SRINAGAR, MAY 25: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has appreciated the efforts of all agencies, rescue teams and personnel involved in the successful evacuation of tourists stranded after the Gulmarg Gondola developed a technical fault.

The Chief Minister commended the swift response, coordination and professionalism displayed during the rescue operation, which ensured the safe evacuation of all tourists without any major incident.

He stated that the safety and well-being of tourists and visitors remain the government’s top priority and lauded the coordinated efforts of the administration, police, rescue agencies and technical teams for handling the situation efficiently.

The Chief Minister further said that the incident would be thoroughly examined and an enquiry conducted into the technical fault.

He asserted that responsibility for any lapses would be fixed and appropriate action taken accordingly.

Earlier, on the instructions of the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary visited Gulmarg to personally oversee the rescue operations following the temporary stoppage of the Gondola service due to the technical snag.

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

By: Waris Fayaz

Srinagar, May 25: The Gulmarg Gondola service in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district will remain closed on May 26 and 27 for technical maintenance following Monday’s major disruption that left hundreds of tourists stranded mid-air for several hours.

An official said that all tickets booked for May 25, 26 and 27 will be refunded in full. Authorities also expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to tourists and visitors.

The announcement came hours after a massive rescue operation involving the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, SDRF, NDRF and civil administration safely evacuated around 400 tourists after a technical fault halted the cable car service around 1:20 PM.

Officials said the maintenance work has been initiated as a precautionary measure to inspect and rectify the technical issue before operations resume.

The Gulmarg Gondola, one of Kashmir’s major tourist attractions, witnesses heavy tourist footfall during the summer season. Monday’s incident triggered panic among tourists, though all stranded passengers were rescued safely without injuries.

Authorities said the service will resume only after all safety checks and technical inspections are completed. (KNO)

Over 1.5 mn Haj pilgrims arrive in Mina

MINA, May 25: More than 1.6 million pilgrims have gathered in Mina as Hajj enters the Day of Tarwiyah, marking the start of the most intensive phase ahead of Arafat Day on May 26.

The number of foreign pilgrims has reached 1,518,153, a 0.8 percent increase from 2025, according to a report.

Following the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad, pilgrims are spending the eighth day of Dhul-Hijjah on Monday in Mina, worshipping and preparing before moving to Arafat, the spiritual climax of Hajj, on Tuesday.

Movement into Mina was carried out under a unified operational system, with authorities reporting smooth flow along key routes, supported by traffic management plans and aerial monitoring to ensure orderly crowd movement.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said its operational plans for the Day of Tarwiyah were part of a broader integrated system designed to ensure smooth movement, efficient crowd management, and high-quality services throughout the pilgrimage.

Officials stressed that coordination across security, health, and service agencies remained central to maintaining safety, comfort, and operational efficiency during Hajj.

Over 1.5 million people have arrived in Mecca for the annual Haj pilgrimage, which this year takes place amid hopes for an end to the war in West Asia.

To protect them, the Saudi Ministry of Defence has strengthened its air defences. The white-clad pilgrims, travelling by bus or on foot, arrived at the vast Mina encampment after performing the “tawaf,” or walking seven times around the Kaaba, the enormous black cube of Mecca’s Great Mosque.

The start of the Hajj coincided with US President Donald Trump sending mixed signals regarding a possible agreement to extend the fragile ceasefire with Iran and a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, reports Adnkronos news agency.

This year’s celebrations, which draw Muslims from around the world, including Iran, follow a series of Iranian attacks against targets in Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Gulf countries.

Saudi authorities have worked to keep the conflict away from the Haj, with many Muslims travelling long distances to participate in one of the world’s largest annual pilgrimages.

Despite the uncertainty caused by the conflict, Saudi officials said that more pilgrims from abroad participated in the Haj this year than in 2025.

The Saudi Ministry of Defence showed a video of advanced air defence batteries positioned on the outskirts of Mecca.

“The air defence forces are responsible for protecting the skies above the holy sites and responding to all aerial threats, ensuring the safety and tranquillity of visitors,” the post read.

Last week, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence said that it intercepted three drones that entered its airspace from Iraq.

