New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will conduct a second-term board examination for classes 10 and 12 in offline mode from April 26, officials said on Wednesday.
The board after discussion with various stakeholders and taking into consideration the COVID-19 situation in the country has decided to conduct second-term board exams in offline mode only, CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj said.
The theory exams will begin from April 26, 2022.
By: Nadeem Nadu
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir reported 681 new Covid-19 cases while four persons succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours, officials said on Wednesday.
They said 359 of the fresh cases were from Jammu Division and 322 from Kashmir valley, taking the total tally to 448786.
Giving district-wise details, they said that Srinagar reported 139 cases, Baramulla 39, Budgam 39, Pulwama 10, Kupwara 30, Anantnag 16, Bandipora 10, Ganderbal 20, Kulgam 11, Shopian 8, Jammu 184, Udhampur 15, Rajouri 12, Doda 80, Kathua 36, Samba 8, Kishtwar 5, Poonch 9, Ramban 9 and Reasi 1.
Regarding the deaths, the officials said that all of them were reported from Kashmir, taking the overall toll in J&K to 4732—2316 in Jammu and 2416 in the Valley.
A number of cases were confirmed at diagnostic laboratory of GMC and include Anantnag cases include male (38) from Srinagar, male (15) from Sangam, female (29) and male (25) from Watoo Kulgam, female (32) from Achabal, male (50) from Norpora Kokernag, male (16) from Nagam Kokernag, male (60) from Gawas Kapran, female (50) from Nathipora Dooru, male (30) from Vaid Mohalla Bij, female (25) from Iqbal Mohalla Bij, female (25) from Redwani Bala Kulgam, male (33) from Qaimoh Khudwani, male (40) from Tenjloo Anantnag.
Besides, they said, 2805 Covid-19 patients recovered during the time— 786 from Jammu Division and 2019 from Kashmir. So far 433824 people have recovered, leaving the active case tally at 10230—3647 in Jammu and 6583 in Kashmir.
They said there was no new confirmed case of mucormycosis (black fungus) reported today. So far 51 black fungus cases have been confirmed in J&K, the officials said. They also informed that 47705 doses of covid-19 vaccine were administered during the time in J&K. (GNS)
New Delhi: Union Minister for Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh has informed that ISRO has plans to develop space telescope dedicated for UV and visible/IR astronomy. The planned UV telescope will be made up of a 1 meter mirror and will provide the deepest images in UV.
He said that the ISRO has already realized X-ray and Visible/ Ultra Violet telescope, a number of initiatives are being taken to make India the global leader in space science and technology.
In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Jitendra Singh said technology development projects are going on at ISRO centres spanning the areas of scientific instrumentation, communication, navigation, remote sensing etc. Moreover, Disruptive technologies based on quantum mechanical principle which includes satellite based quantum communication, quantum radar have been initiated.
The Minister said, initiatives have been taken for the exploration of space weather, the sun, the moon and the other planets as well as astronomical sources. He said, a decadal plan is under preparation covering scientific and technological development for future space missions. (IANS)
By: Tasaduq Hussain
Srinagar: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Wednesday informed the parliament that a high level committee had been formed to ascertain the reasons behind the stampede incident at Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine while a series of safety measures have been taken since then including live tracking of pilgrims.
Queries including whether Government has received any inquiry report of stampede at the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Jammu and Kashmir, in which nearly 12 people died and over a dozen were injured in a stampede on 31st December, 2021 were raised in the ongoing session of parliament.
Besides the details of steps taken or proposed to be taken by Government to develop any system for the hassle free smooth darshan of devotees in the future in the country.
Minister of State (MoS) in the Ministry of Home Affairs responded to the queries in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday in the ongoing session of parliament.
In a written reply to the parliament, the MoS informed the parliament that the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has constituted a high level committee headed by Principal Secretary (Home), Govt. of J&K to ascertain the reasons behind the stampede incident at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine. “The Shrine Board has taken several measures to ensure safety of pilgrims, he said.
About the safety measures, he said that Online Yatra Registration to the extent of 80% of the total number allowed for Yatra has been implemented with effect from 05.01.2022.
The MoS said that token System /Group System for releasing the pilgrims in Darshan queues in batches has already been put into practice.
He also said that for effective and Real Time Crowd Management at Bhawan and all along the Track, the RFID based Crowd Management System for live Tracking of the pilgrims has been approved.
“Works such as Yatri Queue Management-at Bhawan and at Bhairon Ji Mandir, Suspension Bridge/Dedicated Exit Route at Bhawan,” the union minister said. “Additional 30 minutes per day has been allotted for normal darshans. Construction of Durga Bhawan, a new structure to accommodate 5000 pilgrims a day to ease the space constraint.”
