General News Archives | Page 2 of 339

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…

Indus Water Diversion Sparks Political, Legal, and Diplomatic Firestorm

July 8, 2025 Editor

Kashmir Leaders, Pakistan, and Punjab Lock Horns Over River Rerouting Plan By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 08 July 2023 Waters of Discord In the scorching summer of 2025, water has become not just a resource but a battleground. The Central Government’s newly proposed plan to divert water from Jammu & Kashmir’s mighty rivers—Chenab, Jhelum, and Indus—to the parched lands of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan has not just stirred political tempests but also reignited regional rivalries, legal ambiguities, and even diplomatic tensions with neighboring Pakistan. The plan comes against the…

PAC vs Power: Sajad Lone Slams Politicized Security Cuts as New Alliance Faces Heat in J&K

July 7, 2025July 7, 2025 Editor

From veiled threats to security withdrawals, the People’s Alliance for Change navigates a storm of political sabotage and historical shadows By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 07 July 2025 Alliance for Change, or Target for Disruption? In the volatile landscape of Jammu & Kashmir, political alliances rarely emerge without resistance. And when they do, resistance often comes not just in the form of ideological pushback, but in the weaponization of state power, including the withdrawal of basic protections like security. On July 6, 2025, Sajad Gani Lone, President of the…

Flash Flood & Landslide Alert Issued for Jammu & Kashmir Through July 9

July 7, 2025 Editor

Alert in J&K: Red‑Level Flash Flood & Landslide Warning Active Through July 9 By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 06 July 2025 The Meteorological Department of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K MeT) has issued a red alert for flash floods, landslides, mudslides, and associated hazards across vulnerable parts of the Union Territory. The advisory is in effect from today, July 6, through July 9, urging residents, travelers, farmers, and officials to stay vigilant. What the Alert Says Flash Flood Threat: Heavy downpours are forecasted in both low-lying plains and mountainous terrain. Swiftly…

Language, Identity, and Jobs: Why 14 BJP MLAs Oppose Urdu Mandate in J&K Naib Tehsildar Recruitment

July 4, 2025 Editor

The Politics of Language in Jammu & Kashmir’s Bureaucracy By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 04 July 2025 In a politically sensitive state like Jammu & Kashmir, where language is tied deeply to identity, culture, and history, even a bureaucratic job advertisement can ignite controversy. That’s exactly what happened on July 2, 2025, when a delegation of 14 BJP MLAs met with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar to challenge what they called an “exclusionary and discriminatory policy”: making Urdu a mandatory qualification for Naib Tehsildar posts. The BJP MLAs,…

Kashmir’s Agricultural Revival: Centre Mulling Big Interventions to Empower Farmers and Rebuild the Rural Economy

July 4, 2025 Editor

Centre Plans Major Agriculture Interventions in Kashmir: Dairy, Fisheries, and Gene-Edited Sheep Drive Rural Revival By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 03 July 2025 A Rural Revival in Motion When people think of Kashmir, they often imagine serene valleys, snow-capped peaks, and a centuries-old tradition of horticulture. But beyond the postcard image lies a reality of economic underdevelopment in rural belts—especially in agriculture, which, despite employing over 70% of the region’s workforce, remains grossly undercapitalized and infrastructure-poor. Now, a sweeping change is on the horizon. Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh,…

Water, Power, and Protest: Police Foil PDP March in Srinagar, Detain Senior Leaders

July 2, 2025 Editor

Governance in the Heat – A Valley Boils Over By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 02 July 2025 As Kashmir reels under an unprecedented heatwave, basic civic services like water and electricity have become scarce luxuries. On Tuesday, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) attempted to lead a protest march through Srinagar to highlight the worsening conditions—but police forces intercepted the rally, detained multiple leaders, and prevented the protest from reaching Lal Chowk. This incident marks yet another political flashpoint in Jammu & Kashmir, where citizens’ frustrations over daily hardships are…

Poison in the Orchard: How Pesticides Are Fueling Kashmir’s Silent Cancer Epidemic

July 2, 2025 Editor

Poison in the Orchard: How Pesticides Are Fueling Kashmir’s Silent Cancer Epidemic By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 02 July 2025 From Lush Apple Groves to Lifelong Illness Nestled amidst breathtaking Himalayan valleys, Kashmir’s apple orchards have long been a symbol of the region’s natural abundance and economic backbone. But beneath the beauty lies a hidden crisis—one that is claiming lives in silence and sending entire families to oncology wards. In what experts are calling a “toxic public health emergency”, a growing number of brain tumors and other aggressive cancers…

Amarnath Yatra 2025 Traffic Advisory: Smooth Pilgrimage or Stressful Journey?

July 2, 2025 Editor

Amarnath Yatra 2025 Traffic Advisory: Safety First or a Journey of Disruptions? By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 02 July 2025 The Sacred Journey Meets Practical Planning The annual Amarnath Yatra, a deeply spiritual journey for lakhs of devotees who brave the Himalayan terrain to pay obeisance at the holy cave of Lord Shiva, is not just a religious pilgrimage—it’s a massive logistical event. From medical teams and military deployment to shelter, food, and most importantly, traffic management, the smooth conduct of the yatra depends on microscopic planning. For the…

Divisional Reservation for Kashmiri Students: A Crucial Step to Safeguard Educational and Employment Equity

June 30, 2025 Editor

Why Divisional Reservation is Essential for Kashmiri Students in Jobs and Admissions By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 30 June 2025 A Growing Crisis of Representation In the heart of Jammu & Kashmir, a silent but severe crisis is unfolding. Kashmiri students—once fairly represented in academic admissions and government recruitment—are now seeing their dreams eroded by a reservation system that increasingly marginalizes their presence. With excessive and poorly balanced quotas, lists after lists of job appointments and professional course admissions show a disturbing drop in Kashmiri representation. For instance, in…