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Athar reviews Eid-ul-Adha, Muharram arrangements

BUDGAM, MAY 26: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Budgam, Athar Aamir Khan, today chaired a follow-up review meeting of officers from various departments to assess the  arrangements being put in place across the district for Eid-ul-Adha and the ensuing holy month of Muharram-ul-Haram.

During the meeting, the DC reviewed preparations related to transport, sanitation, uninterrupted water and power supply, healthcare services, market regulation and availability of essential commodities to ensure smooth observance of the religious occasions.

A detailed discussion was also held regarding arrangements required for the smooth and peaceful conduct of processions and majalis during Muharram-ul-Haram.

The DC reviewed various aspects including scheduled power and water supply, repair and surface levelling of key roads and link roads, timely distribution of ration, LPG and firewood, sanitation measures, installation and restoration of street lights, healthcare facilities, transport and traffic management, besides other essential services.

The DC directed concerned departments to ensure all necessary arrangements are put in place well in advance to facilitate the public and avoid inconvenience during Eid-ul-Adha and Muharram-ul-Haram.

The Power Development Department was directed to ensure smooth and scheduled power supply, while the Jal Shakti Department was instructed to maintain uninterrupted drinking water supply and ensure availability of water tankers across all subdivisions of the district.

Municipal authorities and Urban Local Bodies were instructed to undertake comprehensive sanitation drives around mosques, shrines, Eidgahs and major congregation points in coordination with local committees.

Executive Officers of Municipal Committees were also directed to ensure proper installation and maintenance of street lights well ahead of Muharram.

The Health Department was asked to keep ambulances and medical teams available at major congregation points and during processions and gatherings.

The Forest Department was asked to ensure adequate supply of firewood, while the FCS&CA Department was directed to ensure advance distribution of ration.

The Cooperatives Department was instructed to make rice, sugar and other essential commodities available through temporary outlets across the district.

Animal and Sheep Husbandry Departments were instructed to ensure adequate availability of poultry and sacrificial animals at notified locations and approved rates for the convenience of the public.

Directions were also issued for proper disposal and scientific management of offal and animal waste to maintain hygiene and cleanliness.

R&B Department and Urban Local Bodies were directed to complete road repairs, drainage clearance and related works in advance. ARTO Budgam was instructed to formulate a comprehensive transportation plan for major centres across the district.

Emphasising strict market regulation, the DC directed joint market checking teams comprising officials from Revenue, Food Safety, FCS&CA, Municipal Council, Legal Metrology and Police departments to intensify inspections to ensure quality and fair pricing of essential commodities including mutton, poultry, vegetables, fruits, bakery and confectionery items.

Stressing coordinated efforts and proactive public facilitation, the DC instructed all SDMs and concerned officers to closely monitor arrangements on the ground and remain available for grievance redressal and public assistance at all times.

The meeting was attended by ADDC Budgam Vivek Agarwal; CPO Budgam Javaid Ahmad Najar; all SDMs, SE Hydraulic Circle Budgam, ACD, ACP, CMO, Executive Engineers of R&B, PDD and PHE, Tehsildars, Executive Officers, ARTO, officers from Police, Animal and Sheep Husbandry, Jal Shakti and other line departments.

Arif Laigroo extends Eid greetings

Srinagar, May 26: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader, Arif Laigroo has extended warm greetings to the people of Jammu and Kashmir on the auspicious occasion of Eid al-Adha.

In his Eid message, Arif Laigroo said that Eid-ul-Adha is a festival of sacrifice, devotion, compassion and brotherhood which teaches mankind the values of patience, humility and service towards humanity. He said the occasion inspires people to strengthen bonds of love, unity and communal harmony in society.

He prayed that the blessed occasion brings peace, prosperity, happiness and good health to every household across Jammu and Kashmir. He also expressed hope that Eid will usher in an atmosphere of mutual respect, understanding and progress for the people.

Laigroo urged people to celebrate the festival with simplicity and remember the poor, needy and underprivileged sections of society so that the true spirit of Eid is upheld. He also appealed to people to pray for lasting peace, development and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir.

