Srinagar: A conductor was killed and driver injured critically when an oil tanker met with an accident on historic Mughal road on Sunday, officials said.

They said an oil tanker on way to Poonch from Herpora Shopian skidded off the road and fell into about 200 feet deep gorge at Dubjan on Mughal road.

Conductor the oil tanker identified as Neeraj Singh, son of Galdari Kumar was killed on the spot while driver Bhodh Raj, son of Mohan Chand, residents of Doda was critically wounded.

The injured was rushed to Shopian hospital from where he was referred to Srinagar for specialized treatment, they added.

Police has registered a case and initiated proceedings, they said. (UNI)

Srinagar: Bollywood actor and BJP Member of Parliament (MP) Hema Malini visited Kheer Bhawani temple in central Kashmir district of Ganderbal, official sources said here on Sunday.

They said that the BJP MP arrived at Srinagar International Airport and directly went to pay obeisance at Kheer Bhawani temple. “Hema Malini offered prayers at the temple and also interacted with the locals amid heightened security arrangements,” they said.

They said security was beefed up along the route to the temple located in the Tulmulla area in Ganderbal.

The temple is dedicated to Goddess Kheer Bhavani (Maharagnya Bhagwati) and is considered as the most sacred worship place for Kashmiri Pandits. Every year thousands of Kashmiri Pandits visit the temple during Mela Kheer Bhawani which is celebrated on the occasion of Zyestha Ashtami. The number of devotees, which declined after the migration of the Pandit community from here in early 90s due to eruption of militancy, later witnessed manifold increase during the past about a decade.

Many times, rising of bubbles have been observed, which form the mystic Chakra on the surface of the water. Such a sacred and mysterious spring is found nowhere else in India.

The spring, dedicated to Goddess Kheer Bhawani, has an irregular septagonal shape with its apex called Pad (feet) to the East. The northern and the southern sides are longer than the western side which is called Shir (Head). In the centre of the holy spring where once stood a mulberry tree, there is one marble temple that enshrines some idols found at the time of cleansing the spring.

There are many interesting stories related to this festival. One of them is that when Ravana was killed at the hands of Rama, Goddess Bhawani ordered Hanuman to carry her to Satisar-Kashmir along with 360 Nagas.

Hanuman selected the site and installed the Goddess in the Northern part of the valley. She came to be known as Kheer Bhawani or Ragyna Bhagwati as her favourite offerings consisted of rice cooked in milk and sugar, and all other vegetarian forms of diet.

There is also an interesting story about how this spring came to light among the people. It is said that one Brahmin named Krishna Pandit of old city Habba Kadal had a vision wherein he was informed by a Deva to offer Puja to Kheer Bhawani in the swamps of Tullamulla. The pandit was guided by a snake through the swampy and marshy land, until he reached the hollow trunk of a mulberry tree.

The pandit took the clue and after performing Puja poured milk which he had brought for this purpose. It is thus that the holy spring was discovered and was known to Kashmiris.

It is believed that the discovery of the holy spring has been made on Ashadha Saptami, the seventh day of the bright fortnight of the month of June-July. Kashmiri Hindus come here every Ashtami – eighth day of the bright fortnight of each lunar month and majority of Kashmiri Hindus consider Kheer Bhawani as their guardian Goddess. The annual festival is held on Jesht Ashtami (May-June) when Kashmiri pandits visit the place in large number to offer prayers to seek the blessings of the diety.

Devotees also throng on every Shukla Paksh Ashtami round the year and perform ‘hawans’ to please the goddess. The historic Temple of Kheer Bhawani was built by Maharaja Pratap Singh in 1912 and later renovated by Maharaja Hari Singh. The deity of Goddess Ragyna is decorated in a small white Marble Temple. (UNI)

 Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir reported 146 new covid-19 cases while as one person succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours, officials said on Sunday.

They said that 58 of the fresh cases were reported from Jammu division and 88 from Kashmir Valley, taking the overall tally to 319901.

Regarding the death due to the virus, they said, it was reported from Kashmir Valley, taking the fatality count to 4364.

Providing the district-wide details, the officials said that Srinagar reported 27 cases, Baramulla 2, Budgam 8, Pulwama 15, Kupwara 7, Anantnag 4, Bandipora 4, Ganderbal 14, Kulgam 5, Shopian 2, Jammu 16, Udhampur 1, Rajouri 7, Doda 14, Kathua 0, Samba 0, Kishtwar 7, Poonch 10, Ramban 0 and Reasi 1.

A number of these cases were confirmed at diagnostic laboratories of CD hospital and GMC Annatnag.

The CD cases include three females (22, 24, 40) from Gilli Kadal, male (32) from Hari Parigam, female (26) from Pahoo Pul, male (45) from BB Cantt Srg, female (70) from Hyderpora, male (28) from Bemina, three males (67, 65, 75) and three females (73, 65, 48) from NA, male (70) from Bemina, female (50) from Khanyar, female (60) from Kupwara, male (43) from Bemina, three females (55, 36) from Natipora, female (25) from Noorbagh, male (14M) from Eidgah, female (48) from Rajouri Kadal, male (47) from Zaldagar, female (35) from Nishat, female (48) from Khimber, female (3) from Batmaloo, two males (28, 25) from Shalimar, female (36) from Rangpora Elahibagh, female (62) and male (52) from Buchpora, female (70) and male (52) from Elahibagh, female (70) from Alamgiri Bazar, male (58) from Zadibal, female (26) from Malla Bagh and female (30) from Ganderbal.

