Category: Kashmir

Kashmir

Christmas celebrated with fervour in Valley

Editor

Christmas was celebrated with traditional fervour in the Kashmir valley today. The main Christmas celebrations in the summer capital were held at the Holy Family Catholic Church on the Maulana Azad Road where devotees offered prayers in the morning. “We celebrate December 25 as the birthday of Jesus Christ and it is a moment of happiness. On this day, we give the message of peace of Jesus Christ and throw light on his teachings. We prayed for peace in the entire world,” Father Roy told reporters. While a few members…

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Kashmir faces power crisis amid bone-chilling cold

Editor

People aghast as PDD resorts to over 15-hour power cuts  No respite in power outages despite protests Kashmir is reeling under power crisis as Power Development Department (PDD) is resorting to frequent power cuts at a time when the valley is in the middle of intense cold spell with night temperature falling many degrees below freezing point. The power cuts have thrown life out of gear across the Valley and people complain that PDD is resorting to more than 15-hour power cuts in a day.  None of the area is…

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Temperatures dip in Kashmir, Pahalgam records Minus 8.5

Editor

Jammu and Kashmir reeled under intense cold weather as minimum temperature dipped further across the state on Thursday. The weather office has forecast dry weather for the next two to three days. “Minimum temperatures are likely to fall further due to dry weather in all regions of the state,” an official of local meteorological office told IANS. Dry weather coupled with clear night sky has intensified cold and chilly conditions. Mercury dipped below the freezing point in Srinagar and settled at minus 4 degrees compared to previous night’s minimum of…

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Temp dips as higher reaches of Valley receive fresh snowfall

Editor

Met department predicts more showers, snow   The higher reaches of Kashmir Valley Wednesday received fresh snowfall while many areas in the plains received rains leading to drop in temperature, as the MeT department predicted more showers and snow. Fresh snowfall was recorded in the famous tourist resorts of Gulmarg and Pahalgam and many areas in the higher reaches of the Valley, while the plains, including Srinagar, received rains during the night, a MeT Department official said here. Around one inch of fresh snowfall was recorded at Gulmarg and Pahalgam…

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Police announce reward for info on militants

Editor

Posters with names and photographs of wanted militants have been pasted at many places across Tral town in Pulwama district. The posters ask the public to give any information regarding the whereabouts of these militants to the police or any other security agency. “Anybody who passes on information regarding these terrorists will be duly rewarded,” read the posters in Urdu and in English. All militants appearing in the posters are residents of Tral and members of the Hizbul Mujahideen. The militants include Azhar Ahmad Bhat and Shakir Ahmad Dar of…

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79 youths took to militancy this year

Editor

30% increase: Last year 60 youths joined militant ranks Seventy nine youths in the Kashmir valley have joined various terror outfits this year, a figure which is 30 per cent higher than that of the previous year, the Rajya Sabha was informed today. Replying to a written question by BJP member Lal Sinh Vadodia, Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary said 79 youths had joined militant ranks during 2015 (as on November 30) whereas 60 youths had joined militant ranks during the corresponding period of 2014. There has…

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Confusion at GMC after Pampori’s flip-flop

Editor

Government Medical College (GMC) here is in the middle of a controversy with Principal Rafiq Pampori first seeking voluntary retirement and then changing his mind after meeting with Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. Pampori went on protest leave on Friday and also applied for voluntary retirement from his services. The Health Department, meanwhile, appointed noted child specialist Kaiser Ahmed as the new Principal. He joined the office on Saturday. However, things took a turn when Pampori, after meeting the Chief Minister, withdrew his application for voluntary retirement. Pampori has since…

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To streamline traffic, officials suggest revising route permits of cabs

Editor

Recommend designated passenger stops, traffic lights to reduce congestion The Transport Commissioner and Inspector General (Traffic) have come up with nearly a dozen suggestions to streamline traffic in the Srinagar city, including revision of route permits of a large number of cabs and taxis plying in the summer capital on daily basis. The set of suggestions have been submitted by the authorities to the J&K High Court, which is hearing public interest litigation about the traffic mess and illegal structures in the Srinagar city. The High Court on November 26…

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Russian’s quest for ‘moksha’ sans visa lands her in Srinagar jail

Editor

In “pursuit of peace”, Bonetekia Zoia set out from Saint Petersburg in Russia on a long and treacherous journey for a pilgrimage to the Amaranth cave shrine in Kashmir. However, her “journey to peace” was interrupted when she was arrested by the J&K Police on August 24 near the Sonamarg tourist resort and found without travel documents, including a passport or a valid visa. Zoia, who converted to Hinduism some four years ago, was charged under Section 14 of the J&K Foreigners Act for not having a passport and visa…

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Freezing Kashmir faces 10 hour daily power cuts

Editor

Chilai Kalam, or the great chill, is the start of the harshest winter in Kashmir. In Srinagar, the minimum temperature has dipped to minus 5.6 degrees, but it is the long unscheduled power cuts that’s making the winter really unbearable for ordinary people. In most parts of the Valley, people are facing 10 to 12 hour power cuts every day. “Unfortunately we are really under darkness. Can you imagine, we are facing power cuts up to 12 hours daily,” said Ajaz Ahmad, a resident of Tangmarg in Baramulla district. With…

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