowing was done by hand rather than with any precision method, the crop grew patchy in some places and too dense in others, with birds also damaging the broadcast seed. There was no suitable herbicide at the time that could control every category of weed, which meant farmers had to weed the fields repeatedly through the season by hand, in addition to thinning the crop where it grew too dense, Dr Mubarak said, describing it as a laborious form of farming that consumed large amounts of human labour. By the 1960s, as the Green Revolution reached Kashmir, farmers shifted almost entirely to transplanted rice, which allowed better control over plant population and made it easier to manage weeds through proper tillage, standing water and herbicide application. Direct seeding fell out of use, Dr Mubarak said, ot because it was a flawed idea, but because the tools needed to make it work well simply did not exist at the time. He said farmers lacked a suitable variety with the right potential, and precision sowing methods were not available either, adding that weed management and, more recently, shrinking water resources, remained the other major gaps. The machine used at Khudwani sows seed at an exact, adjustable spacing, anywhere from 10 centimetres to 25 centimetres apart depending on the variety and the field, while placing fertiliser directly beneath the seed in the same pass. The spacing can be modified in the machine according to the situation, the variety and the location, which is why the method is called precision sowing, Dr Mubarak said. Because the method eliminates nursery-raising, puddling and transplanting entirelyoperations that each consume significant water, time and manual labourthe savings compound quickly. Thirty-five to forty per cent of water is saved through the technique in general, Dr Mubarak said, adding that this season, thanks to evenly distributed rainfall, the demonstration plot saved as much as 50 per cent of the water a conventional transplanted crop would have needed. He said eliminating the nursery raising, puddling and transplanting alone cuts labour requirements by roughly 40 to 45 per cent, and once the crop is harvested and threshed mechanically as well, total labour savings cross 50 per cent compared to the traditional method. After sowing, the field gets one irrigation immediately, then none for the next 10 to 15 days while the seedlings emerge, followed by intermittent irrigation monitored through water-level tubes installed below the surface. Novel herbicides now available can control a much wider range of weed species than what farmers had access to decades ago, cutting down the weeding labour that once made direct seeding so demanding, Dr Mubarak said. The technology also has an environmental payoff. Standing water in conventional transplanted rice drives significant methane emissions, averaging around 200 kg per hectare, Dr Mubarak said. Under DSR, with less standing water through the season, that figure drops to around 60 kg per hectare, a reduction of 60 to 80 per cent. The research behind the technology has been published in journals including Scientific Reports (Nature group), BMC Plant Biology, Advances in Weed Science, and Sustainability. Dr Mubarak, along with Prof Ashaq Hussain and Dr Intikhab Aalam, who worked on the project, were conferred the Achiever of the Year award by SKUAST-Kashmir in January 2026 in recognition of the work. Dr Mubarak said the Khudwani demonstration, carried out under an ICAR-IIRR project, is meant to be the first step toward testing how the technology fits into Kashmir's existing cropping systems. Since DSR sowing has to be done in May, the team is now studying which rice varieties and cropping sequences will work best around that timeline.
Urban Expansion Cost : Srinagars green cover shrinks, temperature rises 4C
Srinagar, Oct 03: Srinagars rapid urban expansion over the past two decades has been accompanied by rising surface temperatures, declining vegetation cover and deteriorating air quality, highlighting the growing environmental cost of the citys transformation, a new study published in GeoJournal has found. The study, Quantifying the environmental impacts of urban expansion in Srinagar City, Jammu & Kashmir, India through remote sensing and geostatistical analysis, examines environmental changes in Srinagar between 2001 and 2021 using satellite-based observations and geostatistical techniques. Researchers Amjed Ali, Kheraj and Arshad Ahmed of the Department of Geography,Central University Haryana found that land surface temperature (LST) increased by up to 4C during the period, while vegetation cover showed a significant decline. PM2.5 concentrations also increased by up to 3.9 micrograms per cubic metre, with the changes particularly pronounced in central and south-western parts of the city, reads the study, accessed by Rising Kashmir. The researchers used satellite-derived LST, vegetation cover derived from the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and PM2.5 estimates from AOD-GEOS-Chem datasets. They combined these indicators through a grid-based analytical framework and applied Mann-Kendall trend analysis and multiple linear regression to examine their spatial and temporal relationships. The study found a significant relationship between vegetation loss, PM2.5 and surface warming. Its regression analysis indicated that vegetation loss and PM2.5 significantly contributed to surface temperature variation, with the model recording an R value of 0.46. However, the researchers also caution that PM2.5 variability cannot be explained solely by surface temperature and vegetation cover, pointing to the influence of additional factors on Srinagars air-quality conditions. The Environmental Quality Index developed as part of the study paints a broader picture of the citys environmental health. More than half of Srinagar was found to fall within moderate-to-poor environmental quality categories. The researchers attribute the changing environmental conditions to the rapid expansion of built-up areas and the replacement of natural land surfaces with impervious urban materials. Such changes alter surface energy processes and can intensify urban heating, while the loss of vegetation reduces the natural cooling and pollution-filtering functions of green spaces, the study reads. Vegetation plays a key role in regulating urban temperatures through evapotranspiration and can also help improve air quality by filtering pollutants. Its decline therefore has implications beyond the loss of green cover alone, the study notes. The spatial analysis showed that central and south-western areas of Srinagar experienced particularly notable changes, with increases in surface temperature and PM2.5 occurring alongside declining vegetation cover. The researchers argue that these trends demonstrate the need to view Srinagars urban growth and environmental management as interconnected challenges. They call for integrated urban planning, greater emphasis on green infrastructure and stronger pollution-control strategies. The study also places Srinagars experience within the wider environmental challenges faced by rapidly urbanising cities, where the pace of development can exceed the capacity of infrastructure and environmental management systems. Rather than examining temperature, vegetation and air pollution separately, the research brings the three indicators together to quantify the cumulative environmental changes associated with Srinagars urban expansion. Managing the citys future growth will require greater attention to environmental sustainability, including the protection and development of green infrastructure and measures to address pollution, in line with the broader objectives of Sustainable Development Goal 11 on sustainable cities and communities, the study states.
The Attention Crisis: Are we Losing the Ability to Think Deeply?
