Tauseef Ahmad

Srinagar, Mar 26: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday urged people not to rush to petrol pumps amid rumours of a possible fuel shortage, warning that panic buying could create an unnecessary crisis in Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking to the media in Srinagar, Abdullah said the government has received reports of long queues forming outside several fuel stations due to misinformation circulating among the public. He clarified that there is no shortage of petrol or diesel and appealed to people to remain calm.

“There is absolutely no need for panic. Fuel supplies are adequate, and people should avoid rushing to petrol pumps because of rumours,” he said.

The chief minister cautioned that if the rush continues and disrupts normal supply, the government may be compelled to temporarily shut petrol pumps to control the situation and prevent chaos.

Abdullah said the administration is closely monitoring the developments and coordinating with relevant authorities to ensure that fuel and other essential commodities remain available.

Referring to a meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said discussions would focus on the evolving situation in Iran and neighbouring regions, and its potential impact on supply chains.

He reassured residents that the government is prepared to take necessary steps to ensure uninterrupted availability of essential commodities if the situation in the region prolongs.

KD NEWS SERVICE

JAMMU, Mar 26: An assistant professor posted at a Government Degree College in Poonch died, while her husband sustained injuries in a road accident in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, officials said.

The deceased has been identified as Dr. Tabassum Naz, a resident of Poonch.
According to officials, the accident occurred on the Rajouri highway near Kallar, where she died on the spot due to the impact.

Her husband, who suffered multiple injuries in the mishap, was immediately shifted to the Government Medical College (GMC) Associated Hospital in Rajouri, where he is currently undergoing treatment.

Police have taken cognisance of the incident and initiated further investigation, officials added.

Tehran: Iran has responded negatively to an American proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict insisting that any cessation of hostilities will only occur on Tehran’s “own terms and timeline,” a senior political-security official told state broadcaster Press TV on Wednesday.

Iran says it will end the war when it decides to do so and when its own conditions are met,” the official told Press TV emphasizing Tehran’s resolve to continue its defense and inflict “heavy blows” on the enemy until its demands are fulfilled.

According to the official, Washington has been pursuing negotiations through various diplomatic channels, putting forward proposals that Tehran views as “excessive” and disconnected from the reality of America’s failure on the battlefield.

Tehran has categorized the latest overture, which was delivered via a friendly regional intermediary, as a ploy to heighten tensions and has responded negatively.

The official outlined five specific conditions under which Iran would agree to end the war. These include:

A complete halt to “aggression and assassinations” by the enemy.

The establishment of concrete mechanisms to ensure that the war is not reimposed on the Islamic Republic.

Guaranteed and clearly defined payment of war damages and reparations.

The conclusion of the war across all fronts and for all resistance groups involved throughout the region

International recognition and guarantees regarding Iran’s sovereign right to exercise authority over the Strait of Hormuz.

The official also told Press TV that these stipulations are in addition to demands previously presented by Tehran during the second round of negotiations in Geneva, which took place just days before the US and Israel carried out strikes on February 28.

“No negotiations will be held prior to that,” the official stressed, reiterating that the continuation of Iran’s defensive operations will persist until the outlined conditions are met.

“The end of the war will occur when Iran decides it should end, not when Trump envisions its conclusion,” the official further told Press TV

The urgency for a resolution is underscored by the military situation, as joint operations by Israel and the US have consistently been “targeting Iran’s missile systems, launch sites and other critical infrastructure” since the onset of the conflict. Despite these sustained strikes, Tehran has maintained its campaign, “launching missiles at Israel and nearby Gulf countries.”

Beyond the direct military engagement, the proposal “addresses maritime routes” as the Strait of Hormuz–a vital artery for international oil exports–“remains closed,” causing a global supply contraction and “pushing prices higher.” In response to these pressures, Israel’s Channel 12 reports that Trump’s conditions include a “one month of ceasefire to discuss the agreement” and a total “ending Iran’s nuclear weapons capability.”

The American terms further demand that Tehran “stopping uranium enrichment within its territory” and “ensuring the Strait of Hormuz remains open.” Additionally, Iran would be required to “transferring its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)” and “dismantling major nuclear sites at Natanz, Isfahan and Fordo,” while “allowing full access to the IAEA.”

Further regional stipulations in the US plan require Iran to be “withdrawing from regional proxy activities” and “ending support for allied armed groups.” Strategically, the plan calls for “placing limits on the range and number of missiles” and “restricting future missile use strictly to self-defence.”

In exchange for these concessions, Washington has reportedly offered a “complete lifting of sanctions on Iran” and “support for its civilian nuclear programme,” specifically targeting “power generation at the Bushehr plant.” The offer also includes the “removal of the “snapback” sanctions mechanism.”

