All About Kashmir

07/06/2025

07/06/2025

*Mirwaiz Kashmir, Umar Farooq Demands extension in summer vacation in Kashmir Schools :Unprecedented Heatwave in Kashmir is taking a toll on everyone, especially children. Govt should seriously consider extending summer vacations by a few more days. Let’s also turn to Allah ﷻ and pray for rain and relief.*

07/06/2025

Youm-e-Ashura: LG Sinha Attends Zuljanah Procession in Sgr, Distributes Water to Mourners

Top officials, including IGP Kashmir, SSP Sgr, DC Sgr, among others attend

Srinagar, July 6: On the solemn occasion of Youm-e-Ashura (10th Muharram), Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday morning attended the Zuljanah procession at Botakadal, Srinagar.

Details available Stated that LG Manoj Sinha distributed refreshments and water among the mourners.

It said top officials including IGP Kashmir V.K. Birdi, SSP Srinagar, and other senior police officers were present at Botakadal, Srinagar to oversee the preparations for Youm-e-Ashura.

Meanwhile, the Lieutenant Governor also joined the procession by distributing water among mourners and offering a chaddar (sacred cloth) to Zuljanah before the beginning of this year’s procession.

Moreover, processions across the Valley are being held to mark the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) in the battle of Karbala. Addationally, the administration has appealed for strict adherence to peaceful conduct and public cooperation to maintain the sanctity of the occasion.(JKNS)

07/06/2025

*Fresh batch of 7,200 pilgrims leaves for Amarnath yatra*

Amid incessant rains, a fresh batch of over 7,200 pilgrims left the base camp here early Sunday for the Amarnath shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas, officials said.

The 38-day annual pilgrimage, which started on July 3, crossed the 50,000 mark on Sunday.

The fifth batch of 7,208 pilgrims, including 1,587 women and 30 children, left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in two separate convoys amid tight security arrangements between 3.35 am and 4.15 am, the officials said.

This was the largest batch of pilgrims since Wednesday, when Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the yatra from here.

With this, a total of 31,736 pilgrims have left the Jammu base camp for the valley.

The first pilgrim convoy carrying 3,199 pilgrims in 147 vehicles left for the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district followed by second convoy of 4,009 pilgrims in 160 vehicles who are undertaking the yatra from the 48-km traditional Pahalgam route in Anantnag district, the officials said.

The pilgrims braved heavy rains which lashed wide parts of Jammu throughout the night.

So far, over 50,000 pilgrims have visited the 3,880 metre high cave shrine of Amarnath since the commencement of the yatra on July 3, the officials said.

The yatra goes on as usual, albeit in tighter security, despite the April 22 Pahalgam attack in which 26 men were gunned down.

The Bhagwati Nagar base camp has been put under a multi-tier security cover in the backdrop of the April 22 Pahalgam attack that left 26 people dead.

More than 3.5 lakh people have registered online for the pilgrimage so far. Thirty-four accommodation centres have been set up across Jammu, and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags are being issued to the pilgrims. Twelve counters have been set up for an on-the-spot registration of pilgrims.–(PTI)

07/06/2025

*Government Reduces Toll Charges By Up To 50% On National Highways With Bridges, Tunnels*

The government has reduced the toll rates up to 50 per cent for the sections of National Highways that have structures like tunnels, bridges, flyovers or elevated stretches, a move which will lower travelling cost for motorists.

User charges at fee plazas on National Highways are collected as per NH Fee Rules, 2008.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has made amendment to 2008 rules and notified a new method or formula for calculating toll charges.

“The rate of fee for use of a section of national highway comprising of structure or structures shall be calculated by adding ten times the length of structure or structures to the length of the section of national highway excluding the length of structure or structures, or five times the total length of section of national highway, whichever is lesser,” said the notification dated July 2, 2025.

‘Structure’ means an independent bridge, tunnel or flyover or elevated highway.
To explain the new toll charges, the ministry has cited examples.

In one of the examples, it said that if a section of a national highway has a total length of 40 kilometers, comprising of structure alone, the minimum length shall be computed: ’10 x 40 (ten times length of structure) = 400 kilometers or five times the total length of section of a national highway = 5 x 40 = 200 kilometers’.
“User fee shall be calculated on the lesser length i.e. for 200 kilometers” and not 400 kilometers. In this case the user charge is only on half (50 per cent) of the road length.

According the extant rules, users pay ten times the regular toll for every kilometre of structure on national highways.
A senior official of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) said the existing toll calculation method was meant to offset higher construction cost associated with such infrastructure.

The revised notfication issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways reduces the toll rate for stretches such as flyovers, underpasses and tunnels up to 50 per cent, the official said. (Agencies)

07/05/2025

*JK Assembly Panel to Review Land Law Rules*

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly’s Committee on Subordinate Legislation has decided to review the rules framed under land laws in the Union Territory.

The chairman of the panel and MLA Pampore, Justice (Retired) Hasnain Masoodi, said the committee will scrutinise the rules to assess whether they are in conformity with the parent statutes. “If there are inconsistencies in them,” Masoodi said, “we will recommend necessary changes.”

