Ayushman Arogya Mandirs: Ladakh Health Centres Rebranding Plan Meets with Buddhist Resistance

Ayushman Arogya Mandirs: Ladakh Health Centres Rebranding Plan Meets with Buddhist Resistance

The Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) and parties based in Kargil have opposed the government’s renaming of health centres as “Ayushman Arogya Mandirs” in the region. In a letter to the Chief Executive Councillor, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, Chering Dorjey, acting president of LBA, said the recent order of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare renaming government medical aid centres and health and wellness centres as Ayushman Arogya Mandirs was unfortunate and “tantamount to playing with the sentiments of the people of Ladakh.” “From the comments…

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Ladakh to Promote Hanle’s Pristine Skies for Astronomical Research and Tourism

Ladakh to Promote Hanle's Pristine Skies for Astronomical Research and Tourism

Unlocking the Wonders of the Cosmos: Hanle Dark Sky Reserve Beckons Astronomers In the vast, high-altitude expanse of Ladakh, where the sky seems to stretch into infinity, a unique destination has emerged, poised to capture the fascination of astronomers worldwide. The Hanle Dark Sky Reserve, nestled in the Changthang region of Ladakh, has been granted a new lease of life with the recent approval from the Union Ministry of Home, allowing overnight stays for foreign tourists. This decision is set to open the floodgates to international visitors eager to explore…

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LAHDC Election: Kargil sees record turnout of 77.61%

LAHDC Election: Kargil sees record turnout of 77.61%

Kargil witnessed a turnout of 77.61% in the election to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) on Wednesday, indicating residents’ desire for democratic representation. It is the first election since the abrogation of Article 370 in the erstwhile state. These polls are seen as a barometer of public sentiment regarding the BJP-led Centre’s decision to grant Union Territory (UT) status to Ladakh, which includes Leh and Kargil districts. Currently, Ladakh is a UT without an Assembly. The voters were mostly concerned about preserving the unique identity of the region,…

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Ladakh may hold significant reserves of rare platinum group elements, Geological Survey of India finds

Ladakh may hold significant reserves of rare platinum group elements, Geological Survey of India finds

PGE comprises six metals– platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, and osmium Preliminary surveys by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) have found encouraging results for the presence of Chromite and Platinum Group of Elements (PGE) in parts of Ladakh. These minerals have immense economic significance. According to GSI officials, high values have been obtained for the presence of these minerals in explorations carried out near Dras during the past year and survey base would further be expanded. The findings were presented at a high-level GSI conference held this month. PGE…

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Tourist influx triggers beggar problem in Ladakh

Tourist influx triggers beggar problem in Ladakh

As the number of domestic and international tourists surges post the removal of Covid restrictions on travel, beggars have also made inroads into Leh town in Ladakh in large numbers this year. They have troubled tourists, triggering the administration and the police to launch a special drive. Many beggars were loaded in buses and sent with police escort till Manali in Himachal Pradesh so that they do not return. The Ladakh police have also launched an investigation to know if some organised syndicate is bringing thousands of beggars to Leh.…

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Rahul Gandhi visits Pangong Lake, raises concerns over China’s activities

Rahul Gandhi visits Pangong Lake, raises concerns over China's activities

Raking up India-China border issues, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said people of Ladakh have been affected in a big way as their grazing land has been occupied by the neighbouring country. Gandhi asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claim that no one entered the Indian side of the line of actual control was untrue and can be confirmed by anyone in the area. “Here, the concern is of course the land that has been taken away by China. People have been affected in a big way because their…

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Tragic Incident claims lives of nine Army Personnel as vehicle plunges into gorge in Ladakh

Tragic Incident claims lives of nine Army Personnel as vehicle plunges into gorge in Ladakh

Nine army personnel were killed after the truck they were travelling in plunge into a deep gorge in Ladakh on Saturday. “The death toll has increased to nine while one has been injured”, Lt Col PS Sidhu, defence PRO, Leh, said. “The convoy was moving from Leh to Kiari. One vehicle went offroad leading to mishap”, the defence official added. The army team reportedly constituted of 311 Medium Regiment (artillery). There were a total of three officers, two JCOs and 34 jawans travelling in three vehicles that comprised a Maruti Gypsy, a…

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Indian Air Force Deploys Over 68,000 Troops to Eastern Ladakh in Response to Galwan Valley Clashes

Indian Air Force Deploys Over 68,000 Troops to Eastern Ladakh in Response to Galwan Valley Clashes

Over 68,000 Army soldiers, around 90 tanks and other weapon systems were airlifted by the Indian Air Force to eastern Ladakh from across the country for rapid deployment along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) after the deadly clashes in the Galwan Valley, top sources in defence and security establishment said. The IAF deployed its Su-30 MKI and Jaguar jets in the region for round-the-clock surveillance and intelligence gathering on the enemy build-up, apart from putting several squadrons of combat aircraft in “offensive posturing” in the wake of the clashes…

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Two Police Officers brutally assaulted in Leh, culprits on the run

Two Police Officers brutally assaulted in Leh, culprits on the run

Two policemen, including a sub-inspector of Ladakh Police, suffered serious injuries after they were “violently and brutally” assaulted by a group of miscreants, a senior officer said here on Monday. Senior Superintendent of Police (Leh) PD Nitya said an FIR has been registered under relevant sections, including attempt to murder, against eight absconding accused and special teams have been set up to arrest them. “Sub-Inspector Mohammad Jani and Head Constable Ghulam Rasool from Leh police station were violently and brutally assaulted by a group of youths at a restaurant during…

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Heavy rainfall triggers flash floods in Ladakh, damage to property and infrastructure

Heavy rainfall triggers flash floods in Ladakh damage to property and infrastructure

A cloudburst triggered flash floods in the Union Territory of Ladakh, causing debris to flow into the main market area and throwing life out of gear. However, there are no reports of any loss of life, PTI reported quoting officials saying on Saturday. The cloudburst hit the Gangles area of the Union territory late Friday night and left several parts of Leh town inundated, they said, adding the debris entered many buildings in the low-lying areas, causing some damage to them. The report quoting police said that rescue and rehabilitation…

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