Srinagar, Feb 07 (: The Directorate of School Education, Kashmir has expressed grief over the passing away of Ghulam Hassan Tantray, former Law Secretary and former Chairman, BOPEE. He was the father of Suhail Ahmad Tantray, Senior Law Officer, Directorate of school Education, Kashmir.
A condolence meeting was held at the Directorate with Dr. G N Ittoo in chair which prayed FOR peace to the departed soul.
Heartfelt condolences and sympathies were also extended to the bereaved. (KNS)
DSEK condoles Tantray’s demise
SKIMS establishes helpline
SRINAGAR: Due to inclement weather, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Medical College/Hospital has kept two ambulances for providing services to critically-ill patients who need transportation to any hospital within the municipal limits of Srinagar.
The helpline numbers are: Dr Mudasir CMO: 9622726147, 9906853533, Shahid Transport Monitor 7006349353 and SKIMS MCH Exchange no. 0194-2493297.
Impact of inclement weather:Govt invokes Rationing; restricts distribution scale of fuel
KD NEWS SERVICE
SRINAGAR, Feb 7: In view of the inclement weather and fast depletion of fuel, the divisional administration has restricted distribution of petroleum products in Kashmir to three and ten litres of petrol and diesel respectively.
In his order, divisional commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan has said: “In view of the fast depletion of petrol products I,e MS and HSD and LPG, it is left expedient to implement the rationing, with respect to the distribution of these products, till such time the supplying position improves after road opening.”
The divisional commissioner has ordered all the deputy commissioners to ensure that no petrol pump shall issue more than 3 liters of petrol per vehicle per day. “Similarly with respect to Diesel they will not issue more than 10 litres to the commercial vehicles per day. Besides, IOC , HP, BP will restrict the supply of petrol, diesel to petrol pumps to 1000 litres per day and will reserve separate quota for government vehicles, ambulances, water tanks, snow clearance machines etc,” the order passed by the divisional commissioner Kashmir reads.
The divisional commissioner has asked all the deputy commissioners of Kashmir division to ensure that rationing is effectively carried out on ground and FCS&CA officials in each district shall give position of distribution and sales by companies and petrol pumps respectively on day to day basis to the deputy commissioners and to the office of divisional commissioner Kashmir.
Administration has miserably failed: Dr Farooq
Administration has miserably failed: Dr Farooq
KD NEWS SERVICE
SRINAGAR, Feb 7: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullah on Thursday decried the incumbent governor administration for its sloppy response to the exigencies arising after recent snowfall in the valley.
Dr Farooq who represents the Srinagar parliamentary constituency said, “The incumbent governor administration has miserably failed to give a coordinated and effective response to the vagaries of weather this winter. People are facing problems due to non clearance of snow from roads. The arterials and other interior roads are yet to be cleared of snow.”
Dr. Farooq said that sluggishness and ineptitude that has crept in the state administration is taking its toll on day to day lives of people. “I have been receiving complaints that many farmers who have suffered huge losses to their crops due to the vagaries of weather during the ongoing winter season haven’t been compensated,” he said adding, “Given the fact that meteorological department had issued beforehand weather warning, the incumbent governor administration and divisional administration in particular has failed to come up with an effective operational response to the incessant snowfall.”
Dr. Farooq said that the tall claims of the incumbent administration are deflated by the passive power shut down, blockages of roads and sever inundation problems across the valley. “I urge the incumbent administration to swiftly mitigate the problems faced by people in wake of the recent snowfall,” he said adding that the administration is duty bound to ensure effective and basic amenities to people.
Dr Farooq said that the recent snowfall has aggravated the power crisis in rural as well as urban areas. “People have been left to fend for themselves. There is no accountability on ground and the laid-back attitude of the incumbent administration is pushing the already aggravated people to wall,” he said.
Heavy snowfall damages residential house in Baramulla village
Kashmir Despatch News
Baramulla, Feb 07 : A residential house was damaged due to heavy snowfall in Baramulla outskirts of north Kashmir on Thursday.
Reports reaching Kashmir Despatch said that a house of Bashir Ahmad Wani son of Mohmmad Azdullaha Wani resident of Chutpatrie Babarashi was damaged due to heavy snowfall. However no loss of injury has been reported.
