Jammu Kashmir High Court Upholds Compensation for Disabled Banihal Labourer, Orders Penalty Review
SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh has upheld compensation of Rs 93,000 awarded to a casual labourer from Banihal who suffered permanent disability after a rolling boulder struck his right leg while he was working on a road project in 2006, but has remitted the case to the labour commissioner to reconsider []
Republican lawmakers to move Bill to block Trump
WASHINGTON: Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick has declared that he would bring a bipartisan Bill to block President Donald Trumps move to lift sanctions on Russian diesel after talks with President Vladimir Putin. Fitzpatricks move has received support from outgoing Congressman Don Bacon, a Republican from Nebraska, who has decided to co-sponsor the legislation. However, the []
Trump says Iran may amp up actions before midterms, hints at renaming Strait of Hormuz
Washington, DC [US], October 11 : US President Donald Trump stated on Saturday that Tehran may ramp up its actions against Washington ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, noting that the American administration believes Iran is acting under the impression that such measures would inflict damage on the United States. Speaking at a political event in Tennessee, a traditional stronghold of the Republican Party, Trump maintained that Washington has the capacity to resolve the ongoing war swiftly. They'll probably do a little bit extra before the election, thinking it's going to hurt us, Trump remarked, while adding, But we could end it really quick. The American leader pointed to his administration's restraint despite the degradation of the Iranian naval forces, stating, They don't know how nice I've been to them. He further asserted that 159 Iranian ships have been sunk since late February, marking the commencement of the ongoing war. Addressing developments around the Strait of Hormuz, a primary flashpoint of the war, Trump floated the idea of changing its name, noting, We're thinking about renaming it to the Trump Strait. He had previously hinted that the military confrontation involving Iran could conclude right after the November 3 ballot. The war, which has heavily impacted West Asia, has become a major focal point for the congressional elections. While Trump faces his own political challenges in the midterms, he has actively campaigned to support Republican candidates striving to preserve their majorities in one or both houses of the US Congress. Hostilities erupted on February 28 when the United States and Israel initiated a war against Iran, resulting in the death of the nation's former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. The ensuing strikes provoked retaliatory regional missile and drone assaults from Tehran, effectively shutting down the Strait of Hormuz. Having persisted for over seven months, the war has driven up worldwide energy costs as commercial oil movement through the vital waterway came to a halt. In June, the US and Iran signed a framework agreement aimed at halting hostilities and laying the groundwork for negotiations. Even so, the practical implementation of the deal has since stalled due to lingering disagreements, particularly concerning security and navigation within the Strait of Hormuz. (ANI)
12 Killed, 309 Injured in Missile Strike on Riyadh Airport: Saudi Aviation Authority
SRINAGAR: At least 12 people were killed and 309 injured after a missile struck King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday, Saudi Arabias General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said, with some of the injured reported to be in critical condition. According to GACA, the deceased included four Saudi citizens and eight residents of []
Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport attack kills 12, injures 309: GACA
Riyadh [Saudi Arabia], October 11 : At least 12 people were killed and 309 injured in an attack targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday, Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said in an update on Sunday. According to GACA, the fatalities included four Saudi citizens and residents of several other nationalities, including two Bangladeshis and one each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan. Some of the injured are in critical condition and are receiving medical treatment at several hospitals. In its statement, GACA said, Further to its earlier statement regarding the attack targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday, October 10, 2026, corresponding to 29 Rabi' Al-Thani 1448H, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) clarifies that the attack resulted in (12) fatalities, including (4) Saudi citizens and residents of the following nationalities: (2) Bangladeshi, (1) American, (1) Egyptian, (1) Jordanian, (1) Syrian, (1) Palestinian and (1) Sudanese. The attack also left (309) others injured, including individuals in critical condition. All injured individuals are receiving the necessary medical care at several hospitals. May Allah bestow His mercy upon those who lost their lives and grant the injured a speedy recovery. The attack also caused property damage, the extent of which is currently being assessed, the statement added. The latest attack prompted several countries to condemn the targeting of Saudi Arabia and express solidarity with the Kingdom. The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates strongly condemned the attacks, saying they targeted King Khalid International Airport and resulted in the deaths of Saudi citizens and injuries to civilians. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of Palestine strongly condemns the attacks that targeted the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which struck King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and resulted in the martyrdom of several Saudi citizens and the injury of numerous civilians, the statement read. It expressed full solidarity with the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and supported measures taken by Riyadh to safeguard its security, sovereignty and the safety of its citizens and residents. The Ministry affirms the State of Palestine's condemnation of these attacks, declares its full solidarity with the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and supports all measures it takes to preserve its security, sovereignty, and the safety of its citizens and residents on its territory. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates also extends the State of Palestine's sincere condolences to the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabiaits leadership, government, and peoplefor the victims of these attacks, and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured, it added. Egypt also expressed strong condemnation, describing the attacks as a flagrant violation of international law and a disregard for civilian safety. It said it stood alongside Saudi Arabia in confronting the attacks. Qatar condemned the attack, which it attributed to the Houthis, calling it a serious violation of Saudi sovereignty and a direct threat to regional security, civilians and civil aviation. The incident follows earlier attacks targeting King Khalid International Airport and Abha International Airport on October 6 and 7, which GACA said had resulted in three deaths and 36 injuries. Following Saturday's attack, airport operations were temporarily suspended while authorities assessed the damage and conducted safety inspections in coordination with the relevant agencies. Several airlines announced flight cancellations or suspensions, while the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Germany and Spain issued advisories urging their citizens to avoid the airport or exercise caution amid continuing security concerns. Akasa Air extended the suspension of all flights to and from Riyadh until October 13, while Kuwait Airways cancelled its Riyadh-bound and return flights on Saturday due to the airport closure. The US Embassy in Saudi Arabia strongly recommended that American citizens avoid King Khalid International Airport and surrounding areas, warning of possible flight cancellations, airspace closures, and travel disruptions. The British Foreign Office also advised British nationals to avoid the airport until it was secure and to monitor guidance issued by Saudi authorities. (ANI)
Jammu Kashmir Police Warn Against Matrimonial App Scams, Urge Users to Verify Profiles
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Police have warned people against cyber fraud through matrimonial applications, urging users to verify profiles and identities before establishing trust or sharing personal information with strangers online. The advisory highlights how fraudsters allegedly use fake profiles, attractive photographs and false personal details to approach prospective partners, build emotional connections through chats []
CUK calls for counsellor, confidential helpline to address student mental health
Ganderbal, Oct 10: The Central University of Kashmir (CUK) on Saturday called for strengthening mental health support systems in educational institutions, including the establishment of a confidential helpline, online counselling appointments and a dedicated psychological counsellor, amid concerns over academic pressure, emotional distress and reluctance among students to seek professional help. The recommendations emerged during a programme organised by the university's Student Mental Health Task Force at its Tulmulla campus to mark World Mental Health Day 2026 under the theme Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change. Addressing the gathering, Nodal Officer of the Student Mental Health Task Force and Dean, School of Business Studies, Prof Syed Zahoor Ahmad Geelani, said educational institutions needed to move beyond routine academic assessments and pay greater attention to the emotional well-being of students. He observed that teachers and administrators were often quick to offer advice but less willing to listen patiently to students experiencing personal or academic difficulties. Geelani urged faculty members to enquire about students' well-being instead of focusing exclusively on attendance, assignments, deadlines and academic performance. He highlighted the difficulties faced by students who travel long distances, manage family responsibilities and struggle to balance academic commitments with personal challenges. Calling for stronger institutional support, he proposed improved counselling infrastructure, a confidential mental health helpline, online appointment facilities and the appointment of a dedicated psychological counsellor within the university. Dean Academic Affairs Prof Shahid Rasool said stigma, lack of acceptance and reluctance to discuss emotional difficulties remained major barriers to addressing mental health concerns. There is first, that we don't accept it. Second, we don't share it. And third, that we don't come forward to help each other, he said. Rasool stressed that teachers must recognise the different circumstances and emotional needs of students and respond with patience and compassion rather than harshness. No two students are alike, he said, advocating a more sensitive approach to student welfare. He appreciated the establishment of the university's Student Mental Health Task Force and suggested extending similar support to research scholars, faculty members and non-teaching employees. Registrar Dr Nisar Ahmad Mir said unrealistic expectations, unfulfilled aspirations and social judgements could adversely affect emotional well-being. He urged students to adopt a balanced approach to life and avoid forming opinions about others without understanding their circumstances. Mir said empathy and a non-judgemental attitude were essential for creating a supportive academic environment. Chief Proctor and Dean, School of Legal Studies, Prof Farooq Ahmad Mir, emphasised positive thinking, contentment and emotional balance while dealing with challenging situations. Life has two sides. You may not control everything, but it is up to you which side you will take, he said. He encouraged students to cultivate constructive attitudes and avoid allowing anger and resentment to dominate their thoughts. Clinical psychologist Muzaffar Ahmad cautioned against treating mental health difficulties as personal weaknesses, excuses or failures. He said misconceptions surrounding psychological distress often prevented individuals from acknowledging their difficulties and seeking appropriate assistance. We as a people, don't understand what mental health is, he observed, adding that emotional distress was frequently misinterpreted as indiscipline, lack of motivation or an inability to cope with challenges. Ahmad stressed that motivational advice alone could not substitute for professional assessment, appropriate intervention and sustained psychological support. Earlier, Senior Assistant Professor Dr Gulafroz Jan said student mental health should be treated as an integral part of higher education rather than a secondary welfare concern. She highlighted the emotional pressures associated with academic competition, loneliness, family expectations and uncertainty about future employment. Not every struggle is visible, not every silence signifies peace, and not every smile tells the whole story, she said. The programme also featured technical sessions on physical well-being and mental health, with presentations by Head of the Department of Physical Education Dr Kaukab Azeem and IMHANS consultant psychiatrist Dr Aijaz Suhaff. Dean, School of Education, Prof C Naseema, Dean of Students' Welfare Dr Jehirul Islam, faculty members, research scholars, administrative staff and students attended the programme. Dr Ibraq Khursheed conducted the proceedings, while Medical Officer Dr Sheeba presented the vote of thanks. The discussions emphasised the need for educational institutions to develop accessible, confidential and professionally supported mental health services while promoting empathy, active listening and awareness among students and faculty members.
Director Agriculture orders timely execution of HADP, JKCIP projects across Kashmir
Srinagar, Oct 10: Director Agriculture Kashmir Sartaj Ahmad Shah on Saturday directed officials to accelerate the implementation of agricultural development schemes and ensure timely utilisation of allocated funds, stressing that benefits under government programmes must reach farmers within the prescribed timelines. Chairing a review meeting at the Directorate of Agriculture, Lalmandi, Srinagar, Shah assessed the physical and financial progress of various schemes in Srinagar, Pulwama, Budgam and Ganderbal districts. The meeting reviewed the implementation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), the Jammu and Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement Project (JKCIP), flagship agricultural initiatives and works funded under the Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) budget. Chief Agriculture Officers of the four districts and Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) attended the meeting. During the review, Shah examined the status of ongoing projects, expenditure against allocated funds and progress towards targets fixed under different departmental programmes. He directed officers to ensure that all approved activities were implemented according to the current year's action plans and completed within stipulated deadlines. The Director stressed that delays in execution and expenditure should be addressed promptly to prevent disruptions in the delivery of agricultural services and benefits to farmers. He asked district-level officers to maintain close coordination with field functionaries and regularly monitor both physical achievements and financial expenditure. Shah also emphasised optimum utilisation of available resources and adherence to prescribed guidelines while implementing farmer-oriented schemes. The meeting discussed administrative and operational bottlenecks affecting the execution of agricultural programmes, with the Director instructing concerned officers to resolve such issues without delay. He reiterated the need for regular monitoring, accountability and coordinated implementation to improve the effectiveness of agricultural development initiatives across the Kashmir division. The review covered the four districts' performance under major agricultural programmes, although district-wise expenditure figures, achievement percentages and pending targets were not disclosed in the official statement. The Director said the department would continue focusing on timely implementation of schemes and improving the delivery of agricultural services to farming communities across Kashmir.
