Budgam, Jan 22 : A man, sustained serious injuries after coming into contact with a live electric wire during stormy weather and strong gusty winds on Thursday evening.

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Reports reaching news agency Kashmir News Corner — KNC, that the man identified as Bashir Ah a resident of Choon in Budgam came in contact with live wire and was seriously injured.

The incident occurred when an electric wire snapped and fell amid the severe weather conditions. The injured was immediately shifted to a nearby medical facility for treatment, they said.

Further details regarding his condition are awaited, as authorities continue to monitor the situation. —(KNC)

FIRDOUS AHMAD

SRINAGAR, Jan 22:

In a significant stride towards integrating cutting-edge technology with public health, the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) on Thursday hosted a day-long Official Pre-Summit Event of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, firmly positioning Jammu and Kashmir on India’s emerging Artificial Intelligence-driven healthcare landscape.

Organised under the theme “Transforming Healthcare through Intelligent Technologies in the Kashmir Valley,” the high-profile pre-summit brought together an impressive congregation of global experts, senior policymakers, academicians, technologists and healthcare leaders. The deliberations focused on harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to strengthen healthcare delivery, research ecosystems, governance mechanisms and public health outcomes, with a strong emphasis on ethics, data integrity and patient-centric care.

The inaugural session witnessed keynote addresses by renowned experts from prestigious global and national institutions, including Harvard University, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health / Centre for Global Digital Health Innovation (USA), AIIMS, IITs and other leading international technology and medical institutions. Speakers explored the immense potential of AI in healthcare while also examining operational challenges, ethical concerns, regulatory frameworks and the practical realities of deploying AI solutions in real-world clinical settings.

Addressing the gathering virtually, Prof. V. K. Paul, Member of NITI Aayog, provided a comprehensive overview of India’s ongoing efforts to integrate Artificial Intelligence into national health systems. Highlighting AI’s transformative role, he underscored its relevance in diagnostics, telemedicine, service delivery optimisation, capacity building and flagship initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat.

“Given the complexity and vast scale of India’s public health landscape, Artificial Intelligence can significantly enhance evidence-based decision-making — from precision interventions and disease forecasting to actionable insights at the local level,” Prof. Paul said. He also lauded SKIMS for its consistent contributions to healthcare excellence and commended the leadership of its Director, Prof. Mohd Ashraf Ganie, for steering the institution towards innovation-led growth.

The Chief Guest on the occasion, Padma Shri awardee Prof. Digambar Behera, President of the National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS), spoke extensively on how AI is reshaping disease diagnosis and treatment paradigms through precision medicine and enhanced clinical decision support systems.

“Artificial Intelligence can optimise clinical workflows, strengthen chronic disease management and significantly improve public health systems. However, AI can never replace human empathy — it can only augment and reinforce healthcare delivery,” he remarked.

Addressing the participants, Director SKIMS and EOSG, Prof. Mohd Ashraf Ganie, announced that SKIMS is steadily moving towards becoming a regional hub for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, with the broader objective of transforming health systems across Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

He revealed that on the eve of the Pre-Summit, SKIMS formally launched a new Department of Clinical Repository Information & Technology, aimed at strengthening institutional data readiness, enhancing research capabilities and ensuring ethical, secure and efficient deployment of AI-driven healthcare solutions.

“Artificial Intelligence is already bypassing many traditional pathways in drug discovery, diagnostics and patient data utilisation. It has revolutionised patient care in areas such as diabetes management by enabling faster, more precise and clinically efficient interventions,” Prof. Ganie said.

Reaffirming the centrality of ethics and compassion in medical practice, he added, “AI ultimately stems from the human brain. The human interface will always remain indispensable to ensure healthcare remains compassionate, ethical and humane.”

Prof. Ganie further highlighted the national importance of the event, noting that SKIMS is among a select group of institutions across the country chosen to host Official Pre-Summit Events ahead of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, which is scheduled to be inaugurated in New Delhi by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi.

The Guest of Honour, Dr. Piyush Singla (IAS), Secretary, Department of Information Technology, Government of Jammu & Kashmir, lauded SKIMS for hosting what he described as a landmark and forward-looking event. Drawing upon global best practices, he emphasised the critical importance of data preparedness, outcome-driven frameworks and robust implementation strategies.

