Delimitation: Anxiety in Kashmir as India panel proposes to redraw election map

Delimitation: Anxiety in Kashmir as India panel proposes to redraw election map

The controversial proposal to raise assembly seats in Jammu causes anger among Muslims, who form the majority in the disputed region. A controversial proposal to redraw the electoral map of Indian-administered Kashmir has caused anxiety and anger among the region’s Muslims, who say the move is aimed at “disempowering” them. In March last year, a delimitation commission headed by a former judge of India’s Supreme Court was appointed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government and tasked with redrawing the boundaries of the constituencies sending representatives to the state assembly. On…

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One dead, 13 hurt in bus mishap in Kathua district

One dead, 13 hurt in bus mishap in Kathua district

A 32-year-old woman was killed and 13 others were injured when a bus turned turtle in Kathua district on Sunday, officials said. The accident took place at Galak village on the Dayalacheck road when the driver lost control over the vehicle at a sharp curve. The bus was going towards Jammu. Rescuers were rushed to the accident site and 14 injured persons were admitted to the Ramkote Community Health Centre. A woman, identified as Sushma Devi, succumbed to injuries during treatment. Six of those injured were referred from the Community…

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As weather improved National Highway restored for stranded vehicles, Air traffic, Train service resumed

As weather improved National Highway restored for stranded vehicles, Air traffic, Train service resumed

Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was restored for stranded vehicles after the road maintenance agency cleared the landslide and prepared a single-lane road at Cafeteria Morh Ramban, and Maroog late Sunday evening. Traffic Control Unit (TCU) Ramban confirmed that stranded passenger Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) in Ramban town and Maroog were allowed to proceed towards Jammu at 8 pm. “One-way traffic has been restored on NH-44,” Deputy Commissioner Ramban tweeted on his official Twitter handle later in the evening. Earlier, the highway remained closed for the better part of Sunday on the…

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Kangri – A friend of Kashmiris in the harsh Winter and Chillai Kalan

Kangri - A friend of Kashmiris in the harsh Winter and Chillai Kalan

North Kashmir district Bandipora’s Kaloosa village is known for Kang’ir making as most of the people in the village are associated with the business. Kang’ir is a traditional earthen pot covered with a wicker basket. It is filled with coal embers used by people during winters to keep warm. Kashmir’s kangri: How residents beat the cold using traditional portable heaters in the Valley The kangri, or kanger as it is locally known, is filled with embers and held against the body under a pheran, an overgarment unique to Kashmir, for…

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FIR registered against PDP leaders for ‘Violation’ of Covid norms

FIR registered against PDP leaders for 'Violation' of Covid norms

An executive magistrate in J&K’s Anantnag district has directed the police to register an FIR against 10 PDP leaders for allegedly violating Covid protocols at an event to mark party founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s death anniversary, officials said on Saturday. Reacting to the development, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti said it appeared that Covid norms applied only to her party and not to the BJP, which held a protest in Kashmir on Friday. The executive magistrate of Bijbehara tehsil issued directions to the station house officer to lodge…

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Snowfall disrupts Air, Surface transport, Markets register lesser footfall

Snowfall disrupts Air, Surface transport, Markets register lesser footfalls

43 flights at Srinagar International Airport were canceled on Saturday Banihal-Baramulla train service remained affected Improvement in weather from today: MeT The city markets witnessed a major decrease in footfalls of shoppers Various business establishments also remained closed Kashmir received intermittent moderate to heavy snowfall throughout the day on Saturday, which led to the cancellation of all 43 scheduled flights at the Srinagar International Airport and the suspension of traffic on the Srinagar- Jammu National Highway. The train service between the 136-kilometer Banihal-Baramulla Section was also suspended due to the…

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J&K witnesses nearly 300% surge in Covid cases in one week

J&K witnesses nearly 300% surge in Covid cases in one week

Jammu and Kashmir recorded 655 Covid infections and three deaths on Saturday, a day after witnessing 542 infections and a death, an official health bulletin said. Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday reported a 20% increase in daily Covid cases than the previous day and a 295% surge than the infections reported a week ago. The union territory recorded 655 Covid infections and three deaths on Saturday, a day after witnessing 542 infections and a death, an official health bulletin said. This is after 6.5 months that J&K has seen such a…

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Once famed Kashmiri woodcarving a legacy in its last throes

Once famed Kashmiri woodcarving a legacy in its last throes

By: Mukeet Akmali Carving out marvel after marvel, septuagenarian Mehraj U Din has a blurred vision, yet the desperation to feed his family keeps him going. With fewer returns and low demand for intrinsic wood-carved items, he finds it difficult to keep going. His lone son is not willing to carry forward his legacy either. Amid all ailments, Mehraj does not give up. He sits daily for a day’s rigorous work to feed his family comprising a daughter and son, and his wife. With the loss of vision and old…

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Jammu-Srinagar national highway shut due to landslides, leaving more 3000 vehicles stranded

Jammu-Srinagar national highway shut due to landslides, leaving more 3000 vehicles stranded

Over 1,000 vehicles were cleared from Srinagar to Jammu on Friday after which landslides and shooting stones at multiple places in Ramban district again block the highway Landslides triggered by incessant rain on Saturday blocked the Jammu-Srinagar highway, leaving 3,000 vehicles stranded, according to traffic department officials. The officials said over 1,000 vehicles were cleared from Srinagar to Jammu on Friday after which landslides and shooting stones at multiple places in Ramban district again blocked the highway. “It is heavily raining in Udhampur and Ramban districts along the Jammu-Srinagar highway.…

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Strategic Areas Notification: Now army can carry construction in Sonamarg & Gulmarg

Strategic Areas Notification: Now army can carry construction in Sonamarg & Gulmarg

Almost 14 months after the Jammu and Kashmir administration notified a law allowing earmarking of land for use by armed forces, a patch of some 70 hectares in Gulmarg and Sonamarg tourist resorts in the Valley has been declared as “strategic areas”. The armed forces can now carry out construction activities on this land. Officials said the land was already under the use of the Army for years and no change or transfer of the land was being made. “The land is under the Army’s use for decades for training…

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