December 2022

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Dec 30 : Disappointed with the administration’s apathy, the villagers at Rampora and Rajpora areas of Sopore hills in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Friday cleared the roads on their own following the fresh snowfall on Thursday.

Residents while talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that the administration here has failed to clear the snow from the Rampora-Rajpora road, which is some 25 kms away from the Sub divisional headquarter Sopore.

The locals alleged that the authorities were resorting to a callous approach in clearing the roads, which are cut off, pushing the residents to face the hardships and forcing them to clear the snow on their own.

The residents, however, demanded that the administration should take swift action with regard to the clearance of various snow bound roads in the outskirts of Sopore town.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar in a tweet said that they have restored the 100% of the road connectivity on all main and link roads across the district—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Baramulla, Dec 30 : A pedestrian was killed in a road accident at Kunzer area of Tangmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, officials said here on Friday evening.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a pedestrian was killed on the spot after being hit by a speedy Tavera bearing registration number JK05C-6672 at Kunzer area of Tangmarg in Baramulla district.

He identified the deceased as Tawsef Ahmad Khan, son of Ghulam Ahmad Khan of Tarhama village of Kunzer in Baramulla.

After completion of legal medical formalities, the body was handed over to the family while a case in this regard has been registered, official said. “We have arrested the driver involved and also his vehicle has been seized,” he added—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Kupwara, Dec 30 : Deputy commissioner, Kupwara Doifode Sagar Dattatray on Friday said all major and vital roads have been cleared of snow and are in use since morning only.

Talking to media persons, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) he said other roads will also be cleared soon.

He said administration has ensured clearance of the snow covered roads since yesterday afternoon only and almost 70 percent of the roads have been cleared.

He said major and vital roads were cleared on priority basis while the rest 30 percent would be cleared within hours.

“We have enough men and machinery to tackle any situation”, he added—(KNO)

Ahmedabad, Dec 30: Minister Narendra Modi’s mother Hiraben passed away at a hospital in Ahmedabad on Friday. She was 99.

A bulletin from the UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre, where she was admitted on Wednesday after her health deteriorated, informed the news of her demise.

“Hiraben Modi passed away on 30/12/2022 at 3.30 am during the treatment at U N Mehta Heart Hospital”, the medical bulletin said.

PM Modi said ”a great journey of 100 years” has ended with his mother’s demise.

”A great journey of 100 years has come to an end. I have witnessed three qualities in mother, a journey like that of a tapasvi (saint), a selfless worker and life dedicated to values,” Modi tweeted.

”When I met her on her 100th birthday she told one thing which I always remember. ”Kam karo buddhi thi, jivan jivo suddhi thi” (work using your brain and live life with purity,” he tweeted.

Modi is expected to reach Ahmedabad soon.

Upon learning about his mother’s health condition, PM Modi had reached Ahmedabad from Delhi on Wednesday and visited the hospital to inquire about Hiraben’s health.

After spending over an hour at the hospital on Wednesday, the PM had left for Delhi after doctors informed him that her health was stable. He had also spoken to doctors at the hospital, a government-funded autonomous medical facility.

Hiraben, also called Hiraba, lived at Raysan village near Gandhinagar city with PM Modi’s younger brother Pankaj Modi. The prime minister regularly visited Raysan and spent time with his mother during most of his Gujarat visits.–(PTI)

Srinagar, Dec 29 : After fresh western disturbance affected Jammu and Kashmir, most parts of the Valley received fresh snowfall on Thursday, bringing down the temperature further in Kashmir while the weatherman here has predicted improvement in weather conditions from tomorrow till January 07, 2023.

The fresh snowfall has put an end to the prolonged dry spell in the Valley that led to the plummeting of minimum temperature in the last over one week. Most of the stations across Kashmir are recording sub-zero temperatures every night, thus intensifying the cold wave in the Valley.

