Kashmir Observer
A British-Era Law Returns To Haunt Kashmir Forests Road Mishaps Kill 603 In J&K This Year, Highway Toll At 206
Srinagar: A Gujjar family in a forest hamlet in Central Kashmir spent last week doing something they hoped they would never have to do again: packing their belongings into sacks and moving them to a relative’s house, just in case. They had already...
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Govt Jobs Alone Can't End Unemployment: LG Sinha
Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said unemployment cannot be addressed through government jobs alone, stressing the need to align education with industry requirements, promote entrepreneurship and expand private sector employment...
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Schools Reopen Across Kashmir After 21-Day Summer Break
Srinagar: Government and private schools across the Kashmir division reopened on Monday after a 21-day summer vacation that was extended twice owing to the prevailing heatwave and adverse weather conditions. According to officials, the government had...
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Rain Continues For 5th Day; Flood Vigil Continues
Srinagar: Intermittent rain continued to lash Jammu and Kashmir for the fifth consecutive day on Saturday, keeping authorities on alert even as water levels in the River Jhelum remained below the warning mark across all major gauge stations. While the...
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A Decade After 2014, Kashmir Still Fears Every Spell Of Rain
Srinagar: Every spell of heavy rain in Kashmir revives memories of the devastating 2014 floods for thousands of families living along the banks of the Jhelum River and its tributaries. More than a decade later, many residents say they continue to spend...
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Relentless Rain Deepens Flood Fears Across J&K
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir remained in the grip of a prolonged wet spell for the fifth consecutive day on Thursday, with heavy rainfall triggering cloudbursts, flash floods, rising river levels, rescue operations and widespread disruption across the...
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Heavy Rain Wreaks Havoc Across J&K, 5 More Killed
Srinagar: At least five people were killed, key highways were shut, rivers and streams swelled dangerously, and widespread damage was reported across Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday as incessant rainfall triggered flash floods, landslides and...
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Flood Fury Deepens Across J&K; Shops, Vehicles Swept Away
Srinagar: Fresh spells of torrential rain battered Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, triggering flash floods, overflowing rivers and streams, inundating homes and markets, sweeping away shops and vehicles, and disrupting road connectivity as authorities...
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Can Kashmir’s Corner Shops Survive The Blinkit Era?
Srinagar: Ghulam Nabi Wani unlocks his grocery shop in Koker Bazar every morning at seven, just as his father did and his grandfather before him. His shelves are stocked with rice, cooking oil, tea, sugar, biscuits and small packets of spices that...
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Chinar Book Festival Is A Movement, Not Just An Event: LG
Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said the Chinar Book Festival has evolved into more than just a literary event, describing it as "a movement" aimed at building a vibrant community of readers, writers and thinkers while...
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Ensure Safety Of Pilgrims Under All Circumstances: LG Sinha
Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday directed all departments and stakeholder agencies to ensure the safety, security and welfare of pilgrims undertaking the annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, while reviewing arrangements at the Nunwan base...
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PAKISTAN LODGES PROTEST WITH JAPAN OVER REFERENCE TO CROSS-BORDER TERRORISM IN INDIA-JAPAN JOINT STATEMENT
Diary Times Desk : Pakistan has formally lodged a strong diplomatic protest with Japan over its decision to explicitly refer to "cross-border terrorism from Pakistan" in the India-Japan Annual Summit Joint Statement, underscoring Tokyo's growing...
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At A Sacred Kashmir Shrine, Faith Collides With A Mounting Waste Crisis
Srinagar: At first light, pilgrims begin climbing to the Baba Reshi shrine, passing beneath towering chinar trees and alongside clear mountain streams before stopping to pray at one of Kashmir’s most revered shrines. Then the rubbish comes into...
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MLA Poaching Claims Trigger Legal Battle Between BJP, NC
Srinagar: A political slugfest between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling National Conference (NC) has escalated into a legal battle after the BJP served a defamation notice on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over his allegations that the...
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MeT Forecasts Rain In J&K; Warns Of Flash Floods, Landslides
Srinagar: Widespread rain and thundershowers hit several parts of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday evening, while the Meteorological Centre Srinagar warned of the possibility of flash floods, mudslides and landslides in vulnerable areas. According to...
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J&K Records 24% Rainfall Deficit In June, Eighth Dry Month In A Row
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir recorded a 24 per cent rainfall deficit in June, marking the eighth consecutive month of below-normal precipitation, even as frequent rain spells during the month offered some relief to soil moisture and water...
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J&K's Nights Getting Warmer, Winter Heat Rises With Altitude: Study
Srinagar: Several high-altitude areas of Jammu and Kashmir, including Pahalgam and Gulmarg, have warmed by nearly one degree Celsius over the past two decades, while nighttime temperatures are rising sharply at several mountain stations, a new...