The UAE said Tuesday that its air defence systems had detected six drones coming from Iraq over the previous 48 hours. (Inputs from IANS)

SRINAGAR, MAY 25: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday handed over regularisation orders to Contingent Paid Workers (CPWs) of the School Education Department at Civil Secretariat function here.

Minister for School Education Sakina Itoo was present on the occasion.

Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Special Secretary School Education Ghulam Rasool Mir, Director School Education Kashmir Naseer Ahmed Wani and other senior officers of the concerned department were also present during the programme.

The Chief Minister individually handed over the regularisation orders to the CPWs from Ganderbal and Bandipora districts and extended his best wishes to them for their future service. He expressed hope that the employees would continue to work with sincerity, commitment and dedication towards strengthening the School Education Department and improving public service delivery.

The beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister and the government for addressing their long-pending issue and providing them regularisation orders.

Reviews preparations at Hazratbal

SRINAGAR, MAY 25: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Monday visited the sacred Hazratbal Shrine to review the preparations for the upcoming auspicious festival of Eid ul-Adha.

He was accompanied by Dr Syed Darakhshan Andrabi, Chairperson, J&K Waqf Board; Mufti Reyaz ul Haq, Chief Imam Hazratbal Shrine; Anshul Garg, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; Rajiv Omprakashn, DIG CKR; Dr. GV Sundeep Chakravarthy, SSP Srinagar; Akshay Labroo, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar; Faz Lul Haseeb, Municipal Commissioner Srinagar and officials from all line departments.

During his visit, the Lieutenant Governor took appraisal of the water supply, sanitation, electricity and other facilities being put in place for smooth conduct of the festival. He instructed the senior officers to ensure that every arrangement is carried out with diligence.

“The festival reminds us of the virtues of humility and charity, inspiring us to dedicate ourselves to the greater good of humanity. We will ensure that the celebration is not only well-organized but also truly grand, marked by devotion and festive fervor,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

Spiritual leaders, Waqf officials, senior officers of Police and Civil administration and prominent citizens were also present.

Srinagar May 25: Budgam Police on Monday claimed to have solved the Galwanpora minor girl rape and murder case within 36 hours, announcing the arrest of a local resident after what officials described as a confession and corroborating material evidence.

Addressing a press briefing, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Budgam K.K. Hari Prasad said several suspects had been detained and questioned during the investigation before police zeroed in on one individual whose alleged involvement matched the material evidence collected during the probe.

“Within 36 hours we have solved the murder and rape case,” SSP Hari Prasad said.

The accused was identified by police as Mudasir Ahmad Mir, a resident of Galwanpora.

According to the SSP, the accused was confronted during questioning and allegedly confessed to the crime.

“Many suspects were detained. One particular suspect corroborated the material evidence. When confronted, he confessed,” Hari Prasad said.

Police said some material evidence was recovered on the disclosure of the accused. The SSP said the motive behind the crime remained under investigation and further forensic and investigative procedures were continuing.

The case had triggered widespread outrage across Kashmir after the minor girl was found dead near her residence following her disappearance. Police had earlier termed the incident prima facie a case of rape and murder and constituted a Special Investigation Team to investigate the crime. (KINS)

Calls on Minister Itoo

SRINAGAR, MAY 25: Director General of the National Cadet Corps (NCC), Lt. General Virendra Vats Monday called on Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo, and apprised her of the activities and outreach programmes being undertaken by the NCC across Jammu and Kashmir.

During the meeting, the Director General highlighted the role of the NCC in shaping youth through discipline, leadership, patriotism and community service. He informed the Minister about various initiatives being carried out to encourage greater participation of students in NCC activities, especially in remote and border areas of the Union Territory.

Lt. General Virendra Vats also briefed the Minister about the ongoing training programmes, adventure activities, awareness campaigns and social service initiatives being conducted by NCC units in J&K. He underscored the organisation’s efforts towards youth empowerment and nation-building by engaging cadets in constructive and character-building activities.

He also briefed the Minister about the participation of J&K Youth in NCC, especially the girls/women folk.

The Minister appreciated the contribution of the NCC in nurturing discipline, confidence and a spirit of service among the youth. She lauded the organisation for providing young students with opportunities for personality development, leadership training and national integration.

