General News Archives | Page 6 of 349

Omar Abdullah Breaks Ranks: From Delhi’s Ally to Kashmir’s Advocate

September 13, 2025 Editor

Omar Abdullah’s Shifting Politics: Statehood, Delhi, and the Future of Jammu and Kashmir By: Javid Amin | 12 September 2025 From Conciliation to Confrontation When Omar Abdullah returned to power in 2024 as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (now a Union Territory), his political approach seemed pragmatic. He avoided direct confrontation with New Delhi, instead choosing to work within the boundaries of UT governance. At first, this strategy made sense. The region was still adjusting after the abrogation of Article 370, and Abdullah emphasized stability, development, and dialogue.…

HC Miffed Over Tardy Action on Unhygienic Meat Sale in J&K: Public Health, Accountability & The Fight for Safe Food

September 11, 2025 Editor

Judicial Rebuke: A Wake-Up Call from the Bench By: Javid Amin | 10 September 2025 The Jammu and Kashmir High Court recently came down heavily on the administration for failing to act against the rampant sale of unhygienic meat and poultry across the Union Territory. The court described official responses as “cosmetic”, highlighting that reports filed by departments lacked both substance and seriousness. The Bench minced no words when it observed: “There may be officers who will do nothing, but you as amicus file your response in writing and also…

Mehbooba Mufti: Mehraj Malik’s Detention Meant to Distract from Hazratbal Outrage

September 11, 2025 Editor

Mehbooba Mufti on Mehraj Malik’s Detention: A Political Diversion from Hazratbal Outrage By: Javid Amin | 10 September 2025 Politics, Religion, and Democracy Collide in Jammu & Kashmir In the politically volatile landscape of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), issues of governance often intertwine with religion, identity, and public sentiment. The latest controversy revolves around the detention of Mehraj Malik, president of the Aam Aadmi Party’s J&K unit, and the Hazratbal shrine plaque outrage that shook the Valley. Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has accused the administration of deliberately using Malik’s…

Landslide at Ratle Power Project Highlights Kashmir’s Escalating Ecological Crisis

September 5, 2025 Editor

Deforestation, Encroachments Blamed for Recurring Flood Scares in Kashmir; Ratle Power Project Landslide Brings Kashmir’s Fragile Ecology into Focus By: Javid Amin | 04 Sep 2025 Ratle Landslide: A Narrow Escape On September 4, 2025, disaster struck at the Ratle Power Project site in Kishtwar’s Dhrabshala area when a sudden landslide swept down a rain-soaked slope. Temporary tin sheds, being used as washrooms by workers, were buried under a torrent of earth and rock. Five workers were trapped inside. The district administration, led by Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Sharma, launched an immediate…

Deforestation and Encroachments Blamed for Recurring Flood Scares in Kashmir

September 5, 2025 Editor

Kashmir’s Recurring Flood Nightmare By: Javid Amin | 04 Sep 2025 Every monsoon, the Kashmir Valley stands on edge. With each heavy downpour, rivers swell, embankments tremble, and memories of September 2014 resurface — when the Jhelum breached all defences, drowning Srinagar and displacing hundreds of thousands. Eleven years later, despite crores spent on projects like the Jhelum–Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP) and the Comprehensive Flood Management Plan (CFMP), the Valley continues to live under the shadow of recurring flood threats. Experts, residents, and environmentalists are increasingly pointing to a…

Srinagar–Jammu National Highway Closed Amid Landslides & Flooding: Supplies, Railways Hit Hard

September 4, 2025September 4, 2025 Editor

Valley Cut Off Again as Rains Trigger Chaos By: Javid Amin | 04 Sep 2025 The Srinagar–Jammu National Highway (NH-44), the Valley’s lifeline for essential supplies and passenger movement, has been shut indefinitely after heavy rains triggered a chain of landslides, shooting stones, and road cave-ins between Udhampur and Banihal. Traffic Police officials said the suspension was a precautionary measure, warning that unstable hill slopes continue to shed debris, making driving conditions life-threatening. “Safety First” Approach “Given the scale of landslides and the risk of shooting stones, keeping NH-44 open…

Kashmir on the Brink: Disaster at Our Doorstep — Why the Valley Remains Unprepared for the Next Flood

September 4, 2025September 4, 2025 Editor

Kashmir on the Brink of Collapse: Disaster at Our Doorstep By: Javid Amin | 04 Sep 2025 A 2025 ground analysis of the Valley’s flood threat, readiness gaps, and the urgent choices before us. The Water is Rising — Again The Valley is holding its breath. The Jhelum has crossed the danger mark at Sangam and is swelling past safe limits in Srinagar. Tributaries like Vishow and Rambiyara are spilling over, and the rain hasn’t stopped. In South Kashmir, fields are lakes; in Srinagar’s low-lying colonies, water is already at…

Traffic Suspended on Jammu–Srinagar National Highway Due to Landslides and Heavy Rain

September 3, 2025 Editor

Mudslides, road collapses, and falling boulders halt movement across NH-44; commuters urged to avoid travel By: Javid Amin | 02 Sep 2025 Relentless Rain Forces Shutdown of J&K’s Lifeline The Jammu–Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) — the only all-weather road link connecting the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India — has been completely closed following incessant rains that triggered landslides, mudslides, and shooting stones across multiple stretches. Officials confirmed that no vehicular movement will be allowed between Nagrota (Jammu) and Qazigund (Kashmir) until further notice, citing ongoing risk to commuters.…

Melting Dreams: Glacial Lake Floods Cast Shadow Over Kashmir’s Hydropower Future

September 3, 2025 Editor

GLOFs Endanger Key Projects Like Pakal Dul, Kiru, and Ratle—Experts Warn of Climate-Driven Infrastructure Collapse By: Javid Amin | 03 Sep 2025 A Collision of Dreams and Disasters Jammu and Kashmir, with its mighty Himalayan rivers, has long been seen as India’s hydropower powerhouse. Projects like Kishanganga, Uri, and Salal have already lit up millions of homes, while mega-dams on the Chenab River—Pakal Dul, Kiru, Kwar, and Ratle— are under construction with an investment exceeding ₹22,000 crore. But beneath this promise lies a fragile foundation. As glaciers retreat and unstable…

Monsoon Mayhem: Jammu & Kashmir Drenched in Historic August Rainfall

September 2, 2025September 2, 2025 Editor

From Doda to Leh: Himalayan Districts Reel Under Record-Breaking Rain By: Javid Amin | 01 Sep 2025 A Monsoon Like No Other August 2025 will be remembered as the month when the skies unleashed unprecedented fury over the Himalayas. Jammu & Kashmir recorded 319.3 mm rainfall in August — a 73% surplus, the 6th wettest August since 1901. Ladakh, usually known for its arid cold desert, was drenched — a 930% surplus, with Kargil receiving 1,530% above normal rain. These are not just numbers. They mark a tectonic shift in…