General News Archives | Page 334 of 367

National Highways closed due to snowfall, landslides

October 26, 2015 Editor

Rains continued to lash plains of Kashmir while its higher reaches received fresh snowfall for the second consecutive day Sunday, leading to closure of three main highways in the state. The Meteorological department has predicted improvement in weather from Tuesday afternoon. A MeT department official said apart from the ski-resort of Gulmarg, fresh snowfall was recorded at Amarnath Cave, Sadhna Top, Gurez, Z-Gali, Zojilla Pass, Pir Ki Gali on Mughal Road and Sinthan Top. He said Srinagar recorded 4.7 mm of rainfall, Qazigund 5.7 mm, Pahalgam 13.8 mm, Kupwara 15.1…

Present situation in J&K worrisome: Cong

October 26, 2015 Editor

The prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir is “worrisome”, state Cong unit said today, while appealing the people to defeat “politics of communalism” hell bent upon to create discord in the state. “We appeal the people to defeat the politics of communalism and the designs of other anti-peace forces hell bent upon to create discord in the state,” state Congress Chief G A Mir said while addressing a core group meeting here. The state Congress chief also urged mainstream political parties to help and contribute in normalising the situation in the…

NGO questions govt move to defend Article 370

October 26, 2015 Editor

On the eve of the 68th Accession Day, We The Citizens, a Delhi-based NGO, which has challenged constitutional validity of Article 35 (A), has questioned the Jammu and Kashmir Government’s logic behind defending the law. The NGO claimed the Article had “deprived” the state people of their “genuine fundamental rights”. “Since August 16, 2014, when our PIL on the abrogation of Article 35 (A) was accepted by the Supreme Court, at least seven notices have been given to both the Centre and state government, but J&K has not given any…

Adhere to quality parameters, ERA chief tells contractors

October 26, 2015 Editor

J&K Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) chief executive officer Vinod Sharma has urged the contractors to strictly follow dust suppression measures during construction works. He passed the directions after an interaction with the shopkeepers and locals here yesterday during an inspection of works being executed by the J&K ERA in Srinagar city under the ongoing Jammu and Kashmir Urban Sector Development Investment Programme (JKUSDIP) funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB). The CEO conducted a site inspection of 2.4 km-long expressway corridor from Jehangir Chowk-Rambagh corridor, which is estimated to cost Rs…

Meteorological dept warns of heavy rain across state

October 24, 2015 Editor

The weather department on Friday issued a forecast of moderate to heavy rain across J&K and snow over mountains forfour days from Saturday. It warned that the rain may trigger landslides and disrupt surface and air traffic. The downpour will be caused by a stormy western disturbance which is approaching the region, and is likely to cause an impact from Saturday afternoon, says a warning bulletin issued by the state Meteorological Department. The stormy weather will continue to have an impact over the state for four days from Saturday afternoon…

Modi to lay foundation stone of Udhampur-Banihal road project

October 24, 2015 Editor

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is scheduled to visit the state on November 7, is likely to lay the foundation stone for the four-laning of the highway between Udhampur and Banihal. Work on Chenani-Nashri and Banihal-Qazigund tunnels is scheduled to complete next year, while the four-laning of Qazigund-Srinagar stretch of the national highway is expected to complete soon. Four-laning of Jammu-Udhampur stretch has been already completed and the Prime Minister may lay the foundation stone for the Udhampur-Chenani and Nashri-Banihal stretches, which are projected to be completed in the next…

No trains from Banihal to Valley for 2nd day

October 24, 2015 Editor

No train from the Kashmir valley chugged to Banihal for the second consecutive day today. Railway sources said the step was taken as a precautionary measure in the wake of the volatile situation in the Valley and in anticipation of protests across Kashmir after the Friday prayers. Clashes between people and police and paramilitary personnel following restrictions on Muharram processions in the Valley on Thursday has reportedly compelled the railway authorities to cancel the train services between Srinagar and Banihal for the second day today. Meanwhile, after the Friday prayers,…

Wet Spell, Snow expected in Jammu and Kashmir

October 23, 2015 Editor

A western disturbance is likely to approach Jammu and Kashmir from Saturday and cause snowfall and heavy rain in the state for the next three-four days, the local weather office said on Friday. “A tropical storm is likely to affect the state from tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon and will last till Tuesday evening,” an official of the local Met Office told IANS. During this period we expect snowfall over higher reaches and moderate to heavy rainfall in Kashmir and Jammu divisions and many other places, particularly Kargil district of Ladakh region,…

Sharif seeks third party mediation on Kashmir issue

October 23, 2015 Editor

Describing Kashmir as “a flashpoint” between India and Pakistan, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said there is a need for a third party mediation to resolve the issue and end stalemate in the Indo-Pak dialogue process. “(Currently) there are no bilateral talks (between India and Pakistan) on resolving the Kashmir issue. In that scenario there should be a third party meditation on this. If India does not accept a third party role, if there is no bilateral talks then there is a stalemate,” Sharif told reporters after his meeting with…

Costly vegetables become unaffordable for common man

October 23, 2015 Editor

The prices of vegetables and pulses have suddenly gone up manifold in Kashmir when their consumption is high due to the arrival of the winter season. Local residents say that due to the approaching winter the family budgets are already upset by extra expenditures and now the spiralling prices of vegetables have put them into another difficulty. “The floods last year gave a setback to farmers who were not able to get much cultivation this year, with people mostly dependent on the outside production, the increase in the rates of…