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Jammu-Srinagar highway, the only surface link connecting Kashmir valley with the outside world, shall remain open for both way traffic on Friday but commuters have been asked to check status of the thoroughfare before travel in view of the inclement weather , officials said.

“Commuters are advised not to travel on Jammu-Srinagar highway (NH-44) without confirming the status of road from TCU Jammu/ Ramban & Srinagar in view of inclement weather prediction issued by met department,” a traffic department official here told GNS.

“However, on 04-02-2022, subject to fair weather and better road conditions LMVs(passenger)/private cars shall be allowed from both sides on Jammu-Srinagar highway viz Jammu towards Srinagar and vice-versa ,” he said, adding, “TCU Jammu/Srinagar shall liaise with TCU Ramban before releasing the traffic.”

He said cut off for LMVs/private cars from Nagrota (Jammu) will be at 0800 hours to 1200 hours, from Jakheni (Udhampur) at 0900 hours to 1300 hours and from Navyug Tunnel (Qazigund side) 0900 hours to 1300 hours “(subject to change depending on the road position then)”
He said no vehicle shall be allowed before and after cut off timings.

Regarding HMVs/Load carriers, he said, “subject to fair weather and better road conditions, they shall be allowed from NAVYUG Tunnel (Qazigund side) towards Jammu after assessing the traffic situation on highway.” He said TCU Srinagar shall liaise with TCU Ramban before releasing the highway.

Meanwhile, Mughal Road, connecting Shopian with Poonch and Rajouri districts, remained closed for vehicular movement in view of snow accumulation at Peer Ki Gali.

Also,Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri road remained shut for vehicular movement in view of snow accumulation on Zoji la axis and has been closed till further orders. Kishtwar-Sinthan road also remained closed in view of snow accumulation, the traffic department official said. (GNS)

The Deputy Commissioner  Baramulla  Bhupinder Kumar today convened a meeting of District Tuberculosis Forum committee to review the progress under National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) in the district.

On the occasion,  a brief presentation about the achievements of NTEP programmed was presented by District Tuberculosis Officer, Dr Rehana, wherein she informed that 105967 persons have been screened in various medical blocks of the district of which 3514 samples have been collected so far.

It was also informed that  the treatment successful rate is increasing and patients are currently on treatment in the district who are undergoing regular health checkups for their proper treatment.

On the occasion, the DC impressed upon all the members to work with better coordination to ensure cent percent elimination of Tuberculosis disease from the district.

DC directed Chief Medical Officer Baramulla to convene all the BMO’s of the district to mobilize all the available resources productively and effectively in order to get the desired results.

Morever,  DC insisted Nikshay Poshan Yojana to be implemented and TPT TB Preventive therapy to be implemented in letter and spirit  besides mobilising the services of Print and electronic media for the general awareness with regard to TB in common masses.

The meeting was attended by Chief Executive Officer Zilla Parishad, Chief Medical Officer Baramulla, WHO Representative TB Consultant, HOD Community Medicine GMC Baramulla, President DAK Baramulla besides other concerned functionaries of the district.

Jammu Kashmir Apni Party President Syed Muhammad Altaf Bukhari Thursday said that he will bear the entire expenses for the treatment of the acid attack victim girl on humanitarian grounds.

Condemning the attack on the Srinagar girl, Bukhari said that his party and he will incur the entire expenditure on the treatment of the injured acid attack victim.

Bukhari as per news agency Kashmir News Trust visited SMHS Hospital Srinagar to inquire the status of the victim.

He said that whatever the family of the girl will spend whether, on the medical front or legal front, he will foot the bill from his own pocket.

“Keep the politics aside, it’s a human issue that should be looked through the prism of humanity,” he said adding that if the family wants to shift the victim to the outside hospital he will bear all the expenses.

Expressing solidarity with the victim, Bukhari said it was very unfortunate that this hapless girl became a victim of a heinous crime against humanity especially women. He said the government should take every step to ensure that exemplary punishment is awarded to the accused involved in such a dastardly act.

“Such offenders do not deserve leniency,” he said and hailed the role of police for their speedy action.

