Srinagar: Three tourists from West Bengal and a driver were injured after a vehicle they were traveling in skidded off the road near the Gulmarg Ice Skating Rink on Friday, police said.
The injured have been identified as Sania Hyder, Syed Wasi Hyder and Nidhat Fatima all residents of Kolkata, and driver of the vehicle Showkat Ahmad.
All the injured have been sent to a health centre. (UNI)
New Delhi: A MiG-21 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed today evening near Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer, a senior police officer said. A search operation is on to locate the pilot. The exact location of the crash has not been revealed yet.
The plane crashed in the Desert National Park area under the Sam police station, Jaisalmer SP Ajay Singh told the agency. The SP said local police reached the spot and he is also on the way to the crash site.
Confirming the news, the official handle of the Air Force tweeted, “This evening, around 8:30 pm, a MiG-21 aircraft of IAF met with a flying accident in the western sector during a training sortie. Further details are awaited. An inquiry is being ordered.”
Several MiG-21 crashes have been reported this year alone. The aircraft has been dubbed “flying coffin” as it makes news regularly for crashes. From 1971 to April 2012, as many as 482 MiG aircraft have met with accidents, killing 171 pilots, 39 civilians, eight service personnel, and one aircrew, the government had told Parliament in May 2012. “The causes of accidents were both human error and technical defects,” the government had said. (Agencies)
Srinagar: Barring famous resorts of Gulmarg and Pahalgam, the minimum temperature settled at above freezing point in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday.
A meteorological department official here said that Srinagar, the summer capital of J&K recorded a low of 2.4 against last night’s 2.6°C and had rainfall of 1.3mm in last 24 hours till 0830 hours today.
Kashmir is presently under the grip of 40-day long harshest period of winter, known locally as ‘Chillai Kalan, which started from December 21. It is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ and a 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’.
The mercury in the world famous resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district settled at minus 5.1°C against minus 3.7°C on the previous night, the official said. It was 0.7°C above normal for the famous resort which recorded 3.3cms of fresh snowfall.
Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, had a low of 1.2°C against 0.8°C on the previous night, he said.
Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 1.3°C against 0.3°C on previous night and had snowfall of 0.4 cm.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of 1.2°C against 0.7°C on previous night, the official said. It had rainfall of 5.2mm during the time, the official added.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a minimum of 2.2°C against 2.6°C on the previous night while as it had 0.3mm of rain, the official said.
Jammu, the J&K’s winter capital, saw a low of 8.2°C which is normal for the place during this time of the year, he said.
Ladakh’s Leh had a low of 0.5°C against last night’s minus 6.6°C while automatic Kargil station recorded minimum of minus 6.4°C. Drass in Kargil, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 13.4°C, the official said.
As expected, he said, light to moderate snow(over higher reaches) occured at isolated places of Kashmir and Ladakh, including Leh city(8cm). he said there’s no forecast of any major or significant snow or rainfall till December 26.
“Another snowspell is Likely during 26 (Evening) -28th(F/N). Due to this, Light Snowfall( upto 1 Inches) in plains of Kashmir, Moderate( 5-6 inches) over higher reaches of J&K, Zojila-Minamarg axis, and light snowfall at scattered places of Ladakh, especially Kargil-Zanskar area and light rain is likely at scattered places of JMU region during above period, especially on 27th,” he said, adding, “There’s no forecast of any major snowfall till ending December. However, Heavy snowfall Upto 1Ft can’t be ruled out at Isolated places over Higher reaches of J&K.” (GNS)
By: Nadeem Nadu
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir reported 141 fresh covid-19 cases while one person died due to the virus in the last 24 hours, officials said on Friday.
23 of the fresh cases were reported from Jammu Division and 118 from Kashmir, taking the overall tally to 340434.
There was one deaths reported from Kashmir division due to the virus during the last 24 hours, they said. So far 4519 persons—2196 in Jammu and 2323 in Kashmir—have died due to the virus, they said.
Giving district wise details of the fresh cases, the officials said that Srinagar reported 58 cases, Baramulla 7, Budgam 8, Pulwama 6, Kupwara 10, Anantnag 9, Bandipora 8, Ganderbal 10, Kulgam 1, Shopian 1, Jammu 14, Udhampur 0, Rajouri 1, Doda 5, Kathua 1, Samba 0, Kishtwar 0, Poonch 1, Ramban 1 and Reasi 0.
