Kashmir Valley

Mystery deaths in J&K's Rajouri: Badhal village declared containment zone

J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited Badhal village on Tuesday, assuring residents that an investigation is underway. The government, alongside a Centre team, is working to find answers

Kashmir's saffron farmers experiment indoor cultivation amid climate change

Experts say rising temperatures and erratic rainfall pose a risk to saffron production, which has dropped from 8 metric tons in the financial year 2010-11 to 2.6 metric tons in 2023-24

Gulmarg has become winter sports capital of India: PM Modi at Sonamarg

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said Jammu and Kashmir's skiing resort Gulmarg, which is preparing to host the fifth edition of Khelo India Winter Games, has become the winter sports capital of the country. Modi was addressing a public meeting after inaugurating a strategic 6.4-km tunnel here constructed at a cost of Rs 2,700 crore, which will make tourist resort Sonamarg accessible throughout the year. "Gulmarg has become the winter games capital of India, having hosted four Khelo India Winter Games, with the fifth edition starting next month," the prime minister said after inaugurating the Z-Morh tunnel in Ganderbal district. Highlighting opportunities in sports for youth in Jammu and Kashmir, the prime minister mentioned the first international marathon held in Srinagar a few months ago. Modi also recalled the video of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah participating in the marathon and their enthusiastic discussion about it during a meeting in Delhi. Asserting that it was

PM to inaugurate Z-Morh tunnel on Jan 13, security beefed up in Kashmir

The security forces on Sunday intensified sanitization efforts and area domination exercise in Kashmir, a day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the valley for inauguration of the strategically important Z-Morh tunnel in Ganderbal district, officials said. The deployment of security personnel has been increased in the vulnerable areas and dozens of checkpoints have been set up at important intersections in various districts to ensure that anti-national elements are not able to move around freely, they said. The officials said that random checking and frisking of people and vehicles, including two-wheelers, has been intensified while patrolling is also taking place. "Security has been tightened near the Z-Morh tunnel. Multi-layered security arrangements have been put in place and the PM's security team, comprising the SPG personnel, has taken over the venue," they said. The prime minister is likely to address a public rally after the inauguration of the tunnel at ...

India's dream of a direct rail link to Kashmir moves closer to reality

The project of connecting Kashmir by rail has been in the making for over two decades

Kashmir's Gulmarg, Pahalgam face sub-zero temp amid slight dip in cold

Gulmarg and Pahalgam in Kashmir continued to experience severe subzero temperatures while the rest of the valley saw slight relief from the cold wave, officials said on Sunday. Gulmarg, a tourist resort town known for skiing activities in north Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 8.0 degree Celsius, the Meteorological department said. The base camp for annual Amarnath Yatra in south Kashmir, Pahalgam, registered a minimum of minus 8.5 degree Celsius, the department said. In Srinagar the mercury dipped to minus 0.2 degrees Celsius on Saturday night -- two degrees above the normal temperature for this time of the year, it added. Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir, logged a minimum temperature of minus 0.4 degree Celsius, while Konibal in Parampore recorded a low of minus 1.0 degree Celsius, the weather office said. Kupwara in north Kashmir registered minus 1.0 degrees Celsius while in south Kashmir, Kokernag recorded 1.8 degrees Celsius, the office said. Kashmir is currently under

Pak terrorists continue using US weapons in J&K. How is Army responding?

American M4 assault rifles and night-vision sights, left behind after withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, continue being recovered from slain Pakistan-backed terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir

First Muslim IAS officer from Kashmir Mohd Shafi Pandit passes away

Mohammad Shafi Pandit, the first Muslim IAS officer from Kashmir, passed away on Thursday. He was 80. Pandit was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Delhi after he was detected with cancer about a month ago, his family said. Pandit was the first Muslim from Kashmir to qualify the civil services examinations in 1969. His final assignment with the government was as the head of autonomous Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission. In the bureaucratic circles, Pandit was widely viewed as a chief secretary that Jammu and Kashmir never had. The soft-spoken Pandit was part of many civil society and philanthropic initiatives in Kashmir. He also played a key role in rolling out of the Mandal Commission report as he was the joint secretary in the Government of India in 1992. Pandit's body will be flown to Srinagar later in the day. "If possible, he will be laid to rest today," his family said. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh condoled the death of the IAS officer. "My good friend of ma

Will dialogue with Pakistan end terrorism in valley: J&K BJP Prez asks NC

Slamming National Conference for advocating dialogue with Pakistan, Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina on Sunday asked it to clarify whether initiating dialogue with the neighbouring country will end terrorism and bloodshed in the Union Territory. He also played down the protests and resignations by his party leaders and workers over the selection of candidates, saying he is confident the BJP will form the government on its own. The assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir is scheduled to take place on September 18, 25, and October 1. Votes will be counted on October 8. "Unfortunately, the NC leaders do not talk about the welfare of the people, the Pakistani gun which brought death and destruction to our land. By advocating for dialogue with Pakistan, they are not doing the right thing," Raina said. He said starting a dialogue with Pakistan is the prerogative only of the central government and the foreign minister. "NC leaders should know that our former PM A B Vajpayee

