Srinagar: Night temperature dropped to fell below freezing point in Kashmir Valley except Srinagar and Kokernag on Tuesday, officials said.

A meteorological department official here said that Srinagar, the summer capital of the J&K, recorded a low of 0.8°C against last night’s 1.4°C. The temperature was below 0.2°C than the normal for this time of the year, he said.

Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 1.0°C against 0.0°C on the previous night, he said.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, had a low of 0.2°C against 0.6°C on the previous night, the official said.

Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 4.2°C against minus 3.4°C last night, he said.

Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 6.8°C against minus 4.0°C on the previous night, he said.

The temperature was 1.0°C below normal for this time of the year in the famous resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 0.2°C against 0.5°C on the previous night, the official said.

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 9.1°C against previous night’s 9.3°C, the official said. The temperature was 1.4°C below normal for the J&K’s winter capital during this time of the year, he said.

Banihal recorded a low of 0.2°C, Batote 2.7°C and Bhaderwah 1.5°C, the official said.

Ladakh’s Leh recorded a low of minus 10.4°C against last night minus 11.5°C while mercury at automatic station in Kargil settled at minus 14°C. Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 12.0°C against minus 18.0°C on the previous night, official said.

“Weather is likely to remain erratic (generally cloudy and sunshine at times) during 15 to 21st with a possibility of brief spell of light rain and snow (over higher reaches) at scattered places of J&K during February 15 (night) to 16th and February 18-19th,” the official said. “There’s no forecast of any major rain and snow for the next 10 days,” he added. (GNS)

Srinagar: Amid the continued decline of Covid-19 cases in Kashmir valley, the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar is all set to resume offline classes for postgraduate courses and B Tech 8th-semester students of all branches from February 21.

The NIT has decided to resume the academic activities of PG courses and B Tech 8th semester of all branches from February 21 onward, Dean Academic Affairs, Najeeb-ud-din said in a statement here.

“The decision regarding resumption of academic activities of other semesters will be taken later, in view of prevailing Covid-19 situation,” he said, adding that PhD research scholars of the Institute were already working in offline mode.

All students, who are attending offline classes and are reporting on February 21, have been directed to bring a vaccination certificate and negative RTPCR report along with them, said the Dean.

Director NIT Srinagar, Rakesh Sehgal said that all arrangements have been finalised, in view of the resumption of offline classes.

“The academic activities of other semesters will be resumed in a phased manner. We ensure that all Covid-19 precautionary measures should be adhered to, so that there will be no risk of spreading infection at the campus,” he said.

Sehgal said that wearing three-ply reusable or disposable masks will be mandatory for all students entering the campus. Classrooms and hostel surroundings are being sanitised, in view of resumption of classes, he added.

Srinagar: Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) at Awantipora will reopen on February 16 after the winter break,an official spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Vice Chancellor of IUS Shakil A Romshoo, during a meeting resolved that all the faculty members of the University will resume their duties on February 16, though online teaching, which began during the winter break, will continue as usual until offline classes resumes from February 21.

Furthermore, all the Principals and departmental Heads were instructed to ensure that Covid appropriate behaviors are strictly enforced on campus in accordance with all appropriate protocols, UGC guidelines and government advisories.

Students who had taken both the doses of vaccinations will be permitted in the classrooms, the spokesperson further said and added the University has also established a system for random testing and screening of the students, faculty and other staff to prevent the spread of Covid in the campus.

Jammu: Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh Tuesday sanctioned Rs 2.04 crore as Special Welfare Relief for NOKs of slain, deceased Police personnel and SPOs.

As per a statement, DGP sanctioned rupees 22 lakh each out of Contributory Police Welfare Fund as special welfare relief in favour of dependents/ legal heirs of martyrs HC Ali Mohammad Ganie, Sgct. Mohammad Sultan and Constable Fayaz Ahmad who were killed in militant attacks.

The special welfare relief of rupees 22 lakh each out of Contributory Welfare Fund has also been sanctioned in favour of dependents/legal heirs of deceased Deputy Superintendent of Police Ajay Kumar Sharma, ASI Farooq Ahmad, HC Ayoub Hussain, HC Shabir Ahmad, Sgct. Rohit Kumar and follower Mohammad Altaf who passed away due to illness/ natural death while in service.

The DGP also sanctioned rupees six lakh as Special Welfare Relief in favour of NoKs of deceased SPO Subash Chander who passed away during the course of his engagement in the department.

Rupees one lakh each for NoKs of deceased/slain police personnel and rupees 50 thousand for NoKs of SPO has already been paid as immediate relief for their last rites through their concerned Districts/units.

Pertinently, Police Headquarters is running many schemes for the welfare of its personnel and their families. “There are also schemes for the wards of Police personnel and SPOs. Besides, there are schemes for the NoKs of martyrs, their wards and also for the retired Police personnel and their spouses,” police said.

Raja Syed Rather

Ganderbal: A 54-year-old woman was injured after she was attacked by a leopard in Wakura area of Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Tuesday evening.

Locals said that a leopard attacked an elderly women identified as Asha, wife of Bashir Ahmad of Wakura village, resulting in injuries to her.

Soon after the incident he was soon rushed to a nearby hospital for advanced treatment where doctors referred her to SMHS hospital for advanced treatment.

Wildlife Ranger Feroz Nazir said that they have launched a search after people spotted a leopard roaming.

“A team has been rushed to the area that will take all the measures for necessary intervention,” he said. (KNO)