July 2023 | Page 12 of 18

Hoteliers, Tour Operators Urge Govt to Host Corporate Events in Kashmir to Boost Tourism

July 12, 2023July 12, 2023 Editor

The arrival of the monsoons in Kashmir has led to a decline in hotel bookings in the region. Hoteliers say that they are expecting a further decline in bookings in the next three months, as the tourist season typically slows down during this time. One hotelier, who asked not to be named, said that they were fully booked until June, but that bookings have since declined. “The current booking patterns have started dipping as the holiday phase has passed and the arrival of monsoon has further changed the mood of…

Himachal Pradesh Devastated by Floods: 20 Dead in 48 Hours; Delhi on High Alert as Yamuna River Water Level Hits 45-Year Record

July 12, 2023 Editor

Incessant rain, leading to flash floods and landslides has ravaged Himachal Pradesh with several tourists stranded in the hill state amid massive damage to roads and infrastructure. Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said Tuesday that the government is working hard to restore road transport and power supply, while his deputy Mukesh Agnihotri said that the situation is expected to return to normalcy in the next 72 hours. The monsoon mayhem in the state has claimed the lives of about 20 people in the past 48 hours while the damage to…

Srinagar traffic snarls: Mismanagement to blame

July 12, 2023 Editor

Srinagar is witnessing a significant surge in vehicular traffic clogging the streets with long queues of vehicles. As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), many residents complained about lack of traffic management in Srinagar causing frequent traffic jams on roads. They pointed out Dalgate to Khanyar saying the road faces chronic traffic jams on a daily basis. Similarly, long lines of stranded vehicles are seen on weekends on busy Boulevard road along Dal Lake. “Despite the introduction of new vehicles by the traffic department, the traffic situation in Srinagar city remains a…

Chatapal: Kashmir’s Mini-Pahalgam awaits visitors with open arms

July 12, 2023 Editor

Tucked deep inside the lush green virgin pine forests with the majestic sun kissing the Himalayas at the backdrop and a light blue river flowing at the base, this off beat destination is probably what the tourists ask for. Located 40 kilometers from Anantnag – just one-hour drive away via Achabal-Shangus-Chatergul, this quaint village has an uncanny resemblance with famous tourist destination Pahalgam. “My local friend from Anantnag took me to this place recently and I found it way more beautiful than what I had imagined,” says Vinay Jain, a…

Venue for India vs Pakistan clash in Asia Cup revealed

July 12, 2023 Editor

There has been great anticipation among the cricket fans this year at the prospect of arch-rivals India and Pakistan meeting at least twice in men’s cricket in the calendar. Both teams will square off in the Asia Cup before renewing their rivalry in the ODI World Cup in October; however, while the date and venue for their clash at the latter is already known, there has remained significant speculation over the same in the continental tournament. With controversies revolving around the schedule for the Asia Cup, Arun Dhumal, the current…

Surinder Choudhary’s defection to NC a major blow to BJP in Jammu

July 12, 2023 Editor

Former Member of Legislative Council (MLC), Surinder Choudhary on Tuesday quit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and joined National Conference later in the day, ending over a year-long association with the BJP. Surinder Choudhary took to Twitter to announce his resignation. “Gud bye BJP….Ravinder Raina enjoy with your parivharbad and corruption,” he wrote on his twitter handle. Choudhary is considered a powerful leader with considerable clout. He lost the 2014 election from Nowshera seat by a very thin margin to BJP chief Ravinder Raina. Earlier, he quit Peoples Democratic Party…

Supreme Court says Centre’s assessment of life in J&K post-Article 370 irrelevant to constitutional challenge

July 12, 2023 Editor

A Constitution Bench on July 11 said the Centre’s fresh affidavit claiming that Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing an “unprecedented era of peace, progress and prosperity” following the abrogation of Article 370 on August 4, 2019 has “no bearing on the constitutional challenge” to the repeal of the provision. The Bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and four of the senior most judges said it would start hearing the case from August 2. The Constitution Bench deleted the names of bureaucrat Shah Faesal and activist Shehla Rasheed…

Haj pilgrims in Madina allege mistreatment by Haj Committee of India

July 12, 2023 Editor

Kashmiri Haj pilgrims who have proceeded through the State Haj Committees are having a tough time in the holy city of Madina. They have been accusing Haj Committee of India of cheat and fraud claiming that they have been huddled in those dinghy hotels rejected by Saudi Government. Some of the pilgrims informed the news agency Kashmir News Trust that Haj Committee of India has provided them worst kind of accommodation in Madina. They said over 600 pilgrims have been huddled in a building, lacking lavatory facilities. In most buildings,…

Mehbooba Mufti slams GoI’s affidavit in SC, says it lacks logic in defending abrogation of Article 370

July 11, 2023 Editor

Former Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) chief minister Mehbooba Mufti has hit out at the Union government over its affidavit in the Supreme Court (SC) defending the nullification of the Constitution’s Article 370, saying it lacks logic. The government in the affidavit filed on Monday said the nullification has led to “unprecedented development, progress, security and stability” in the region. In a tweet on Monday, Mufti maintained the abrogation of Article 370 that gave J&K semi-autonomous was “illegal and unconstitutional”. She added brute majority was used to subvert the constitution that…

Supreme Court Orders Day-to-Day Hearing on Abrogation of Article 370 from August 2

July 11, 2023 Editor

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed a day-to-day hearing of a clutch of petitions relating to the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir from August 2. The hearing of pleas will be on the day-to-day basis except for Monday and Friday, said the court. The Supreme Court appointed two advocates as nodal counsels for the preparation of common convenience compilations of documents. It said written submissions shall also be filed on or before July 27 and no further additions to the convenience compilation shall be permissible. The Centre…