Writings on the Valley wall - 2

This is the second set of excerpts from Shekhar Gupta's "Writing On The Wall" from the poll-bound Kashmir Valley

PM Modi to inaugurate world's highest railway bridge in Jammu today

PM Modi in Jammu: Modi will also flag off the first Electric Train in the valley and also a train service between Sangaldan station and Baramulla station

Rise in tourist footfall in Kashmir shows improved security: Minister

Nearly two crore tourist footfall in Kashmir this year speak for the improved security situation in the Valley, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Saturday and asserted that security agencies are taking necessary measures to counter terrorist activities. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function in Kathua district, he said it was not right to say that the security situation was deteriorating. About the ambush by terrorists who targeted two Army vehicles, killing five soldiers and injuring two, in Poonch district on Thursday, Singh said, "We cannot ignore these types of incidents and the agencies concerned are taking necessary measures to counter these." "About two crore tourists visited Kashmir this year... the number speaks for itself about the improved security situation in the Valley. The tourists visit any place only after making sure that it is safe for them and their families," the minister said. On the Supreme Court verdict on December 11 upholding the abrogatio

PDP, Congress protest against 'worsening' power crisis in Kashmir

People's Democratic Party (PDP) leaders and workers on Thursday staged a protest outside the party office here against the electricity crisis in Kashmir, officials said here. The PDP workers, led by Asiea Naqash, Abdul Qayoom Bhat and Arif Laigroo tried to march from the PDP office near Sher-e-Kashmir Park here towards Lal Chowk to protest against the electricity shortage in the valley at the beginning of the long winter period. However, a posse of policemen prevented the protestors, holding placards and posters demanding an end to power cuts, from marching beyond the adjacent General Post Office (GPO). To wake the administration from a deep slumber, the PDP workers and leaders from Srinagar staged a protest today. Kashmir has plunged into darkness due to the worsening power crisis, PDP spokesperson Mohit Bhan said. The residents are enduring endless hardships, and the J-K administration's incompetence is glaring. Basic necessities have been compromised and yet the ones in charge s

From Manipur to Kashmir: Key highlights of Amit Shah's speech in Parliament

The no confidence motion is one such motion where neither the people nor the House has disbelief in the government, says Union Home Minister Amit Shah

Footbridge in J-K swept away in heavy rains, more than 5,000 affected

The bridge, situated in ward no 8 of Bhiala Jagir in Dalwalt panchayat of Ramnagar tehsil, was literally swept away as heavy rains lashed the area last week

Priced at Rs 4,950 per 10 gm, Kashmir saffron outshining silver varq

Saffron and silver varq are used by sweetmakers to provide Indian sweets with a luxurious feel

At Rs 3,250/10 gm, Kashmiri saffron is now five times costlier than silver

The price of saffron in the Kashmir valley skyrocketed to Rs 3.25 lakh per kg from Rs 2 lakh per kg last year, after the golden crop received the GI tag

Army exposes ISI's move to involve women, juveniles in terror network

A 'dangerous move' by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and heads of terror groups to rope in women and juveniles to carry weapons and messages has come to light amid a decline in the use of traditional means of communication by terrorists in Kashmir valley, a top army officer has said. The General Officer Commanding of Srinagar-based 15 Corps, also known as Chinar Corps, Lt Gen Amardeep Singh Aujla also said the forces need to be cautious as people sitting across the Line of Control (LoC) are busy scheming and planning to disturb the prevailing peaceful atmosphere. "Today's threat, as I see it, is involving women, girls and juveniles in carrying messages, drugs or, at times, weapons. So far, the army has detected some cases highlighting an emerging trend which in itself is a dangerous move that Pakistan's ISI and heads of 'tanzeems' (terror groups) have adopted. We, along with other agencies, are jointly working out on this," Lt Gen Aujla told PTI. Asked if it means that

Kashmir Valley awaits economic boost as G20 meeting set to bring new hope

In recent years, the Kashmir valley has witnessed an unprecedented rise in tourism, thanks to the scenic beauty and the culture of the region. However, the people of Kashmir have always hoped for more

Fact can't be changed: India slams Pak for raking up Kashmir issue at UN

India tore into Pakistan after its UN envoy raised the Kashmir issue here, saying no amount of rhetoric and propaganda can change the fact that the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are and will always be an "inalienable" part of the country. Counsellor in India's Permanent Mission to the UN Pratik Mathur's remarks came after Pakistan's Permanent Representative at the UN Munir Akram spoke about Jammu and Kashmir in his statement at the UNGA meeting. "The Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were, are and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India. No amount of misinformation, rhetoric or propaganda from any country can change that fact, Mathur said at the UN General Assembly plenary on Use of the veto'on Wednesday. Pakistan consistently rakes up the issue of Jammu and Kashmir at various UN platforms, irrespective of the agenda and topic of discussion at the meetings. New Delhi has repeatedly emphasised that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh wer