J&K's first sustainable mountain development policy to be discussed at Srinagar summit
Srinagar, Oct 10: Jammu and Kashmir's first Sustainable Mountain Development Policy will be among the key subjects of discussion at a three-day national summit beginning October 12 at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), bringing together policymakers, scientists and agricultural experts to examine the challenges facing Himalayan ecosystems. The 13th Sustainable Mountain Development Summit, being organised jointly by SKUAST-Kashmir and the Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI), will be held alongside the Jammu and Kashmir Agriculture Science Congress-2026 at the university's Shalimar campus from October 12 to 14. The event, themed Contouring Sustainable Himalayan Landscapes for Inclusive Viksit Bharat, will focus on climate-resilient agriculture, mountain ecosystem conservation, sustainable development and inclusive economic opportunities across the Himalayan region. According to the organisers, a major highlight of the summit will be the introduction and discussion of a proposed Sustainable Mountain Development Policy for Jammu and Kashmir, aimed at addressing the distinctive environmental and developmental challenges of mountainous regions. The summit will also see the launch of three practical publications dealing with agricultural carbon markets, international carbon-market cooperation and environmental safeguards. The Farmer's Guidebook, developed by SKUAST-Kashmir in collaboration with the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI), is intended to help farmers understand and participate equitably in agricultural carbon markets. The organisers said the guidebook has been endorsed by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare. Another publication, the Article 6.2 Toolkit, will provide guidance on international cooperation in carbon markets, particularly mechanisms aimed at ensuring credible and transparent transactions. The Environmental and Social Management Framework will focus on strengthening safeguards for agricultural carbon projects, with emphasis on environmental protection and social considerations. The discussions are expected to examine how sustainable agricultural practices and emerging carbon-market mechanisms can support climate resilience while creating economic opportunities for farming communities. The summit will bring together policymakers, administrators, scientists, farmers and development professionals to explore approaches to conserving fragile mountain ecosystems and improving agricultural sustainability. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is also Pro-Chancellor of SKUAST-Kashmir, is scheduled to inaugurate the summit on October 12 at 10 am. Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Jitendra Singh is scheduled to attend a special session on October 13 at 2 pm. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chancellor of SKUAST-Kashmir, is scheduled to preside over the valedictory function on October 14 at 3 pm. The organisers said the summit would provide a platform for discussions on policy interventions, scientific research and practical solutions for sustainable development in the Himalayan region. The proposed mountain development policy and the publications on carbon markets are expected to feature prominently in deliberations on balancing environmental conservation with agricultural livelihoods and long-term economic growth.
KU retains 4-star rating under MoEs Innovation Council framework
Srinagar October 10: The University of Kashmir (KU) has retained its 4-Star Rating under the Institutions Innovation Council (IIC) framework of the Ministry of Educations Innovation Cell (MIC) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). The University secured a total score of 76.79 out of 100 in the latest IIC performance assessment, declared on October 5, 2026. The rating recognises the Universitys initiatives to strengthen its innovation ecosystem and encourage students and faculty members to translate ideas into practical solutions. Institutions securing a 4-star rating are considered among the best-performing institutions with a streamlined campus ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship. The Centre for Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship (CIIE), Institute of Technology (IoT), Zakura Campus, which also serves as KUs Institution Innovation Council, facilitates activities aimed at nurturing creativity, entrepreneurial thinking and start-up development across the University. Congratulating the CIIE team, Vice-Chancellor, KU, Prof. Nilofer Khan, said the continued recognition reflected the importance the University places on promoting an innovation-driven academic environment. Retaining this rating is an encouraging recognition of our continued efforts to nurture innovative thinking and entrepreneurial talent. We want our students and researchers to feel empowered to explore new ideas, develop practical solutions and contribute to society through their creativity and enterprise, she said. Registrar, KU, Prof. Naseer Iqbal, congratulated the team and said the achievement reflected the varsity's commitment to creating opportunities for students and faculty to engage in innovation and entrepreneurship. Director, IoT, Zakura Campus KU, and Chairman, CIIE, KU, Prof. M. Tariq Banday, said the rating shows the collective efforts of the CIIE team in building a culture of innovation and enterprise. Under the MICAICTE framework, the Council undertakes a range of activities throughout the academic year, including innovation and entrepreneurship awareness programmes, expert interactions, ideation and problem-solving sessions, design thinking, intellectual property rights awareness, exposure visits, idea competitions, hackathons, prototype showcases, mentoring and start-up development initiatives. These activities include those prescribed under the IIC calendar, MIC-driven initiatives, celebrations and self-driven programmes, with outcomes documented and reported through the designated IIC portal.
Chief Justice calls for greater representation of women in legal profession
Srinagar, Oct 10: Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati, on Saturday called for greater participation of women in the legal profession and urged judicial institutions to embrace technology to meet changing societal expectations. Addressing a felicitation programme organised by the Kashmir Advocates Association at the District Court Complex in Srinagar, the Chief Justice said encouraging women advocates and ensuring their active participation in the legal fraternity was essential for its progress. His remarks came as the Association announced that it had agreed in principle to induct five women lawyers into its Executive Committee, with the decision to be formalised shortly. Welcoming the move, Justice Bhati recalled the pioneering contribution of Cornelia Sorabji and stressed the importance of creating opportunities for women lawyers to assume greater responsibilities within the profession. Drawing upon his experience as a practising lawyer, the Chief Justice said the legal fraternity must remain responsive to changing societal expectations and technological advancements. He cautioned that institutions failing to adapt to emerging technologies risked being left behind. Describing lawyers as important custodians of constitutional rights and access to justice, Justice Bhati emphasised the need for cooperation between the Bench and the Bar to strengthen the justice delivery system. Earlier, interacting with judicial officers at the District Court Complex, the Chief Justice urged them to discharge their responsibilities fearlessly, compassionately and with an unwavering commitment to the rule of law. He said the judiciary had a crucial responsibility to safeguard citizens' rights, ensure access to justice and maintain public confidence in judicial institutions. Justice Bhati stressed that collective responsibility, mutual trust and institutional harmony were essential for the effective functioning of courts. He encouraged judicial officers to work collaboratively, maintain the highest standards of judicial conduct and create a peaceful and conducive working environment. Expressing satisfaction with the professional competence and dedication of judicial officers serving in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, the Chief Justice also highlighted the importance of continuous learning and guidance from senior judicial officers. Principal District and Sessions Judge Srinagar Naseer Ahmad Dar welcomed the Chief Justice and reaffirmed the district judiciary's commitment to quality adjudication, timely disposal of cases and reduction of pendency. At the felicitation programme, Kashmir Advocates Association president Waseem Gul highlighted the role of district courts as the first accessible forum of justice for ordinary citizens. He emphasised the importance of constructive cooperation between the Bench and the Bar and sought the Chief Justice's guidance on improving court infrastructure and facilities for lawyers and litigants. Gul also called for strengthening legal aid services, promoting alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and introducing structured training programmes for young advocates. He assured the Association's cooperation in improving the administration of justice and welcomed the newly appointed Principal District and Sessions Judge Srinagar. The Chief Justice appreciated the Association's decision to include women lawyers in its executive body and reiterated the need for professional cooperation, technological adaptation and inclusive participation in the legal system. The interactions focused on strengthening judicial institutions, improving access to justice and preserving the dignity and independence of the judiciary.
After losing mother to wildlife attack, Sgr engineer builds alert app WildPing
Srinagar, Oct 10: A few steps from home, a tragedy changed Mudasir Alis life forever. His mother was killed in a wildlife attack, leaving behind a loss that no technology could undo. But for the software engineer from New Theed in Harwan, Srinagar, the tragedy also gave rise to a determination: to use his skills to help prevent other families from enduring the same heartbreak. That resolve has taken shape in WildPing, a free web-based application designed to alert communities about wildlife movement and help people take precautions when wild animals are spotted nearby. In a region where encounters between humans and wildlife have become a growing concern, Ali hopes the platform will turn timely information into a potentially life-saving warning. His initiative brings together technology, community participation and a deeply personal commitment to public safety. A Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) and Master of Computer Applications (MCA) graduate from the University of Kashmir, Ali works as a senior software engineer with a multinational company. Yet, beyond his professional responsibilities, he has channelled his technical expertise into a project driven by a loss that remains close to his heart. Since then, I have always thought about developing something as a software engineer that people could actually use to minimise human-wildlife conflict and save as many lives as possible, Ali said. For him, WildPing is not simply another digital product. It is an attempt to ensure that a wildlife sighting reported by one person can become a warning for many others before they unknowingly enter a potentially dangerous area. The idea behind the platform is straightforward. When a person spots a wild animal, such as a bear, they can submit a report through WildPing. The system is designed to share alerts with nearby users, allowing residents to exercise caution, inform family members and neighbours, and remain aware of possible wildlife activity in their surroundings. Its location-based features display the reported sighting and estimate the distance between the reported location and a user. Notifications can also reach users when they are not actively using the application, provided they have installed it and enabled the necessary permissions. In places where people routinely move between homes, orchards, agricultural fields and forest fringes, Ali believes such information can make a difference by encouraging people to pause, reassess their surroundings and avoid unnecessary risks. The real strength of this app is the people. They have to install it, report wildlife sightings and make sure that people around them are also aware of it, he said. The emphasis on community participation is central to WildPing. Its effectiveness will depend on how quickly people report sightings, how responsibly information is shared and how widely the platform is adopted in vulnerable areas. Ali also wants wildlife officials to use the system. Reports submitted by residents, he believes, could help authorities identify areas where animals have been sighted and assess situations more promptly. He envisages WildPing becoming a communication link between local communities and wildlife personnel, including in areas near and beyond protected forest boundaries. The platform is accessible through wildping.org and can be installed on compatible Android and iOS devices, as well as computers, through a web browser. Users do not need to download it from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, and Ali says the service will remain free. Behind its simple interface are systems designed to manage user information, location-based reporting and notifications. The platform also incorporates safeguards against bots, spam and potentially misleading submissions, addressing a key challenge for any public reporting network: ensuring that information shared with communities remains useful and credible. Ali acknowledges that WildPing is still in its initial version and will need further improvements. One of his plans is to make the live wildlife activity map accessible to the public without requiring an account to view reported activity, while retaining account registration for submitting sightings. But the engineer knows that building the platform is only the first step. Its real value will be determined by whether residents use it, whether people trust and responsibly share the information, and whether wildlife authorities and conservation groups engage with the initiative. He has also cautioned against treating the application as a guarantee of safety. An alert system can improve awareness, but it cannot replace vigilance, responsible behaviour or official wildlife management measures. Residents living near forest fringes and other wildlife-prone areas, he said, should remain particularly careful while cutting grass, working in orchards or visiting agricultural land. They should stay alert to their surroundings, exercise caution in areas where wild animals may be present and report sightings promptly. The larger purpose, Ali stresses, is not to encourage fear or disturb wildlife, but to promote safer coexistence between people and animals. For a man who experienced the consequences of a wildlife encounter within steps of his own home, the motivation is deeply personal. He has developed the platform himself and wants it to remain free, dedicating the initiative to his late mother. WildPing cannot erase his loss, nor can any digital platform eliminate the risks associated with living alongside wildlife. But Ali hopes it can help create a culture in which a sighting does not remain an isolated observation, a warning reaches beyond the person who first sees the animal, and communities become better prepared to respond. His mothers death gave him a painful reason to begin. Whether WildPing can fulfil its larger promise will now depend on a collective effort one in which residents report responsibly, neighbours stay informed and authorities work with communities to protect both human lives and wildlife.