Extending his best wishes to people from all walks of life, Arif Laigroo hoped that the occasion would further strengthen the values of compassion, unity and brotherhood among the people.

HED enables tentative UG allotment, cut-off trends for 2026-27 admissions

SRINAGAR, MAY 26: To help applicants make informed choices ahead of final seat allocation for UG admissions 2026–27, the Higher Education Department, J&K, has enabled Tentative College Allotment and indicative cut-off trends on the admission portal, https://jkadmissions.in, generated from current application data.

The trends, presently based on General/Open Merit data, are meant only to give a fair idea of the likely competition across programmes and colleges. Applicants of all categories, including reserved categories, are advised to review and, if required, modify their preferences before the final locking/allocation.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to add more eligible programme preferences, include options across multiple colleges/universities, avoid limiting themselves to only a few highly competitive programmes, and arrange their preferences carefully in order of priority.

The Directorate has clarified that the displayed cut-offs are purely indicative and provisional — they are not final and do not guarantee admission. Final allotment may vary with category-wise seat distribution, number of applicants per category, preference changes, seat upgradation/withdrawal, document verification, merit and tie-breaking rules, university-specific policies, and any subsequent administrative decisions. The final allotment list has not yet been published, and the admission authority reserves the right to revise outcomes, cut-offs, seat matrices, or policies at any stage without prior notice.

Director Colleges J&K, Dr. Sheikh Ajaz Bashir, urged applicants to treat the trends as a guidance tool, to broaden and re-prioritise their preferences accordingly, and to make use of the Course Explorer option on the Directorate website https://directorcollegesjk.in, and by visiting the Counselling & Facilitation Centres at every college.

Applicants may follow the official WhatsApp Channel for Admissions 2026–27, linked on the portal, for regular updates.

Badminton: PV Sindhu, Satwik-Chirag begin Singapore Open with wins

Singapore: Indian seniors PV Sindhu and the men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty started their Singapore Open campaign on a positive note, advancing to the next round after defeating their respective opponents at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore on Tuesday. Sindhu, the two-time Olympic medallist, overcame Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani 21-17, 21-18 in women’s singles, while Satwik-Chirag defeated Chen Zhi Yi and Presley Smith 26-28, 21-15, 21-13 in men’s doubles. Sindhu, champion of the 2022 edition, defeated the fifth-seeded Indonesian in straight games to level their head-to-head record at 3-3. The Indian had early control in the opening game with a four-point advantage. Although she faced a brief setback, Sindhu, who won the silver medal in the Rio Olympics and bronze in Tokyo Games played in 2021, quickly recovered to draw level at 16-all before winning five consecutive points to secure the first game. The second game witnessed an intense battle for every point, with Sindhu taking the lead at crucial moments before sealing the match in straight games. She will next face Japan’s Riko Gunji in the pre-quarterfinals. In men’s doubles, World No. 4 Satwik-Chirag dropped the opening game despite saving seven game points in a tightly contested battle. The Indian duo responded strongly to force a decider and then dominated the third game, closing it out 21-13 after one hour and 15 minutes of play. Chinese Taipei’s Lee Jhe-Huei and Yang Po-Hsuan await them in the Round of 16. In men’s singles, Ayush Shetty put up a strong fight against Victor Lai. After taking the opening game comfortably 21-11, the Indians could not maintain the same intensity and eventually went down 14-21, 12-21 in the following games. Other Indian contingents in action on day 1 lost to their respective opponents. –IANS hs/bsk/

Nitin Gadkari approves Rs 1,427 crore for Thiruvarur bypass, additional ROBs in Tamil Nadu

