Houseboats the Kashmir’s floating heritage

By: Irfan A Mir Floating houses popularly known as ‘houseboats’ on the waters of Dal Lake have a unique history. It is said that the native kings had prohibited foreign visitors, especially the British from constructing houses in the region which gave rise to the concept of the houseboat. Though some believe that there have been houseboats on the waters of Dal, Nigeen, and in adjoining water bodies since 1800 but many contests this version, saying the floating houses came into being in the late 19th century by the boat-dwelling…

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At -7.8, Srinagar records coldest night after 8 years

Srinagar had minus 7.8, Pahalgam minus 11.7 and Gulmarg minus 10 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature on Wednesday. At minus 7.8 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, Srinagar recorded the coldest night of the season so far as the 40-day long harsh winter period, known locally as the ‘Chillai Kalan’, reaches its peak. “At minus 7.8 degrees Celsius, Srinagar recorded the coldest night of the season so far equalling an 8-year-old record when the same minimum was recorded on January 14, 2013”, an official of the local meteorological (MeT) department said.…

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Closure of national highway gave rise to black marketing across Kashmir

As the Srinagar-Jammu highway, the only road connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country continues to remain closed from the last couple of days, black-marketing is at its peak with people alleging that prices of essential commodities have gone skyrocketing across Srinagar. According to a local news agency, Kashmir News Observer (KNO), consumers from different parts of the Valley here have complained of skyrocketing prices of essentials including vegetables, saying that the sellers are selling the stuff as per their will. They said it seems that the sellers have…

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Bird Flu scare stopping masses from buying poultry across the Valley

After the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on the poultry industry in Jammu and Kashmir, the industry is now reeling under the threat of the bird flu infection. People associated with the industry said that despite banning the entry of any poultry product into Jammu and Kashmir not a single case has been reported here, while most people have left consumption of chicken and other poultry products. Bano Pratap, owner of Prem poultry in Jammu city told a local news agency, Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the unrest created by the…

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