1997 case against father no ground to bar MBBS student: HC
Srinagar, Oct 10: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has directed the revival of the passport of a Kashmiri MBBS student pursuing her studies in Iran to enable her to complete the remaining part of her medical course, while allowing authorities to conduct a fresh security audit before restoring the travel document. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Dr Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal passed the directions while disposing of an appeal filed by Ibra Khan, a student at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Kish Campus, Iran. In its order, the court observed that depriving the student of the opportunity to complete her MBBS course would jeopardise her career, particularly when she had already completed half of the programme with the permission granted by the authorities. The student had received show-cause notices on March 27 and April 9, 2026, which culminated in an order dated May 4, 2026, resulting in the impounding of her passport. Appearing for the appellant, her counsel submitted that she had completed two years of her MBBS course on the basis of her passport and admission to the university. The counsel also submitted that the university was recognised by the National Medical Commission and sought the release of her passport solely to enable her to complete her education. The court had called for a report from the government in a sealed cover. The report raised allegations concerning the appellants father in connection with a case registered in 1997 and expressed apprehension that the student might join anti-India forces, potentially jeopardising the countrys security and sovereignty. However, the bench noted that the respondents' counsel could not pinpoint the grounds for such apprehension, particularly as the case referred to in the report dated back to 1997, while the appellant herself was born in 2005. The court said it had the highest respect and concern for the countrys security and sovereignty but considered limited intervention warranted in view of the peculiar circumstances of the case and the student's academic progress. Accordingly, the bench directed that her passport be revived for the remaining period required to complete her MBBS course. It clarified that if the authorities possessed any additional material beyond what was contained in the source report, they could conduct a fresh security audit before reviving the passport. The respondents were also permitted to impose conditions considered necessary on the basis of an expert assessment. The student would be required to undertake to comply with those conditions before the passport was restored. The bench modified the order dated June 5, 2026, passed by the single judge. Clarifying the limited scope of its decision, the court said the order was being passed in the peculiar facts of the case and should not be treated as a precedent. It also directed that the source report be returned to the respondents in a sealed cover.
1 in 3 Kashmir college girls show PCOS symptoms
Srinagar, Oct 10: Nearly one in three female college students surveyed in Kashmir showed symptoms suggestive of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), raising concerns over an under-recognised womens health challenge among young people, a new study has found. The cross-sectional study, conducted among 1,217 students from colleges in Kashmir between July and December 2024, found that 33.6% showed symptoms suggestive of PCOS, while 1.28% had strong indicators of the condition. The research, titled Assessing the Prevalence of PCOS in College Students of Kashmir, J&K, India: A Cross-Sectional Study, was conducted by Mohd Anis Ganaie of the Department of Zoology, Sri Pratap College, Cluster University Srinagar, along with Amrit Sudershan and Ruheena Javid Raina of the Department of Human Genetics, Sri Pratap College. The average age of participants was around 22 years, placing the study population largely within a critical period when menstrual, hormonal and metabolic health can have long-term implications, the study reads. PCOS is a common hormonal disorder that can affect menstrual cycles, ovulation and fertility. But its impact can extend well beyond reproductive health, with links to metabolic complications such as insulin resistance and diabetes and potentially increased cardiovascular risk. It found a significant gap in awareness of these wider consequences. While students were relatively familiar with the more visible gynaecological symptoms associated with PCOS, knowledge of its long-term health risks was considerably weaker. Only 44.5% knew about the association between PCOS and insulin resistance, while around 45% were aware of its link with diabetes. Awareness of the potential connection with heart disease was even lower, at 33%, the research reads. The findings suggest that many young women may recognise menstrual or reproductive symptoms without fully understanding what they could signify or the importance of seeking timely medical advice. Nearly 30% of the participants reported having a previous diagnosis of PCOS, highlighting both the presence of the condition among the surveyed population and the importance of early recognition and appropriate clinical management, the study states. Researchers caution that the 33.6% figure represents students with symptoms suggestive of PCOS and should not be interpreted as a clinically confirmed prevalence rate. Nevertheless, the scale of symptoms identified in the survey points to a need for greater awareness and screening among young women. The study used a structured questionnaire covering demographic characteristics, PCOS awareness and symptoms. The researchers also applied statistical methods, including Kuder-Richardson reliability testing and Item Response Theory, to assess the reliability and performance of the questionnaire. The findings have implications for colleges and healthcare institutions, where targeted awareness programmes could help young women better understand menstrual irregularities, hormonal symptoms and the possible long-term consequences associated with PCOS. Researchers argue that awareness should go beyond reproductive health. Students need to understand that PCOS can also have metabolic implications, making early recognition and sustained health monitoring important. The study concludes that PCOS is potentially underdiagnosed among young women in Kashmir, while significant gaps remain in awareness of its broader health consequences. It calls for stronger health education initiatives aimed at improving symptom recognition, encouraging timely medical consultation and promoting better understanding of the long-term risks associated with the condition. For Kashmirs young women, the study offers a clear public-health message--a menstrual or hormonal problem should not simply be dismissed as a routine inconvenience when it could be an early sign of a condition with implications extending far beyond reproductive health.
Concrete swallows Kashmirs floodplains as natural defences shrink
Srinagar, Oct 10: Kashmirs natural flood defences are steadily coming under pressure as concrete spreads across the Jhelum floodplain, wetlands lose ground and settlements expand into landscapes that once helped absorb excess water. A scientific study of the Jhelum basin has quantified the scale of this transformation: built-up land within the rivers floodplain increased from 55.47 square kilometres in 1972 to 203.30 square kilometres in 2013 nearly fourfold in 41 years. The population living within the floodplain also rose from 11.29 lakh in 1981 to 30.21 lakh in 2011, while the length of metalled roads increased from approximately 745.64 kilometres in 1962 to 1,698.23 kilometres in 2016, the study notes. The findings, published in a study examining the climatic, geomorphic and human-induced drivers of the devastating September 2014 floods, reveal how rapidly development has transformed the Valleys flood-prone landscape. The expansion matters because floodplains are not simply vacant stretches of land beside rivers. They form part of a natural system that accommodates excess water, while wetlands and drainage channels help regulate its movement. Construction, paved surfaces and obstructions can reduce water absorption, increase runoff and expose more people and infrastructure to inundation. The study also found that the area of major wetlands larger than 25 hectares in the Jhelum basin declined from 288.96 square kilometres in 1972 to 266.45 square kilometres in 2013, a reduction of 22.51 square kilometres. Researchers reported that 20 wetlands in and around Srinagar had been converted into urban colonies over five decades. Speaking to Rising Kashmir, senior environmentalist and researcher Dr Tanvir Ahmad Khan said: Kashmir is committing an ecological blunder by allowing concrete to swallow its floodplains, wetlands and natural drainage systems. These are not wastelands available for urban expansion; they are natures own defence mechanisms against flooding. Every encroached floodplain and every reclaimed wetland weakens the Valleys ability to absorb excess water and increases the vulnerability of people and property. He said that the devastating floods of 2014 should have served as a permanent warning. Yet, unplanned construction, indiscriminate land-use changes and the shrinking of natural water-retention areas continue to undermine Kashmirs ecological security. The most disturbing aspect is that development often proceeds at the cost of the very natural systems that protect human settlements, Khan said. The government cannot claim environmental responsibility while allowing ecological buffers to disappear. Flood management must begin with protecting floodplains, restoring wetlands, removing illegal encroachments through lawful processes, and enforcing scientifically informed land-use regulations. Khan said concrete may generate immediate economic gains, but when it replaces natures defences, society ultimately pays the price. Kashmir cannot afford another warning written in floodwater, he said. The tragedy is that we are destroying natures protective infrastructure and expecting engineering and environmental mitigation measures and interventions to compensate for its loss. Embankments and drainage channels cannot fully replace functioning floodplains and wetlands. The environmentalist said that the most alarming concern is the lack of political will to protect Kashmirs floodplains, with short-term development interests repeatedly taking precedence over long-term ecological security and public safety. Dr Touseef Ahmad Bhat, a Kashmir-based environmentalist and socio-environmental activist, has repeatedly highlighted the interconnected nature of the Valleys ecosystems. Entire Kashmir is a wetland, Bhat said, stressing the ecological importance of the regions natural water systems. He also identified urbanisation, pollution, encroachment, land-use change and climate change among the pressures affecting wetlands, warning of consequences for biodiversity, water quality and human health. The concern is supported by research linking urban expansion and wetland loss with greater flood vulnerability. A 2023 study examining surface runoff in the Kashmir Valley found that rainfall exceeding 500 millimetres in the catchments played a key role in flooding, with northern catchments generating approximately 59.6 per cent of total runoff. It also identified built-up areas near rivers and below 1,560 metres as being at high risk of inundation. The evidence underlines the need to examine climate and land-use changes together. Heavy rainfall can trigger flooding, but the condition of floodplains, river channels and drainage networks influences how water moves through settlements. The Jhelums flood-management system also depends on the Flood Spill Channel, which diverts excess water from the main river. Designed to carry 8,000 cusecs, the channel requires adequate maintenance and protection against obstructions to preserve its intended function. Satellite imagery of 63 sampled lakes showed that seven were no longer visible or had almost dried up. The audit also found that 2,528.10 kanals of Hokersar Lake had been encroached upon amid the absence of proper survey and demarcation.