Pertinently, a girl from old Srinagar city suffered burn injuries after acid was thrown on her near Hawal area of Srinagar. Police have arrested the main accused and two of his associates. (KNT)

Police in Kulgam have foiled illegal business (hoarding/ black marketing) of Kerosene oil and arrested two persons involved in the commission of crime.

During the night intervening of 01/02-February, police party of Police Station Yaripora at a checkpoint established at Badroo and a vehicle (load carrier) bearing Registration No JK18A-8652 with 02 persons onboard was intercepted. They have been identified as Mohammed Yousf Teli son of Ghulam Ahmed Teli and Mushtaq Ahmed Lone son of Ghulam Hassan Lone both the residents of Munnad Goffen. During checking, officers were able to recover 350 litres of illegally acquired Kerosene oil which they were transporting for hoarding and black marketing.

Both the accused persons have been arrested and shifted to police station where they remain in custody. Recovered Kerosene oil & vehicle used in the commission of crime have also been seized.

Accordingly, a case vide FIR No. 04/2022 under relevant sections of law was registered in Police Station Yaripora and investigation in the matter has been initiated.

Community members are requested to share information regarding black marketing, hoarding etc in their areas, so that strict legal action under law will be initiated against the accused.

Former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday demanded stringent action against those who attacked a girl from Srinagar with acid a few days back.

As per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Mehbooba while talking to reporters said that acid attack on Srinagar girl is an inhuman act and those behind this heinous crime should be given stringent punishment so that such incidents are put to an end.

Refering to Nallah Sindh in Chinab and others, she said that the government has been allowing contractors from outside Jammu and Kashmir to extract sand and Bajri from these water bodies.

“Such happenings are increasing the unemployment in the Union Territory. The government has not been able to provide employment to locals, rather it is snatching the means of unemployment from the locals, leaving the locals to lurch at large,” she said.

Mehbooba also condemned the Hijab row in Karnataka, saying that the government cannot thrust its decision on different religions as every religion has its own teachings and nobody can be forced to refrain from following the religious obligations—(KNO)

Socio-Political Activist Ghulam Nabi Dar has expresses utter shock over the cruel acid attack against the young girl in Eidgah Srinagar.

Ghulam Nabi Dar observed that” Acid attack is a crime against humanity. Scholars and Intelectuals should come forward and play the Role in Educating the society regarding such matters.

He also Hailed the Swift action from Police who Nabbed the culprits within 24hrs. Law should take it’s own course and ensure exemplary punishment to the culprits. Acid attacks against women needs to be taken a serious issue as it is a war against the social ethics”.

Acid attack destroys the life of a women and puts whole family into depression and sadness. Ghulam Nabi Dar also Hailed the Swift action from Police who Nabbed the culprits within 24 Hours.

Several parts of Kashmir Valley received fresh snowfall since overnight even as night temperature recorded an increase on Thursday, officials said.

A meteorological department official here told GNS that Gulmarg had 19 cms of fresh snowfall till 0830 hours today even as it recorded a low of minus 6.0°C against minus 8.0°C on the previous night, he said. The temperature was 1.6°C above normal for this time of the year in the famous resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.

Srinagar, the summer capital of the J&K, had 6.4mm of rain while as it recorded a low of 0.6°C against last night’s minus 1.9°C, he said.

Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, has 2 cms of snowfall during the time while as it recorded a low of minus 2.1°C against minus 2.8°C on the previous night, he said.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded 4 cms of snowfall and had a low of minus 1.0°C against 2.6°C on the previous night, the official said.

Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, had 16 cms of snowfall while as it recorded a low of minus 1.7°C against minus 6.1°C on the last night, he said.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir had 2.6 cms of snowfall while as it recorded a low of 0.4°C against minus 2.2°C on the previous night, the official said.

Officials told GNS that Lolab area of Sogam, Tarathpora Vilgam and Zachaldara Wader Satkojan recorded 2-3 inches of snowfall. Handwara and Langate, they said, recorded about 1-2 inches of snowfall while upper reaches of Sochalyari and Hafrada had about 3-4 inches of fresh snowfall.

