Surge in Tourist Influx at Dal Lake Srinagar, February 22, 2025 – The iconic Dal Lake in Srinagar is witnessing a significant surge in tourist footfall. Travellers from across the country and beyond are flocking to experience its enchanting charm. Tourists are enjoying shikara rides to explore the inner parts of Dal Lake. The rise in tourism is boosting local businesses, benefiting houseboat owners, shikara operators, and handicraft sellers. Cozy houseboats, with their intricate woodwork and charming interiors, provide visitors with a memorable stay, while shikara operators guide them through the lake’s…
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Srinagar MP Ruhullah Mehdi Slams Kashmir Police for Removing Anti-Alcohol Hoardings
Srinagar MP Ruhullah Mehdi Slams Kashmir Police for Removing Anti-Alcohol Hoardings Srinagar, February 22, 2025 – In a recent development, Srinagar MP and National Conference leader Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi has criticized the Jammu and Kashmir police for removing anti-alcohol hoardings in Srinagar. The hoardings, which were put up by traders in the commercial hub of Lal Chowk, urged tourists to refrain from consuming liquor and drugs, promoting responsible tourism and respect for local culture. The Controversy The controversy began when the police reportedly removed signboards and standees placed by…
Read MoreGrassroots Initiative in Kashmir: Villagers Join Hands to Clean and Restore Streams
Kashmir villages unite to save water bodies; Armed with gloves, masks, and trash bags, the volunteers also cleared the stream’s banks of weeds and debris, allowing the water to flow freely once again Srinagar, Feb 19: Following the initiative taken by the residents of Muniward village in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district earlier this month to clean the Jhelum tributary, Sandran, more villages are joining the movement to restore and preserve water bodies across Kashmir. On Monday, young volunteers from Ratnipora village in Pulwama district undertook a massive cleanup drive of…
Read MoreClimate Change Threatens Kashmir’s Identity: Naeem Akhtar Calls for Rapid Response
Kashmir’s basic character under threat due to climate change, No Quick-Fix Solutions; Akhtar Urges Govt to Balance Ecology and Development, Form Rapid Response Force Srinagar, Feb 17: Peoples Democratic Party leader and former Minister Naeem Akhtar on Monday urged the government to constitute a rapid response force and make it a top priority to address the pervasive climate impacts in Jammu and Kashmir. According to the PDP leader, the situation has the potential to alter the character of this Himalayan region, which otherwise serves as a source of ecological stability…
Read MoreWestern Disturbance to Bring Rain, Snow to Jammu and Kashmir Amid Water Crisis
Western Disturbance to Bring Rain, Snow to Jammu and Kashmir Srinagar, February 17, 2025 – A fresh Western Disturbance is set to bring much-needed rain and snow to Jammu and Kashmir, offering a potential respite from the ongoing dry spell that has raised concerns about a looming drought in the region. According to the Meteorological Department, the disturbance is expected to affect the region from February 19 to 20, bringing light to moderate rain and snow across the Union Territory, with heavy precipitation likely in higher elevations. Current Weather and…
Read MoreKhelo India Winter Games Postponed in Kashmir Due to Insufficient Snowfall
Khelo India Winter Games Postponed in Kashmir Due to Insufficient Snowfall Srinagar, February 17, 2025 – The second leg of the 5th Khelo India Winter Games, scheduled to be held in Gulmarg from February 22 to 25, has been postponed due to insufficient snowfall in the region. The event, which was set to feature snow sports such as alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, ski mountaineering, and snowboarding, will be rescheduled once the snow conditions improve and a fresh assessment is completed. Rauf Tramboo, president of the Winter Games Association of Jammu…
Read MoreNC MLA Faces Backlash Over Remarks on Liquor Sales in Muslim-Majority Kashmir
Mehbooba Mufti praised her party MLA for introducing a bill to ban alcohol in J&K, calling it a positive step and urging religious leaders to lead the way. Jammu and Kashmir National Conference MLA Tanvir Sadiq came under fierce criticism from Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq for his statement that the impact on the region’s tourism industry must be considered if liquor is banned. Mirwaiz said that Jammu and Kashmir, being a Muslim-majority state, should not promote liquor sales, opposing the government’s emphasis on revenue generation from alcohol instead…
Read MoreUnpredictable Weather and Dry Spell Ignite Forest Fires in Kashmir
Prolonged Dry Spell: Forest fire breaks out at multiple places in Kashmir The massive forest fire erupted at multiple places across the Valley on Sunday while as the experts here have attributed the rise in forest fire incidents to both climatic factors and human negligence. An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a massive fire broke out in Tral forests. He said that a forest fire broke out in Pinglish area of Tral area and has spread to other areas as well. Another official told KNO that forest…
Read MoreNC Leader Proposes Alcohol Ban in Kashmir: Public Support Grows
NC leader moves bill demanding ban on drinking alcohol in Kashmir and other Muslim majority areas; Proposed alcohol ban in Kashmir gains widespread public support National Conference (NC) legislator Ahsan Pardesi has submitted a private member bill in the Assembly, seeking a ban on alcohol in Kashmir and other Muslim-majority areas of Jammu Kashmir. According to news agency JKNS, Pardesi stated that the bill aims to protect the region’s cultural and religious values, arguing that alcohol consumption contradicts Kashmir’s traditional Sufi-Reshi ethos. “The unrestricted sale of alcohol undermines our religious…
Read MoreDigital Addiction Epidemic in Kashmir: Experts Call for Immediate Intervention
Dr Margoob Warns of Digital Addiction Crisis in Kashmir, Calls for Urgent Action Srinagar: Dr Mustaq A Margoob, an eminent psychiatrist, has raised alarm over the growing crisis of digital addiction among children in Kashmir, describing it as a pandemic that is already reshaping the mental health landscape of the region. Speaking at an interaction on “Digital Addiction: An Invisible Pandemic,” organised by the Amar Singh Club in Srinagar, he warned that excessive use of digital devices was leading to severe behavioural and psychological disorders among children, including virtual autism—an…
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