The Minister also assured the Director General of all possible support from the Government for carrying out various activities across J&K for the welfare of youth.

Sakeena Itoo reiterated the Government’s commitment towards supporting initiatives aimed at empowering the youth and promoting their holistic development.

ADG, NCC, Major General, Anupinder Bevli was also present.

Departments asked to accelerate

SRINAGAR, MAY 25: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, Monday chaired a high-level review meeting with Administrative Secretaries of all departments to assess the Action Taken Reports (ATRs) on implementation of actionable points emerging from the Prime Minister’s interaction with Secretaries to the Government of India, with special emphasis on strengthening the “Whole of Government” approach, enhancing Ease of Living through end-to-end digitization of public services and undertaking comprehensive process reforms across the country.

During the meeting, the Chief Secretary reiterated that the core objective of these reforms is to establish integrated governance, citizen-centric administration and technology-driven systems aimed at ensuring efficient, transparent and accountable delivery of services. He emphasized that departments must move beyond conventional silo-based functioning and work in close coordination to achieve larger developmental goals envisioned under Viksit Bharat @2047.

A detailed presentation on the Action Taken Reports pertaining to various reform initiatives was given by the Planning Development & Monitoring Department. The meeting was informed that several departments including Finance, School Education, Skill Development, Health & Medical Education, Housing & Urban Development, Agriculture Production, Social Welfare, Public Works, Tourism and Higher Education Departments have already adopted convergence-based governance models involving inter-departmental coordination, digital integration and collaborative implementation mechanisms.

Regarding the points of School Education Department it was revealed that vocational education has been expanded to more than 1,350 schools across Jammu & Kashmir with enrolment of over 1.41 lakh students, besides integration of digital platforms, ICT laboratories and smart classrooms under the framework of NEP-2020.

Similarly with respect to the Skill Development Department it was highlighted that flagship initiatives including Mission YUVA and PM Vishwakarma are being implemented through coordinated institutional mechanisms involving multiple departments, financial institutions and academic organisations.

The Health & Medical Education Department proposed integrated planning with allied departments for convergence of health, sanitation, nutrition, education and livelihood initiatives, while the Housing & Urban Development Department highlighted its focus on technology-driven governance, sustainable urban planning and citizen-centric reforms for improving urban living standards.

The meeting was further informed that departments including Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, ARI & Trainings, Disaster Management, Labour & Employment and Information Department have introduced integrated digital governance systems, interoperable platforms and real-time monitoring mechanisms aimed at improving transparency, accountability and ease of access to public services.

Reviewing reforms aimed at enhancing Ease of Living, the meeting was apprised that under the J&K Jan Vishwas reforms, around 32 criminal provisions across 20 Acts have been decriminalized to reduce compliance burden and improve citizen convenience, while 19 obsolete laws have been repealed for simplification of the statutory framework and promotion of ease of doing business.

The Chief Secretary also reviewed the proposal for achieving 100 percent end-to-end digitization of Government-to-Citizen (G2C) services across the Union Territory. The meeting was informed that 1,548 G2C services have already been digitized under the E-Unnat platform, while nearly 300 additional services are presently under development.

The meeting was informed that in the first phase, 302 services across key departments including Agriculture, Higher Education, Housing & Urban Development, Revenue, Health and Power Development Departments have been identified for elimination of offline processes and full digital transformation.

The implementation roadmap includes phased execution covering policy notification, digitization audit, workflow re-engineering, system integration, capacity building, real-time monitoring and third-party audits.

Stresssing upon departments to undertake comprehensive process re-engineering before digitization, the Chief Secretary directed all departments to simplify existing G2G, G2B and G2C procedures in order to eliminate bottlenecks and promote faster, simpler and citizen-friendly governance mechanisms.

The meeting also reviewed progress achieved under Vision 2030 and Vision 2047 targets. It was informed that several departments have already submitted quantifiable targets, achievements, gap analysis and timelines for bridging developmental gaps, while the remaining departments have been asked to furnish their inputs for preparation of a comprehensive Vision document for Jammu & Kashmir.