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Amarnath Yatra Sees 28% Surge In Turnout Draws 1.42 Lakh Yatris In First Six Days
Srinagar: Srinagar: The annual Amarnath Yatra has witnessed a 28 per cent surge in pilgrim turnout this year, with over 1.42 lakh devotees performing darshan at the holy cave shrine in the first six days of the pilgrimage. Official figures show that...
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Make Amarnath Yatra A Benchmark For Spiritual Tourism: LG Sinha
Srinagar: More than 1.13 lakh pilgrims have performed darshan at the Amarnath cave shrine so far, as Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday reviewed the ongoing pilgrimage and directed officials to ensure the safety, security and hassle-free...
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Identify Root Causes Of Substance Abuse Among Women: LG Sinha
Srinagar: Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday called for a comprehensive, region-specific study to identify the root causes of rising substance abuse among women in Jammu and Kashmir, saying such an analysis could help strengthen...
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LG Sinha Asks Unregistered Yatris To Defer J&K Travel
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday asked unregistered pilgrims to defer their travel to the Union Territory for the next few days amid an unusual rush of yatris arriving without valid permits for the Amarnath...
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Faith, Fervour Mark Amarnath Yatra Start; 12,168 Pay Obeisance
Srinagar: The annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra commenced on Friday with thousands of devotees setting out from the twin base camps of Baltal and Nunwan-Pahalgam for the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas, where more than 12,000...
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New NH-44 Tunnels End The Khooni Nallah Nightmare For Kashmir
Srinagar: Dawn once brought uncertainty to drivers approaching Panthyal on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. Truckers slowed beneath towering cliffs, watching rainsoaked slopes for falling rocks, while pilgrims, tourists and local families waited...
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J&K Earns More Than Bihar, But Most Workers Don’t Feel It
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir’s per capita income has climbed to about ₹1,68,248 for 202526, more than double Bihar’s ₹69,321, according to the latest estimates from the J&K Economic Survey, the Bihar Economic Survey and the Ministry of Statistics and...
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VB-GRAM Act To Come Into Force Today
New Delhi: The Viksit Bharat -- Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 will come into force from July 1, with the Centre on Tuesday stating that all arrangements have been made for its implementation. The Ministry of Rural...
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Petrol, Diesel Sale Curbs To End From July 1
New Delhi: The government will lift restrictions on the sale of petrol and diesel to commercial and industrial consumers from July 1, easing emergency measures imposed to manage fuel supplies. The move will also end the cap on the diesel quantity that...
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NIA Chargesheets 3 More J&K Residents
New Delhi: The National Investigation (NIA) has chargesheeted three more persons, including an absconding paediatrician identified as a founding member of a terror module, for involvement in the vehicle-borne bomb blast near Delhi's Red Fort last year,...
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Valley Unites In Mourning As Ashura Procession Winds Through Srinagar Today
Srinagar: As the first light of the 10th of Muharram breaks over Kashmir on Friday, the Valley will once again immerse itself in remembrance of the tragedy of Karbala, with thousands of mourners expected to participate in the historic Zuljinah...
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A Sea of Black, A Message of Karbala: Thousands Of Mourners Mark 8th Muharram In Srinagar
Srinagar: Thousands of mourners on Wednesday participated in the traditional 8th Muharram procession in Srinagar, turning the city centre into a sea of black as devotees commemorated the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions in...
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THOUSANDS JOINED THE TRADITIONAL 7TH MUHARRAM ALAM SAHRIF
procession in Srinagar's Old City, commemorating the sacrifices of Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions in Karbala. KO Photo By Abid Bhat
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Heavy Rain, Hailstorm Lash Kashmir; Srinagar Areas Waterlogged
Srinagar: Heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms, hailstorm and gusty winds lashed several parts of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, inundating large parts of Srinagar, disrupting normal life and bringing temperatures down across the Union Territory. A...
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Centre Bans 16 Drug Combinations Over Safety Concerns
New Delhi: The Centre has prohibited the manufacture, sale, distribution and supply of 16 fixed-dose combination (FDC) drugs across the country, citing a lack of therapeutic justification and concerns that the potential risks associated with their use...
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‘This Was Not Easy’: Trump Signs Iran Peace Deal
Versailles (France) — U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday signed the longawaited memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Iran during a dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron at the G7 summit in Versailles, marking a dramatic step toward ending...
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Art 370 Move Brought New Security Paradigm In J&K: HM
New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said the Narendra Modi-led government has fundamentally transformed India's national security architecture over the past 12 years through a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism, cross-border...
