July 2025 | Page 5 of 8

From Glaciers to Wetlands—Kashmir’s Nature Losing Ground to Climate Chaos

July 11, 2025 Editor

From Train Derailments to Melting Glaciers—The Valley’s Landscape Is Reaching a Tipping Point By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 11 July 2025 Disaster Strikes: Kathua Train Derailment as Wake-Up Call On July 10, 2025, a goods train derailed in Lakhanpur, Kathua district, after flash floods and a cloudburst wrecked portions of the Jammu–Pathankot rail track. Though no casualties were reported, rail traffic was paralyzed, five passenger trains were delayed, and restoration crews scrambled to repair infrastructure amid surging waters and loose soil. Rainfall Data Kathua recorded: 174.8mm rainfall (50% above…

Mamata Meets Omar: Bengal, Kashmir Join Hands to Rebuild Tourist Confidence

July 11, 2025 Editor

East Meets North: Bengal and Kashmir to Sign MoU for Tourism Revival By: Javid Amin | 11 July 2025 In a significant show of solidarity, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met with Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Kolkata on July 10, 2025, to discuss urgent steps to ensure tourist safety in Kashmir following recent terror incidents. The meeting follows the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, which together claimed 26 lives, including several tourists from West Bengal. Amid growing national concern and a slump…

Mehbooba Mufti Accuses NC of ‘Double Speak’ Over Martyrs’ Day Debate

July 11, 2025July 11, 2025 Editor

As July 13 approaches, PDP intensifies its criticism of the National Conference, calling out its alleged silence and inconsistency over Kashmir’s historical remembrance. By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 11 July 2025 The politics of memory is once again stirring Kashmir’s fragile political waters. With National Conference (NC) campaigning for the restoration of ‘Martyrs’ Day’ on July 13, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti has accused NC of double speak and political opportunism, reopening old wounds and fueling new tensions. Mehbooba’s Sharp Critique In a fiery statement, Mehbooba Mufti said the NC’s…

Five Powerful Ways to Take Control of Sugar Cravings & Naturally Boost Dopamine

July 10, 2025 Editor

Rethink your relationship with sugar. Here’s how to balance blood sugar, elevate your mood, and ditch the sugar cycle for good—naturally. By: Saika J | Srinagar | 10 July 2025 We’ve all been there: reaching for that chocolate bar or sugary chai when the energy crashes mid-afternoon or emotions run high. But here’s the science: sugar triggers dopamine, the feel-good neurotransmitter, creating a cycle that can spiral into dependency. The good news? You can break the loop and naturally reset your brain’s reward system with these five practical, expert-backed strategies.…

Wular Lake Healing: Lotus Bloom Marks Kashmir’s Ecological Rebirth

July 10, 2025 Editor

A Revival of Culture, Ecology, and Collective Memory in the Valley of Pearls By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 10 July 2025 The Comeback of a Forgotten Wonder After a silence of nearly 30 years, Kashmir’s Wular Lake—once hailed for its majestic lotus blooms—has awakened in color. For locals who believed the blossoms had vanished forever following the 1992 flood, this miracle feels like divine intervention. Villagers from Bandipora and Sopore describe the bloom as a gift of God restored. “I thought we lost this blessing,” says lotus stem farmer…

Kashmir Mines to Hyderabad Heist—Unveiling India’s Sapphire Scam

July 10, 2025 Editor

A Cautionary Tale of Glamour, Greed, and Gemstone Fraud By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 10 July 2025 The Glittering Trap: Kashmir Sapphire Scam Hits Hyderabad In a scandal that stunned both gemstone circles and law enforcement officials, a prominent Hyderabad businessman and Nawab, Mir Firasath Ali Khan, was allegedly conned out of ₹3 crore by fraudsters posing as legitimate Kashmir sapphire traders. Lured by the reputation of Padder Valley sapphires, renowned for their unmatched brilliance and rarity, Khan believed he was securing a priceless deal. What he received instead…

Rural to Urban, Phones to Families: How Gambling Apps Are Devastating Kashmir

July 10, 2025 Editor

Online Gambling: The Silent Epidemic Destroying Kashmiri Families By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 10 July 2025 A New Menace Gripping the Valley Once known for its scenic beauty and resilient people, Kashmir is now battling a digital monster—online gambling. Fuelled by flashy apps, false hope, and legal loopholes, this quiet crisis is tearing families apart, drowning youth in debt, and igniting a mental health emergency. Despite laws prohibiting gambling in the region, platforms like Aviator, BC Game, 1xBet, and Lotus365 operate freely, exploiting grey zones in digital regulations. From…

Kashmir Breathes Again: Rain Ends Scorching Heatwave

July 10, 2025 Editor

A Climatic Shift Wrapped in Relief, Reflection, and Urgent Recalibration By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 10 July 2025 From Blistering to Breezy: The Turnaround in Temperatures After weeks of extreme heat that left locals reeling and landscapes thirsting, Kashmir is finally exhaling. The Valley recently endured one of its harshest and longest heatwaves, with cities like Srinagar, Pahalgam, and Anantnag recording unusually high temperatures. But as the weather cools, so does the collective anxiety—offering not just physical comfort, but a moment for reflection on the region’s climate trajectory. Heatwave…

Ladakh Hosts Global Climate Expedition to Build Mountain Resilience

July 9, 2025 Editor

Indo-Russian collaboration brings researchers and local communities together to tackle glacial melt, water insecurity, and ecological disruption in one of Earth’s most fragile ecosystems. By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 08 July 2025 Where Science Meets Survival Amid growing concerns over the accelerating impacts of climate change on the Himalayas, Ladakh has become the epicenter of a pioneering global climate expedition. The 3rd International Summer School and Expedition, running from July 5 to 15, has drawn scientists, students, environmentalists, and community leaders from India and Russia to co-develop strategies for…

Smart City or Sinking City? Srinagar’s Drainage Collapse Sparks Public Outrage

July 9, 2025 Editor

Srinagar’s Drainage Disaster: Smart City or Soaked City? By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 08 July 2025 Smart Plans, Soaked Reality Srinagar, often hailed as the crown jewel of Jammu & Kashmir, is once again making headlines—not for its beauty, but for its broken promises. On July 8, 2025, just a few hours of torrential rain turned large parts of the summer capital into a waterlogged mess, exposing the critical flaws in what has been touted as a “Smart City” initiative. Despite crores spent on development, the city appeared anything…