A number of these cases were confirmed at CD hospital’s diagnostic labouratory and include female (25) (NA) from Bachwara, female (31) (NA) from Budnambal, female (25) (NA) from Zafarkhani, male (16) (NA) from Hyderpora, male (15) (NA) from Hyderpora, female (62) (NA) from Gurez, male (80) (NA) from Harwan, female (50) (NA) from Zakura Sgr, male (24) (NA) from Zakura Sgr, male (57) (NA) from Zakura Sgr, female (30) (NA) from Zakura Sgr, female (32) (NA) from Pulwama, female (35) (NA) from Kakapora, female (45) (NA) from Hawal, male (40) (NA) from Tral, female (44) (NA) from Pampore, male (40) (NA) from Kadlabal pampore, female (35) (NA) from Larkipora pulwama, male (42) (NA) from Tenghara pulwama, male (36) (NA) from Tenghara pulwama, female (46) (NA) from Hyderpora, male (50) (NA) from Hyderpora, male (81) (NA) from Tangmarg, female (45) (NA) from Buchpora, female (25) (NA) from Batpora, male (37) (NA) from Naseembagh, male (21) (NA) from Habbak.
Moreover, 142 Covid-19 patients recovered during the time, 29 from Jammu Division and 113 from Kashmir, they said.
So far 334598 patients have recovered, leaving active case tally at 1317—338 in Jammu and 979 in Kashmir.
They said there was no new confirmed case of mucormycosis (black fungus) reported today. So far 50 black fungus cases have been confirmed in J&K, the officials said. They also informed that 72,949 doses of covid-19 vaccine were administered during the time in J&K. (GNS)
Srinagar: Private Schools’ Association Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK) Friday said that it will not compromise on quality education, especially the curriculum followed by various schools across Jammu and Kashmir.
The association strongly condemned all the controversial content in some books that has surfaced during past few days.
PSAJK has already constituted a committee to check the content of all books being taught in private schools and so far the committee has identified five books having controversial content out of which four books have been banned till date.
The association hailed the support given by J&K Board of School Education in this regard by acting quickly in order to stop such undesirable publishing.
President PSAJK G.N.Var has strongly condemned the act of creating a state of turbulence in a peaceful society by negligently recommending books with controversial matter.
Var said that the association, immediately after getting information about the issue, constituted a high level committee headed by renowned academician Khurshid Bismil in order to check all the books and identify the controversial content if any.
The committee has so far identified five books with undesirable matter published and four out of these have been banned by the association and also by the BOSE.
Var appreciated the quick action of BOSE authorities especially its Chairperson for banning all such books recommended by the association. PSAJK has also thanked the publishers of Jammu and Kashmir for their support in identifying such unwanted and indecent matters.
The academic committee of PSAJK is already on job and it is hoped that in near future all the content published in books taught in schools will be scrutinized and recommendations will be submitted to BOSE and the Government for action accordingly, the association said and urged the school owners to go through the content of books before utilizing in their curriculum.
Srinagar: Four students of Delhi Public School (DPS) Srinagar have bagged the INSPIRE award, awarded by the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India for the year—2021.
The students, Mohsin Mohammad of Class 7th, Nishit Koul of Class 8th, Zayaan Showkat Reshi of Class 7th & Mustafa Suhaib Gani of Class 7th have been awarded a cash prize of Rs 10,000 each for their innovative ideas, which they submitted to the jury.
The prize will be used to develop the prototypes of their ideas.
Mustafa Mohammad of Class 7th will work on automatic patient treatment system. The system consists of a number of sensors that are used to detect the fever, pulse, heart rate, oxygen rate etc of a patient.
It also has a pre-programmed module to provide treatment/medicine for a number of common diseases and can serve the patient in an emergency.
Nishit Koul of Class 8th has made a prototype of a robotic arm that can sort materials on the basis of size and color. The project synchronizes the movement of the robotic arm to pick the objects moving on a conveyor belt and classify them based on color and size. It has multiple sensors to detect the size and color of the object moving on the belt.
Zayaan Showkat Reshi of Class 7th was awarded the prize for his project, Automatic Radar System, which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, and speed of objects.
Mustafa Suhaib Gani of Class 7th has made a Gesture-based Intelligent Wheel Chair for Physically disabled persons. The project was appreciated by participants and the jury. The chair can be moved around with the help of head movements and the sensors detect the movement and move the chair accordingly.
The students were supported and guided by their mentor Shafat Ahmad who is the Lab Incharge of Atal Tinkering Lab of the school.
The INSPIRE Awards – MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspirations and Knowledge), being executed by DST with National Innovation Foundation – India (NIF), an autonomous body of DST, aims to motivate students in studying in classes 6 to 10. The objective of the scheme is to target one million original ideas/innovations rooted in science and societal applications to foster a culture of creativity and innovative thinking among school children.
The students gave credit to their parents & school robotics lab. “During the pandemic, when everyone was under lockdown, the school conducted online robotic & IoT workshops for children which inspired me to do something in agriculture”, he said. He mentioned his teacher Mr Shafat for the guidance he provided in this project.