“Additional CCTV Cameras installed for real time monitoring and management of crowd. Six video walls installed for mass communication and Live Darshans of the sanctum sanctorum,” the minister said. “Additional deployment of JK police personnel and CRPF personnel. Additional Halting points operationalized for holding pilgrims in case of rush situations.”
He also informed that the lockers at Bhawan relocated and shifted to the roof top of Manokamna Bhawan for decongestion of Yatra.
The Union Minister further informed the parliament that ‘Public Order’ and ‘Police’ are State Subjects as per the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. “Thus, the responsibilities of maintaining law and order, rests primarily with the respective State Governments/UT Administrations,” Rai informed the parliament.
He said that Central Government keeps a constant watch on the situation and responds appropriately to the emergent situations. Among other measures, alerts and advisories are issued from time to time to the States/UTs. (KNO)
Srinagar: Minimum temperature recorded a drop in Kashmir valley with Gulmarg recording a low of minus 10 degree Celsius on Wednesday, officials said.
The Meteorological Department forecast mainly dry weather in Jammu and Kashmir with isolated instances of light rain and snowfall in the Union Territory during the next 24 hours.
Meanwhile, the frontier district of north Kashmir’s Kupwara- Machil, Kupwara-Keran roads were put through for vehicular traffic after accumulated snow was removed, a traffic control room official said.
However, Kupwara-Tangdhar, Kupwara-Sadhna Top, Furkian Top and Z-Gali roads remained closed for the third consecutive day today due to the accumulation of snowfall, they said and added Bandipora-Gurez road also in north Kashmir remained closed.
They said the snow clearance operation on these routes could not be taken up due to avalanche warnings.
The Minimum temperature shows a further drop as Gulmarg in north Kashmir froze at minus 10.0 degree Celsius against the minus 9 degree Celsius on Tuesday. It also received 4.8mm of rainfall and 4.0cms of snowfall on Wednesday.
Srinagar was recorded as low of 0.6 degree Celsius on Wednesday against the 1.4 degree Celsius degree Celsius recorded the previous night.
Pahalgam in south Kashmir showed an improvement and recorded a low of minus 5.1 degree Celsius on Wednesday against minus 6.2 degree Celsius recorded a day ago. It also received 4.9cms of snowfall and 2.5mm of rainfall till 0830 hours on Wednesday.
Qazigund, also in south Kashmir on Srinagar-Jammu national highway recorded a low of minus 0.3 degree Celsius, Kokernag minus 2.5 degree Celsius and Kupwara minus 1.3 degree Celsius on Wednesday. (UNI)
Srinagar: Cyber Police Kashmir Zone Srinagar has recovered missing smartphones worth lakhs of rupees which were handed over to the rightful owners.
“Cyber Police Kashmir with constant efforts of its dedicated technical teams traced out 73 missing/lost smartphones of various makes and models worth lakhs of rupees,” a police spokesman said.
“These traced out smartphones were accordingly handed over to the rightful owners today at Cyber Police Station Headquarters Srinagar.”
Moreover, he said, an amount of Rs 4.20 lakhs were also saved by the financial desk of the Cyber Police Station Kashmir on Feb 8, which the victims of cyber frauds had lost in various online scams. “Cyber Police Kashmir has a robust mechanism in place to help citizens in facing various technological challenges in their day to day life.”
Cyber Police Kashmir Zone under the supervision of Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Zone, Srinagar are continuously conducting various awareness campaigns and programs through different platforms, wherein general public is made aware about various contemporary online frauds and scams etc, the spokesman said. Cyber Police Kashmir is once again advising general masses not to share the bank details, account details, personal details, OTP etc to anyone. “The complainants expressed gratitude towards the cyber police for recovering and restoring their lost mobile phones.”
Srinagar: Jammu-Srinagar highway, the only surface link connecting Kashmir valley with the outside world, shall remain open for both way traffic on Wednesday, officials said.
“On 09-02-2022, subject to fair weather and better road conditions LMVs(passenger)/private cars shall be allowed from both sides on Jammu-Srinagar highway viz Jammu towards Srinagar and vice-versa ,” a traffic department official here said, adding, “TCU Jammu/Srinagar shall liaise with TCU Ramban before releasing the traffic.”
He said cut off for LMVs/private cars from Nagrota (Jammu) will be at 0700 hours to 1200 hours, from Jakheni (Udhampur) at 0800 hours to 1300 hours and from Navyug Tunnel (Qazigund side) 0800 hours to 1300 hours “(subject to change depending on the road position then)”
He said no vehicle shall be allowed before and after cut off timings.