We live in an age of extraordinary access to information. A question that once required a visit to a library can now be answered within seconds. A book can be downloaded instantly, a lecture can be watched from anywhere, and a news story can reach millions of people within minutes. Yet, despite having more information than any previous generation, we appear to be facing a curious problem: we are finding it increasingly difficult to give our complete attention to anything. The modern person is surrounded by notifications, messages, short videos, emails, advertisements, headlines and endless streams of content. We move from one piece of information to another almost instinctively. A few seconds of waiting can feel uncomfortable. A long article can seem demanding. Even a conversation can be interrupted by the simple vibration of a phone. This may be one of the quiet challenges of our time: we are becoming better at consuming information but not necessarily better at understanding it. Attention is not merely the ability to look at something. It is the ability to stay with something long enough to understand it. Deep reading, thoughtful conversation, serious study and meaningful reflection all require sustained attention. Without it, information may enter our minds without becoming knowledge. The difference between information and knowledge is important. Information tells us what happened. Knowledge helps us understand why it happened, what it means and how it connects with something else. Developing such understanding requires time. The digital world, however, rewards speed. Social media platforms are designed around rapid consumption. One piece of content is quickly replaced by another. Short videos provide entertainment within seconds. Headlines compete for attention. Notifications constantly remind us that something new is waiting. There is nothing inherently wrong with these technologies. They have transformed communication, education and access to knowledge. The problem begins when convenience turns into dependence and when our ability to concentrate becomes weaker because we rarely practise it. Consider the simple act of reading a book. A person may begin reading with genuine interest. After a few pages, however, the phone lights up. There is a message to check. Then comes another notification. A few minutes later, the reader returns to the book but has lost the thread of the argument. The process is repeated again and again. Eventually, the difficulty may not be the book. It may be our increasingly fragmented attention. This matters particularly for students. Education is not simply about collecting facts. It involves concentration, questioning, connecting ideas and developing the ability to think independently. A student who can memorise information but cannot concentrate on a difficult problem for an extended period may struggle when confronted with complex subjects. Competitive examinations provide another example. Preparation often requires sitting with a subject for hours, revising the same material repeatedly and patiently working through difficult questions. There are no shortcuts to developing genuine understanding. The ability to concentrate, therefore, may become one of the most valuable skills in the future. Ironically, at a time when artificial intelligence can summarise documents, answer questions and produce information within seconds, human beings may need to become even better at thinking deeply. AI can help us find information, organise ideas and accelerate many tasks. But it cannot remove the need for human judgment. If anything, the easier information becomes to obtain, the more important it becomes to know what information deserves our attention. This is where libraries have a continuing role. For some, the library may appear to belong to another era: shelves filled with books, quiet reading rooms and people sitting silently with newspapers or textbooks. But the fundamental purpose of a library has never been limited to storing books. A good library creates an environment where attention is protected. It provides a space away from many of the interruptions of everyday life. It allows a student to sit with a difficult subject, a researcher to examine evidence, or an ordinary reader to spend an hour with a book without being required to respond to every notification. Modern libraries are evolving. They provide access to digital databases, electronic books, online journals, educational platforms and research tools. The library of today can be both physical and digital. But technology should not eliminate the culture of reading. It should strengthen it. Perhaps we need to rethink what we mean by digital literacy. Being able to operate a smartphone or search the internet is only one part of digital literacy. A truly digitally literate person should also be able to distinguish reliable information from unreliable information, recognise misleading content, understand context, protect personal information and resist the temptation to believe something simply because it appears repeatedly online. Most importantly, digital literacy should include the ability to control ones attention. This does not mean rejecting technology. That would neither be practical nor desirable. Smartphones, computers and artificial intelligence have enormous educational and professional value. The goal should instead be to use technology deliberately rather than allowing technology to determine where our attention goes. There is a simple distinction between using a device and being controlled by it. When we deliberately open an educational video, read an article or use an AI tool to understand a difficult concept, technology is serving us. When we repeatedly open an application without any clear purpose simply because we are bored, technology may be controlling our attention. The solution does not necessarily require dramatic changes. Small habits can make a significant difference. We can dedicate a portion of each day to uninterrupted reading. We can keep phones away while studying. We can read longer articles instead of consuming only headlines. We can occasionally sit in silence without immediately reaching for a screen. We can have conversations in which neither person checks a phone. Parents can encourage children to develop reading habits without treating books merely as examination material. Schools and colleges can create spaces where students are encouraged to read beyond their prescribed syllabus. Libraries can promote reading clubs, discussion groups, digital-literacy programmes and quiet study environments. The objective should not be to create a generation that reads constantly. It should be to create a generation capable of concentrating when concentration matters. There is also a deeper social dimension to this issue. A distracted society can become an impatient society. We may become less willing to listen to opinions that take time to explain. We may prefer simple answers to complicated questions. We may react before understanding. We may judge people based on a headline, a photograph or a short video rather than the complete context. Deep attention teaches patience. When we read a thoughtful book, we learn that ideas can develop gradually. When we listen carefully to another person, we discover that people often have reasons behind their views. When we study history, science or literature, we learn that reality is rarely as simple as a social-media post suggests. In this sense, attention is not merely an academic skill. It is also a human virtue. Perhaps the greatest challenge is that attention has become a commodity. Many digital services compete for it because attention has economic value. Every minute spent watching, scrolling or clicking can have commercial significance. This makes personal control over attention increasingly important. We cannot control every piece of information that reaches us, but we can become more selective about what we allow to occupy our minds. The question, therefore, is not whether technology is good or bad. The more important question is: What kind of relationship do we want to have with technology? We should be able to use the internet without becoming dependent on constant stimulation. We should be able to enjoy short-form entertainment without losing the ability to read long-form material. We should be able to use artificial intelligence without surrendering our capacity to think independently. The future may belong not simply to those who have access to the most information, but to those who can decide which information deserves their attention. In an increasingly noisy world, the ability to concentrate may become a form of quiet strength. Perhaps the next time we feel the urge to check our phones while reading a book, attending a lecture or speaking with someone, we should pause for a moment. The notification can wait. The message can wait. The next video can wait. But our ability to think deeply is something we cannot afford to lose. (The author works at a premier Medical college in J&K. Email: waniishfaq0001@gmail.com )
Panchayat elections in Rajasthan to be held in four phases from October 23
Elections would be held for members of 41 Zila Parishads, 457 Panchayat Samitis and 14,403 village panchayats following delimitation and reorganisation of Panchayati Raj institutions
Odisha Governor directs filling of teaching posts amid 70% vacancy in public universities
The recruitment process for vacant teaching posts should be initiated by the first week of November and complete it by the end of the month, said Hari Babu Kambhampati
Literature in the Age of the Algorithm