Meanwhile the affected family claimed that despite informed the admin about the incident, non of official had visited the family.
However locals of the area later have evacuated family after administration failed to visit there.
Pertainally, heavy snowfall in the Kashmir brought life to a standstill for a second consecutive day on Thursday with the national highway remaining closed and air traffic also suspended.
Fresh snowfall drapes Valley in white blanket
KD NEWS SERVICE
SRINAGAR, Feb 7: Amid Weatherman’s prediction of better weather from Friday forenoon, road and air connectivity of the valley with rest of the States remained cut for the second consecutive day on Thursday as life was thrown out of gear and majority of areas in the Kashmir reeling under darkness without electricity supply.
Avalanches also hit different areas as well. Director Meteorological department, Sonum Lotus told KNO that weather will start improving from Friday forenoon and also predicted another wet spell for five days with moderate rain, snowfall.
“Significant improvement in weather will take place from tomorrow forenoon in Kashmir and for Jammu & Ladakh region it will improve as well,” Lotus told KNO. Heavy and continuous snowfall lashed Kashmir, Pir Panjal, hilly areas of Jammu and some parts of Ladakh including Kargil, Drass, Zanskar & some area of Leh district.
“We are expecting gradual decrease in snowfall from this evening,” Lotus predicted. Meanwhile, Srinagar-Jammu highway was closed for vehicular movement while traffic on Saujiyan and Loran roads of Poonch district too were closed due to slippery roads.
Traffic police officials said that landslides occurred at various locations over the stretch that is the only road connectivity of Valley with rest of the world. Mughal road, and Sonmarg-Gumari road also remained shut for the commuters. Authorities at Srinagar International Airport also suspended operation following heavy snowfall and no flight operation to and from Kashmir took place.
“Due to poor visibility no flights operation could take place on Thursday. We hope the weather conditions improve and operations will resume on Friday,” the official said. Snow avalanche struck in central Kashmir’s Budgam district and in Ramban district of Jammu division of the state.
An official told KNO that seven members of the family were rescued after avalance hit the Zogiyar village of upper Kokarbagh in Khag Tehsil of the district. In another incident snow avalanche hit Mahoo village of Ramban district. “Six houses were hit but people and livestock had been already removed from the area after predictions,” an official said.
Snow avalanche again hit in Mangat village and three houses came under it. “Ten goats and some sheep were buried under it,” officials said, adding that Army has been asked to help in rescue operations there.
Meanwhile, electricity remained snapped in majority of the areas of the valley following which protests erupted in Saida Kadal area of Srinagar over snapping electricity. The protesters demanded early restoration of electricity here, saying that they are being compelled to face hardships in absence of basic facilities in harsh winter conditions.
SAC adjourns hearing of cases
SAC adjourns hearing of cases
KD NEWS SERVICE
SRINAGAR, Feb 7: The hearing in cases listed before State Accountability Commission (SAC) for February 8 have been deferred till March 19, 2019 due to inclement weather.
According to Amit Kumar Gupta, Sub Judge and deputy registrar at SAC: “Due to inclement weather resulting in cancellation of flights from Srinagar to Jammu and and blockade of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, Honb’le Member Mr. Justice Bashir Ahmad Kirmani could not reach Jammu.”
The SAC deputy registrar has added: “As a result, the cases listed for 08-02-2019 shall stand adjourned and shall now be listed on 19-03-2019.”
Stranded at Delhi Airport?Contact Babar Choudhary
S
KD NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, Feb 7: Taking a lead in providing help on the ground zero, President Kashmir Youth Entrepreneur Federation (KYEF) Babar Choudhary has rushes to IGI Airport New Delhi to facilitate the safe return of stranded passengers mostly who have returned from Umrah.
Talking to Kashmir Despatch from New Delhi airport, Babar Choudhary said: “I had approached Mr Suresh Prabhu at his office but I was told that he is in Parliament. Later I talked to him on phone. I am in touch with aviation ministry and I am hopeful that we they will find any solution for the safe return of these stranded passengers as early as possible.”