The Committee on Subordinate Legislation examines rules framed under laws to ensure they are in line with the provisions of the parent legislation.

As per procedure, the committee holds meetings, examines the rules, and seeks clarifications from departments before finalising its observations.

Once finalised, the committee’s report, containing its observations and recommendations, is tabled in the Assembly.

It may be noted that Jammu and Kashmir’s land laws underwent major changes following the constitutional changes of August 5, 2019. As many as 12 laws related to land and allied matters were repealed, while 14 others were amended. (KNO)

07/05/2025

*Extend Summer Vacation By at Least Two Weeks: KCC&I to Govt*

The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCC&I) has urged the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, and Education Minister Sakina Itoo to extend the ongoing summer vacation in schools by at least two more weeks, in view of the severe and unprecedented heatwave affecting the Kashmir Valley.

Raising concern over the extreme weather conditions, KCCI said that the safety and health of students must be the topmost priority. The Chamber pointed out that the majority of educational institutions in the region are not adequately equipped to deal with such high temperatures. Many schools, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas, lack proper ventilation, cooling mechanisms, or heat-mitigation infrastructure, making it extremely difficult for students and staff to function safely.

The current summer vacation, scheduled to end on July 7, should be extended further to allow children to remain indoors during this unusually hot period. KCCI believes that reopening schools under the prevailing weather conditions would expose children to unnecessary health risks.

To minimise academic loss during the extended break, the Chamber has recommended that the government initiate online classes and ensure that students remain engaged through digital learning platforms. Such an approach, KCCI stated, would strike a balance between safety and academic continuity.

The Chamber appealed to the Chief Minister and Education Minister to take swift action and issue necessary directions in this regard.

07/05/2025

Permission For Procession In 10 Muharram.

07/05/2025

*Police seeks help of general public in identifying a male dead body recovered from River Jhelum at Pampore*

Police in Awantipora have sought the help of the general public in identifying an unidentified male body, age approximately (25-30) years, recovered from the River Jhelum Khankahbagh, Pampore.

Anybody having any information regarding the identity of the deceased person, may kindly inform PCR Awantipora: 7051404001, 01933247369, Police Station Pampore: 7051404012, 7006087873, 01933222260 or Police Control Room Kashmir on 112.

07/05/2025

*Don’t Extend Summer Vacation, Run Classes from 6 AM: Private School Association to Govt*

Amid the ongoing heatwave across Jammu and Kashmir, the Private Schools’ Association Jammu Kashmir (PSAJK) has strongly appeals to the J&K government led by Omar Abdullah and Education Minister Mrs. Sakeena Itoo not to extend the summer vacation any further. Instead, the association has proposed that schools should operate from 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM so that students’ learning is not disrupted.

PSAJK President G.N. Var in a media statement said, “Our students have already lost almost three months due to the long winter vacation. If we extend the summer break again, it will be impossible to complete the syllabus before exams, which are scheduled in October.”

He emphasized that this academic session is already under pressure and any more loss of teaching days will affect syllabus, exam preparation and students’ overall academic performance.

“Many students are also preparing for competitive exams. Every teaching day matters now. We must act responsibly and give our children more learning time, not less,” said Var.

PSAJK President further said that “starting schools early in the morning is a practical and safer alternative. It allows children to study in the cooler hours of the day, avoiding exposure to intense afternoon heat”.

“Instead of closing schools, let us change the timing. Many hot-weather regions in India and abroad already follow early morning classes during summer months. It works well and can be easily implemented in Jammu and Kashmir too.”

PSAJK also noted that several rural and urban schools have already lost valuable days due to weather conditions, power outages and other infrastructure challenges.

“We cannot afford any more breaks. Time is short and students are already behind. We must use the available days wisely,” the statement read.

Var emphasized that “children’s education should never be treated casually. We must take education seriously and ensure that our children’s academic future is safeguarded.”

The association stressed that the matter goes beyond the heatwave it directly affects the learning and future of our children’s.

“We need to look ahead and find smart solutions before problems become bigger,” said Var. “Acting early is always better than waiting for things to get worse.”

He assured that PSAJK, along with all private schools in Jammu and Kashmir, is fully ready to support the government if early morning school timings are introduced. “We will cooperate at every level to make sure students do not lose any more learning time,” he added.

07/05/2025

: Thunderstorms Likely in J&K from Tomorrow, Flash Flood Warning Issued

Srinagar, July 05: The Meteorological Department has forecast moderate to heavy rainfall and thunderstorms across Jammu and Kashmir starting tomorrow, July 6, along with a flash flood and landslide warning for vulnerable areas.

According to the MeT Centre Srinagar, the region is expected to witness intermittent light to moderate rain or thundershowers from July 6 to 8. Some places, especially in the Jammu division, may experience intense showers and heavy rainfall during the late night or early morning hours.

From July 9 to 10, light to moderate rainfall is likely at scattered to many places, while hot and humid conditions are expected to return from July 11 to 12, with chances of brief showers at a few locations.

07/05/2025