For centuries, literature has been understood as one of the most intimate expressions of human consciousness. A poem emerged from memory, imagination or grief; a story grew out of observation and experience; a novel carried within it the accumulated impressions of a particular mind. Even when writers borrowed from tradition, imitated earlier forms or drew upon collective myths, literature remained closely associated with the human act of creating meaning. The writer was not merely arranging words but transforming experience into language. Today, that long-standing relationship between the human mind and the written word is being unsettled by an unexpected participant: the algorithm. Artificial intelligence can now produce poems, stories, essays, dialogues and other forms of literary language within seconds. It can imitate styles, alter tone, generate metaphors, continue unfinished narratives and respond to instructions with remarkable fluency. At first glance, this may seem like another technological development in the long history of writing. But something more fundamental is taking place. When a machine can produce language that resembles literature, we are compelled to ask questions that literature itself has long avoided: What makes a piece of writing creative? Does literature require a human consciousness behind it? Is originality a matter of invention, or can it exist through the unexpected combination of existing language? And if a machine can produce a beautiful sentence, where exactly does the beauty belong? The algorithm does not experience the world as a human writer does. It does not remember childhood, feel homesickness, grieve for a parent or stand before a landscape carrying memories of another time. Yet it can generate language about all these things. This distinction is crucial. Human literature has traditionally drawn its force from the relationship between language and lived experience. A poem about loss acquires depth because someone has known loss, imagined it or encountered it closely enough to give it emotional form. Machine-generated language can describe grief with extraordinary fluency without having suffered grief. It can reproduce the language of sorrow without possessing sorrow itself. This does not necessarily make machine-generated writing meaningless. Language has always exceeded the individual who uses it. Every writer inherits words, metaphors, genres, rhythms and narrative conventions from earlier writers. No literary work is created in complete isolation. The originality of a writer lies partly in the way inherited language is reorganised through a particular consciousness. Artificial intelligence complicates this idea because it can reorganise enormous quantities of linguistic material at extraordinary speed. It therefore raises a difficult question: if human creativity has always involved transformation rather than creation from nothing, how different is machine transformation from the creative process? The answer may lie in intention. A human writer usually begins with something that precedes the sentence: an experience, an obsession, a question, an image, a memory or an emotional necessity. The writing becomes an attempt to understand or express that inner pressure. The algorithm, by contrast, does not possess an independent desire to write. It responds to prompts and patterns. Its language may be coherent, moving or aesthetically accomplished, but the impulse behind it originates elsewhere. The distinction between generating language and needing to say something may therefore become increasingly important in the age of artificial intelligence. Yet even this distinction may not remain simple. Human writers are already using AI as a collaborator, editor, brainstorming partner and experimental instrument. A writer may ask a machine to suggest possibilities, reshape a paragraph, produce alternative structures or challenge an established approach. In such cases, the machine does not necessarily replace the writer; it becomes part of the writing environment. The old image of the solitary author sitting before a blank page gives way to a more complicated picture in which creativity emerges through interaction between human intention and technological assistance. This transformation inevitably affects the idea of authorship. Traditionally, authorship has implied a relatively clear relationship between a person and a text. We know who wrote the novel, who composed the poem and who stands behind the work. With AI-assisted writing, that relationship can become uncertain. If a writer supplies the idea, the machine produces several passages, the writer selects and edits them, and another editor reshapes the final manuscript, where exactly does authorship reside? The question is not merely legal or commercial. It is literary. We are being forced to reconsider whether authorship is located in the words themselves, in the intention behind them, or in the consciousness that ultimately takes responsibility for the work. The question of originality becomes equally complicated. The algorithm works through patterns derived from existing language. But human writers also inherit and transform what came before them. Shakespeare borrowed plots. Modern novelists reshape myths. Poets continually reinvent familiar images. Literary history is, in part, a history of transformation. What distinguishes human creativity may therefore not be absolute originality but the capacity to make inherited material personally and culturally meaningful. This is where the human writer may retain something difficult for a machine to reproduce: the weight of a particular life. Two writers may describe the same rain, but the rain falling on a refugee, a farmer, a child remembering a lost home, or an elderly person watching from a hospital window does not carry the same meaning. Experience changes language because experience changes the person using it. The algorithm can produce many descriptions of rain, but it does not possess a life in which rain has acquired personal significance. At the same time, the algorithm is beginning to change the reader's relationship with literature. If stories and poems can be generated instantly according to individual preferences, literature could become increasingly personalised. A reader might ask for a story with a particular setting, emotional atmosphere, length and style and receive it immediately. This promises extraordinary creative possibilities, but it also raises an unsettling question: what happens when literature becomes perfectly responsive to our preferences? Part of the value of literature has always been its ability to surprise us, to introduce voices and experiences we did not know we wanted. A literary culture built entirely around personalised generation could risk becoming an echo of the reader rather than an encounter with something genuinely other. The algorithm may therefore challenge not only the writer but the reader. Reading has traditionally involved entering a world someone else has made. It requires surrendering some control. AI-generated literature may encourage us to become consumers who continuously adjust the story to suit ourselves. The distinction between reading and directing could gradually become blurred. Yet the future need not be a choice between human literature and machine literature. New technologies have repeatedly altered literary forms without eliminating the human need for storytelling. The printing press changed the scale of reading; photography altered visual culture; cinema transformed narrative; digital publishing changed the relationship between writers and audiences. Artificial intelligence may likewise produce new forms that we cannot yet fully imagine. What it cannot settle for us is the question of why we tell stories in the first place. We write because something in experience resists silence. We tell stories to preserve memory, understand suffering, imagine other lives and give shape to what would otherwise remain confused within us. The deepest purpose of literature is not the production of sentences. It is the creation of meaning. Technology can increasingly assist with the first, but the second remains bound to questions of human value, memory and experience. Perhaps, then, the arrival of the algorithm should make us look more closely at what we have always meant by creativity. The future of literature may not depend upon protecting every sentence from machines. It may depend upon recognising what cannot be reduced to the sentence itself: the life behind it, the intention that gives it urgency, the memory that gives it resonance and the consciousness that takes responsibility for what has been said. The algorithm can generate language at astonishing speed. Literature, however, has never been merely the art of producing language. It is the art of making language matter. And that distinction may prove to be the most important one in the literary age that is now beginning. (The author is RK columnist and can be reached at: sanjaypanditasp@gmail.com )
Lavish Marriages: When Celebration Becomes a Social Burden
A marriage is meant to unite two families, mark the beginning of a new chapter and create memories that endure. Yet, in Kashmir, weddings are increasingly becoming occasions of competitive display. What should be a dignified social ceremony is often turned into an expensive spectacle, measured by the number of guests, the scale of the feast, the decoration of the venue, the value of the clothes and jewellery, and the size of the dowry. The problem is not celebration itself. Families have every right to rejoice. The concern is the growing pressure to spend beyond ones means simply to satisfy social expectations. In many cases, a wedding is no longer judged by the character of the bride and groom, or by the strength of the families involved, but by the grandeur of the arrangements. A modest ceremony is treated as a sign of weakness, while extravagance is mistaken for prestige. This culture places an unfair burden on families, particularly those with limited incomes. Parents often spend years saving for a wedding, sell land or jewellery, borrow money and take loans that take years to repay. Some families begin planning for a daughters marriage from the moment she is born. Instead of investing in her education, health and independence, they are forced to think about the cost of catering, clothing, gifts and dowry. The situation becomes even more painful when families try to imitate those with greater financial means. A wealthy household may spend lavishly without facing immediate hardship. But when the same standards are imposed on a middle-class or poor family, the consequences can be severe. The family may enter marriage under a mountain of debt, with its financial insecurity hidden behind a few hours of celebration. The social pressure is often subtle but powerful. Relatives compare menus, guests compare clothes