“SKIMS possesses immense clinical depth and institutional expertise. If leveraged effectively, Jammu & Kashmir has the potential to emerge as a national reference point in AI-driven healthcare,” he said, stressing that capacity building must extend beyond mere tool-based training to encompass systems thinking, governance and policy alignment.

Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Shri Akshay Labroo, assured full administrative support to such initiatives and informed that district-level databases are already functional, opening avenues for deeper collaboration between district administration and SKIMS in data-driven healthcare planning.

The event also featured addresses by Prof. Nilofer Khan, Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir, and Prof. Shaukat A. Gurcoo, Dean, Medical Faculty, who underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in digital health, medical education and translational research.

The Pre-Summit included multiple plenary sessions and panel discussions focusing on key themes such as Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, Research Priorities in Digital Health, AI-Driven Healthcare Transformation in India, and the application of AI in Cancer Research and Genetics.

The Official Pre-Summit Event was organised by the Skill Development Unit (Centre of One Health), SKIMS, in collaboration with DataLEADS and the Multidisciplinary Research Unit (MRU), SKIMS, with support from the Department of Information Technology, Government of Jammu & Kashmir.

With this landmark initiative, SKIMS has reinforced its role as a leading institution driving innovation, research and ethical adoption of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare, while paving the way for Jammu & Kashmir to play a meaningful role in shaping India’s digital health future ahead of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.

TOUSEEF WANI

KANGAN-GANDERBAL, Jan 22: Serious environmental concerns have resurfaced in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district following fresh allegations of rampant chemical poisoning of trout fish in Nallah Sindh, particularly in the Kangan area. Locals have accused miscreants of repeatedly using bleaching powder to illegally kill and harvest trout fish, a practice that they claim has continued unchecked despite existing laws and monitoring mechanisms.

According to residents living along the banks of Nallah Sindh, especially in the Prang–Wussan stretch, bleaching powder is being deliberately dumped into the stream to stun and kill large trout fish. The chemical rapidly depletes oxygen levels in the water, causing instant death of bigger fish that are then illegally collected by those involved. However, smaller fish, fingerlings, and other aquatic organisms are left to die slowly, resulting in large-scale destruction of aquatic life and long-term damage to the river’s delicate ecosystem.

Locals pointed out that the practice becomes particularly devastating during the winter months when the water level and flow in the stream are significantly reduced. “At this time of the year, even a small quantity of bleaching powder can wipe out the entire fish population in a confined stretch of the nallah,” said a resident, adding that the chemical spreads rapidly in low-flow conditions, leaving little chance for aquatic life to survive.

Residents have further alleged that the bleaching powder used for this illegal activity is being sourced from government departments where it is legitimately meant for chlorination, sanitation, and public health purposes. They expressed strong resentment over what they described as the complete absence of effective ground-level monitoring by the Fisheries Department. According to locals, fisheries guards posted in the area are rarely seen conducting patrols or inspections, allowing such environmentally destructive practices to continue unabated.

“The department entrusted with the protection of aquatic resources appears to be either in deep slumber or deliberately turning a blind eye to these crimes,” locals alleged. They warned that if immediate and decisive action is not taken, the prized trout population of Nallah Sindh—known for its ecological and economic importance—could face complete annihilation.

Civil society members, environmental activists, and social workers have also joined residents in raising alarm over the issue. They have appealed to the District Administration Ganderbal, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ganderbal, and the Director of Fisheries to intervene urgently. The protesters demanded strict legal action against those involved in chemical fishing and called for exemplary punishment to serve as a deterrent for others who may be tempted to indulge in such practices.

Responding to the growing concerns, Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Jatin Kishore, acknowledged that the matter had been brought to his attention. Speaking to Kashmir Despatch, he said, “The issue has come to my notice this morning, and we are ascertaining the facts. If anyone is found involved in this illegal activity, they will be dealt with strictly under the law.”

Meanwhile, residents have urged the administration to move beyond assurances and ensure sustained monitoring, regular patrolling, and strict regulation of bleaching powder usage, warning that delay could result in irreversible ecological damage to one of the region’s most vital water bodies.