J&K poised to become major GCC destination: LG Sinha
Jammu, Oct 10: Jammu Kashmir is poised to emerge as a significant destination for Global Capability Centres, driven by its young talent, improving infrastructure, investor-friendly policies and growing innovation ecosystem, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Friday, as he addressed the Valedictory Session of the J&K Global Capability Centre (GCC) Summit 2026. Congratulating IIM Jammu, NASSCOM, partner institutions and the administration for successfully organising the two-day summit, the Lieutenant Governor urged participants to reflect on a key questionwhy companies seeking their next talent hub, innovation centre and capacity destination should choose Jammu Kashmirand work together with a strong resolve to make it a reality. Drawing inspiration from the world's highest railway arch bridge over the Chenab River, the Lieutenant Governor said Jammu Kashmir today reflects the confidence and ambition required to pursue transformational goals. He observed that the Chenab itself, formed through the confluence of the Chandra and Bhaga rivers, symbolises the spirit of collaboration. In a similar manner, he said, GCCs bring together the global expertise, capital and technology of multinational enterprises with the talent, aspirations and imagination of Jammu Kashmir's youth to create new opportunities for growth and innovation. I see Global Capability Centres in the same spirit of courage and confluence and together they can generate a strength far beyond their separate capabilities, he said. The Lieutenant Governor noted that India is home to more than 2,100 GCCs employing over 19 lakh professionals and contributing substantially to exports. He highlighted that an increasing number of GCCs are expanding beyond metropolitan centres into Tier-II and Tier-III cities, demonstrating that India's talent pool is now widely distributed. He said this presents both an opportunity and a responsibility for Jammu Kashmir to strengthen its institutions, infrastructure and innovation ecosystem. Emphasising the future direction of the sector, he said the journey of GCCs has evolved from questions of cost efficiency to excellence and capability. He expressed confidence that Jammu Kashmir can evolve from being a destination for capability centres to becoming a hub for unique global innovations originating from the region. The Lieutenant Governor highlighted the rapid transformation of Jammu Kashmir under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said major infrastructure developments and enhanced connectivity are supporting rising industrial investments and the remarkable growth of the startup ecosystem. The industrial revolution we are witnessing today in parts of the Jammu division and the Kashmir Valley is a living symbol of the new Jammu Kashmir. In 2020, there were only 69 startups and that number has now risen to 1,305, a growth of over 1,800 per cent. When the energy of young, ambitious graduates from IIM Jammu, IIT Jammu, NIT Srinagar and other universities of Jammu Kashmir is added to these figures, you see a ready workforce emerging, he said. The Lieutenant Governor identified six key advantages that position Jammu Kashmir as an attractive GCC destinationstrong financial support, lower operating costs, special incentives for pioneering multinational investors, the return of local talent, first-mover advantages for early GCC entrants, and opportunities in niche sectors such as agri-tech, tourism-tech and handicraft digitisation. Outlining a four-pillar roadmap for the next five years, he stressed talent development through industry-academia partnerships, building trust through credible implementation, leveraging Jammu Kashmir's unique destination advantages, and promoting inclusive growth through a hub-and-spoke development model. Expressing confidence in J&K's future, the Lieutenant Governor said GCCs can become an integral pillar of Jammu Kashmir's industrial ecosystem over the next decade. He stated that the foundation laid during the summit can help build a new, aspirational and innovation-driven Jammu Kashmir that is fully prepared to welcome Global Capability Centres from across the world. Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary, J&K; Padma Bhushan Rajendra Singh Pawar, Chairman, NIIT; Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu; Kumar Rajeev Ranjan, Secretary, Labour & Employment Department, J&K; Prof. Jabir Ali, Dean, Faculty and Research, IIM Jammu; Prof. Nitin Upadhyay, Dean Academics, IIM Jammu; Dr Sandeep Ananthanarayanan, CEO, CITaG, IIM Jammu; experts, policymakers, industry leaders, senior officials, faculty and students attended the valedictory session.
FDA continues special enforcement drive across J&K 106 inspections conducted; 18 cases compounded; 20,000 fine imposed SRINAGAR: Food & Drugs Administration (FDA), J&K, continues its special inspection, enforcement and awareness drive targeting street food vendors operating in busy markets and high-footfall areas across all the districts to ensure the availability of safe, hygienic and wholesome []
The heart of innovation: Dr Amit Bhushan Sharma spotlights next-generation cardiac care at Jammu CME
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SRINAGAR: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) in collaboration with Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI) will host the 13th Sustainable Mountain Development Summit alongside the Jammu & Kashmir Agriculture Science Congress-2026 from 12 to 14 October 2026 at its Shalimar Campus. The three-day national-level event, themed Contouring Sustainable Himalayan Landscapes for Inclusive []
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SRINAGAR: The Annual Athletics Meet (Men and Women) commenced at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar, with around 150 students participating in the event organised by the institutes Student Activity and Sports (SAS) Centre. The meet aims to promote physical fitness, sportsmanship and healthy competition while encouraging students to balance academic pursuits with sports []
Info Dept Kulgam organises seminar on social media ethics at GDC Kulgam
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Over 7,000 detained as Delhi Police cracks down on CJP protest demanding CEC
Four former CMs held; Kejriwal, Mamata released; FIR likely over assault on personnel; Wangchuk threatens hunger strike Demonstrators and security personnel during an agitation by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral roll irregularities, in New Delhi, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. Credit: PTI Photo NEW DELHI: In a []
The Office of the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner (OHCHR) said it was concerned by reports of mass detentions at the Delhi protests, a statement that the government rejected
Riyadh airport attack kills 12, injures over 300 as Saudi coalition blames Houthi rebels
A missile attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, killed 12 people and injured more than 300 others, including several who were in critical condition, civil aviation authorities said early Sunday. The...
12 Killed, Over 300 Injured In Missile Attack On Saudi's Riyadh Airport
While the Houthis have said they are only targeting Saudi shipping as part of a blockade in retaliation for the one imposed on them, concerns about wider attacks persist.
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Jammu, Oct 10: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said Jammu and Kashmir was ready for Global Capability Centres (GCCs). Addressing the valedictory session of the J&K Global Capability Centre (GCC) Summit 2026, LG Sinha said that J&K was poised to emerge as a significant destination for Global Capability Centres, driven by its young talent, improving infrastructure, investor-friendly policies, and growing innovation ecosystem. Congratulating IIM Jammu, NASSCOM, partner institutions and the administration for successfully organising the two-day summit, he urged participants to reflect on a key question about why companies seeking their next talent hub, innovation centre, and capacity destination should J&K be their preferred choice and work together with a strong resolve to make it a reality. Drawing inspiration from the worlds highest railway arch bridge over the Chenab River, the LG said that J&K today reflects the confidence and ambition required to pursue transformational goals. He said that the Chenab itself, formed through the confluence of the Chandra and Bhaga rivers, symbolises the spirit of collaboration. LG Sinha said that in a similar manner, GCCs bring together the global expertise, capital and technology of multinational enterprises with the talent, aspirations, and imagination of J&Ks youth to create new opportunities for growth and innovation. I see Global Capability Centres in the same spirit of courage and confluence and together they can generate a strength far beyond their separate capabilities, he said. The LG said that India was home to more than 2100 GCCs employing over 19 lakh professionals and contributing substantially to exports. He highlighted that an increasing number of GCCs were expanding beyond metropolitan centres into Tier-II and Tier-III cities, demonstrating that Indias talent pool was now widely distributed across the country. LG Sinha said that this presents both an opportunity and a responsibility for J&K to strengthen its institutions, infrastructure, and innovation ecosystem. Emphasising the future direction of the GCC sector, he said that the journey of GCCs had evolved from questions of cost efficiency to excellence and capability. The LG expressed confidence that J&K could evolve from being a destination for capability centres to becoming a hub for unique global innovations originating from the region. He also highlighted the rapid transformation of J&K under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. LG Sinha said the major infrastructure developments and enhanced connectivity were supporting the rising industrial investments and the remarkable growth of the startup ecosystem. The industrial revolution we are witnessing today in parts of the Jammu division and the Kashmir Valley is a living symbol of the new Jammu Kashmir. In 2020, there were only 69 startups and that number has now risen to 1,305, a growth of over 1800 percent. When the energy of young, ambitious graduates from IIM Jammu, IIT Jammu, NIT Srinagar and other universities of Jammu Kashmir is added to these figures, you see a ready workforce emerging, he said. The LG identified six key advantages that position J&K as an attractive GCC destination including strong financial support, lower operating costs, special incentives for pioneering multinational investors, the return of local talent, first-mover advantages for early GCC entrants and opportunities in niche sectors such as agri-tech, tourism-tech, and handicraft digitisation. Outlining a four-pillar roadmap for the next five years, he stressed talent development through industry-academia partnerships, building trust through credible implementation, leveraging J&Ks unique destination advantages and promoting inclusive growth through a hub-and-spoke development model. Expressing confidence in J&K's future, LG Sinha said that GCCs could become an integral pillar of J&Ks industrial ecosystem over the next decade. He said that the foundation laid during the summit could help build a new, aspirational, and innovation-driven J&K that was fully prepared to welcome Global Capability Centres from across the world. Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary, J&K; Padma Bhushan Rajendra Singh Pawar, Chairman, NIIT; Prof B S Sahay, Director IIM Jammu; Kumar Rajeev Ranjan, Secretary, Labour and Employment Department, J&K; Prof Jabir Ali, Dean, Faculty and Research, IIM Jammu; Prof Nitin Upadhyay, Dean Academics, IIM Jammu; and Sandeep Ananthanarayanan, CEO, CITaG, IIM Jammu attended the valedictory session.
12 killed, 309 injured in attack on Riyadh airport as Houthis, Saudi Arabia trade strikes
Digital Desk | Riyadh, Oct 11 (IANS) An attack targeting King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Saturday afternoon has killed 12 people and injured 309 others, the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation said, as Yemen's Houthi group and Saudi Arabia continued exchanging strikes on major airports. The Saudi aviation authority said in a statement early Sunday that the fatalities included four Saudi citizens and eight foreign residents -- two Bangladeshis and one each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan, Xinhua news agency reported. The injured are receiving treatment at several hospitals, with some in serious condition, the authority said. The authority said in an earlier statement that operations at the airport had been temporarily suspended pending damage assessments and safety checks. Following the Saturday attack, the Houthi group said in a statement that it was ready for reciprocal measures with Saudi Arabia to keep airports, seaports and other facilities with humanitarian functions outside the escalating military confrontation. Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported Saturday that Saudi Arabia launched a new wave of air and missile strikes across Houthi-held areas in Yemen, targeting Sanaa International Airport in the Houthi-held capital, areas near the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait and several northern provinces. Also on Saturday, Yemen's government forces said that more than 1,150 Houthi fighters had been eutralized and over 180 military and logistical vehicles destroyed or damaged in over 1,900 strikes across multiple fronts in Yemen in the past 24 hours. The figures could not be independently verified. Around Yemen's southwestern city of Taiz, Houthi advances have put increasing pressure on government forces defending the city and disrupted key roads connecting it with government-held areas in southern Yemen, government military sources told Xinhua, adding that fierce clashes were underway south of the city. Supported by Saudi airstrikes, the Yemeni government launched a large-scale offensive on Monday, seeking to retake Houthi-held territory, with some of the fiercest fighting concentrated around the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait. Yemen has been mired in conflict since late 2014, when the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa and much of the country's north. A Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015 in support of the internationally recognised Yemeni government, now based in the southern port city of Aden. The renewed fighting marked a major escalation after a UN-brokered truce in 2022 largely halted major hostilities.
'Will not go back till CEC resigns': CJP calls for fresh protest at Jantar Mantar on Sunday
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has called a fresh protest at Delhis Jantar Mantar at 10 am on Sunday, demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumars resignation over alleged electoral roll irregularities. The announcement follows mass detentions, security restrictions. Delhi Traffic Police has warned of possible diversions and disruptions across New Delhi and Central Delhi.
CJP leaders' detention: Heres all that happened on board AI 2428
Justice Department probes TV networks over Trump pool boycott
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Riyadh Airport Attack Kills 12, Injures 309; Countries Condemn Strike
The latest attack prompted several countries to condemn the targeting of Saudi Arabia and express solidarity with the Kingdom
Houthis' attack on Saudi's Riyadh airport kills 12, injures over 300 as conflict escalates
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India's CJP to resume anti-CEC protests today; Dipke, Das, Ranka still in custody
Were not backing down! We will march to Jantar Mantar again tomorrow and stay there until all our demands are met, the outfit posted on X.