New Delhi: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday approved the construction of a 4-lane Thiruvarur Bypass on the Nagapattinam–Thanjavur section of NH-83 in Tamil Nadu for Rs 1,427.61 crore. The project spans 14.9 kms and also includes the construction of two additional Road Over Bridges (ROBs) on NH-129A and NH-134A, according to a statement from Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. “In Tamil Nadu, we have approved Rs 1,427.61 crore for the construction of a 4-lane Thiruvarur Bypass on the Nagapattinam–Thanjavur section of NH-83, spanning 14.9 km, along with 2 additional ROBs on NH-129A and NH-134A,” the minister posted on X. This strategic project will strengthen connectivity between key industrial hubs like Tiruchirappalli and Coimbatore with the port towns of Karaikal and Nagapattinam, boosting regional economic activity. “The bypass, starting from Adiyakkamangalam–Thandalai, will pass through key locations including Athipuliyur, Andipalayam, Kidaramkondan, Pallivaramangalam, Perumpugalur, Elavangarkudi, and Anaivadapathy Colony, among other,” said Gadkari. “Once completed, it will significantly decongest Thiruvarur town, reduce travel time by approximately 15 minutes, and enhance road safety by diverting traffic away from densely populated and commercial areas,” he added. The alignment will also improve connectivity to SH-23, SH-65, and the revered Thyagaraja Swamy Temple, contributing to both infrastructure development and ease of travel in the region. Meanwhile, Gadkari on Tuesday reviewed the quality and maintenance progress of National Highway projects covering 4,335 km in Punjab and 3,332 km in Delhi and Haryana, based on inputs received through media and social media platforms. Gadkari emphasised the need to accelerate on-ground execution of highway projects and ensure timely completion of works. He directed officials and contractors to strengthen coordination and maintain strict adherence to project timelines. The minister stressed the importance of continuous monitoring of project quality and instructed agencies to adopt modern construction technologies and best engineering practices to enhance asset durability and long-term performance of National Highways. Gadkari instructed concerned agencies to remain vigilant and ensure uninterrupted traffic movement by addressing waterlogging, erosion and other weather-related challenges proactively. –IANS na/

Trump undergoes annual medical exam

Washington: US President Donald Trump underwent a routine annual medical and dental examination at Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre on Tuesday amid continued public attention over his health ahead of his 80th birthday next month. Trump stayed at Walter Reed for more than two-and-a-half hours after his motorcade arrived at the Bethesda, Maryland, facility at 8:51 a.m. The motorcade departed at 12:27 p.m., according to White House pool reports. The White House said the appointment involved “routine annual dental and medical assessments” as part of Trump’s “regular preventative health care”. The visit marked Trump’s third scheduled medical appointment at Walter Reed in the past 13 months. The White House said Trump met military personnel and staff during his visit to the medical centre. Trump, who turns 80 on June 14, has faced growing public scrutiny over his health in recent months. The New York Times reported that attention has focused on visible bruising on his hands and swelling in his legs during recent public appearances. White House attributed the bruises to frequent handshakes, while doctors said swelling in Trump’s legs was linked to chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that affects blood flow in the veins. The Hill reported that Trump underwent a CT scan during an earlier visit to Walter Reed after his medical team sought to “definitely rule out any cardiovascular issues”. According to the report, Trump’s physician, Dr Sean Barbabella, said the scan was “perfectly normal and revealed absolutely no abnormalities”. Trump takes around 325 milligrams of aspirin daily for “cardiac prevention”. Trump told The Wall Street Journal in an earlier interview that aspirin contributed to bruising on his hands. White House doctors are expected to release a summary of the examination, although presidential medical disclosures have historically varied in detail and transparency. Trump has repeatedly pushed back against questions about his age and health and frequently attacked former President Joe Biden over fitness concerns during the 2024 presidential campaign. The issue of age became a major focus in the last election cycle as both Trump and Biden became the oldest major-party presidential candidates in US history. –IANS lkj/dan

