Srinagar: In continuation with celebrations of 50 years of victory of Indian Armed Forces in 1971 India-Pakistan War, a host of events were conducted under the aegis of Sector Headquarter, Rashtriya Rifles at the scenic valley of Budgam.

The Victory Flame was taken over by Commanding Officer Rashtriya Rifles, Budgam from Balapur garrison and was escorted through towns of Pulwama and Shopian to Budgam in a grand procession with approximately 50 motor cyclists.

It is the fourth day of Victory Flame’s journey in the Kashmir Valley and it was received by school children, local citizenry, civil dignitaries, serving personnel & veterans of the Armed Forces.

The Sector Commander Rashtriya Rifles, Budgam received the Victory Flame at the iconic war memorial. Prominent dignitaries including Shahabaz Ahmed Mirza, DC Budgam, Tahir Saleem Khan, SSP Budgam, and other district administration officials besides CAPF and police officials were also present to grace the occasion.

In commemoration of the event, Army Bands put up a spectacular performance of martial music, which was followed by a Guard of Honour to the Victory Flame and felicitation of veterans and Veer Naris.

By: Jahangir Sofi

Srinagar: With the decline in the daily Covid-19 positive cases in the valley, Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council, have started more non-contact sports which include cricket, football, hockey and other sports, played under Covid-19 SOPs and guidelines.

An official from the sports council department said that more non-contact sports activities from different disciplines are being allowed now, and athletes have started to continue their daily routine practices and work outs.

He further said, “Within given Covid SOPs and guidelines, the athletes are allowed to carry out their sports activities. And if the Covid situation keeps on improving more and more activities will be opened.”

Meanwhile, many athletes and coaches expressed their happiness after the resumption of sports activities by the sports council.

“It is a much-needed respite after being stuck at homes due to the intensity of the Covid in the valley. Now, as there are some relaxations, we are allowed now to carry sports activities under Covid sops in stadiums and grounds,” they said.

After the Corona lockdown was imposed in April this year, Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council started the online training module for athletes so that they will remain active with sports happenings and ready for future competitions. (KNO)

By: Jahangir Sofi

Srinagar: As the world celebrates International Picnic Day on June 18, a day to encourage people to get outside and enjoy one another’s company, the ongoing pandemic has confined majority of the population at their homes.

However, the adventure lovers in the valley say if one is vaccinated and adheres to Covid-19 sops and guidelines can go on outings with friends or family.

Sajad Ahmed, an adventure lover who treks almost every summer said that pandemic has changed everything on the ground, but with time one has to learn to live with the Covid, as fading of the virus in near future looks very bleak, with medical experts predicting the inevitability of the third wave.

“If one is vaccinated and adheres to the given Covid SOPs and guidelines, one should go for the outing, as we all have been reeling under this deadly virus which not only claimed the lives but drastically impacted the livelihood of the people, after so many people, lost their jobs,” he said.

Another adventure lover said, “I really want to go on an outing with my family, as the picnic spots are not so crowded, and there is a lot of space where families and friends can have relaxing time”.

“These Corona lockdowns have paralysed everything. People are under stress, they need a break, though the economic condition is not good, that should not stop one from the outing,” he said.

In summers most of the local population visits the hill stations and parks with families and friends especially on weekends.

Although with some Covid relaxations recently announced by the authorities, the paid public parks in the valley continued to remain barred for visitors under Covid-19 guidelines. (KNO)

By: Umaisar Gull Ganie

Kulgam: Scores of residents including women of Khuribatpora in Damhal Hanjipora of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Friday staged a protest against Jal Shakti department for ‘failing’ to provide them drinking water supply since a decade.

Locals said that the area has been without water for the past ten years while the authorities, despite repeated pleas to restore the water supply scheme, have failed to take any concrete steps in this regard.

Rafiqa Banoo, a woman protester said the first thing to do after waking up in the morning is to fetch water. “We use the pond water for cooking, drinking, bathing and for all the household chores,” she said.

Another resident, Muhammad Ashraf said: “We knocked doors of Jal Shakti department since past many years but to no avail. The officials assured to resolve the problem soon but nothing happened. From last one decade we have been facing the water crisis in the area and concerned authorities are least bothered about it”, he said adding that we need almost 200 pipes to complete the water supply scheme.”

Locals urged the concerned authorities to provide them with pipes and speedy restoration of the work so that they will not suffer any more. “Despite repeated attempts by Qazi Mushtaq, Executive Engineer Jal Shakti Damhal Hanjipora could not be contacted for the comments as he didn’t respond to the repeated phone calls,” they said. (KNO)

By: Anzer Ayoob

Kishtwar: A labourer died while three others were injured after a pillar of a bridge collapsed near the bank of river Maru Sudar at Yaniewan Tunder in Kishtwar district.

An official said that during the ongoing construction of a bridge at Yaniewan, a pillar of the bridge suddenly collapsed in which a labourer identified as Shabir Ahmed (29), son of Ghulam Qadir of Drubeel tehsil Mughal died.

He was missing when the incident took place and later was found dead, the official said.

In the incident, three other labourers sustained injuries, who were identified as Zubair Ahmed (19) son of Shabir Ahmed, Abdul Rehman (32), son of Ghulam Rather and Farooq  Ahmed (37), son of Ghulam Mohiudin Rather—all residents of Kewath Drubeel Chatroo in Teshil Mughal Maidan Kishtwar. (KNO)

By: M S Nazki

Rajouri: An unidentified elderly male body was found and recovered from a river in Sarnoo village in Rajouri district on Friday morning.

Reports said that the body was spotted by some locals who later on informed the police following which the body was retrieved from the water body.

Confirming the recovery of the body, SHO Rajouri Sameer Jilani said that identification of the body is being made adding that it presumably seems that the person might have been in his fifties. (GNS)

By: Murtaza Mushtaq

Handwara: A black bear, which had created panic among several residential areas in Handwara for nearly a fortnight now, was captured in wee hours on Friday.

Officials from Wildlife Department said that they had received complaints of frequent movement of a black bear in Zachaldara and its adjacent hamlets in Rajwar area. A cage was installed three days before in the area and the beast trapped in it around 4:00 AM, they said.

The bear is being ferried to Dachigam Park, they further said.

The local inhabitants in the meantime hailed the efforts of department concerned for its action to trap the bear, saying that the beast had during last two weeks caused damage to livestock besides wrecking havoc to the orchards and standing crops even as posing an imminent threat to human lives particularly in and around Zachaldara area. (GNS)