Shree Cement project: Govt panel to hear representations on Tuesday
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Christa Pike had been hospitalized since surviving two doses of pentobarbital as the state attempted to execute her on September 30 for the 1995 beating and stabbing death of classmate Colleen Slemmer.
Justice Department probes TV networks over Trump pool coverage, New York Times reports
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Parliament, not streets, will govern country: BJP; govt is rattled, says oppn
Maharaj Arrested For Raising Ganja Plants, Villagers Attack Police; 3 Cops Injured
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Tanker struck by projectile in Strait of Hormuz, fire reported, UKMTO says
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At least 12 killed, 309 injured in attack on airport in Riyadh, Saudi Civil Aviation says
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Cleanliness cannot be achieved without Strict Enforcement: A call for accountability and real action
Cleanliness cannot be achieved through awareness campaigns alone. It requires strict enforcement, public accountability, responsible citizenship, and the effective implementation of existing laws. For years, we have organised cleanliness drives, conducted awareness campaigns, and appealed to people to keep their surroundings clean. Yet, garbage continues to be dumped on roads, in drains, streams, rivers, lakes, and other public places. This raises a fundamental question: If awareness alone were enough, why does irresponsible waste disposal continue despite years of campaigns and public appeals? As a social activist working for the protection of water bodies, I firmly believe that the time has come to move beyond slogans, promises, and temporary cleanliness drives. We need a practical and sustainable system that discourages littering, holds offenders accountable, strengthens waste management, and ensures that environmental laws are enforced consistently. Without these measures, our efforts will continue to produce temporary results rather than meaningful and lasting change. THE GROUND REALITY MUST NOT BE IGNORED The condition of our surroundings demands serious attention. Across towns, neighbourhoods, markets, roadsides, drains, and public spaces, irresponsible waste disposal remains a persistent concern. Plastic wrappers, bottles, food waste, packaging materials, and other forms of garbage are frequently discarded in places where they do not belong. In many locations, waste is thrown on roadsides despite the availability of alternative disposal arrangements. In other areas, garbage accumulates in drains and eventually finds its way into streams, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. When the same locations are repeatedly used for dumping, they gradually turn into unofficial garbage sites. The problem is not limited to an individual throwing away a single piece of waste. When hundreds or thousands of people behave irresponsibly, the collective impact becomes a serious environmental challenge. We must recognise that a clean environment cannot be maintained if citizens continue to neglect their responsibilities. At the same time, the concerned authorities must ensure that waste collection services are accessible, regular, and effective. Both sides have an essential role to play. Citizens must stop littering, while authorities must provide a reliable system for waste collection, segregation, transportation, and environmentally responsible disposal. WHY STRICT FINES AND ENFORCEMENT ARE NECESSARY One of the most effective ways to discourage irresponsible behaviour is to ensure that rules are implemented consistently. Consider traffic regulations. Rules are established to maintain order, protect human life, and prevent accidents. When violations are detected and appropriate penalties are imposed, people have a stronger incentive to follow the law. Although violations may still occur, consistent enforcement can discourage irresponsible conduct. The same principle must apply to cleanliness and environmental protection. If a person is caught throwing garbage on a public road, into a drain, or directly into a river, stream, or lake, an appropriate penalty should be imposed under the applicable law. Repeat offenders should face stronger action wherever the law permits. The objective should not be to collect money from citizens. The real purpose should be to change behaviour, prevent pollution, and protect public spaces. Every individual should understand that littering is not a harmless act. A person must think twice before throwing garbage in a public place, not merely because someone might be watching, but because the law must be respected and its enforcement taken seriously. There should be no unnecessary delay in taking action when a violation has been established. However, enforcement must remain fair, transparent, proportionate, and consistent. Citizens should know which activities constitute violations, what penalties apply, and how complaints can be reported. A law that exists only on paper cannot deliver the results for which it was introduced. Rules become meaningful only when they are implemented on the ground. AWARENESS WITHOUT ACTION WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM Awareness campaigns have an important role in educating society. They help people understand the consequences of pollution, encourage responsible behaviour, and motivate communities to participate in environmental protection. Such campaigns must continue, particularly among children and young people, because environmental responsibility should be developed from an early age. However, awareness cannot replace enforcement. For years, people have been told not to throw garbage in public places. They have been informed about the harmful effects of plastic pollution and the importance of protecting natural resources. But what happens when someone deliberately ignores these messages? What happens when a person continues to dump garbage despite knowing that it is wrong? What happens when a public place is cleaned in the morning and becomes dirty again by the evening? If no meaningful action follows repeated violations, the message conveyed is that environmental rules can be ignored without consequences. This is precisely why awareness and enforcement must go hand in hand. Awareness teaches people what is right, while enforcement ensures that irresponsible actions are addressed. We cannot expect sanitation workers to clean the same locations indefinitely while those responsible for repeatedly polluting them face no consequences. The purpose of a cleanliness campaign must be to create lasting behavioural change, not merely to remove garbage temporarily. OUR RIVERS, STREAMS, LAKES AND WETLANDS ARE AT RISK The situation becomes even more alarming when waste enters our natural water bodies. Rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands are not dumping grounds. They are valuable ecosystems that support aquatic life, contribute to environmental balance, and form an essential part of our natural heritage. When plastic and other waste enter these water bodies, the damage may extend far beyond what is immediately visible. Waste can accumulate along shorelines, harm aquatic organisms, obstruct waterways, and degrade natural habitats. Pollution can also affect people whose livelihoods depend on healthy water bodies, including fishing communities, houseboat owners, and others associated with traditional occupations and tourism. In Kashmir, our lakes and waterways are deeply connected with our environment, economy, tourism, cultural identity, and traditional way of life. Their protection is therefore not simply a matter of maintaining scenic beauty. It is a matter of environmental security, public welfare, and our responsibility towards future generations. We cannot celebrate the natural beauty of Kashmir while allowing the very resources that sustain it to deteriorate. If garbage continues to enter rivers and streams, if drains carry waste into lakes, and if wetlands are neglected, the cumulative environmental damage may become increasingly difficult and expensive to reverse. Prevention is always better than restoration. Protecting a water body before it becomes severely polluted is far more sensible than waiting until extensive and costly intervention becomes necessary. Our water bodies deserve protection every day, not only when an environmental event is organised or public attention is focused on them. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF WE DO NOT ACT NOW? This is a question that every responsible citizen and institution must seriously consider. What will happen if we continue throwing garbage into drains? What will happen if plastic waste keeps entering our streams and rivers? What will happen if our lakes become places where garbage accumulates rather than ecosystems that we protect? What will happen if our wetlands are damaged and natural waterways become obstructed? The consequences may include worsening pollution, damage to aquatic ecosystems, blocked drainage channels, unhealthy surroundings, and increasing pressure on public authorities and local communities. Improperly managed waste can contribute to flooding when drainage systems become obstructed, although flooding also depends on other environmental and infrastructure-related factors. Polluted surroundings can create sanitation concerns, while degraded water bodies can threaten livelihoods and undermine the appeal of destinations that depend on a healthy natural environment. Perhaps the greatest danger is that continued neglect gradually makes environmental destruction appear normal. People may begin accepting dirty roads, polluted drains, accumulated garbage, and waste along water bodies as an unavoidable part of everyday life. We must never allow such a mentality to take root in our society. A polluted environment is not our destiny. It is a problem that can be addressed through responsible behaviour, effective public services, proper waste management, and firm implementation of environmental laws. If we fail to act today, future generations may inherit environmental problems that could have been prevented through timely decisions and collective responsibility. CLEANLINESS IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY Cleanliness cannot be the responsibility of sanitation workers alone. Every citizen has a role to play in maintaining a healthy environment. Households must dispose of their waste responsibly. Shopkeepers must ensure that waste generated by their businesses is properly managed. Hotels, restaurants, markets, educational institutions, and other commercial establishments must comply with applicable waste-management requirements. People must stop throwing waste from vehicles, dumping garbage beside roads, and using drains, streams, rivers, and lakes as convenient disposal points. At the same time, public authorities must ensure that waste collection systems operate effectively and that illegal dumping is addressed promptly. Wherever collection services are inadequate, the gaps must be identified and corrected. There should be regular monitoring of locations where repeated dumping occurs. If a particular roadside, drain, or public space repeatedly becomes dirty, the response must address both the people responsible for dumping waste and any shortcomings in the existing waste-management system. Responsibility must be shared, but accountability must be clear. No individual, business, or institution should consider itself above the law. Environmental rules must apply fairly to everyone. RESPECT THE PEOPLE WHO KEEP OUR SURROUNDINGS CLEAN We must recognise and appreciate the contribution of sanitation workers and everyone involved in maintaining our public spaces. These workers perform an essential public service. They help maintain hygiene, protect public health, and contribute to the well-being of our communities. Their work deserves dignity, respect, appropriate equipment, safe working conditions, and proper institutional support. However, their efforts cannot produce lasting results if people continue to litter irresponsibly. It is unfair to expect sanitation workers to clean the same location repeatedly when others deliberately make it dirty again. The solution cannot be limited to sending more workers to collect the same waste every day. We must also prevent avoidable littering, improve public behaviour, and take appropriate action against those who violate the rules. A successful cleanliness system must focus on prevention as much as collection. It must reduce the amount of waste entering public spaces in the first place rather than relying entirely on cleaning it up afterwards. A PRACTICAL ROADMAP FOR LASTING CHANGE To address the problem effectively, the following measures deserve serious consideration and implementation: 1. Strict enforcement of anti-littering laws: Appropriate penalties should be imposed for littering and illegal dumping, in accordance with existing legal provisions. Enforcement must be visible, consistent, and fair. 2. Stronger action against repeat offenders: Individuals and establishments that repeatedly violate waste-management rules should face appropriate action under the law. 3. Reliable waste collection services: Authorities must ensure regular collection, accessible disposal facilities, and effective transportation and processing of waste. 4. Protection of water bodies: Drains, stream banks, riverbanks, lake edges, and wetlands must receive regular monitoring to prevent waste from entering natural ecosystems. 5. Accountability of commercial establishments: Hotels, restaurants, markets, and other major waste generators must fulfil their legal responsibilities for managing and disposing of waste. 6. Public reporting and follow-up: Citizens should have accessible channels to report illegal dumping, and complaints should receive timely and appropriate attention. 7. Waste segregation and responsible disposal: Household and commercial waste should be managed in accordance with applicable waste-management rules, with greater emphasis on segregation, recycling, and reducing avoidable plastic waste. 