Australian Foreign Minister calls on PM Modi, discusses growing strategic ties

New Delhi: Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Tuesday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, holding discussions on the growing India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in various sectors. “Happy to receive Senator Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia. We discussed the growing India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in areas such as defence, trade, technology and ensuring supply chain resilience. India and Australia will continue to work for a free, open, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” PM Modi wrote on X after the meeting. Wong arrived in New Delhi on Monday to participate in the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and held bilateral talks with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar, amid growing focus on regional security and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. She stated that Quad is taking several new initiatives, including an energy security initiative, working on critical minerals, and support for port infrastructure in Fiji. In her joint press statement along with Foreign Ministers of India, Japan and the US following the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Wong stated, “At every meeting that we have had, we have been focused on momentum and on making sure we deliver outcomes which are real, which are meaningful for our people and for the people of Indo-Pacific. As Minister Jaishankar has said, we recognise our obligation, our responsibility to provide real choices, particularly as strategic circumstances in our region (Indo-Pacific) are deteriorating. The region is facing acute economic stress.” “We are also today announcing the strongest ever commitment from the Quad to the Pacific through the Quad Ports of the Future Partnership, where we are launching a pilot for port infrastructure in Fiji…In addition, we are focusing on what more we can do to ensure a transparent, more secure maritime domain in the Indo-Pacific,” she added. She also announced that the Quad nations will work together to strengthen cooperation against scam centres, especially in the Southeast Asia. “A point I do also want to emphasise in terms of outcomes we’ve delivered to date is that we are delivering, as a collective, undersea cables to all Pacific Island Forum countries, which enhances economic opportunities. We are also working together to strengthen cooperation against scam centres, particularly in South East Asia, building law enforcement capacity and deepening cyber cooperation. These are just some of the measures, practical measures, the Quad Countries are engaged in. We know we are stronger when we work together. We know we work better in partnership across our region, and we work best by listening to the priorities of our region and delivering practical outcomes to make a difference to our people’s lives,” the Australian Foreign Minister said. –IANS ksk/as

320 tourists rescued after Gulmarg Gondola snag

Forces brave rain, rough terrain: DGP Prabhat

Srinagar: A major rescue operation launched after a technical malfunction in the Gulmarg Gondola cable car system stranded hundreds of tourists mid-air in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district was successfully concluded on Monday evening, with all 320 tourists evacuated safely.

Officials said the rescue operation, jointly carried out by the Indian Army, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Jammu and Kashmir Police, civil administration and other agencies, ended without any casualty or injury.

Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat said the incident occurred at around 1:20 PM when a technical fault forced several gondola cabins carrying tourists to remain suspended mid-air.

He said SHO Gulmarg and SOG teams were the first responders to reach the site immediately after the incident.

The DGP said 14 SDRF teams were initially pressed into service, while an additional team was later deployed, taking the total number of SDRF teams involved in the operation to 15.

Prabhat further said that eight mountain rescue teams and nine Snow Leopard rescue units also joined the operation to evacuate stranded passengers.

He said Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel, SDRF teams, Indian Army and NDRF jointly conducted the rescue mission despite continuous rain and difficult weather conditions in the hilly area.

Officials said all stranded tourists were evacuated safely, while nearly 45 physically weak and unfit persons were shifted using stretchers during the operation.

The malfunction had disrupted Gondola services between the Base Station and Phase-1 (Kongdori), leaving nearly 300 tourists stranded in cable car cabins amid inclement weather conditions.

Confirming the successful completion of the operation, officials said all stranded tourists were evacuated safely after hours of coordinated rescue efforts.

Earlier, the Army said a distress call was received from the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Gondola Management Authority regarding the safety of stranded tourists, following which rescue teams were immediately mobilised.

Troops of the Butapathri Battalion deployed three Casualty Assistance Teams (CATs) between the Gondola Base Station and Phase-1, while All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) were also pressed into service to assist evacuation efforts in difficult terrain and adverse weather.

The Army said 65 cable cars were affected by the malfunction.

Rescue teams initially evacuated 17 cable cars from the Phase-1 side, rescuing 94 tourists, while another 15 cable cars from the Base Station side were cleared, leading to the evacuation of 90 more persons.

“In total, 184 stranded tourists have been safely evacuated so far through the coordinated efforts of the Indian Army, SDRF, Jammu and Kashmir Police and other responding agencies,” General Officer Commanding (GOC) 19 Division, Major General Manoj Joshi, had said during the operation.

Officials said technical teams of the Gondola authorities were assessing the exact nature and extent of the malfunction.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said he was personally monitoring the situation and had spoken to Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo regarding the rescue operation. He had directed Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat to proceed to Gulmarg and oversee the mission.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also said the government was closely monitoring the situation and assured that trained rescue teams were on the ground to ensure the safety of tourists.