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J&K Gears Up For Amarnath Yatra With Tight Security
Srinagar: Authorities have put in place elaborate security and administrative arrangements across Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the annual Amarnath Yatra, with security forces conducting mock drills, area domination exercises and coordinated preparedness...
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CM Signals Fresh Movement On Reservation Proposal, Cabinet Nod Soon
Srinagar:The Jammu and Kashmir government's reservation proposal is set to return to the Cabinet after the Centre sought clarifications on the recommendations submitted earlier, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Monday. Speaking to reporters, Omar...
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Too Much Screen Time? GMC Sounds Health Alarm
Srinagar: The Department of Community Medicine at Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar has issued a public advisory warning that excessive screen time is emerging as a serious health concern, affecting physical, mental and emotional well-being...
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J&K Statehood, Airport Closure Top Omar's Delhi Meetings
New Delhi: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday raised Jammu and Kashmir's key political and developmental concerns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pressing for the early restoration of statehood and seeking stronger central backing for tourism,...
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Trump Secures Pause After Iran-Israel Exchange Redraws Deterrence Lines
Tehran/Jerusalem — Iran launched ballistic missiles at Israel on Sunday in retaliation for Israeli airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburb of Dahiyeh, marking the first time Tehran has directly attacked Israel in response to an Israeli strike on a third...
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No Safe Haven For Smugglers, Peddlers Or Terror Financiers: LG
Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday reaffirmed the administration's resolve to eradicate drug abuse and narco-terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir, declaring that there would be no safe haven for drug smugglers, peddlers or terror...
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'Enough Is Enough': Narco-Terrorists Will Pay A Heavy Price, Says LG Sinha
Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said the fight against drugs and narcoterrorism in Jammu and Kashmir has evolved into a mass movement, warning that those involved in drug trafficking and narco-terror activities would face severe...
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Maintain Highest Standards Of Preparedness: IGP
Srinagar: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir V.K. Birdi on Thursday reviewed security and logistical arrangements for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra at the Baltal base camp and directed officials to ensure the timely completion of all preparations...
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First Batch Of J&K Haj Pilgrims Returns To Srinagar
Srinagar:The first batch of Haj pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir returned from Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, marking the commencement of the return phase of Haj-2026 operations through the Srinagar Embarkation Point. The inaugural flight carrying 144...
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Drug-Addicted Youth Are Victims, Not Criminals: LG Sinha
Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday gave an emotional and peoplecentric push to the ongoing Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyaan, describing himself as “a member of your family” while assuring full support of the administration in the...
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Erase Colonial Mindset, Take Truth To Global Readers: LG To Writers
Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday inaugurated the third edition of the Kashmir Literature Festival in Srinagar and called upon writers to play an active role in shaping positive discourse, correcting historical distortions, and...
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J&K Cyber Police Sound Alarm Over Surge In Online Scams
Srinagar: Amid a growing number of online frauds and digital scams, the Jammu and Kashmir Cyber Crime Department has issued a public advisory urging citizens to remain vigilant against cyber criminals using fake calls, phishing links, OTP frauds and...
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Fight Is To End Narco-Terror & Heal Families: LG
Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday said drug cartels and narco-terror networks operating in Jammu and Kashmir were being systematically dismantled, asserting that the administration would continue its crackdown until “every drug...
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No Dinners, No New Posts: J&K Govt’s Austerity Push
Srinagar:The Jammu and Kashmir government has rolled out a sweeping set of austerity measures for the financial year 2026-27, imposing curbs on official spending that include restrictions on travel and vehicle purchases, a ban on official dinners and...
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‘Pick-&-Choose’ Hiring A Fraud On Constitution: High Court
Srinagar: In a strong indictment of backdoor appointments and subsequent regularisation policies, the High Court of J&K and Ladakh has held that permitting the State to make ad hoc and temporary appointments through a “pick-and-choose” method without...
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Nutrition Of Young Generation Will Shape Our Future: LG
Jammu:Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday said the nutrition of the younger generation will shape the future of the nation as he laid the foundation stone of Akshaya Patra’s centralized mid-day meal kitchen in Katra. Once operational, the...
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Why Kashmir’s Businesses Rarely Reach Dalal Street
Srinagar: When investors gathered in Mumbai in recent months to discuss India’s booming SME listings, Kashmir barely entered the discussion. A region filled with established business families, profitable enterprises and widely recognized local brands...
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We Will Tear Out Roots Of Narco-Terror: LG
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday issued a stern warning to drug smugglers and narco-terror operatives, saying law enforcement agencies would “hunt them down even in their deepest hideouts” as the administration...
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Terror Recruitment Almost Negligible In J&K, Omar Doing Great Work: LG
Srinagar: Asserting that recruitment into terror ranks has become “almost negligible,” Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday said terrorism in the Union Territory has been pushed to the margins. In an interview with a national...