8. Awareness linked to measurable results: Public awareness programmes should continue, but their effectiveness must be assessed through visible improvements in cleanliness, reduced littering, and better protection of the environment. These measures require coordination among the concerned departments, local authorities, communities, businesses, and citizens. The ultimate objective must be to prevent irresponsible dumping rather than repeatedly responding after pollution has already occurred. CLEANLINESS MUST NOT REMAIN A ONE-DAY CAMPAIGN A cleanliness drive can be valuable. It brings people together, removes accumulated waste, and draws attention to environmental problems. However, a one-day campaign cannot solve a problem that continues throughout the year. If an area is cleaned today and garbage returns tomorrow, we must ask why the system is failing. Is waste collection inadequate? Are people continuing to dump garbage illegally? Is monitoring insufficient? Are existing laws not being enforced? Are the concerned authorities responding effectively to repeated complaints? These questions require honest answers and practical solutions. The real measure of success is not the number of cleanliness events organised, photographs taken, or slogans displayed. It is whether our roads remain clean, our drains function properly, our public spaces are maintained, and our rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands are protected from avoidable pollution. We need measurable and lasting improvements, not temporary results that disappear within a few days. Cleanliness must become a daily practice supported by a dependable public system and a culture of accountability. OUR NATURAL HERITAGE MUST BE PROTECTED THROUGH ACTION As someone working for the protection of water bodies, I believe that environmental conservation requires more than expressions of concern. It requires sustained effort, practical solutions, public participation, and accountability at every level. Our natural resources are not the property of one generation alone. They are a shared inheritance that we must protect and pass on to those who come after us. Every piece of plastic thrown into a drain, every bag of garbage dumped beside a stream, and every act of irresponsible disposal contributes to a wider problem. Similarly, every responsible decision, every properly managed waste collection point, and every instance of effective enforcement can contribute to a cleaner environment. The change we need will not happen overnight. However, it is achievable if environmental protection becomes a consistent priority rather than an occasional campaign. We must encourage responsible citizens, support sanitation workers, improve public services, and ensure that those who deliberately violate environmental rules are held accountable through lawful and proportionate action. Our rivers, lakes, streams, and wetlands cannot speak for themselves. It is our responsibility to protect them. A CALL FOR COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY AND REAL ACTION My message is straightforward: we must stop treating cleanliness as merely a slogan and start treating it as a serious public responsibility. We need awareness, but we also need enforcement. We need public participation, but we also need accountability. We need sanitation workers, but we must also ensure that citizens stop creating avoidable waste and disposing of it irresponsibly. Our natural resources cannot protect themselves from human negligence. Their protection depends on informed citizens, responsible institutions, effective waste-management systems, and the consistent implementation of environmental laws. Let us protect our roads and public spaces. Let us prevent garbage from entering drains, rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands. Let us respect the people who work to maintain cleanliness. Let us demand effective waste-management services and ensure that those who deliberately pollute public spaces face appropriate consequences under the law. Most importantly, let us act before environmental damage becomes more serious and difficult to reverse. A clean environment is not a luxury. It is essential to public health, ecological balance, community welfare, and the future of our children. Cleanliness is not just a slogan; it is a responsibility. Awareness must lead to action, action must be supported by accountability, and accountability must deliver a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable environment for future generations. ( The author is a social activist working for the Protection of Water Bodies)
Gujarat to Launch Unified CCTV Dashboard to Enhance Policing with Student Innovation
The Gujarat government plans to integrate all CCTV cameras into a single dashboard, enhancing police operations with student-developed technology. Gujarat to Launch Unified CCTV Dashboard to Enhance Policing with Student Innovation
Tangible Reforms For The Safety, Welfare And Dignity Of Sanitation Workers
A clean and healthy nation rests on the shoulders of thousands of sanitation workers who perform essential services every day, often under difficult and hazardous conditions. Their contribution to public health, cleanliness and the functioning of our cities and communities is invaluable. Ensuring their safety, welfare and dignity is therefore not merely a matter of social responsibility; it is an essential part of building an inclusive and humane society. Recognising this responsibility, the Central Government has undertaken a comprehensive set of measures to protect the lives and livelihoods of sanitation workers through the National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) and the financial assistance programmes of the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC). These interventions represent a decisive shift from hazardous manual practices towards a safer and more dignified sanitation ecosystemone built around mechanisation, occupational safety, healthcare, skill development and sustainable livelihoods. Building a Safer Sanitation Ecosystem The central objective of NAMASTE is clear: to eliminate hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks and work towards zero fatalities in sanitation work. The scheme seeks to formalise the sanitation workforce and ensure that workers have access to safety equipment, occupational training, healthcare and livelihood opportunities. It also promotes the use of machines and safety devices so that no worker is exposed to hazardous conditions unnecessarily. More than 91,000 sewer and septic tank workers have been profiled under the scheme, out of which more than 90,000 have been validated. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits have been provided to more than 87,000 workers, while around 77,000 workers have been covered under health-insurance schemes. This process of profiling and validation is significant because it gives workers formal recognition and creates a pathway through which they can access government welfare and social-security programmes. It also enables implementing agencies to understand their requirements and provide appropriate interventions in occupational safety, healthcare, training and livelihoods. Institutional preparedness is equally important. More than 750 safety devices have been dispatched to Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSU) established in larger municipal corporations and districts. These units strengthen emergency-response mechanisms and support the safe and mechanised execution of sewer and septic-tank cleaning operations. Awareness and behavioural change are another important pillar. More than 1,600 workshops on prevention of hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks have been conducted across the country. These workshops have brought together workers, officials and other stakeholders to highlight the risks associated with unsafe sanitation practices and reinforce the importance of mechanised and safe cleaning. Mechanisation: From Hazardous Labour to Safer Enterprise Mechanisation is central to transforming sanitation work. No worker should have to enter a sewer or septic tank manually when technology can perform the task safely. The Central Government is therefore extending financial support to enable sanitation workers to become owners and operators of sanitation-related machinery and vehicles. An upfront capital subsidy of nearly This assistance is doing more thanproviding equipment. It is helping workers move from hazardous labour towards mechanisedsanitation services, entrepreneurship and sustainable income generation. The larger objective is to recognisesanitation workers not merely as recipients of welfare but as skilledprofessionals, service providers and entrepreneurs. Ownership of sanitationvehicles and equipment can improve workplace safety while creatingopportunities for greater financial independence and long-term economicsecurity. This is the essence of empowerment: notsimply providing support, but creating the means for individuals and familiesto build secure and dignified livelihoods. Extending Welfare to Waste Pickers Sanitation and cleanliness extend beyondsewer and septic-tank cleaning. Waste pickers also perform an indispensablepublic service by collecting, sorting and facilitating the recovery andrecycling of waste. Yet, for far too long, many of them have worked withoutadequate recognition, occupational protection or social-security coverage. Recognising their contribution, theGovernment expanded NAMASTE in 2024 to include waste pickers engaged insolid-waste management. The objective is to provide them with safer, moredignified and sustainable livelihoods through profiling, occupational-safetymeasures, healthcare, skill development and livelihood support. Under the expanded component, more than 3.80Lakh Waste Pickers have been profiled, of whom nearly 2.60 Lakh Have BeenValidated Through E-KYC. More than 1.30 Lakh Waste Pickers have received PPEkits, while the data of more than 1.20 Lakh has been processed for generationof Ayushman Cards. The inclusion of waste pickers under NAMASTEis an important step towards recognising their contribution to the circulareconomy and solid-waste management. It is helping connect them with identitydocumentation, occupational safety, healthcare and other welfare measures,while opening pathways towards more sustainable livelihoods. Economic Empowerment through NSKFDC Safety and dignity must be accompanied byeconomic empowerment. The National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation(NSKFDC) has an important role in this regard by providing concessionalfinancial assistance for income-generating activities, entrepreneurship, skilldevelopment and the acquisition of sanitation-related vehicles and equipment.NSKFDC is a Government of India undertaking under the Ministry of SocialJustice and Empowerment. Between 201415 and 202526, NSKFDCreleased financial assistance of more than
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Rajkot Launches High-Tech Initiative to Combat Dengue and Malaria with Drone Surveillance
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The News Mill
The morning train from Katra reaches Srinagar a little after eleven. On the platform at Nowgam last week I watched a grandmother from Kupwara step down from it, having crossed the Chenab on a bridge higher than the Eiffel Tower, sitting, with a cup of tea, in three hours. For most of my life I took the train to Srinagar was a sentence nobody in the Valley could say. The line was sanctioned in 1994. Every government since owned a piece of it. This one finished it. On 7 October 2001, in Gandhinagar, a man who had never sat in a legislature took oath as Chief Minister of a state nine months out from an earthquake that had killed fourteen thousand people. Twenty-five years later he is Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, and there has not been one day in that quarter century when he was not the elected head of a government. No Indian, not Jyoti Basu, not Pawan Chamling, has been continuously answerable to voters for so long. The anniversary invites praise, and praise is the one thing he has never shown any sign of needing. It deserves instead an argument that can be tested. Here is mine. These twenty-five years are the story of the Indian state learning to reach its last citizen, first in one state and then in all of them. What travelled from Gandhinagar to Delhi was a method, not a mood: saturation targets instead of coverage ratios, technology used as an equaliser, several schemes converging on one household, deadlines reviewed in person. It is the method, more than the man, that explains the numbers. And the numbers that settle the argument are not the government's own; they are the Census, the Registrar General's and the World Bank's. Remember the country of 2001. Fifty-six households in a hundred had electricity, thirty-six a latrine, thirty-seven a tap, eighteen a gas connection. One child in fifteen died before its first birthday. A bank account was a favour, and a gas cylinder came with a politician's letter. That was the baseline. Then Gujarat. In 2003 the state separated the farm feeder from the village feeder and gave the village twenty-four-hour power; agricultural output grew at 9.6 percent a year between 2000 and 2007, by IFPRI's count, against 2.9 percent for India. The Soil Health Card was a Gujarat card before it was an Indian one. The grievance screen in the Chief Minister's office became PRAGATI. The Garib Kalyan Mela became the saturation camp every state now runs. Gujarat was the laboratory. India was the canvas. On the canvas, the household became the unit of delivery. Jan Dhan, mocked as a zero-balance gesture in 2014, holds 59 crore accounts today, more than half of them women's, and they are the rails on which every later transfer ran. A woman who has sat in those kitchens counts the cylinder in hours returned, not in connections. Ujjwala put 10.57 crore cylinders into kitchens that had cooked on wood. Rural households with a tap went from 3.23 crore in 2019 to 15.85 crore. Ayushman Bharat has paid for 13.25 crore hospital admissions. Direct transfer has removed 3.48 lakh crore rupees of leakage. The national highway network grew from 91,287 kilometres to 1,46,572; airports from 74 to 165; UPI, which did not exist in 2014, moved 314 lakh crore rupees last year. Infant mortality fell from 39 to 24 per thousand. Three crore rural women have crossed the Lakhpati Didi line. Left-wing extremism, which touched 126 districts in 2013, is confined to eleven. NITI Aayog's poverty index fell from 29 percent to 11, which is 24.82 crore people; the World Bank's three-dollar line fell from 27 percent to just over five. Neither figure is the government's own. What was the method's hardest test? I can answer that, because I live inside it. In 2001 Jammu and Kashmir recorded 4,522 terrorist incidents and 996 civilians killed. In 2025 it recorded 35 incidents and 92 deaths in all, the least violent year in more than two decades. Local recruitment into militancy, 125 young men in 2021, was seven in 2024. Stone-pelting has gone. The G20 met in Srinagar in May 2023. Since 2019, 34,260 people have been elected to panchayats and councils in a territory that for decades had almost none, and 7.85 crore visitors came to the Union Territory in the three years to 2025, against 4.76 crore in the three years to 2018, even though the Valley's own arrivals halved in 2025 after Pahalgam. The men who send killers across the Line retain the capacity: twenty-six civilians were murdered at Pahalgam in April 2025, and the answer, Operation Sindoor, came on 7 May. Normalcy here is a trend that has to be defended every year, not a settled fact. But the trend is real, and a Kashmiri who denies it forfeits the right to be believed on the rest. The rest is this. In August 2019 the Valley's communications were restricted, the internet did not fully return for eighteen months, and the leaders of the mainstream parties, three former Chief Ministers among