However, Iranian military officials have met these offers with sharp rhetoric. Lt Col Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for the Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, stated on Wednesday that Trump appeared to be “negotiating with himself.”

He further challenged the US, remarking, “The one claiming to be a global superpower would have already gotten out of this mess if it could. Don’t dress up your defeat as an agreement. Your era of empty promises has come to an end.”

With Iran hardening its position and placing its own demands before the US, it appears that the standoff in West Asia is far from over. (ANI)

Srinagar, March 25: Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar’s Post Graduate Department of Minimal Access and General Surgery successfully organized a PACE Program on Bariatric Surgery, featuring a live operative workshop. The event set new benchmarks in surgical excellence, showcasing cutting-edge laparoscopic and metabolic techniques.

Prof. (Dr.) Iffat Hassan ,Principal/Dean GMC Srinagar, inaugurated the program, praising the department’s progress in minimal access and bariatric surgery. Prof. (Dr.) Iqbal Saleem Mir, Head of the Department, highlighted the team’s dedication and focus on quality care and academic advancement.
The event was graced by the august presence of Prof (Dr.) Muneer Khan (Ex HOD Surgery GMC Srinagar), Prof (Dr.) Ajaz Rather (HOD Surgery, SKIMS Medical College), Prof (Dr.) Rauf A Wani (SKIMS). Prof (Dr.) Mubashir Shah (SKIMS), Prof (Dr.) M. R. Attri, Prof (Dr.) Mushtaq Chalkoo, Prof (Dr.) Ab Rashid Ganie, Prof (Dr.) Zaffar Saleem Khanday and Dr. Hakeem Waqar (KMC), along with other eminent faculty members from GMC Srinagar representing the Departments of Surgery, Anaesthesiology, Medicine, and Endocrinology. The program witnessed enthusiastic participation from postgraduate residents and MBBS students, who actively engaged in discussions and benefited from real-time exposure to advanced bariatric surgical techniques, enhancing their clinical understanding and academic learning.
The workshop demonstrated real-time surgical procedures, focusing on patient selection, perioperative management, and improving outcomes. Over 300 bariatric procedures have been performed at GMC Srinagar in the past five years, with encouraging outcomes.

Leading bariatric surgeon Dr. Mufazzal Lakdawala shared expertise on safe and evidence-based practices. Eminent faculty, including Prof. (Dr.) Showkat Ahmad Kadla, Prof. (Dr.) Rakesh Koul, HOD Medicinr,prof. Dr.Hina, hod aneasthesia, Dr.Andleeb Medical Superintendent SMHS Hospital and others, participated, enhancing clinical understanding and academic learning. Dr. Abdul Hamid Samoon, Organising Secretary, expressed gratitude for their contributions.

The program concluded with a vote of thanks, marking a successful academic initiative that promises to elevate standards in bariatric surgery.

The, IVFRT platform seeks to interlink and optimize functions related to immigration, visa issuance and registration of foreigners in India. The core objective of the IVFRT is to modernize and upgrade immigration and visa services within a secure and integrated service delivery framework. It aims to facilitate legitimate travellers while strengthening national security. This project was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 13.05.2010 with a budget outlay of Rs.1011 crore and with project duration till September, 2014. The budget outlay for the project was revised to Rs.638.90 crore in 2015 along with extension of the implementation timeline up to 31st March, 2017, and further up to 31st March, 2021 without any additional financial implications. The expenditure of Rs.613.28 core was incurred against the total revised outlay of Rs.638.90 crore. The extension of the project for a further continuation for a period of five years from 01.04.2021 to 31.03.2026 was approved by the Cabinet on 19.01.2022 with a budget outlay of Rs.1365 crore.

The scheme seeks to expand and strengthen the scope and capacity of the existing IVFRT Scheme not only by reimagining and revamping the existing structure, but also introducing the state-of-the-art technological solutions to enhance user experience without compromising the security architecture. The modernization of the IVFRT project is essential to meet the evolving demands of global travel and address emerging national security challenges. After the recent enactment of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 and its subsequent Rules and Order, it has become imperative to strengthen and modernize the Immigration, Visa, and Foreigners Registration & Tracking (IVFRT) system to effectively meet emerging requirements and future challenges in the domain of immigration control and foreigner management including illegal migration. The continuation of the project is not just a technical upgrade, but a strategic transformation aligned with the vision of the Government of India to promote international mobility through a world-class immigration and visa issuance system. The next phase would focus on three broad areas: (a) emerging technology innovations, (b) Transformation of Core infrastructure, and (c) Technology and service optimization.