As per reports from Budgam district, Chrar-e-shareef has received 4-8 inches of snowfall, Nagbal Yusmarg 4-8 inches, Dadampore Surasyar 3-5 inches, Khansahib Raiyar 3-4 inches while Khag had 3-4 inches.

Reports from Baramulla district suggest that Rafiabad and Hajibal areas had 3-4 inches of snowfall.

As per reports from Anantnag, besides Pahalgam, snowfall of 2 inches was recorded in Kapran.

While the ‘Chillai Kalan’, the 40-day long harshest period of winter ended on January 30, Kashmir is under the grip of the 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ which would be followed by 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’.

Jammu recorded a low of 10°C against previous night’s 7.1°C. The temperature was 1.8°C above normal for the J&K’s winter capital during this time of the year, he said.

Banihal recorded a low of minus 2.0°C, Katra had a minimum of 7.5°C while Bhaderwah recorded a low of 1.2°C, the official said.

Ladakh’s Leh recorded a low of minus 11.0°C against last night’s minus 13.6°C while mercury at automatic station in Kargil settled at minus 14.6°C. Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 11.4°C against last night’s minus 22.0°C, official said.

The weatherman has forecast “erratic weather” with occasional snowfall at scattered places till February 8.

Fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rain, snow is expected during February 2-4 with main activity on 3rd with possibility of isolated heavy rain and snow mainly in South Kashmir and Jammu region,” the official of the meteorological department said. “Light rain and snow is also most likely at scattered places during February 6 to 7. Some places in Jammu region may receive thunderstorm and hailstorm on February 3,” he said, adding, “Overall, weather likely to remain (erratic) partly to generally cloudy with occasional light snowfall at scattered places till February 8.” (GNS)

Apni Party Women Wing today organized a protest demonstration in Gandhi Nagar against the acid attack on a young girl in Srinagar’s Usmani Colony Hawal.

The protesters demanded punishment for the accused persons under stringent laws.

Led by Provincial President Women Wing, Jammu Namrta Sharma; the women wing leaders and workers assembled here outside the Party office and expressed solidarity with the victim while protesting against the violent attack.

“The acid attack is highly condemnable and we stand with the victim’s family. We expect J&K Police to book the accused persons under strict laws so that it could be a lesson for others,” said Namrta addressing the protesters.

Namrta said that the incident has shaken everyone and there is dire need to counsel the youth and parents must take care of their children before it is too late for them as well.

Holding protest, the protesters were demanding a special provision of compensation for the victim girls/women of acid attack and strict rules should be followed to punish the accused in an exemplary manner.

Namrta said that “J&K is a safer place in the country for the women but this incident has created a fear of psychosis among the young girls and women who work outside or go out for studies.”

There is a need to restore the feeling of security among the young girls and the women by the Govt by taking strict action, said Namrta.

Namrta said that “The police must be made women friendly and a special unit of women police personnel in every district should be constituted so that the victims can easily access them.”

Namrta also appealed to the girls and women to report to the police whenever they notice any stalking incident so that immediate steps to prevent such incidents can be taken.

Namrta was accompanied by Vice Presidents Women Wing, Pavneet Kour and Jyoti Vaid; Provincial Secretary, Sunita Sahni, Provincial Secretary, Parvinder Kour, District President, Sarabjeet Kour, Sapna Kumari, Ritu Pandita, Jyoti Jakhar, Rakhi Mehra, Shalu Devi, Minakshi Sharma and other.

Scores of people Wednesday held a protest in Lalchowk, SMHS and Press Emclave demanding death penalty for the culprit involved in an acid attack on a girl.

Protesters said that they are demanding the culprit should be hanged to death and the existing law of 10 year jail should be amended so that this kind of incident will not happen again.

Notably, a 24 year old girl was attacked in Safakadal area of Srinagar on Tuesday evening and sustained severe injuries. . Later the girl was shifted to SMHS Hospital for treatment.

Police on Tuesday evening said that a few suspects have been detained for questioning in the case—(KNO)