them, were placed in preventive detention. Those were hard months, and I do not write around them. They were also the reason a change that every earlier turn in this Valley had paid for in blood passed without it. Elections followed as the Supreme Court directed; turnout was 64 percent; an elected government took office in October 2024. Statehood has not yet been restored. The Prime Minister and the Home Minister have given their word that it will be, at the appropriate time, and the Court asked for it at the earliest in December 2023. When the Assembly voted on 28 September, my party objected to a resolution that reached back to the position before 2019, not to statehood itself. I belong to the party that gave the word, and I have no doubt it will be kept; the security data in this essay is the case that the time is approaching. When it comes, let it come with the Pandits' return built into it, with houses and not only posts, and with the jobs that keep young men on the platform and off the hill. Nor should the national ledger be read without its debit side, and a member of the governing party should be the first to read it. Four crore rural households still wait for a tap, and the mission that reached 15.85 crore will be judged on the last four, which are the hardest. The labour survey still finds a quarter of the young in neither work nor training, and no government should be comfortable with that. Manipur tested the state's reach harder than anywhere else, and the peace there is still being rebuilt. The second wave of 2021 found the one shortage, oxygen, that nobody had been counting, and the state learned to count it. Demonetisation is still argued over; what nobody argues about is the digital habit it built, which became UPI. By the IMF's own tables India is third in purchasing power, within a few hundred billion dollars of fourth place in current dollars, and growing faster than every economy above it. An argument that cannot survive its objections is not an argument. This one does, because not one of them is an objection to reach, scale or speed. So what will outlast him? The rails: identity, account, payment, which no successor can switch off. The direct transfer, which made the intermediary politically expendable. The GST Council, in which the Centre holds one vote in three and almost every decision has been taken by consensus. The doctrine that an attack is answered across the Line. The three criminal codes of 2024, and a temple at Ayodhya built after a unanimous Supreme Court judgment, which are the same confidence turned inward. And one thing larger than all of these: Indians now expect their state to arrive. In 2001 a tap was a favour. In 2026 its absence is a grievance that a Collector in Nuh expects to be ranked on. That change in expectation is the structural achievement, and a people who have learned to expect delivery do not unlearn it when the deliverer changes. What must now be built into the state is the dashboard itself, so that the deadline holds when the review passes to other hands. The Prime Minister has said that the goal is a developed India by 2047, and that no one man is the goal. The next decade will show whether the method has been made the state's own, as he intends. The afternoon train leaves Srinagar at two. I went back to watch it go: students for Jammu, pilgrims, a box of apples wrapped in newspaper, a soldier asleep before the platform had cleared. The state learned, over a quarter century, to arrive. It has not yet learned to stay. That is the work of the next twenty-five years, and it belongs to everyone who will still be here when the man who taught it to arrive is not. The train is pulling out. The platform is ours. (The Author is Vice President, Bharatiya Janata Party, Jammu and Kashmir. She can be reached at: sganai19@gmail.com)
India-UAE Joint Military Exercise Mountain Guardian 2026 Underway in Uttarakhand
The India-UAE joint military exercise Mountain Guardian 2026 focuses on enhancing mountain warfare skills and cooperation between the two nations. India-UAE Joint Military Exercise Mountain Guardian 2026 Underway in Uttarakhand
Noora Hospital marks World Mental Health Day
Srinagar: The Department of Psychiatry at Noora Hospital, HMT, Srinagar, celebrated World Mental Health Day under the leadership of Dr Imtiaz Hussain Mansur, Senior Consultant and Clinical Lead, Psychiatry, with the participation of consultants, doctors and hospital staff. The programme highlighted the importance of mental health awareness, early intervention and professional support, with patients and school students sharing their lived experiences to underline the need for empathy, understanding and a supportive environment for people facing mental health challenges. Addressing the gathering, Dr Imtiaz Hussain Mansur stressed that the practice of suffering in silence due to social stigma must end. He urged people to speak openly about mental health concerns and seek timely professional treatment, emphasising that early intervention plays an important role in improving outcomes and ensuring better mental well-being. He highlighted the need to create an environment where individuals feel comfortable discussing their mental health concerns without fear of judgement or discrimination. He also emphasised the importance of collective efforts by healthcare professionals, families, educational institutions and society in promoting awareness and encouraging people to seek help when needed. The sharing of personal experiences by patients and school students emerged as a key highlight of the programme. Their accounts brought attention to the challenges faced by individuals dealing with mental health issues and reinforced the importance of compassion, timely support and access to appropriate care. Mr Manzoor Ahmed, Managing Director of Noora Hospital, also addressed the gathering and highlighted the significance of mental health awareness. He stressed the need to promote greater understanding of mental health issues and encourage a supportive approach towards individuals seeking professional assistance. As part of the programme, a presentation showcasing the activities and achievements of the Department of Psychiatry during 2026 was delivered, highlighting the departments efforts in providing mental healthcare services and promoting awareness among the public. The event also featured a cake-cutting ceremony, followed by the presentation of mementos to patients and doctors in recognition of their trust, courage and contribution to mental healthcare. The gesture acknowledged the role of patients in sharing their experiences and the dedication of healthcare professionals in supporting individuals through their mental health journeys. The programme concluded with a renewed call to make mental health conversations more open and accessible, reinforcing the message that speaking up requires courage, seeking help is a sign of strength, and eliminating stigma is a shared social responsibility. Dr Ashraf presented the vote of thanks, while Dr Aqib moderated the event.
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Shameema Firdous provides relief to fire-hit families
Srinagar, Oct 10: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Womens Wing President and Habba Kadal MLA Advocate Shameema Firdous on Saturday distributed financial assistance worth 13.70 lakh among 15 families affected by fire incidents in Watalkadal, Safakadal, and Mallah Pora, Chinkral Mohalla, Habba Kadal. In Watalkadal, she provided 1 lakh each to 12 families whose residential houses were gutted in a fire last month. She also distributed a total of 1.70 lakh among three fire-affected families in Mallah Pora, Chinkral Mohalla. The assistance was provided from her Constituency Development Fund (CDF). Interacting with the affected families, Shameema Firdous said the provision of financial assistance to fire victims had become easier following the formation of the government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. She said the Chief Minister had taken a decision allowing Members of the Legislative Assembly to extend financial assistance to fire-affected families from their respective Constituency Development Funds, providing much-needed relief to people facing distress. The MLA reiterated her commitment to addressing public grievances and extending support to those in need. She assured the affected families that she would make every possible effort to take up their concerns with the concerned authorities and facilitate their rehabilitation and access to essential assistance.
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Rural development a key priority: Sharma
Jammu, Oct 10: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FS&CA), Information Technology (IT), Youth Services & Sports, and Science & Technology, Satish Sharma, on Saturday laid foundation stones for five important infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening the rural connectivity, improving veterinary healthcare and addressing the developmental needs of local communities. The projects included construction of road connecting New Mattoo with Old Mattoo, road from Panjtoot to Thanger Pattian, a culvert at Kacharial, veterinary hospital at Millan Di-Khui in Panchayat Samwan and link road connecting Bandowala with Upper Pallanwala. The initiatives are aimed at improving the road connectivity, facilitating access to essential services, supporting agricultural and allied activities, and improving the overall quality of life of people in the area. The Minister said that infrastructure development remains a key priority, with emphasis on projects that directly address the day-to-day concerns of people and strengthen the foundations of rural development. He said that well-connected villages, accessible healthcare facilities and dependable public infrastructure are essential for balanced regional growth and the economic well-being of rural communities. Laying the foundation stone for the road connecting New Mattoo with Old Mattoo, Satish Sharma emphasised the importance of strengthening internal road networks to facilitate smoother movement and improve connectivity between adjoining habitations. The project is expected to make daily commuting more convenient for the residents and improve access to educational institutions, healthcare facilities, markets and other essential services. The Minister also laid the foundation stone for road from Panjtoot to Thanger Pattian. He said that better road connectivity helps farmers transport agricultural produce, facilitates the movement of people and goods, and contributes to the overall socio-economic development of rural areas. Emphasising the need to ensure that development reaches every habitation, Satish Sharma observed that roads are vital links between communities and opportunities. He said that sustained investment in rural connectivity would help address the local infrastructure gaps, reduce difficulties faced by residents and strengthen the region's development potential. While laying foundation stone for the culvert at Kacharial, the Minister underscored the importance of strengthening the local infrastructure to ensure safer and smoother movement. The construction of the culvert is expected to improve accessibility and facilitate the movement of residents and commuters, particularly during adverse weather conditions. He stressed that such infrastructure interventions play an important role in improving the public convenience and ensuring more reliable connectivity. The Minister also laid the foundation stone for a veterinary hospital at Millan Di-Khui in Panchayat Samwan, highlighting the importance of accessible animal healthcare services for farmers and livestock owners. The proposed facility is expected to strengthen veterinary healthcare infrastructure in the area, facilitate timely treatment of livestock and provide improved support to families dependent on animal husbandry for their livelihoods. The Minister laid the foundation stone for construction of a link road from Bandowala to Upper Pallanwala, aimed at improving connectivity and facilitating the movement of people and goods. The project is expected to make daily travel more convenient for residents and strengthen access to markets, educational institutions, healthcare facilities and other public services, while also supporting local economic activity. The Minister stressed the importance of timely execution, quality construction and effective monitoring of all development works. He called upon the concerned departments and executing agencies to ensure adherence to prescribed technical standards and completion within stipulated timelines so that the intended benefits reach the public without unnecessary delay. Satish Sharma reiterated that sustained efforts would continue to be made to address the developmental priorities of Chhamb and adjoining areas, ensuring that infrastructure projects translate into tangible benefits for residents and contribute to the region's long-term progress.
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Sakeena calls for constructive engagement of students
Kulgam, Oct 10: Education, Social Welfare, Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, inaugurated Multipurpose Indoor Sports Hall at Government Degree College (GDC), Frisal. The occasion marked a significant milestone in the colleges efforts to promote sports, physical fitness and the holistic development of students with the facility coming up at the estimated cost of Rs.1.94 crore. The ceremony was attended by MLA Devsar Peerzada Feroze Ahmad Shah, Secretary in Higher Education Department Shafqat Iqbal, and others. Speaking on the occasion, Sakeena Itoo highlighted the importance of quality educational infrastructure and the role of sports in shaping confident, disciplined and responsible citizens. She called upon the College management to engage the students in sports activities and other positive endeavours and channelise their potential in the right direction so that they excel in their studies and contribute towards the best of the society. Sakeena Itoo said that Multipurpose Indoor Sports Hall provided improved facilities for indoor games and encouraged greater participation in sporting activities of the students. MLA Devsar also addressed the gathering, emphasising the importance of educational institutions in empowering young people and creating opportunities for academic and extracurricular excellence. MLA also announced Digital X-Ray Machine worth Rs. 24 lakh for Primary Health Center (PHC) Frisal. Earlier, in his welcome address, Dr. Fayaz Ahmad Butt, Principal, GDC Frisal, welcomed the distinguished guests and expressed gratitude to the Minister and other dignitaries for their presence. He highlighted the importance of sports infrastructure in fostering discipline, teamwork, physical well-being and the all-round development of students. The programme also featured cultural performances by students. The programme also included the felicitation of students for their achievements, recognizing their dedication and bringing attention to the importance of encouraging young talent.