and neighbours discuss the arrangements. A family that chooses simplicity may be questioned, mocked or accused of lacking status. Such attitudes reveal a troubling distortion of social values. We have allowed public opinion to become more important than personal wellbeing. The wedding industry also feeds this competition. Elaborate decorations, multiple functions, costly photography, designer outfits, lavish invitations and enormous feasts are marketed as necessary elements of a successful marriage. Social media has intensified the problem. Every ceremony is presented as a carefully produced display, encouraging others to match or exceed it. Weddings are no longer private family occasions; they are increasingly treated as public exhibitions. This has consequences beyond household finances. Lavish weddings generate food waste at a time when many families struggle to meet basic needs. Excessive use of disposable material adds to environmental pollution. Traffic congestion, noise and the uncontrolled use of public spaces create inconvenience for entire neighbourhoods. The social cost of extravagance is therefore paid not only by the host family but by the wider community. The most damaging aspect is the manner in which lavish marriages reinforce inequality. They create a hierarchy in which people are judged according to what they can display. Those who cannot afford expensive ceremonies are made to feel inferior. Young men and women may also be pressured into unsuitable marriages because families fear the cost of arranging alternatives. In some cases, parents delay marriages or reject suitable proposals because they cannot meet unrealistic demands. Dowry remains one of the darkest expressions of this problem. It is often defended as tradition, but no tradition that humiliates families or turns daughters into financial liabilities deserves protection. Demands for expensive vehicles, furniture, electronics, gold and cash place immense pressure on the brides family. These demands can continue even after marriage, creating resentment and insecurity within the household. Religious and cultural values offer no justification for such excess. The essence of marriage is simplicity, responsibility and mutual respect. A ceremony may be beautiful without being wasteful. Hospitality does not require endless dishes. Dignity does not depend on expensive clothing. Happiness cannot be measured by the size of a banquet hall. The answer lies in collective action. One family alone may find it difficult to resist social pressure, but communities can change their expectations together. Religious scholars, civil society groups, educational institutions and local leaders should openly promote simple marriages. They should discourage dowry, publicise responsible ceremonies and challenge the belief that extravagance is a measure of honour. Families must also understand that a wedding is only one day, while its financial consequences may last for years. Money spent on unnecessary display could instead support the couples education, housing, healthcare or livelihood. A secure beginning is a far greater gift than an impressive ceremony. There is a need for public awareness, but also for moral courage. People must learn to celebrate without competing, host without humiliating and give without demanding. A marriage should bring families closer, not force them into debt. It should offer hope, not anxiety. Kashmir has a rich tradition of community, restraint and dignity. That tradition should not be buried beneath imported extravagance and social rivalry. The true beauty of a marriage lies not in its decorations or menu but in the values that sustain it afterwards. A simple wedding may not attract as much attention as a lavish one. But it can preserve savings, protect family dignity and give the newly married couple a healthier beginning. At a time when economic uncertainty is affecting almost every household, the choice is not merely between a grand ceremony and a modest one. It is a choice between appearance and responsibility. Society must choose wisely. Celebrations should reflect happiness, not insecurity. Marriages should unite people, not burden them. And no family should have to sacrifice its future merely to prove that it can afford one extravagant day. ( The author is a PhD in sociology and a columnist)
No need for resolution, PM committed to granting Statehood to J&K: BJP MP Tarun Chugh
Mr. Chugh termed the recent resolution passed by the J&K Assembly as an attempt by the NC to divert attention from peoplesissues
The Mountains I Still Carry And the Altitudes that Bind Me to Kashmir
Long after I left Kashmir, the mountains refused to leave me. Some remained in memory. Others, in my blood. I was born in Srinagar and spent many years in the foothills around Gulmarg, at elevations approaching 7,000 feet. Mountains were not something we travelled to see. They were simply therebeyond the orchards, above the houses, sometimes sharply drawn against a clear sky and sometimes disappearing into clouds. In winter, snow redrew them overnight. On certain mornings, the higher ridges caught the first light while the valley below was still waiting for the day. As a child, I rarely thought about any of this. Children do not usually admire the permanence surrounding them. A mountain is no more remarkable than the sky when both have always been there. We learned distance differently because of them. Roads bent because mountains required them to bend; weather could alter a journey, and snow could decide whether one went somewhere at all. The landscape imposed its own terms, and because we knew no other arrangement, we accepted them. Perhaps that is one of the quiet ways a place enters a person. Long before we have words such as patience, endurance or limitation, the physical world has begun teaching us when to pause, when to wait, when to slow our steps, when to gather ourselves for the journey aheadand when it is time to leave. So I left. Like most people who leave home, I knew I would carry certain parts of it with me. Language came along almost unnoticed, as did habits, memories, family expressions and ways of looking at the world whose origins I could no longer identify. A smell could return me to a kitchen; a particular quality of winter light could open a room that had disappeared decades earlier. Sometimes a Kashmiri word spoken thousands of miles away could briefly abolish the distance between two continents. I did not expect geography itself to follow me. Years later, life brought me to Virginia, where I settled among the Blue Ridge Mountains. They are very different from the mountains of Kashmir. They do not rise with the same authority; their slopes are gentler, their outlines softer, their great age somehow visible in the long, worn contours of their ridges. In autumn, they turn red, gold and rust, and entire hillsides seem to change character within weeks. For years, I simply enjoyed them. Then, somewhere along those Blue Ridge trails, it began to seem less accidental that a man who had crossed an ocean and built a life on another continent had once again made his home within sight of mountains. We like to believe we choose our homes through practical calculationswork, family, opportunity, circumstanceand perhaps we do. But human beings may also carry private maps whose boundaries were drawn much earlier. Perhaps the Blue Ridge felt familiar before I knew why. For a long time, I assumed whatever I carried from the mountains was entirely emotional. Medicine eventually showed me something more literal. The percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere remains essentially the same at altitude, but atmospheric pressure falls as elevation increases, reducing the partial pressure of oxygen available to the lungs. The kidneys respond by increasing erythropoietin, stimulating the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells and increasing the blood's capacity to carry oxygen. The physiology is elegant, but when I lived inside it, I knew nothing about it. For years, my body had accommodated itself to elevations around 7,000 feet. Later, in Virginia, I was living just around 600 feet above sea level, and the body did what it has done throughout human existence: it adjusted to where it found itself. Physicians spend a surprising portion of their lives looking at numbershemoglobin, glucose, creatinine, sodium, cholesterolvalues that appear on a screen and usually disappear from thought almost as quickly. But one number made me pause. My hemoglobin, which at the higher elevation had often been around sixteen or seventeen grams per deciliter, eventually settled closer to thirteen or fourteen. There was nothing mysterious about the change and nothing requiring treatment. The major physiological adjustment after descent occurs over weeks to months as the stimulus for maintaining a higher red-cell mass diminishes. It was ordinary physiology. Yet I remember looking at those numbers longer than their clinical significance required. Medicine explained why they had changed. Kashmir explained why I noticed. Somewhere between the Himalayas and Virginia, my body had renegotiated its relationship with the air. The mountains were thousands of miles behind me, yet for a time their altitude remained legible in something as intimate as my blood. My old laboratory reports were still medical records, but now they seemed to contain something else as well. Geography had translated itself into biology. Perhaps we underestimate how thoroughly landscape enters us. We speak readily about culture, language, family and history shaping identity, while the physical world works more quietly. Climate determines what we wear and grow. Seasons alter appetite and activity. Altitude changes breathing; terrain changes movement. The body spends a lifetime negotiating with place, usually without asking us to notice. Mountain life carries its own negotiations. A mountain does not care how urgently you wish to reach the other side or become flatter because you are late. You accommodate yourself to it: roads curve, steps shorten, breathing changes, sometimes you stop. There is an education in that, though I hesitate to make too much of it. Mountains do not automatically make people wiser, and hardship is not inherently ennobling. Difficulty can strengthen, but it can also simply hurt. Still, there is something about resistance. Modern life has become extraordinarily skilled at removing it. We shorten distances, accelerate communication and design technologies so fewer activities require waiting, climbing, carrying or enduring. Much of this is genuine progress, and I would not exchange modern medicine, transportation or communication for some romanticised version of difficulty. Yet the body itself remains strangely attached to effort. I am reminded of this when I hike. VO Perhaps this is part of why I continueto seek the Blue Ridge trails. Exercise is certainly one reason, and with age Ipay attention to cardiovascular fitness differently than I once did. Butnumbers cannot explain why an uphill trail feels familiar. There is a point ina climb when conversation becomes less convenient, and breathing occupies moreof one; s=\ attention.