Regarding HMVs/Load carriers, he said, “subject to fair weather and better road conditions, they shall be allowed from NAVYUG Tunnel (Qazigund side) towards Jammu after assessing the traffic situation on highway.” He said TCU Srinagar shall liaise with TCU Ramban before releasing the highway.
Meanwhile, Mughal Road, connecting Shopian with Poonch and Rajouri districts, remained closed for vehicular movement in view of snow accumulation at Peer Ki Gali.
Also, Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri road remained shut for vehicular movement in view of snow accumulation on Zoji la axis and has been closed till further orders. Kishtwar-Sinthan road also remained closed in view of snow accumulation, the traffic department official said.
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday claimed to have arrested six drug peddlers in two separate incidents in Kulgam and Kupwara and recorded contraband substances from them.
Police party of Yaripora in south Kashmir established a naka at Sunman bridge and during checking of vehicles on specific input, one vehicle was intercepted with three occupants and 16 Kg of Poppy Straw and a grinder was recovered from their possession.
The drug peddlers were identified as Sheraz Ahmad Lone a resident of Tungduno, Kamaljeet Singh resident of Nowshera Punjab and Charanjeet Singh a resident of Hoshiarpur Punjab, Police said and added all the three were arrested and vehicle used in commission of crime was also seized.
A case under relevant sections of the law has been registered at Police Station Yaripora and investigation has been taken up.
Meanwhile, in north Kashmir’s Kupwara police also arrested three notorious drug peddlers and recovered 37 grams of Brown sugar from them.
The accused drug peddlers were identified as Majid Rehman of Gundisana Hyhama, Nisar Ahmad Mir of Kanthipora and Atta Mohammad Khan of Halmatpora sent to police custody, the police said.
Ganderbal: A person was killed in a road accident at Gulab Sheikh Mohalla of Safapora area in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Wednesday.
An official said that a speedy tipper hit one person namely Aijaz Ahmed Laway, son of Abdul Gafar Laway of Safa Kadal Srinagar, resulting in serious injuries to him.
He was rushed to PHC Safapora where doctors referred him to SKIMS hospital, where he was declared brought dead by the doctors, he said.
His body will be handed over to his family members after the completion of medico-legal formalities, and further investigation has been taken up in this regard, said an official.
A case under FIR number 08/2022 under section 279 337 IPC has been registered. (KNO)
By: Ahmad Shabir
Anantnag: Despite spurt in Covid-19 cases across the country, the world famous Pahalgam resort witnessed the brisk footfall of tourists in winter for the first time in last several years.
According to local hoteliers, the famed spot witnessed a good influx of tourists this winter.
Earlier, only A class hotels with winter facilities used to operate during winter months in Pahalgam. But this year, many hoteliers, Precious Kashmir spoke to said that both A Class and B Class hotels remained open during winters to welcome the tourists from different parts of the country.
Zubair Ahmad, who owns a local hotel in upper Pahalgam, said that nearly two dozen B class hotels were operational in Pahalgam this winter as the tourists continuously thronged the destination throughout the winter season.
“Only over a dozen A class hotels with facilities used to offer accommodation and other services to tourists in winters in Pahalgam in previous years. This year almost all the low grade hotels offered accommodation to tourists during the winter. We are more than happy that winter tourism in Pahalgam has started picking up by this year,” Zubair said.
He said that he has been getting two to three bookings every day for last three months.
“Though I used to keep my hotel open every year during winter but this year I did a good business. I have at least three rooms occupied every night in my hotel while as in previous years I used to get a booking after several days,” Zubair said.
Officials attributed the promotion of winter tourism in Pahalgam to the campaigning carried out by the tourism department throughout the country besides the week long celebrations from Christmas to New Year.
“Earlier we used to celebrate only the end of new year but this year we kept the celebrations going for a week which helped in promotion of winter tourism at Pahalgam,” an officer of the tourism department said.
According to figures at least 30000 tourists visited Pahalgam in the month of December put of whom 26000 were domestic and over 3000 locals and 69 foreigners.
Similarly, the first week of January saw the arrival of over 5433 tourists.
Though the number of tourist arrivals to Pahalgam in last one month was not available, however, an official said that the number of tourist influx in Pahalgam this winter was more than double the number the tourist resort used to witness in previous years.
Precious Kashmir was registered in 2014. Today Precious Kashmir can well and truly take pride in the legacy of its work, and in its contribution towards the building of a free and fair Press in J&K state.
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