Congratulating the students, the Vice-Principal Shafaq Afshan said “The students are to be commended for such an excellent feat, and conceptualising such innovative projects. I am sure they will serve as an inspiration for future generations.” The Chairman, Vijay Dhar said, “The award testifies to our efforts at school to cultivate a scientific temperament in the valley, and allow the youth to harness their scientific talents to the fullest.”
Srinagar: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar on Friday visited family of late ASI Mohd Ashraf Dar at Awantipora in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Dar was killed in a militant attack couple of days ago at Bijbhera in Anantnag district of South Kashmir.
Accompanied by other Police officers, the IGP offered condolences to the family and assured them all help from the police department.
Meanwhile, sources said that the IGP is likely to take stock of the security situation in the South Kashmir district with police and officers of other security agencies. (GNS)
Bandipora: Carved out from the erstwhile Baramulla district in 2007, traffic in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district is still being managed without traffic signals, thus worsening chaos on the roads with each passing day.
“Over the years, there has been a rise in the traffic in the district. However, the response of the authorities regarding the changing requirements of the district is extremely slow,” locals said.
“It seems that the commuters have been left in lurch as they are forced to travel in a haphazard way without caring for traffic norms. It often causes accidents, besides putting lives of commuters in danger,” locals said, adding that it was very important to establish traffic signals in the district which would restore the smooth traffic system in the district.
“I think the administration should set up traffic signals as soon as possible, it will bring a huge change in the traffic system,” Mumtaz Ahmad, a local said, adding that traffic jams are being witnessed here every day in the evening .
Shahbaz Hussain another local said that it has been many years since Bandipora became a district but so far there has been no development due to which the movement of traffic here is getting affected.
A group of shopkeepers said that the vehicles are being parked at any place in the main market which causes massive traffic jams in the area.
Locals, meanwhile, appealed to the district administration to set up traffic signals in the district as soon as possible so that there will be a smooth traffic system. (KNO)
By: Raja Syed Rather
Ganderbal: The Gundrehman villagers of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district are complaining of a ‘crisis’ like situation as the large population is left without drinking water due to the “lackadaisical attitude” of Jal Shakti department.
The residents said that they are forced to utilise unfiltered water for drinking purposes from a nearby stream as the regular supply water is not available despite the claims of the department of supplying pure drinking water to the people.
Locals said that the acute water shortage has mainly hit Mokhdam Mohallah and adjoining localities of the village.
The villagers threatened to launch an agitation if their demands were not fulfilled in time by the Jal Shakti department.
The local inhabitants said they repeatedly requested the Jal Shakti officials to resolve their issue “however, there is no positive response from them.”
“We have acute shortage of water and are being forced to utilise contaminated water. During the harsh winter, it was very difficult to fetch drinking water from a nearby area which is a kilometre away from our house,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, a local resident.
“We demand concerned authorities for speedy restoration of the drinking water facility so that we will not suffer any more,” locals said. (KNO)
Guwahati: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday said disruption of proceedings and lack of decorum in Parliament and state assemblies is a matter of concern, adding pre-planned disruptions are more disturbing.
The Speaker said that obstacles in proceedings in both the parliament and the state assemblies are ethically and constitutionally wrong.
Stressing on debates and dialogue, Birla while addressing the Assam Assembly, said that democracy would be further strengthened on the basis of debates and discussion.
“Continuous disruption of proceedings in the House and lack of decorum is a matter of concern,” he said, adding that it is usual that the treasury and opposition benches would disagree on various issues and matters, but dissidence should not create a stalemate.
Urging the political parties to hold discussions on important and critical issues, Birla said that to keep the hopes and aspirations of the people, every one must ensure that the House functions in a smooth manner to achieve the desired goal.
“Elected representatives must focus on the discussion, debate and exchange of ideas to further boost the democratic values.
“India’s democratic traditions do not support the disruption and adjournment of proceedings in the houses and urged the legislators to keep in mind the hopes and aspirations of the people,” he said.
Birla said India is a diverse country and parliamentary democracy is very essential in India and as the country celebrates 75 years of Independence, it is utmost important to revisit how the House functions as parliament and state legislative assemblies are integral part of the entire system.
The Lok Sabha Speaker, who also launched the Assam Legislative Assembly Digital TV, underlined that Assam and the remaining part of the northeastern region connects the rest of India with richly diverse life and culture as diversity in India further strengthen the democracy.
“People always gave importance to the electoral system. Our elections are free, fair and transparent and the country has seen as many as 17 general generals and over 300 elections to state assemblies. However, the transition of the rule has always been smooth and hassle free,” the Lok Sabha Speaker pointed out.
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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