=\ the=\ world=\ contracts=\ briefly=\ to=\ next=\ bend,=\ few=\ steps,=\ rhythm=\ between=\ effort=\ and=\ air.=\ then,=\ sometimes,=\ trail=\ levels=\ landscape=\ suddenly=\ opens. I have experienced that on mountains in different parts of the world. The view is never the same, but something else sometimes is. I do not know whether the mountains of childhood actually teach us patience or whether we return years later and place our accumulated meanings upon them. Memory is capable of both preservation and invention. The Kashmir I carry now cannot be identical to the Kashmir in which I grew up. No remembered place ever is. Perhaps that is why certain images remain more trustworthy than explanations: a ridge whitening after snowfall, morning light reaching the higher peaks before the land below, a road disappearing around a mountain. The physician in me can explain altitude, oxygen pressure, erythropoietin and hemoglobin. But those explanations belong to a language I learned much later. The mountains came first. Even now, when I hike the Blue Ridge, there are moments when the trail steepens, and conversation gives way to breathing. Virginia is beneath my feet. The landscape before me belongs to another continent, another climate, another chapter of my life. I keep climbing. The heart works harder, my breathing deepens, and the trail rises through trees that bear little resemblance to the mountains of my childhood. Sometimes it turns sharply and disappears upward, leaving only the next few steps visible. I follow it. There are moments when the body seems to recognise something before memory has found a name for it. I stop where the trees open and the Blue Ridge stretches into the distance. Nothing before me resembles the snow-covered peaks that once defined the edge of my childhood world. And then, on this unfamiliar terrain in America, my mind asks whether I have been here before. My blood knows it. (The author is a physician, poet and clinical researcher from Kashmir, based in Virginia, United States. His writings explore the intersections of science, philosophy, memory, literature and the human condition. He can be reached at mansbal@yahoo.com )
Coffee, Smoke, and Castles in the Air: The 'Sokhan Doos' of Srinagar
A Sokhan Doos is a master of the imaginary world. He is a person who creates grand castles in the air, thrives on effortless banter, and practices the fine art of non-action with remarkable charm. He spends his days daydreaming, gossiping, and celebrating hypothetical victoriesall without doing a single stroke of physical work. While the rest of the world hustles to make a living, the Sokhan Doos lives happily in a world built entirely out of words. The Sacred Shrine of Idle Talk If you grew up in Srinagar during the golden decades, you know that the true headquarters of the Sokhan Doos was none other than the iconic India Coffee House at Regal Chowk. Inside its dimly lit hall, filled with thick clouds of Charminar cigarette smoke and the rich aroma of roasted coffee, time stood completely still. Waiters in white uniforms and starched turbans glided between tables, serving cups of black coffee that acted as all-day entry tickets to a grand theater of ideas. Here, under the haze of smoke and coffee vapors, empires were built, tested, and dismantledall before lunchtime. The Legends of the Coffee Table The Coffee House was a melting pot of colorful regulars: poets, politicians, journalists, painters, and professional idlers. Among them, a few classic Sokhan Doos archetypes always held court: The Coffee-House Prime Minister: Armed with a folded morning newspaper and a single cigarette stretched to its absolute limit, he knew precisely how the UN should handle international crises and how the local government should form its cabinet. He had solved every global crisis on a paper napkin, though he hadn't worked a steady job in twenty years. The Unwritten Genius: A poet who was perpetually on the verge of publishing a groundbreaking masterpiece. He would recite two brilliant opening lines to anyone pulling up a chair, bask in their applause, and happily live off that admiration for weeks without ever picking up a pen to write the rest. The Blueprint Millionaire: A man with a dozen foolproof business ventures detailed in his headfrom grand tourist resorts to international export houses. He would spend hours explaining his multi-lakh schemes with infectious passion, completely satisfied with the illusion of success. The Tragic Genius of the Corner Table Yet, among the lighthearted daydreamers were tragic intellects who surrendered their entire lives to the Coffee House. I distinctly recall one such figurea gentleman of extraordinary eloquence. He possessed a breathtaking command of the English language, along with fluency in several other tongues. He didn't just spend hours there; he spent months and years submerged in that aromatic hall. His breakfast arrived the moment he stepped through the doors, followed by an endless stream of coffee, snacks, and heated debates that lasted until closing time. A politician without an office, his mind was brilliant, but his existence was fueled entirely by caffeine and heavy tobacco. Tragically, at the young age of forty-eight, he suffered a fatal heart attack. The attending doctors revealed that years of relentless chain-smoking and endless cups of coffee had quietly ruined his vital organs. He left behind no political legacy or written volumes, only the lingering echo of a sharp, brilliant intellect in a room that had slowly consumed him. The Art of the Free Refill For most others, however, the Coffee House was a lighter affair, governed by the Coffee Economy. A skilled Sokhan Doos rarely paid for his second or third cup. Through sheer charm, a well-timed joke, or a juicy piece of fresh gossip dangling like bait, he would seamlessly coax a newly arrived acquaintance into settling the bill. For the price of a few annas, a Sokhan Doos didn't just buy a beverage; he purchased an audience. Innocent Joy in a Hurried World Today, as life accelerates and screens replace conversation, the traditional Sokhan Doos is becoming a rare species. Yet, looking back at those golden afternoons in the Coffee House, one can't help but feel a warm, nostalgic fondness for them. They brought humour, warmth, and harmless drama to our lives. They reminded us that sometimes, sitting back, sipping coffee, and building castles in the sky with good friends is a joy all its owneven if those castles were made entirely of smoke. (The author is a former civil servant from the administrative service and RK Columnist. Feedback Email: nisargilani57748@gmail.com )
Satish Sharma launches Rs 3-cr works in Chhamb
Chhamb, Oct 3: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, IT, Youth Services and Sports, and Science and Technology Satish Sharma on Saturday inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development works worth more than Rs 3 crore in the Chhamb Assembly constituency. The works, spread across several villages and habitations, include roads, culverts, drainage and protection works, community infrastructure and educational facilities. At Kodewala Camp, the Minister laid the foundation stone for a park and inaugurated newly constructed drains. He also laid the foundation stone for a link road from Kharah to Thanda Choa. At Kalah, Sharma inaugurated protection works at two locations, while at Jawan he laid the foundation stone for a culvert and inaugurated a Community Hall. He also inaugurated protection works on the Mageri-Rajani Road at Mohalla Thakur Dass. Emphasising the importance of educational infrastructure, Satish Sharma said that investment in facilities for students is an investment in the future of the region. He stressed that the proposed examination hall would provide students with improved infrastructure and a more conducive academic environment. Speaking during the tour, Satish Sharma said that development must be visible on the ground and directly benefit the people. He directed the concerned agencies to maintain strict quality standards, ensure timely execution and undertake regular monitoring of ongoing works. He said that public money must translate into durable and useful assets and that developmental projects should not face avoidable delays. The Minister emphasised that road connectivity, drainage, protection infrastructure and community facilities constitute the basic framework of development, particularly in rural and peripheral areas, and assured that such requirements would continue to receive focused attention. He said that the Government is committed to taking development to the grassroots and addressing infrastructure gaps in a systematic manner. During the visit, Satish Sharma also interacted with local residents and listened to their concerns and development-related issues. He assured the people that their genuine demands would be examined with the concerned departments and that necessary interventions would be pursued for their timely resolution. The Minister maintained that people's participation and continuous feedback are essential for ensuring that development planning remains aligned with ground realities. He called upon the executing agencies and field functionaries to remain responsive to public concerns and maintain close coordination while implementing development works.