Babar has also provided his mobile number that can be used by the stranded passengers or their family members in Kashmir to coordinate their inclusion in the list that is to be submitted to the aviation ministry. “The stranded passengers can call or Whatzup their PNR number to me on my phone number 9419000097 for updates regarding their return to Valley,” said Babar, adding that he is also in touch with the Governor office in J&K to facilitate the safe return of the stranded passengers from New Delhi.
Pertinently old aged persons, children and women are among the stranded pilgrims since 6 am at Gate no 29A, 29B, 30A and 30B. These stranded passengers have not been provided any refreshment since morning, a stranded passenger told Kashmir Despatch from New Delhi airport.
Around 450 militants operating in J&K: Army
Udhampur, February 7 : The Army on Thursday said 450 militants were operating in Jammu and Kashmir and the militant infrastructure across the Line of Control (LoC) was intact with the full support of Pakistan as 16 militant camps were operating in the neighboring country and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
“The number of militants is more on the north of Pir Panjal. Around 350 to 400 militants are active in the Kashmir valley. On the south of Pir Panjal (the Jammu region), there are 50 militants,” Northern Army commander Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh told reporters here.
He said most of the terrorists on the south of Pir Panjal were dormant.
“The security situation is stable on this side. However, the operations are mostly conducted on the north of Pir Panjal (Kashmir) as more militants are present there,” he added.
Lt Gen. Singh said the militant infrastructure was intact in PoK and Pakistan.
“It is sad that the militant infrastructure in PoK is still intact. The Pakistan Army, in its bid to support infiltration of militants from across the border, carries out ceasefire violations and certain tactical activities along the LoC,” he said, adding that 16 terrorist training camps were operating in PoK and Pakistan.
“They (militants) are being trained and then brought to the LoC. Then they infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir. We are keeping these (activities) under surveillance,” the Northern Army commander said.
He added that 191 youngsters had joined militant groups in the Kashmir valley, but there was a relative decline in the number of people joining such outfits over the last few months.
“According to reports, 191 youngsters are reported to have joined militancy. Most of the recruitments took place up to the month of August. There was a relative decline in the number of youngsters joining militancy from October till now,” Lt Gen. Singh said.
He added that there were concerted efforts on the part of the Army to reach out to the youngsters and their parents and teachers so that they prevailed upon the youngsters not to join any outfit propagating terrorism.
“We hope that the youth engagement programmes will pay dividends in the months to come,” the Northern Army commander said.
Castigating the narrative being created that it was an indigenous movement, he said of the 836 militants killed in the state in the last five years, 490 were “Pakistani or foreign militants”.
Lt Gen. Singh added that there was a significant percentage of Pakistani militants, who were being used as cannon fodder and pushed into Jammu and Kashmir to cause casualties among Indian citizens.
However, the Army was taking action to arrest this trend, he added.
Air fares skyrocket, Kabul cheaper than Kashmir
Srinagar, Feb 07 : The airfare on flights operating from New Delhi to Srinagar is over the roof leaving the fliers upset and student community aghast. From Delhi, the air fare to capitals of other countries like Kabul and Dubai are much less than what it costs to reach Srinagar, which otherwise is a journey of one-and-half-hour.
During the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Srinagar, J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik took up the issue of rising air fares with the PM. Malik told Modi that the air prices have increased to 28 thousand rupees which amounts to a back and forth flight to Dubai.
Highlighting the odd bearing on “behalf of Kashmiris”, Malik told Modi … “Jab athayees hazaar (28,000) mai Dilli se yahan aana paday tou kesay tourism behtar hoga, (How would tourism thrive here if we pay same amount from Delhi to Srinagar in which a person would fly to Dubai back and forth).”
The immense hike in airfare has made it unaffordable for common people to travel by air which is the only mode of connectivity for Kashmiris with the outside world during the winters and snowfall. Over the last two days, Kashmir received heavy snowfall leaving the only road link between Srinagar and Jammu closed.
Many locals and tourists told news agency that from the past one month passengers traveling to Kashmir are getting tickets at highly expensive rates. Many tour operators in the valley said that due to huge increase in air fare tourists from other states are being forced to cancel their visit to the valley. (KNS)