J&K’s tourism industry blown down by latest Covid crises

J&K's tourism industry blown down by latest Covid crises

The third wave of Covid has impacted tourism in Jammu and Kashmir in January after it had made an encouraging comeback till the end of last year. From a record 1.4 lakh tourist arrivals in December 2021, the numbers this month have come down to less than half with just over 60,000 visitors till January 27. Officials of the tourism department said owing to escalating Covid cases this month, the tourist arrivals have come down, but have not stopped. “The pandemic has an effect on the arrivals, but they have…

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J&K Govt orders for CID verification of all employees appointed after 2018

J&K Govt orders for CID verification of all employees appointed after 2018

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang Pole has directed deputy commissioners of all 10 districts of the valley to ensure that CID verification of new appointees is done as per the directions of the Jammu and Kashmir government at the earliest. Reports said the Jammu and Kashmir government has amended service rules which mandate that for those who join government services, their credentials must be verified by the Crime Investigation Department of police As per the officials, the amendments in the rules of the service have been done to ensure that the…

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Head Constable shot down by gunmen in Anantnag

Head Constable shot down by gunmen in Anantnag

A policeman was shot dead by militants in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Saturday, reports quoting officials said. Quoting a police official, news agency GNS reported that Head Constable Ali Mohammad was fired upon by unknown militants in the Hassanpora area of the district, leaving him critically injured. He was shifted to GMC Anantnag where doctors declared him dead. “He was brought dead,” a doctor at GMC Anantnag said. The killing comes a day after a cop escaped unhurt in a militant attack in the Batmaloo area of Srinagar. Police…

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Pending payments, Lock-downs wreaking havoc on businesses, Economy: Kashmir Chamber

Pending payments, Lock-downs wreaking havoc on businesses, Economy: Kashmir Chamber

The business community in Kashmir has urged the J&K administration to pay the overdue payments of the businessmen and entrepreneurs pending for over four years now and rethink the recent decision of imposing lockdown on the weekends. They stated that the weekend lockdowns have once again adversely impacted the livelihood of daily wagers and the larger business community. The business representatives urged the Lieutenant Governor of J&K Manoj Sinha to pay heed to the demands of the business community, allow the opening of businesses promising to ensure implementation of Covid19…

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26 Weeks and ON; Jamia Masjid remained closed for Friday Prayers

26 Weeks and ON; Jamia Masjid remained closed for Friday Prayers

Srinagar Jan, 28, (KIF): Authorities today, once again for the 26th consecutive Friday, did not allow Muslims to perform mandatory Friday prayers at Jama Masjid Srinagar, the largest place of worship in Kashmir and the great centre of da’wah and preaching. By doing so, the administration continues to hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims. Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Srinagar said in a statement. The Anjuman also termed it extremely painful and distressing that its head Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, continues to be under house arrest since August 5, 2019, incapacitating him…

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Mercury plunges as ‘Chillai Kalan’ nears end in Kashmir; Minus 11.8°C In Pahalgam

Mercury plunges as ‘Chillai Kalan’ nears end in Kashmir; Minus 11.8°C In Pahalgam

With ‘Chillai Kalan’, the 40-day long harshest period of winter ending in a couple of days, the minimum temperature plunged across Kashmir Valley as the world-famous Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 11.8°C on Friday. An official of the meteorological department here told GNS that Srinagar, the summer capital of the J&K recorded a low of minus 3.6°C against last night’s minus 1.3°C. Kashmir is presently under the grip of a 40-day long harshest period of winter, known locally as ‘Chillai Kalan’, which started from December 21. Its exit does…

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Aspirants cry foul as Kashmir varsity goes ahead with recruitment process of lapsed assistant registrar posts

Aspirants cry foul as Kashmir varsity goes ahead with recruitment process of lapsed assistant registrar posts

In a clear violation of its own recruitment rules, Kashmir University is going ahead with the hiring process for assistant registrar posts that had lapsed in October last year, eliciting allegations of nepotism by prospective aspirants. The university advertised seven positions of assistant registrar/assistant controller of examination on October 24, 2019, and as per the varsity statutes, the posts should have been filed within two years of the date or else re-advertised. Interestingly, when the posts were advertised in 2019, the varsity had asked those candidates who had already applied…

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How Kashmir’s Half-Widows are denied their basic property rights

How Kashmir’s Half-Widows are denied their basic property rights

By: Safina Nabi Thirty winters have passed since Atiqa Begum, 59, last held her husband’s hand. Married at the young age of 19, Atiqa spent the next eight years of her life happily with her husband, who worked as a contractual employee in Kashmir’s power development department. The couple lived in Zogiyar village in Baramulla district with their four children. The youngest was four months old when a knock on their front door on a cold February night in 1990 changed the course of their life. “We were woken up…

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National highway closed due to landslide; Intense cold in parts of Kashmir

National highway closed due to landslide; Intense cold in parts of Kashmir

The Jammu-Srinagar national highway was closed for vehicular traffic due to a landslide in the Ramban district on Wednesday, news agency PTI reported. The 270-kilometer stretch is the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country. The landslide took place at Duggi Pulli near Chanderkote, the PTI report said. Many heavy motor vehicles (HMVs) and light motor vehicles (LMVs) are stranded at different points on the highway, it added. The local officials PTI spoke to said that men and machinery have been deployed to clear the debris…

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Ahead of Republic Day multi-level security grid put in place across Kashmir Valley

Ahead of Republic Day multi-level security grid put in place across Kashmir Valley

Ahead of the Republic Day function, high-level security arrangements have been made across Kashmir, especially in Srinagar, where the main function of the Valley will be held on Wednesday The UT’s Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha, will unfurl the Tricolour at MA Stadium in Jammu, while one of the advisers, RR Bhatnagar will be unfurling the Tricolour at SK Stadium, Srinagar. DDC chairpersons will be chief guests at district headquarters. On Monday, a full-dress rehearsal parade was held at different district headquarters and in Srinagar. To avert any possible militant attack…

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