Speaker reviews Urs arrangements in Charar-i-Sharief
Budgam, Sep 3: Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Speaker and Charar-i-Sharief MLA Abdul Rahim Rather on Saturday reviewed arrangements for the annual Urs of Hazrat Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani (RA), scheduled to begin on October 7. Chairing a meeting, Rather directed departments to ensure adequate civic facilities and a smooth and safe experience for devotees expected to visit the shrine. He called for uninterrupted water and power supply, adequate medical teams, ambulances and essential medicines, besides emergency water tankers and proper illumination of the shrine and adjoining areas. Regarding power supply and illumination, the Speaker directed the concerned authorities to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply throughout the Urs period and proper illumination of the shrine and adjoining areas. On health and medical facilities, the Speaker called for deployment of adequate medical teams, availability of ambulances and sufficient stocks of essential medicines to deal with any medical emergency during the celebrations. The Speaker also directed the concerned authorities to make arrangements for distribution of ration to the residents of Charar-i-Sharief, keeping in view the anticipated increase in the number of visitors and the requirements of the local population during the Urs. Emphasizing the importance of cleanliness and sanitation, the Speaker directed for adequate deployment of sanitation staff, installation of sufficient toilets and dustbins at strategic locations and regular lifting and scientific disposal of waste to maintain cleanliness in and around the shrine and town. He further directed the concerned departments to conduct regular inspections of shops and food establishments to ensure compliance with prescribed standards of food hygiene and sanitation. He also called for strict monitoring of prices, weights and measures to safeguard the interests of devotees and the general public. Reviewing the transport and traffic management arrangements, the Speaker stressed the need for adequate public transport facilities, designated parking areas and a well-coordinated traffic management plan, including proper diversions and regulation of vehicular movement, to ensure smooth traffic flow during the Urs. On security arrangements, the Speaker called for adequate deployment of security personnel for effective crowd management and maintenance of law and order. He stressed the need for strict vigil in and around the shrine and other sensitive areas. He also directed for positioning of adequate fire-fighting and emergency response vehicles at strategic locations to deal with any eventuality. The Speaker stressed upon all concerned departments to work in close coordination and ensure effective inter-departmental convergence for making comprehensive arrangements well in advance. He called for regular monitoring of all arrangements and prompt resolution of any gaps or bottlenecks so that the Urs celebrations are conducted in a peaceful, safe and seamless manner. The Speaker directed for establishment of a 24x7 control room during the Urs period to facilitate prompt redressal of issues and grievances of devotees and the general public. He called for deployment of designated officers and officials from all concerned departments at the control room on a rotational basis, so that necessary assistance and coordination are available round the clock and any issue arising during the Urs is addressed promptly. He reiterated that all necessary arrangements must be put in place well ahead of commencement of the Urs to facilitate devotees and ensure their safety, comfort and convenience.
INDIA bloc parties to hold Save Democracy march
Jammu, Oct 3: Congress, National Conference (NC), PDP and NPPI leaders on Saturday announced a joint Save Democracy march in Jammu on October 7 as part of the INDIA blocs nationwide campaign. The announcement was made at a joint press conference at PCC headquarters in Jammu following a meeting of senior leaders of the alliance parties to finalise the schedule of protests. The parties said similar marches would be held in different districts between October 4 and 8 as part of their Vote BachaoDesh Bachao campaign. The leaders accused the BJP of manipulating the electoral system and demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. They also called for reforms to ensure what they described as an independent and impartial electoral process. The parties cited allegations concerning voter deletions and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, with the claims forming part of the oppositions campaign. The leaders also announced that opposition MPs would march to the Election Commission office in Delhi on October 6 and seek an appointment with the President. They reiterated their demand for restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Govt committed to welfare, empowerment: Sakeena
Anantnag, Oct 03: Minister for Social Welfare, Education, Health & Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, today visited Nanil in Anantnag and inaugurated four newly constructed buildings of the Social Welfare Department dedicated to an Old Age Home and PLASH and PAREESH facilities. On the occasion, Director Social Welfare Mohammad Akbar Khan briefed the Minister about the infrastructure created at the site. He informed that the four buildings have been constructed at an estimated cost of 11.27 crore. He further informed that an additional 1.10 crore has been kept available for development of allied infrastructure, including roads, parks and other essential facilities for PLASH and Old Age Home. Addressing the gathering, Sakeena Itoo said that the government is committed to the welfare and empowerment of people, particularly those facing social and economic vulnerabilities. She emphasised the need to strengthen the basic infrastructure and welfare services at the grassroots level so that the benefits of government initiatives reach the intended beneficiaries. The Minister highlighted various developmental and welfare works undertaken for the benefit of the people of Anantnag district. She said that the newly inaugurated facilities are aimed at providing care, shelter and support to vulnerable sections of society. Explaining the purpose of the facilities, Sakeena Itoo said that PLASH is intended to provide care and support to orphaned children who have lost their parents and have no adequate source of livelihood while the Old Age Home is meant for destitute elderly persons who do not have a home or family support. She said that the Social Welfare Department has an important role in extending support and protection to the people facing social insecurity, physical disabilities and other vulnerabilities. She stressed that such institutions should provide not only shelter but also a safe, dignified and supportive environment for their residents. The Minister assured the children at PLASH that their requirements would be taken up on priority. She said that demands including establishment of a gymnasium, recreational park, improved road connectivity and an ambulance facility would be addressed at the earliest. Earlier, MLA Anantnag East Reyaz Ahmad Khan highlighted the developmental scenario of the constituency and projected various demands before the Minister. These included upgradation of the Nursing College at Aukura, widening of the AukuraAung road, establishment of a science laboratory at HSS Nanil, provision of smart classrooms, and strengthening of infrastructure and deployment of adequate medical and paramedical staff at the Nanil hospital building. The Minister assured that the issues concerning the respective departments would be examined for appropriate action.