The scheme will modernize the immigration and visa ecosystem through adoption of emerging technologies, including mobile-based services and self-service kiosks for seamless and secure passenger movement. It will upgrade and expand core infrastructure across Immigration Posts, FRROs, and Data Centres to build a resilient and scalable system nationwide. Additionally, it will optimize technology and service delivery by introducing unified digital platforms, revamping core application architecture, and strengthening network and deployment frameworks for improved efficiency and user experience, which will facilitate legitimate travellers while strengthening national security. It will help maintaining service continuity and induct innovative technological solutions to attract more foreign tourists in India in future. This will thus give a boost to the tourism, medical and business sectors. IVFRT has immense positive externalities that would boost international traffic, business, commerce, and tourism. This would pave the way for economic growth and would thus contribute towards employment opportunities.

The scheme has covered 117 Immigration Posts (JPs), 15 Foreigners Regional Registration Officers (FRROs) and 854 Foreigners Registration Officers (FROs)/Superintendents of Police (SPs)/Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) across the country.

IVFRT system has led to significant improvements in service delivery and operational efficiency across immigration and visa functions. The system has enabled a 100% contactless and faceless visa process with online appointment scheduling and payment facilities, leading to faster visa processing times with 91.24% of e-Visa applications have been cleared within 72 hours during the past five years. Average passenger clearance time at Immigration Posts has also been reduced to 2.5-3 minutes including biometrics, from the conventional 5-6 minutes.

Fast Track Immigration-Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) through automated e-gates implemented at 13 Major airports, reduces the time taken for immigration clearance from 2.5-3 minutes to 30 seconds. Its enrolment is on gratis basis currently available for Indian nationals & OCI cardholders.

Huge economic benefits on account of ease of doing business, convenience and security assurance have been made possible by IVFRT System. Tourism, business, trade & commerce, service industry especially aviation and hospitality industry have been extensively benefitted by IVFRT system.

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The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the launch and implementation of the Regional Connectivity Scheme – Modified UDAN for a period of ten years from FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36 with a total outlay of Rs.28,840 crore with the budgetary support of the Government of India.

Impact:

• Enhanced regional air connectivity to underserved and unserved areas.
• Boost to economic growth, trade and tourism in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
• Support affordable air travel for common citizens.
• Improved emergency response and healthcare access in remote and hilly regions.
• Greater viability and sustainability for regional aerodromes and airline operators.
• Promotion of the indigenous aerospace sector under Atmanirbhar Bharat.
• Progress towards Viksit Bharat 2047 goal.

The key components of the scheme are as under:

(a) Development of Aerodromes (CAPEX)

Under the Modified UDAN Scheme, it is proposed to develop 100 airports from existing unserved airstrips to enhance regional connectivity, in line with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision of infrastructure expansion and transforming India into a globally competitive aviation ecosystem with a total outlay of Rs.12,159 crore over the next eight years.

(b) Operation & Maintenance (O&M) of Aerodromes

Given the high recurring O&M costs and limited revenue streams for Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-only aerodromes, the Scheme proposes to provide O&M support for three years capped at Rs.3.06 crore per annum per airport and Rs.0.90 crore per annum per heliport/water aerodrome, estimated at Rs.2,577 crore for around 441 aerodromes.

(c) Development of Modern Helipads

To address connectivity challenges in hilly, remote, island and aspirational regions, the Scheme proposes developing 200 modern helipads at Rs.15 crore each, amounting to a total requirement of Rs.3,661 crore over the next eight years (inflation-adjusted), focused on priority and aspirational districts to improve last-mile connectivity and emergency response.

(d) Viability Gap Funding (VGF)

Under the Regional Connectivity Scheme, airline operators receive financial support in the form of VGF for operating awarded routes. Recognising the need for longer market development, VGF support to airline operators is proposed amounting to Rs.10,043 crore over 10 years.

(e) Atmanirbhar Bharat Aircraft Acquisition

To address the shortage of small fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters required for operations in remote and difficult terrains and to advance the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision, the scheme also proposes to procure two HAL Dhruv helicopters for Pawan Hans and two HAL Dornier aircraft for Alliance Air.

Background:

The original UDAN Scheme was launched in October 2016 with the objective of making air travel affordable and strengthening connectivity to Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Over nine years of implementation:

• 663 routes have been operationalised across 95 airports, heliports and water aerodromes (as on 28 February 2026).
• More than 3.41 lakh flights have been operated, carrying 162.47 lakh passengers.
• Connectivity has been established in remote, hilly and island regions, boosting tourism, healthcare access and emergency services.
• The scheme has fostered growth in regional airlines and diverse fleet operations, laying a strong foundation for the Modified UDAN Scheme.