According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the Meteorological department (MeT) officials said that the plains in South and north other than higher reaches of Kashmir would receive light to moderate snowfall till tomorrow.

Reports said that Gulmarg, a famous ski-resort, Pahalgam & Sonamarg, famous tourist destinations, Gurez and other areas received fresh snowfall today.

Almost 3 inches of snow accumulated in Gulmarg while two inches of snowfall has accumulated in higher reaches of north including Gurez, Sadhna Top and others.

Four inches of snowfall accumulated in Mughal Road, Sinthan Top and Margan Top while Pahalgam received light snowfall and in Sonamarg two inches snowfall was accumulated when the report was last filed.

Moreover, Deputy Director MeT, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad told KNO that there is a possibility of light snowfall in plains of Kashmir while the plains in Southern and northern district may receive light to moderate snowfall till tomorrow.

He added that the higher reaches of Kashmir would also receive light to moderate snowfall.

He also said that the night temperature would plummet further across Kashmir in coming days as there is no forecast of any major wet spell till January 07 next year.

The snowfall has led to the closure of major roads in Kashmir including Srinagar-Jammu highway, Srinagar-Leh highway, Bandipora-Gurez road, Mughal road and others.

Jammu-Srinagar highway has been closed due to heavy rainfall at Cafeteria Morh, near Ramban, while higher reaches of Pirpanjal mountain range received heavy snowfall, resulting in the closure of Mughal road, officials said.

Officials said that due to fresh snowfall, Karnah-Kupwara, Gurez-Bandipora roads and Srinagar-Leh highway have been closed as precautionary measures.

Moreover, Sonamarg-Zojjila road was also closed after fresh snowfall at Zojila in Ganderbal district.

Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has issued helpline numbers, asking the general public to contact the officers mentioned in case of any assistance.

The district administration Ganderbal has also issued an advisory, asking people to avoid venturing out in landslide prone areas.

“In view of the weather advisory issued by the Indian Meteorological Department, general public of Kangan Sub-Division and those living in higher reaches of the district are advised to remain cautious and not to venture out in slopes, hilly areas or flood/landslide prone areas till weather improves,” the advisory reads.

Municipal Council, Baramulla and Sopore in north Kashmir also issued helpline numbers for the general public, requiring assistance in view of the prevalent weather situation and to facilitate the movement of the public.

The general public have been asked to contact the following numbers in case of eventualities. For Baramulla, the helpline numbers are : 9469099988, 9419405699, 7006830599, 6005838686,9419046071 and 70062 82550. Similarly, for Sopore, the numbers are : 7006409155, 7006960388, 7006616552, 7780815655 and 7006104721—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Dec 29 : Inhabitants of Dagg-Mohallah, Tarzoo in Sopore are up in arms against the power development department as the area reels under darkness for the last four days due to the technical snag in an electric transformer,.

Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), locals said the community electric transformer developed some fault and since then it is yet to be repaired.

“The 100 KV transformer is meant to provide electricity to about 60 households and it frequently develops technical snags. So much so that it develops faults five times in a month. We have been spending thousands of rupees on it every month especially during winters,” said a local, Bilal Ahmed.

He said they have been demanding installation of a 250 KV transformer which can cater to all households and bear load.

The residents urged the administration to get the transformer repaired.

An official from the power development department Sopore told KNO that they have only one lifting vehicle for the entire division which caused delays in repairing the transformers.

He assured me that the transformer will be repaired soon—(KNO)

Srinagar: Vice Chairperson of the Khadi and Village Industries Board Hina Shafi Bhat had a ‘narrow escape’ during a fire incident at the Civil Secretariat on Wednesday.

“Had a narrow escape in a fire incident in my Jammu office. I am sorry as I couldn’t attend most of the calls but I am highly grateful to all the well wishers for their care and concern!” she said in a Facebook post.

As per reports, fire was reported from the retiring room of the Vice Chairperson of the Khadi and Village Industries Board.