CM Omar 'exposed' BJP's 'double standards': NC
Srinagar, Oct 3: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Provincial President Showkat Mir on Saturday said the elected government was working to address public grievances and improve public services. Interacting with public delegations, party functionaries and workers at the party headquarters, Mir said the government was committed to transparent governance and a development-oriented agenda. He said efforts were underway to improve infrastructure, strengthen health and education services and create opportunities for youth. Mir accused the BJP and its supporters of resorting to baseless allegations and negative propaganda against the National Conference government. He described the opposition campaign as an attempt to divert public attention from issues concerning the people. He also claimed that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had recently highlighted what he termed the BJPs double standards in the Legislative Assembly and alleged that the Lieutenant Governors office was being used to obstruct the elected governments functioning. Mir said the National Conference would continue to advocate what he described as the rights, identity, dignity and interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
BJPs Samaan Samaroh : Roles may change, commitment remains: BJP leader
Srinagar, Oct 3: BJP National General Secretary (Organisation) B L Santhosh on Saturday said organisational responsibilities may change with time, but the basic duties, values and commitment of a dedicated party worker must remain unchanged. Addressing a Samman Samaroh at the BJP headquarters in Jammu, Santhosh said the organisations objective was larger than any individual or position and urged party workers to continuously strengthen their capabilities while contributing to the partys organisational growth. The function was organised to honour Tarun Chugh for his nearly six years of service as J&K BJP Prabhari and Ashok Koul for his 14 years of service as J&K BJP General Secretary (Organisation). Chugh has now been appointed National Office Prabhari, Rajya Sabha MP and Gujarat Prabhari, while Koul has returned to the RSS, the partys parent organisation. Santhosh said every person, while handling organisational responsibilities, gradually develops experience, personality and the ability to guide others. He praised Kouls long service as an RSS Pracharak and J&K BJP organisational leader, saying his return to the parent organisation reflected the broader organisational purpose. Responsibilities may change, but the basic duties do not, Santhosh said, calling upon party workers to focus on strengthening the organisation rather than becoming attached to individuals or positions. J&K BJP president Sat Sharma also thanked Chugh and Koul for their contributions, saying their organisational work had strengthened the party across Jammu and Kashmir. Chugh, in his address, said J&K had witnessed sustained struggles over nationalist and social causes, with BJP workers making sacrifices during difficult periods. He credited the Modi Government with putting J&K on a development trajectory and described Koul as a key organisational figure who strengthened the BJPs base in Jammu and expanded its presence across constituencies in Kashmir. He said much work remained to be done and called upon party workers to continue their organisational efforts. Union Minister Jitendra Singh and other senior BJP leaders attended the programme, which followed a party meeting on organisational matters and issues concerning public service in J&K.
16 Inspectors transferred to ACB
Srinagar, Oct 3: The Jammu and Kashmir Police have transferred 16 Inspectors to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) with immediate effect, officials said. According to an order issued by Police Headquarters (PHQ), the transfers have been made in the interest of administration and to strengthen the anti-graft body. Eight Inspectors posted in different police wings, including CID, Crime Branch and various police zones, have been transferred to the ACB. They include Showkat Ahmad, Hilal Ahmad Parray, Shabaz Bashir, Ibrar Ahmad Lone, Tahir Bashir Bhat, Imtiyaz Ahmad Mir, Rajinder Kumar and Pankaj Singh. The order also modified an earlier transfer directive issued in June. The transfers of eight Inspectors under Order No. 1798 of 2026, dated June 16, have been cancelled and they have now been transferred to the ACB. The personnel have been directed to be relieved forthwith, with their services placed at the disposal of the Director, ACB, for further duties.
Uri road to remain closed on Oct 4, 11 for hill-cutting
Srinagar, Oct 3: The Uri national highway will remain temporarily closed on October 4 and 11 to facilitate hill-cutting work being carried out by the 53 RCC of the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF). Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Uri Prince Kumar, IAS, issued the closure order on October 3 following a request from the Officer Commanding, 53 RCC (GREF), and subsequent communications regarding the execution of the hill-cutting work. As per the order, the Uri-national highway will remain closed on October 4 (Sunday) and October 11 (Sunday) to facilitate the work. The administration has advised the general public, commuters and transport operators to use the Bandi-Paranpillan-Dachi route as an alternative during the period of closure. The order, however, stated that no hill-cutting work would be carried out on government working days during the specified peak hours of 9 am to 10:30 am and 3:30 pm to 5 pm. The executing agency has been directed to ensure that the highway remains open for vehicular movement during these timings and to put in place all necessary safety measures for the protection of commuters. The SDM said the temporary restrictions were being imposed to facilitate the hill-cutting work while ensuring that traffic movement is regulated and commuter safety is maintained.
Man arrested for allegedly duping cancer patients family
Shopian, Oct 3: Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested a man for allegedly cheating a family by impersonating an employee of the Deputy Commissioners office and promising financial assistance for the treatment of a cancer patient. Police said the complaint was received at Police Station Shopian from Farooq Ahmad Sofi of Manghama, who had posted an appeal on social media seeking financial assistance for his sons cancer treatment. According to police, the accused, identified as Umar Shameem Ganie of Memander, allegedly approached the family claiming to be associated with the DC Office and assured them of facilitating financial assistance from the Deputy Commissioner. He allegedly obtained 9,999 from the complainant on the pretext. The accused was later traced by the complainant in Shopian market, where he allegedly manhandled and threatened him. Police subsequently registered an e-FIR and arrested the accused. Police said preliminary investigation has also brought to light allegations of similar fraudulent activities against other persons, which are being verified. Police have urged people to remain vigilant against impersonators and verify the credentials of anyone claiming to facilitate financial assistance on behalf of government offices.
Police recovers 6.70 lakh in Baramulla online fraud case
Srinagar, Oct 3: Jammu and Kashmir Police have recovered 6.70 lakh out of 11.70 lakh allegedly lost in an online financial fraud case in Baramulla, police said. The recovery was made in connection with FIR No. 03/2026 registered at the Cyber Police Station Baramulla under relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). According to police, the recovered amount has been refunded to the victim following sustained investigation, technical analysis and financial tracking by the Cyber Police team. The investigation was conducted under the supervision of DySP Headquarters Baramulla, Shahjahan Chowdhary (JKPS), and was led by SHO Cyber Police Station Baramulla, Inspector Sajad Wani, along with his investigation team. Police said the team used technical expertise and coordinated closely with the concerned banking authorities to trace the defrauded funds and secure their recovery. Through professional investigation, technical analysis and persistent efforts, the team successfully traced and recovered a substantial portion of the defrauded amount, police said. Further investigation into the case is underway, officials added. Police have meanwhile urged citizens to exercise caution while carrying out online financial transactions and not to share sensitive banking information, including OTPs, PINs, CVV numbers, passwords, UPI PINs or other banking credentials with anyone. Citizens have also been advised against clicking on suspicious links, downloading unverified applications or scanning unknown QR codes. Police said that in the event of an unauthorised transaction or suspected cyber fraud, victims should immediately contact the national cyber crime helpline 1930, report the matter through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and inform their bank without delay. Citizens have also been advised to preserve transaction details, screenshots, phone numbers, messages and other digital evidence, which could assist investigators in tracing fraudulent transactions and recovering the money. J&K Police reiterated its commitment to tackling cyber-enabled financial crimes and called upon the public to remain vigilant and cyber-aware.