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Army Chief To Pak: ‘Choose Geography Or History’
New Delhi: In a stern military message to Islamabad, Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi on Saturday said if Pakistan continues to harbour terrorists and operate against India, then they have to "decide whether they want to be part of geography or history...
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From Coaching Rooms To Exam Halls: CBI Maps NEET Leak Chain
Srinagar: The Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday claimed to have cracked the NEET-UG paper leak case with the arrest of a Punebased professor alleged to be the “source” of the leaked chemistry paper. Professor P V Kulkarni, a chemistry expert...
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India Flags West Asia Crisis, Warns On Sanctions
New Delhi: India on Thursday flagged grave concerns over the West Asia crisis and its impact on energy supplies and maritime stability in the Strait of Hormuz and urged BRICS nations to develop "practical ways" to navigate geopolitical upheavals as...
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Kashmir’s Liquor Economy Faces A Hard Calculation
Srinagar: Near midnight at Srinagar’s Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital, doctors moved quickly between a young crash victim with a fractured skull and two women waiting after a domestic assault complaint. Attendants standing near the emergency ward...
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Will Chase Every Rupee Of Drug Cartels: LG
Srinagar: “We will chase every rupee, every asset and shell company of drug traffickers, ensuring the harshest punishment for those destroying our youth’s future,” Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Monday while participating in the DrugFree Jammu...
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Somnath Temple Survived Invasions to Inspire New India: LG
Srinagar: Describing the Somnath Temple as a symbol of resilience that withstood repeated invasions and destruction over centuries, Manoj Sinha on Sunday said the temple continues to embody India’s spiritual strength and civilisational...
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Is J&K Heading Towards A Water Crisis?
Experts Warn of Falling Water Levels, Power Stress Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing an alarming rainfall deficit for the sixth consecutive month, triggering fears of a looming water crisis, declining river levels and stress on hydropower...
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Centre Grants Emergency Telecom Powers To LG Sinha
New Delhi: The Centre has authorised the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir to exercise powers related to interception, decryption and suspension of telecom services in the Union Territory during public emergencies or in the interest of public...
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Op Sindoor Anniversary: No Safe Haven for Terror Camps, India Warns
New Delhi: Marking one year of Operation Sindoor, India on Thursday issued a strong warning to Pakistan, asserting that no terror sanctuary across the Line of Control is safe and that Indian forces retain the freedom to strike terrorist infrastructure...
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Institutions Must Nurture Ethical, Courageous Minds: LG
ieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday said educational institutions must nurture ethical, sensitive and courageous personalities capable of leading society, while inaugurating the Shri Narsingh Dev Sanskrit Gurukul at the historic Shri Narsingh...
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Silence Won’t Defeat Drug Crisis: LG; Announces ‘Parents Brigade’
Srinagar: Stepping up the government’s anti-drug campaign, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday joined a massive padyatra in Budgam and pledged sweeping action against drug smugglers, while calling for a united societal response to curb the...
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BJP’s Bengal Breakthrough, Assam Sweep; Kerala Goes To UDF
Srinagar: The 2026 Assembly election results delivered a decisive mandate across key states, with the BJP scripting a major breakthrough in West Bengal, retaining Assam with a landslide, while the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) secured a...
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Narco Money Ends Up Fuelling Terror, Radicalisation: LG Sinha
Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said drug trafficking in Jammu and Kashmir has a direct link with terrorism, asserting that money generated through the illegal trade ultimately fuels radicalisation. “Some drug traffickers might...
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Ladakh A Model Of Rapid Transformation Since 2019: Shah
Srinagar:Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said Ladakh has emerged as a model of rapid transformation since the 2019 bifurcation of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir, listing wideranging political, social and economic changes in the Union...
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Jammu To Srinagar Now In 4 Hours: Vande Bharat Flagged Off
20-Coach All-Weather Train Equipped For Sub-zero Operations, Heavy Snowfall Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday witnessed a landmark moment in its transport history as the first direct high-speed Vande Bharat Express between Jammu Tawi and...
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PMGSY-IV Push: Chouhan Rolls Out 330 Road Projects In J&K
Srinagar: Union Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday launched PMGSY-IV (BatchII) at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) here, announcing a wide-ranging rural development push for Jammu...
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J&K Gets ₹4,568 Cr Rural Push, 330 Roads Planned
Srinagar: Jammu & Kashmir is set for a major rural development push with Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan announcing a ₹4,568 crore package, alongside the rollout of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak...
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SC Directs States, UTs To Draft ‘Practical’ Plan For ICUs
New Delhi:The Supreme Court has asked all the states and Union Territories to prepare a “realistic and practical” action plan to implement the guidelines necessary as a minimum standard for intensive care units. The apex court was informed that...
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