KD NEWS SERVICE

SRINAGAR, Jan 22: The Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) has categorically rejected reports circulating in certain sections of the media and on social media questioning the fairness of the J&K Civil Services Judicial (Main) Examination–2025, asserting that the entire examination process is conducted in a completely transparent, impartial and fool-proof manner.

Responding to the claims, the Commission clarified that there is absolutely no scope for bias, manipulation or any form of external influence at any stage of the examination or evaluation process. It emphasised that recruitment and selection of candidates are carried out strictly on the basis of merit and in full compliance with the prescribed rules and regulations, without discrimination on grounds of religion, region, language or any other consideration.

In its detailed clarification, JKPSC stated that all examinations are conducted with the highest standards of fairness and transparency, following well-established procedures that are uniformly applied to every candidate. The Commission underlined that each aspirant is treated equally and that the system in place is fortified with multiple safeguards to ensure complete objectivity throughout the process.

Elaborating on the evaluation mechanism, the Commission highlighted that the assessment of answer scripts is carried out under stringent confidentiality and security protocols. The evaluation framework is designed in such a way that examiners remain completely unaware of the identity of the candidates whose answer sheets they are marking. This strict anonymity, the Commission said, makes the process impenetrable and eliminates even the remotest possibility of bias, interference or favouritism.

JKPSC further asserted that its functioning is guided by the principles of integrity, fairness and moral responsibility, both in letter and spirit. The Commission reiterated its commitment to upholding public trust and ensuring that the selection process remains credible, transparent and beyond reproach.

The Commission also informed that the J&K Civil Services Judicial (Main) Examination–2025 was conducted from November 16 to November 26, 2025, at designated centres in Jammu and Srinagar, in accordance with the notified schedule and established norms.

Seeks suspension of the announced results and a transparent inquiry into the matter

Apni Party president said that the BJP and the NC resorted to religious polarisation of the Jammu and Valley populations to secure electoral gains in the 2024 polls

Srinagar, January 22: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari expressed his grave concern over the disproportionate shortlisting of candidates in the Civil Services (Judicial) Mains Examination.

In his statement Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “It is a matter of serious concern that only 13 out of 124 candidates from the Kashmir Valley have been shortlisted for the viva voce stage of the Civil Services (Judicial) Mains Examination, while the remaining 111 candidates belong to the Jammu division.”

Urging a fair probe into the matter, he said, “The candidates from the Valley who have been dropped have rightly alleged serious irregularities and a lack of transparency in the examination results. Given the stark regional imbalance reflected in the results, these concerns cannot be dismissed and deserve fair and impartial investigation.”

Apni Party president blamed political parties for communalising and polarising the Jammu and Valley and said, “Unfortunately, during the 2024 Assembly elections, two political parties played an active role in polarising the two divisions—Jammu and the Valley—along religious lines. The BJP communalised the political discourse in Jammu, while the NC responded in a similar manner in the Valley. Both parties reaped electoral benefits from this polarisation; however, the ultimate cost was borne by the secular fabric and social harmony of Jammu and Kashmir as a whole.”

He went on to say, “The situation has now worsened. A recent example was seen when the merit-based selection of MBBS students at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME), Katra, was communalised on religious lines. Since the BJP used its power and influence to revoke permission for the MBBS course at this institution—thereby ensuring that Muslim students do not study here—this action damaged the larger cause and public interest of Jammu and Kashmir. It now appears that the Civil Services (Judicial) Mains Examination is also being subjected to communal considerations, as the disproportionate ratio of shortlisted candidates raises serious doubts.”

Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari appealed LG and CM to intervene into the matter ensuring the declared results are kept in abeyance and a probe into the matter is initiated. “At a time when mistrust prevails in both regions, the only responsible course is to keep the results in abeyance and initiate a transparent, independent inquiry. The Lieutenant Governor Shri Manojsinha and Chief Minister Shri Omar Abdullah must ensure that the results of the Civil Services (Judicial) Mains Examination remain on hold until a fair and thorough inquiry is conducted,” he said.