Panel formed to probe Bhaderwah student assault
Srinagar, Oct 03 : Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Bhaderwah, Sunil Kumar Bhutyal, has ordered an enquiry into the alleged assault of a Class 2 student at Al-Mizan Academy, Bhaderwah. Speaking to Rising Kashmir, Bhutyal said the matter had come to his notice through social media platforms, with allegations that one of the staff member of the school had beaten the student, resulting in physical injuries. In order to enquire into the matter, a four-member committee has been constituted with directions to enquire into the matter and submit the factual report along with specific recommendations to my office within seven days positively, the ADC said. The committee comprises the Child Development Project Officer, Bhaderwah; Block Medical Officer, Bhaderwah; Zonal Education Officer, Bhaderwah; and Tehsil Social Welfare Officer, Bhaderwah The committee has been tasked with examining the allegations and submitting a factual report along with specific recommendations within seven days. The enquiry will ascertain the circumstances surrounding the alleged incident and establish the facts of the matter.
Locals seek urgent protective measures along Rayil-Kangan stretch
Ganderbal: Residents living along the Power Canal from Rayil to Kangan in Central Kashmirs Ganderbal district have urged authorities to install safety fencing along the canal, saying the absence of protective measures has become a serious concern for people and livestock. The canal, constructed in 1965 by the Power Development Corporation (PDC), passes through several populated areas, including Rayil, Gund, Fraw, Haknar, Sumbal, Kangan, Ganderbal, Thune, Mamar, Kaw Cherwan and adjoining villages. According to local residents, several decades have passed since the canal was constructed, but fencing has not been installed along stretches, leaving people living nearby exposed to the deep water channel. Unfortunately, many of the promises made at the time remained limited to papers. Today, the canal has become a major safety concern for the people, particularly due to the lack of fencing, a local Fayaz Ahmad said. He said the canal has also claimed the lives of people and livestock over the years. They added that several youths were drowned in the canal during the past, raising concerns among families living along its banks. Locals also recalled an incident in 2013 when the canal reportedly breached near Kullo Mohallah Gund, causing damage to residential houses and agricultural land. They said the canal was originally associated with promises of benefits for the surrounding population, including electricity supply at concessional rates and employment opportunities for local youth after completion of the power project. Initially, electricity was supplied to nearby areas from the power house, but later the supply was discontinued. The canal has continued to pass through our villages, but without adequate safety measures, residents said. According to them, the canal has so far provided limited direct benefit to the local population, while its open and unfenced stretches continue to pose risks, particularly for children, youth and livestock. Residents have appealed to the CM Omar Abdullah and MLA Kangan to conduct a safety assessment of the canal and install fencing at locations on priority. They also urged the authorities to take preventive measures before another accident occurs and said proper fencing could help protect human lives as well as livestock in the adjoining areas.
Netanyahu invites true hero Indian flydubai captain to Israel
Mr. Netanyahu told him he was amazed at his courage and his ability to stay cool under impossible conditions
CM lays foundation for waste processing, biogas plants in city
CaRWAN protests unlawful arrests of Noida workers, activists near Jantar Mantar, 70 detained
AIs success is based on effective bundling of technologywith human judgment, leadership,execution
AUD students allege campus gates shut amid ongoing sit-in protest; university denies claim
Police inspector Mahesh Kumar placed on vacancy reserve
Trust undertakes traffic management and cleanliness drive to mark Gandhi Jayanthi
Fire breaks out at defunct building near Teynampet signal
Fire and Rescue Services personnel reached the spot and brought the blaze under control
Wall of Hope, mental health initiative led by youth, unveiled in city
Gantihole urges people to make effective use of Praja Seva Abhiyan meetings
Police arrest burglars, recover valuables worth 18 lakh within 24 hours of the crime
Delhi Police file 3 FIRs over protest on SIR row; hundreds detained on Day 2
Man arrested for hoax bomb threat to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital
24,000 professionals from across India are actively looking to move into the Silicon Beach, says Silicon Beach Skills: Talent Landscape of Udupi and Mangaluru Cluster 2026 report
Two held for posing as railway staff and robbing passengers
M.R. Poovamma feted in Mangaluru
Man held for taking away motorcycle
The police are searching for his colleague, who allegedly accompanied him
Start preparation for polls to local bodies, U T Khader tells Congress cadres
Direct container service from Chennai to Vietnam, Malaysia, and China launched
With this new service, one more regular maritime connectivity has commenced between Chennai and Vietnam
Persons with disabilities participate in anti-drug awareness walkathon
Women declare #IamJaneDoe in solidarity with Cornell University rape victim
And although New York law allows Jane Doe anonymity for sexual assault lawsuits, the Cornell student has become distressed at attempts by some online skeptics of her account to discover her name and publish it
Authorities enforce cap on visitors to Perumalmudi, Melmudi in Coimbatore
CUMTA prepares detailed plan for upgrading citys MRTS network ahead of CMRL takeover
It has formulated 12 measures and recommendations for the takeover, and shared them with CMRL; bids will be floated to rope in firms for security services and housekeeping; CMRL is also expected to replace malfunctioning lifts in MRTS stations, following which fresh train sets will be ordered
175th year anniversary fete held at College of Fine Arts
Paris police chief says student protest movement out of control, urges peaceful action
The students blockading high schools have voiced anger over overcrowding in classrooms, regular shortages of teachers and dilapidated buildings, blaming years of underinvestment
It directs the secretary of Karode grama panchayat in Thiruvananthapuram district to evict encroachers from a puramboke land to ensure right of way for children
Delhi Court seeks police report on FIR plea over CM Rekha Guptas Hanuman remarks
Delhi Police seize 2,101 kg of banned firecrackers; three arrested
MLA Sagar lays foundation for six projects
Srinagar, Oct 3: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference General Secretary and Khanyar MLA Ali Mohammad Sagar on Saturday laid the foundation for six development projects in the Dalgate area at an estimated cost of Rs 1.5 crore. The projects include two 350-feet lanes, footpaths, renovation and improvement of the Dal lakefront, a culvert and other construction works. Sagar said the projects would improve connectivity and basic amenities for residents and enhance facilities in the area. Speaking at a public outreach programme at Mamta Road, Dalgate, he said tourism remained a major source of livelihood in Jammu and Kashmir and that its promotion was among the governments key priorities. During the programme, Sagar heard grievances of residents and contacted concerned officials for their redressal. He urged officials to ensure timely delivery of services and avoid unnecessary delays. Hazratbal MLA Salman Ali Sagar and representatives of the Hotel Association were also present.
No rush for subsidised onions at Vijayawada Rythu Bazaars
Bitchat removed from Apples India App Store following govt's demand: Jack Dorsey
Bitchat, built by Mr. Dorsey, had come under government scrutiny in July this year as well
Gang held in connection with murder of VCK functionary
Arrested persons were lodged at Central Prison in Vellore
Yet another POCSO case booked against Gem Granites Veeramani
This is the fifth case filed against him
Probe into TVK MLA driving government bus without valid licence during launch of scheme
A video that went viral on social media showed Mr. Kumar driving a government bus with around 30 commuters
Insulting peoples mandate is Congress old habit: BJP
Shivraj Chouhan accuses Kharge of attacking constitutional institutions; defends appointment process of Election Commissioners and reliability of EVMs
New RWA in Tambaram seeks review of property tax
Judge Colony and Neighbourhood Welfare Association raises concerns over drainage, groundwater contamination and road safety
A power start to the day at Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College
As an extension of its free noon meal scheme, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College will start serving breakfast for students from economically poor backgrounds from October 5 onwards