The GMC Anantnag cases include female (55) from Rein Chowgund, female (35) from Herward Qammer, male (37) from Wanpoh Ant, female (30) from Cheeni Chowk and male (40) from Chittergull Shangus.

Moreover, they said, 243 more COVID-19 patients have recovered—92 from Jammu Division and 151 from Kashmir Valley. So far 313618 people have recovered while 4364 others have succumbed to the virus, leaving active cases at 1919 in J&K—796 in Jammu and 1123 in the Valley.

There was one new confirmed case of mucormycosis (black fungus) reported today and the cumulative number of confirmed cases increased to 34 in J&K, the officials added. (GNS)

ACB tightens noose around corrupt officials

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Sunday said that it has trapped and subsequently arrested Forest Guard Anil Kumar of Rajouri and Ajaz Mirza, Forester, Rajouri for accepting bribe of Rs 40,000 and also conducted searches in this connection.

In a statement, Anti-Corruption Bureau said” a complaint was received wherein it was stated that on the basis of a false and frivolous complaint lodged against the family of complainant with DFO, Rajouri the forest officials namely Anil Kumar, Forest Guard and Ajaz Mirza, Forester are demanding bribe of Rs. 40,000 from her for settlement of complaint”.

Stating that DFO Rajouri had forwarded the said complaint to Range Officer, Rajouri for conducting spot inspection and report, ACB in its statement further said “on request of complainant her brother approached the officials of Forest Department who were inquiring the matter during which they asked him to get the bribe amount from her sister’s family for immediate settlement of the matter”.

Disclosing that after verification of the contents of complaint which prima facie disclosed commission of offence u/s 7 of the PC Act 1988 r/w 120-B IPC an FIR was registered against the accused persons Anil Kumar, Forest Guard and Ajaz Mirza, Forester.

It said that a trap team was constituted which laid the trap and caught the Forest Guard Anil Kumar accepting a bribe of Rs. 40,000 from the complainant’s brother adding that later on other accused Ajaz Mirza, Forester was also arrested in connection with the investigation of the case”.

ACB said that: “searches were conducted at the office premises of the concerned officers including the house searches of both the accused persons”, adding that “further investigation of the case is going on”.

Srinagar: Urging people to strictly follow covid-19 appropriate behavior, Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar (IPS) appealed religious leaders and senior citizens to guide masses in celebrating Eid-ul-Azha at home.

“IGP Kashmir has appealed people of Kashmir to strictly follow government SOPs & necessary health protocols on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha,” a police spokesman said in a tweet.

“He has also appealed religious leaders & senior citizens to guide masses in celebrating this Eid at home.”

Srinagar: In a positive development, a number of migratory birds are being seen inside Gilsar Lake after decades of absence from the water body, lying in a congested Gili Kadal locality here in summer-capital.

Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter DC Srinagar Dr Aijaz Assad shared a video-clip captioned, “Here is really an exciting news. Migratory birds return as Gilsar Lake is Unearthed, dredged and cleaned. The Bird Gil can be seen dancing on restored waters of the Lake after nearly 3 decades.”

“Great hope for rebirth of famous Fish & Nadroo(Lotus Rhizome)”, it further read.

Gilsar Lake sometimes considered a part of the Khushal Sar Lake however is separated from it by a narrow strait, which is spanned by Gil Kadal bridge. The Gilsar Lake is connected to the Nigeen Lake through the Nallah Amir Khan.

Bring J&K at par with other UTs in terms of Medical Allowance, other perks

Srinagar: Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) President Fayaz Ahmad Shabnum on Sunday appealed the government to release DA in favour of the employees ahead of Eid-ul-Adha.

Shabnum on behalf of entire employees fraternity of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir appealed Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta to consider releasing of 11 per cent DA before Eid-ul-Azha in favour of the five lakh employees along with the three lakh pensioners, saying that it has already been released in favour of the Central Government employees.

He also reiterated the demand of the employees to enhance the Medical Allowance from Rs 300-Rs 1000 so as to alleviate the difference and bring about on the same analogy to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir with that of the rest of the Union Territories that are already enjoying the enhanced Medical Allowance and other perks.

Fayaz Ahmad Shabnum said that it was apt time to do the needful at an earliest so that the employees would be able to celebrate the festival of Eid-ul-Azha with traditional gaiety and fervor.

Kangan: Carrying empty pots, women blocked the Srinagar-Kargil Road to stage a protest over water shortage in the Babapora Kulan area of Kangan town here in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.

“We have been facing water shortage for the past few months and despite repeated pleas, the problem continues to remain unaddressed. We have been forced to block the road. In case the government does not address our problem, we will take out more protest marches,” a woman protester said.

The protesters alleged that whatever water they receive is contaminated and unfit for drinking. The protest resulted into traffic jam on the highway.

The protesters dispersed after an assurance from officials that their problem would be looked into. (KNT)