Meanwhile, on the instructions of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary today visited Gulmarg to personally oversee the rescue operations following the temporary stoppage of the Gondola service due to a technical fault.

MLA Gulmarg Pirzada Farooq Ahmed Shah, along with senior administrative and police officers, was also present on the site monitoring the situation closely and coordinating the rescue efforts.

The Jammu and Kashmir Government is closely monitoring the situation at the Gulmarg Gondola after the cable car service was temporarily halted due to a technical issue. Officials informed that all cabins remain intact and trained rescue teams are actively engaged on the ground to safely evacuate the stranded tourists.

The Deputy Chief Minister reviewed the ongoing rescue measures and directed all concerned agencies to ensure swift, coordinated and safe evacuation of the remaining passengers.

Authorities said that the majority of the stranded cabins have already been cleared and every effort is being made to safely evacuate those still awaiting rescue.

The Government has assured that the situation is completely under control and there is no cause for panic.

Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary also visited Gulmarg to assess the rescue operations launched after a technical snag disrupted the functioning of the Gondola service.

Despite difficult terrain and slippery conditions caused by continuous movement along steep slopes, the Deputy Chief Minister personally visited the rescue sites and appreciated the dedication and professionalism displayed by the rescue teams under the challenging circumstances.

During the visit, the Deputy Chief Minister reviewed the on-ground situation and inspected the Gondola base station, cabins and related infrastructure. He directed the concerned authorities to ensure that all necessary safety protocols are strictly adhered to and stressed the need for early restoration of services for the convenience of tourists and locals.

Interacting with the tourists and officials on the spot, the Deputy Chief Minister lauded the coordinated efforts of the Civil Administration, Police, Army, Disaster Response Force (DRF), local guides and other agencies involved in the rescue operation.

“On the directions of the Chief Minister, I personally supervised the ongoing rescue operation and I am happy to say that all the stranded tourists have been rescued safely,” he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that the prompt response and close coordination among all agencies ensured the safe evacuation of every passenger. He reiterated that the safety and well-being of tourists remains the government’s top priority. “Tourists are our valued guests and every possible effort was made to ensure their safe rescue. I am thankful that all the passengers are safe and the rescue operation has concluded successfully,” he added.

The Deputy Chief Minister further assured that a detailed report regarding the incident would be submitted to the Chief Minister, following which appropriate measures would be taken to ascertain the cause of the technical snag and prevent recurrence of such incidents in future.

Senior officers from Civil, police and army were also present.

Amit Shah lauds rescue teams

Srinagar, May 25: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday praised the disaster response teams for safely rescuing around 300 tourists stranded mid-air after a technical malfunction in the Gulmarg Gondola cable car system in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

In a post on ‘X’, Shah applauded the coordinated efforts of the SDRF, NDRF, Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and civil administration in carrying out the rescue operation, which concluded successfully after nearly six hours.

“Applause to India’s disaster response forces for safely rescuing 300 tourists stranded mid-air in cable cars in Gulmarg, Kashmir,” Shah said.

He said the disaster response teams “swung into action” and rescued all passengers stranded in 65 cable cars during the operation.

“The nation salutes the forces for their valour and skill,” the Home Minister added.

The rescue operation was launched after Gondola services between the Base Station and Phase-1 (Kongdori) were suspended due to a technical fault, leaving hundreds of tourists stranded in cable car cabins amid inclement weather conditions.

Officials said all stranded tourists were evacuated safely and no casualty or injury was reported.

LG applauds bravery

Srinagar, May 25: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has applauded the extraordinary bravery displayed by the disaster response teams in safely rescuing the 300 tourists stranded in Gulmarg’s cable cars.

In a post on X, the Lieutenant Governor has said: “The nation stands united in applauding extraordinary bravery of disaster response teams, who safely rescued 300 tourists stranded mid-air in Gulmarg’s cable cars. Army, JKP, SDRF, NDRF, DC, SSPs moved promptly & after a 6-hour operation, rescued all passengers from 65 cable cars. All tourists are safe. I spoke with senior officials and directed them to ensure every necessary support is provided. The nation salutes the disaster response forces, Army, JKP and district administration for their valor and remarkable skill.”