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Dr. Farooq calls for strong, empowered opposition
Srinagar, Oct 10: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said good governance and effective administration require a strong, active and empowered opposition to highlight public grievances,represent people's aspirations and hold the government accountable. He said the role of the opposition in a democracy was not confined to criticism but also included reviewing governmentpolicies, safeguarding constitutional values and ensuring that public concerns receive due attention. Abdullah said suppressing the opposition's voice, refusing to tolerate dissent and denying people the right to raiselegitimate concerns undermined the spirit of democracy and rendered claims of good governance meaningless. Emphasising the importance of democratic institutions, he said a strong democratic system rested on freedom ofexpression, respect for differing opinions, public participation and institutional accountability. Any departure from theseprinciples, he added, was detrimental to democracy. He also expressed concern over what he described as the use of intimidation, pressure and excessive force to silencedissenting voices and create an atmosphere of fear. Abdullah said the alleged attempts to suppress people's voices in the national capital reminded him of the treatmentpeople in Kashmir had faced over the years. He observed that silencing public voices, restricting dissent and ignoring legitimate demands did not resolve problems butinstead widened the gap between people and those in power. The strength of democracy, he said, lay in ensuring that every citizen could express their views and pursue their rightsthrough peaceful and constitutional means. The NC president also underscored the importance of protecting the sanctity of the vote, describing it as a valuable trustplaced by the people and the foundation of democracy. He said ensuring transparency in the electoral process, restoring public confidence and safeguarding the credibility of democratic institutions were essential for strengthening the country's democratic framework. Abdullah reiterated that the National Conference would not compromise on the constitutional and democratic rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He said the party would continue its efforts to secure the legitimate constitutional rights of the people, strengthendemocratic institutions and work towards the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Waqf Board plans common themes for Friday sermons
Srinagar, Oct 10: The Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board has decided to constitute a core committee of religious scholars to finalise common themes for Friday sermons across mosques, shrines and other religious institutions under its administration, aiming to promote coordinated religious messaging and address pressing social issues. In a statement, the decision was taken during a meeting of Muftis, Imams, Khateebs and other religious scholars chaired by Waqf BoardChairperson Dr Syed Darakhshan Andrabi at the Board's central office in Sonwar, Srinagar, on Saturday. Under the proposed arrangement, the committee, as per the statement, will identify and finalise topics for Friday (Juma) sermons in advance and communicate them to religious scholars associated with Waqf-managed institutions across Jammu and Kashmir. The initiative aims to bring greater consistency to the subjects addressed during Friday congregational prayers,particularly those relating to religious awareness, moral responsibility, social harmony and the eradication of social evils, reads the statement. Speaking at the meeting, Andrabi said the decision was intended to bring Imams from different sects together on a common platform to strengthen religious values and promote social reform. This is a decision to bring Imams across sects together to strengthen faith, reform society, uphold humanity and eradicate social evils, she said. The Board said the proposed committee would focus on selecting subjects of public and community interest in accordance with Islamic teachings, while encouraging religious scholars to address contemporary social concerns through their sermons. The meeting also discussed the need for closer coordination among religious institutions and the role of religious scholars in promoting unity, responsible conduct and mutual understanding within society. According to the Board, the common themes will be communicated in advance to the concerned Imams and Khateebs for incorporation into their Friday sermons. The decision applies to religious institutions associated with the Waqf Board and does not extend to all mosques and religious institutions across Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting was attended by Waqf Board members Dr Ghulam Haleem and Syed Mohammad Hussain Haqani, besides religious scholars from different districts of Kashmir. The Board said the initiative was intended to strengthen coordination among religious scholars and encourage Friday sermons that address shared social concerns. However, the Board has not yet announced the composition of the core committee, the date of its formation or the first set of common sermon themes. The proposed system will introduce advance coordination of sermon topics across Waqf-associated institutions, with the committee responsible for determining the subjects to be addressed during Friday congregations.
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Public cooperation aids theft detection
Srinagar, Oct 10: Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Baramulla Gurinderpal Singh on Saturday credited public cooperation for the successful detection of theft cases in Pattan and Kreeri, resulting in the recovery of stolen properties. Addressing a press conference in Pattan, the SSP said the cooperation of local residents played a crucial role in the investigation, with people providing CCTV footage, assisting in recording statements and sharing information that helped police develop leads in the cases. He said the recovery would not have been possible on such a scale without the public approaching the police and extending their support during the investigation. The police can be successful only when local people stand with us. We are here to serve them, and I urge everyone to maintain faith in the police and approach us with their issues and complaints. We are available 24/7, throughout the year, and will make every possible effort to resolve their cases, Singh said. The SSP said police were committed to helping people whenever they faced any wrongdoing or required assistance. He also urged people to report any grievances regarding police functioning, saying they could approach senior officers if their genuine complaints were not addressed or if they were dissatisfied with the response of officials at the junior level. There is a proper hierarchy in the police department, with officers assigned specific responsibilities. If a junior officer is not addressing an issue, people can bring it to the notice of the next senior officer. This will also help us improve the policing system, he said. Emphasising the importance of public trust in crime detection, Singh said community participation was essential not only in reporting offences but also in providing evidence and information that could assist investigators. The theft cases were solved by police in the Pattan and Kreeri areas, with the recovery of stolen copper utensils, mobile phones, cash and other property collectively. The SSP thanked the residents for approaching the police and assisting investigators, describing public support as the key factor behind the recoveries.
Five-Year-Old Boy Grievously Injured In Stray Dog Attack In Indravelli
The boy sustained injuries to his face and nose. He was taken to the local primary health centre (PHC) for initial treatment and later shifted to RIMS, Adilabad.
INDIA bloc's major protest in Delhi on Monday, to meet CJI
AICC general secretary K C Venugopal announced that the INDIA bloc will stage a major protest in Delhi on Monday to protect voting rights, following meetings with the President and a planned meeting with the Chief Justice of India. He accused PM Modi and Amit Shah of attempting to protect Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and criticised the Centre for denying an AIIMS facility to Keralam despite past assurances. Venugopal affirmed the bloc's commitment to ensuring free and fair elections and expressed hope for AIIMS if they come to power.
Minister inspects flood-hit Faizullaganj, reviews relief measures
Supriya Sule Condemns Arrest of Abhijit Dipke as Unconstitutional
NCP MP Supriya Sule criticizes the arrest of Abhijit Dipke, calling it unconstitutional and a violation of democratic rights. Supriya Sule Condemns Arrest of Abhijit Dipke as Unconstitutional
FDA cracks down on unsafe street food
Srinagar, Oct 10: Food & Drugs Administration (FDA), J&K, continues its special inspection, enforcement and awareness drive targeting street food vendors operating in busy markets and high-footfall areas across all the districts to ensure the availability of safe, hygienic and wholesome food to consumers. In a statement, the department said, during the drive, 106 inspections were conducted, 18 cases were compounded and fines amounting to 20,000 were imposed. Further, six cases were recommended for adjudication under Sections 56 and 58 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, while 22 food samples were lifted for laboratory analysis to assess their compliance with the prescribed food safety standards. The inspection teams focused on personal hygiene, cleanliness of vending premises, safe food preparation and handling practices, and the use of food-grade utensils and cutlery. Vendors were also sensitized against the use of newspapers for wrapping or serving food, unauthorized synthetic food colours and non-food-grade materials that may compromise food safety. As part of the drive, the teams also promoted the Repurpose Used Cooking Oil (RUCO) initiative. Used cooking oil samples were tested on the spot using oil-testing meters to assess Total Polar Compounds (TPC). Vendors were sensitized that cooking oil exceeding the prescribed limit of 25% TPC must not be used for food preparation and should be channelled to authorised aggregators in accordance with applicable requirements. FDA, J&K, reiterated that the ongoing drive is aimed at strengthening regulatory compliance, improving hygiene standards among street food vendors and safeguarding public health. All Food Business Operators have been directed to comply strictly with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and regulations. Consumers have been encouraged to actively participate in safeguarding public health by reporting suspected food adulteration, unsafe food or unhygienic food-handling practices email at cfsjandk.fnd@jk.gov.in.
Kashmir expands floral tourism beyond spring
Srinagar, October 10 : The Department of Floriculture, Gardens and Parks in Jammu and Kashmir has generated a cumulative revenue of 62.76 crore over five reporting periods, from 202122 to November 2025, through entry tickets, permissions for videography and video shooting, and the sale of plant material, according to official figures. The department recorded revenue of 6.70 crore in 202122, 13.46 crore in 202223, 14.35 crore in 202324 and 23.71 crore in 202425. During the current financial year, 202526, revenue stood at 4.54 crore up to November 2025. The figures show a steady increase in annual revenue over the four completed financial years, with the highest collection of 23.71 crore recorded in 202425. The cumulative amount of 62.76 crore covers all five reporting periods and does not represent revenue generated in a single financial year. Meanwhile, official data indicate that 11,889 growers are registered with the department across Jammu and Kashmir, of whom 2,270 are actively engaged in commercial flower cultivation. The total area under commercial floriculture has been reported at 356.41 hectares. The department maintains 278 gardens, parks and lawns spread across 10,628.30 kanals of land in the Union Territory. These green spaces are among Jammu and Kashmir's major tourism attractions, drawing visitors with their landscaped lawns, seasonal flowers, historic architecture and scenic surroundings. Among the prominent sites maintained by the department are the world-famous Tulip Garden and the historic Mughal gardens of Nishat, Shalimar, Pari Mahal and Chashme Shahi, along with Verinag and Achabal gardens. The department also maintains botanical gardens, including the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Botanical Garden at Chashme Shahi and the Botanical Garden at Kokernag, besides lawns at important government establishments. Visitor statistics provided in the official figures indicate that 60.48 lakh people visited the department's gardens and parks in 202223, while the number increased to 65.74 lakh in 202324. The gardens recorded 61.38 lakh visitors in 202425. During 202526, 48.01 lakh visitors were recorded up to the end of November 2025. In a bid to diversify the region's floral tourism offerings and extend the tourism season beyond spring, the first-ever Chrysanthemum Garden, known as Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood, was opened to tourists in October 2025. The garden features more than 50 varieties of chrysanthemums and has been developed to promote autumn tourism by offering visitors another seasonal attraction. While the Tulip Garden remains a major draw during the spring season, Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood is intended to strengthen Kashmir's appeal in autumn and encourage tourism beyond the traditional spring flowering period.
Cabinet clears Mirabag project shift, 100 comunidade posts
NT Reporter Panaji The state Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister PramodSawant on Saturday, approved a series of proposals, including the relocation of the proposed water supply project from Mirabag to Panchwadi, the creation of 100 posts under the Comunidades administration, and the extension of consultancy services for preparing a tourism master plan and policy. Addressing []
Rahul to join yatra in Cuncolim today,says Cong, accuses BJP of trying to block it
NT Reporter Margao Despite the cancellation of permission for the Goy Rakhonn Yatra, the Congress has said they will continue with the plan tohave their leader Rahul Gandhis participation on Sunday. Terming the yatra a grand success, the party said this success has caused worry for the BJP. Speaking to media on Saturday at the []
Ayodhyas Ram Janmabhoomi Trust Receives Food Safety Certification for Kitchens
The Ram Janmabhoomi Trusts kitchens have been certified by the Food Safety Department, ensuring safe offerings for devotees. Ayodhyas Ram Janmabhoomi Trust Receives Food Safety Certification for Kitchens
