Jammu & Kashmir

The Jammu and Kashmir government Saturday ordered the establishment of five police stations and three police posts in Srinagar and Budgam districts.

According to an order, a copy of which lies with Kashmir News Service (KNS), in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (s) of Section 2 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the Government hereby declares eight places as Police Stations and Police Posts for the purpose of registration and investigation of all offences.

The order stated that consequent upon the above, seven Police Stations of Srinagar, shall for the purpose of registration and investigation of all offences exercise territorial jurisdiction with respect to the areas specified against them.

As per the order new police stations include Ahmednagar, Sangam, Chanpora, Bemina and Shalteng and police posts include Tengpora, Khimber and Mochwa Budgam.

It reads that consequent upon the establishment of new police stations, the jurisdiction of seven police stations will change and those include police stations Soura, Safa Kadal, Saddar Srinagar, Parimpora, Nowgam, Batamaloo and Shergari. (KNS)

Massive tragedy stuck here on New Year Eve in which 12 pilgrims died and 14 others were injured in a stampede at Jammu and Kashmir’s Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, Officials said Saturday.

Official sources told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the stampede was triggered by a massive rush of devotees on the occasion of New Year at the shrine.
They said that the incident occurred around 2: 45 am in the midnight, when large number of devotes queued to have Darshan of sanctum sanctorum inside the cave shrine on Trikuta hills in Katra ended up in chaotic situation.

“The stampede broke out when a huge crowd of devotees, who had come to pay their obeisance to mark the beginning of the New Year, entered the Vaishno Devi Bhawan,” the officials said.
The police said that rescue operations started immediately and all the injured have been taken to hospitals, where condition of some is stated to be “serious”.

Meanwhile, after the incident Jammu and Kashmir government swung into action and launched rescue operation. The Jammu and Kashmir government also initatted high level probe into the accident.

“A high level inquiry has been ordered into the stampede. The Inquiry Committee will be headed by Principal Secretary (Home) with ADGP, Jammu and Divisional Commissioner, Jammu as members,” officials told KNO

“Deeply pained at the loss of lives due to stampede at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine. My condolences to the families of the deceased & prayers with the injured,” the Lieutenant Governor of J&K, Manoj Sinha said in a tweet from his official handle.

He said that he spoke with the Prime Minister and “briefed him about the incident.” He further announced that an amount of Rs10 lakh each would be given to the families of those who lost their lives in the stampede and Rs 2 lakh to those injured. He also stated that the shrine board will bear the cost of treatment.
Home minister Amit Shah also expressed grief over the loss of lives

“The tragedy due to a stampede at Mata Vaishno Bhawan is heart-wrenching. Anguished by the loss of lives due to it. My condolences to the bereaved families in this sad hour. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured,” said Union Home Minister Amit Shah in a tweet.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also monitoring the tragic situation, a minister in his office said.

“Extremely saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sending his “condolences to the bereaved families.”

The Prime Minister’s Office also announced an amount of Rs 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
The PMO said that the amount would be given to the families of those who lost their lives due to the stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan. The injured would be given Rs 50,000, the PM’s Office added. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also grieved over loss of life in stampede.

“The tragedy due to a stampede at Mata Vaishno Bhawan is heart-wrenching. Anguished by the loss of lives due to it. My condolences to the bereaved families in this sad hour. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Rajnath Singh wrote on twitter.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office said that PM Narendra Modi is “personally monitoring and keeping track of the tragic situation arising out of stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.”

He further stated that PM Modi has “conveyed his sympathies to bereaved families and issued instructions to provide all possible medical aid & assistance to the injured.”

Senior officials and representatives from the shrine board are at the spot.
Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Mukesh Singh has confirmed that 12 pilgrims have died and at least 14 others are injured in the stampede. He added that injured have been taken to a hospital—(KNO)

In order to ensure adequate parking facilities in highly congested areas of Srinagar City, the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Mohammad Aijaz Asad Friday chaired a joint meeting of all stakeholders here at Meeting Hall of the DC Office Complex.

Vice Chairman, SDA, Bashir Ahmad, Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr. Syed Hanief Balkhi, S P Traffic, Zaffar Ahmad, Chief Planning Officer, Secretary SDA, Tehsildar South and other concerned were present in the meeting.

During the meeting, a threadbare discussion was held with regard to providing adequate car parking space to the traders of Lal Chowk, Residency Road, Poloview, Batmaloo, Hari Sing High Street, Goni Khan, Shaheed Gunj and other adjoining areas to overcome the traffic congestion in the City.
The meeting also discussed the measure undertaken to streamline and improve the traffic system, besides steps taken to curb nuisance of wrong parking and roadside encroachments in the City.
On the occasion, the Deputy Commissioner stressed on putting in coordinated efforts by the District Administration, Traffic Police, SMC, SDA and all the stakeholders including traders and customers by strictly following the Traffic rules  in letter and spirit for larger good of public.
The DC also stressed on optimal utilization of existing parking and simultaneously identifying and developing new parking spaces to accommodate the vehicles of traders and customers. He also asked to reserve adequate slots of parking space for the shopkeepers on reasonable monthly charges.
While interacting with the representatives of different trade bodies, the DC asked them to cooperate with the Administration in ensuring smooth regulation of traffic in the city particularly on congested and heavy traffic routes to overcome traffic jams.
The DC also asked them to motivate other shopkeepers and General public to use paid car parkings to overcome Traffic jams.
With regard to the demand of the traders for providing parking facility to the shop keepers on concessional rates, the Deputy Commissioner asked the concerned authorities of SDA to look into the demand of the shopkeepers on priority and revisit the parking charges for traders as they have to use on daily basis.
The Deputy Commissioner also asked the SDA authorites to submit the requisitions for allotment of land for new parking sites in the City so that sufficient parking space is made available to accommodate more vehicles.
Vice Chairman Srinagar Development Authority also spoke on the occasion and briefed the Chair about present parking capacity available in the Srinagar.

Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, has greeted the people of Jammu and Kashmir on the joyous occasion of New Year.

In a message, the Lt Governor said that as we welcome the dawn of a New Year, we should build upon the achievements of the past year in striving for the realization of our dreams.

“On the eve of the New Year, I want to assure all the citizens that Jammu and Kashmir administration will work with renewed resolve for the welfare of the people. We are entering 2022 with a sense of confidence and purpose to sustain the upward curve of inclusive socio-economic development in the UT. May the New Year bring peace, progress, prosperity, health and happiness to all,” the Lt Governor added.

On this occasion, we should also remember and pay homage to all the brave hearts who sacrificed their present for our future, said the Lt Governor.

The Authorities at Government Lalla Ded Hospital, Srinagar today refuted the news item ‘24 patients test Covid-19 positive at LD Hospital, Srinagar’ published in a daily English newspaper on December 22, 2021.

As per the statement issued here, the news item has been called fake, misinformation and it has been made clear that only seven patients had tested positive during the routine sampling and testing, out of which six were sent to home-isolation in view of being asymptomatic and only one was shifted for observation in designated isolation facility of this hospital as the patient was in labor room.

Further it was given out that all the seven patients who had tested positive were referrals from various districts of Valley.(GNS)