Union Secy RT&H inspects works on twin tunnels at Sonamarg

Ganderbal: Union Secretary, Road Transport and Highways (RT&H), Giridhar Aramane, today visited the construction site of Z-Morh and Zojila tunnels at Sonamarg to have first-hand appraisal of the work progress made on these prestigious projects.

During the visit the Secretary was accompanied by the Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Krittika Jyotsna; Member NHAI, Manoj Kumar; Executive Director, NHIDCL, Gurjeet Singh Kambo; SSP Ganderbal, ADC, SDM Kangan and officials of executing agencies.

After on ground review of East and West Portals of Z-Morh tunnel, the Union Secretary chaired a brief meeting and reviewed the progress on the prestigious project with a detailed assessment of all vital aspects of the construction work.

The concerned officials briefed him about the pace and progress of construction works on main tunnel and Escape tunnel, safety measures, ventilation water proofing works and drainage system. He was informed that Escape tunnel is nearing completion and main tunnel is expected to be completed by 2023.

The Union Secretary appreciated the forthcoming breakthrough of Z-Morh Escape tunnel which will enable controlled movement during winter season to Sonamarg. The tunnel will facilitate the locals and tourists to access Sonamarg during winter season which remains completely cutoff during winters due to road passing active avalanche areas.

The secretary also visited the 32 Km Zojila project with a major tunnels of 14 KM for all weather connectivity of Kashmir with Ladakh. Ongoing works on Zojila Nilgrar portals and approach roads were also visited.

While inspecting the ongoing works of both the tunnel projects, the Secretary directed the officials of the executing agencies to expedite pace of works on the ambitious projects, so that targets are achieved within the stipulated time frame.

Earlier, blasting ceremony was also carried out by Union Secretary at Z-Morh tunnel.

Budgam: A leopard that mauled a minor girl to death at Ompora Housing Colony last week was reportedly spotted inside the premises of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Budgam’s office during the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday.

Sources said that the leopard was spotted by locals and security forces inside DC office premises and they immediately called the Wildlife officials.

Divulging the details, the wildlife officials said that a team of the department reached the spot within no time; however, they couldn’t locate the leopard after searching for couple of hours.

Meanwhile, he confirmed that the footprints of the leopard have matched with the one spotted at Ompora Housing Colony where the girl was taken by the leopard and mauled to death in nearby forest nursery.

It is pertinent to mention that that during the last week two leopard that entered residential areas were caught alive. (CNS)

Srinagar: The Cyber Police Kashmir has recovered Rs 6 lakh, which was duped by fraudsters from a victim of Remote Access Mobile Application Scam.

A police official said that the Cyber Police Kashmir has been receiving complaints regarding various online frauds, scams and other Cyber related crimes on routine basis. “From past one week, Cyber Police Station Kashmir Zone, Srinagar received multiple complaints wherein complainants have been duped by fraudsters through a new scam — Remote Access Mobile Application Scam,” he said.

He said many complainants were duped of lakhs of rupees through Remote Access Mobile Application scam. “Scammers used the same modus-operandi of impersonating themselves as BSNL/JIO customer care representatives to victims. According to complaints, the scammers sent fake message on their cell phone for completing the KYC of their SIM cards besides giving a warning message that their SIM card will be deactivated and shared a cell number to call as Customer Care Number,” he said.

He said on dialing the number, the fraudsters introduced themselves as Customer care Executives of BSNL/JIO and asked victims to complete the KYC verification by downloading some apps like Quick Support, Team Viewer, Any Desk etc.

“The victim downloads these apps on their cell phones giving complete remote access to the fraudsters. The fraudster directs the victims to open their banking app and take control of their cell phones through Team Viewer Quick Support app. Following the steps of fraudster, once the login process is complete, the fraudster directs victims to transfer a little amount of Rs 10 to validate whether the KYC process has been completed,” he said.

He said in one such case the fraudsters saw the victims User ID and Password and withdrew an amount of Rs 6.00 lakh from his bank account.

“The victim after realizing that he has been trapped in a cyber fraud immediately reported the fraud to Cyber Police Station, Kashmir Zone, Srinagar. Acting swiftly, Cyber Police Kashmir with strenuous efforts were able to save the amount of the victim,” he said.

He said amidst Covid-19 pandemic, when the public is dependent on cyber platforms, the vulnerability of getting trapped into cyber scams/frauds has increased. “General public is advised to refrain from downloading any remote access apps like Team viewer, quick support, Anydesk App etc. or dialing fake helpline or customer care numbers found on Google search engine. These legitimate apps are remote software tool, which provides third party a complete hold of the users’ cell phones/computer,” he said.

“General public is advised to be aware of these latest scams and not to fell prey to these fraudsters besides not to share any banking confidential information like OTP’s, Card number, CVV etc to anyone over the phone,” he added. (UNI)

New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind has appointed retired IAS officer Anup Chandra Pandey as Election Commissioner.

The appointment restores the three-member commission to its full strength, which will now oversee the next set of crucial assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Manipur and Uttarakhand next year.

Pandey, a 1984-batch Uttar Pradesh cadre officer, has been appointed to the post in the Election Commission with effect from the date he assumes the office.

A notification in this regard was issued by Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice on Tuesday.

Pandey will now be in the three-member panel of the Election Commission which was vacant after former Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora’s retirement on April 12.

Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra and Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar are the other two members on the panel.

Pandey was handpicked by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to head the state bureaucracy on June 28, 2018. He retired in August 2019. He had served as the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh under Adityanath and also as the Infrastructure and Industrial Development Commissioner of the state.

Born on February 15, 1959, Pandey has held several key positions. He has a BTech degree in mechanical engineering, an MBA degree and a doctorate in ancient history.

The 62-year-old will demit office in February 2024 on attaining the age of 65 years, according to the age criteria guiding the Election Commissioners.

The next Lok Sabha polls could be announced sometime in March 2024, which could be held under Pandey’s watch.

Srinagar: Authorities on Wednesday ordered that the train services from Banihal to Baramulla would remain suspended till June 16, 2021.

According to an order, the train services from Banihal-Baramulla were scheduled to resume from June 09, 2021.

However, the order reads that the Inspector General of Kashmir (IGP) Kashmir through PCR Kashmir has demanded further cancelation of train operation over Baramulla-Banihal-Baramulla section from 10-06-21 to 16-06-21. (KNO)

By Jahangeer Ganaie

Anantnag: A minor nomadic girl has gone missing five days ago from Pahalgam belt of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district and since then there are no traces of her.

An official said that a four-year-old girl namely Shakira Jan, daughter of Abdul Rashid Baji, of Batkoot, Pahalgam has gone missing some five days ago.

He said that the girl’s family along with police and wildlife officials have been searching the forest area since the last five days but as of now no clue has been found about her.

The girl’s mother has already filed a missing report at police station Pahalgam and requested police to help in tracing the minor girl.

The family along with the relatives of the missing girl has requested SSP Anantnag, SDM Pahalgam, SHO Pahalgam and Tehsildar Pahalgam to help them in tracing the girl.

Officials said that a case has been registered in this regard and search is underway to trace the missing girl. (KNO)

By Umaisar Gull Ganie

Kulgam, June 9: A youth was electrocuted to death while another was injured after they came in contact with a live wire in Shurat village of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Wednesday afternoon.

Official sources said that the duo came in contact with a live wire and were immediately rushed to GMC Anantnag, where one of them was declared dead on arrival.

They identified the deceased as Zakir Ahmad Khanday son of Shabir Ah Khanday and injured as Shavaaz Ahmad Dar son of Shabir Ahmad Dar, both from Shurat Kulgam.

Medical superintendent GMC Anantnag Dr. Mohammad Iqbal Sofi said that hospital received two youth among them one was declared dead on arrival.

Meanwhile a police official said a case vide FIR number 126/2021 under sections 285, 304A IPC has been registered and further investigation is going on. (KNO)

By: Naveed Ul Haq

Budgam: A 14-year-old boy was feared dead after he slipped into Shaliganga Nallah in Arigam area of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Wednesday afternoon.

Official sources said that a boy identified as Irfan Ahmad Bhat, son of Abdul Rashid Bhat of Arigam Khansahib fell down in Shaliganga Nallah while walking on its embankment.

They said that after receiving the information, the rescue operation was launched by locals to trace the youth. (KNO)

Srinagar: In a significant development, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has authorized the Food Testing Laboratory (FTL) Dalgate, Srinagar to perform the testing/analysis of food samples with immediate effect, as mandated under the provisions of Food Safety & Standards Act 2006.

In the month of December 2020, the apex authority had among other Food Laboratories of various States de-notified the FTL Srinagar for the want of NABL accreditation, a primary criteria under FSS Act, 2006 for authorization of food testing and analysis. Subsequently, enforcement food samples of Kashmir Division were referred to Food Laboratory Jammu for analysis.

It was made incumbent upon all the State Governments to seek NABL certification of all the Laboratories which have been de-notified before seeking their re-notification under section 43 of the Act.

Recently, National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), a constituent board of Quality Council of India (QCI), granted accreditation in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017 to FTL, Dalgate in the discipline of chemical testing for quality assurance.

Pursuant to NABL accreditation, the FSSAI has notified/ authorized FTL Srinagar as primary Laboratory under Section 43(1) of FSSA2006 for analyzing all the food samples (including legal samples) with immediate effect.

The Department of Food & Drugs Administration, J&K is on date equipped with two Analytical Food Testing Laboratories situated at Jammu and Srinagar both these Labs are now accredited by NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration of Laboratories) to conduct the analysis of food articles and ingredients.

Furthermore, both the laboratories are augmented with high end equipment like FTIR, LC-MS, LC-MSMS, GC-MS MS and ICP-MS to meet the highest standards of testing/precision with regard to detection and quantification of adulterants, toxins and contaminants.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner FDA today reviewed the working of food testing laboratories and other food safety measures in a meeting held here.

The Deputy Commissioner Food Safety Kashmir, Drug  Analyst Kashmir, Administrative officer DFCO, Assistant Commissioner Food Safety Srinagar, Food Analyst Kashmir and other senior Officers of the Department participated in the meeting.

It was impressed upon the technical experts of the laboratories that all high end equipment shall be put in operation for testing of heavy metals, antibiotic residue, pesticide residue, naturally occurring contaminants/toxins and other adulterants in food samples to assure that the food products conforms to the prescribed legal standards mandated under the Act and are safe to consume.

The Department with a view to instil the confidence and trust among the consumers, has put in place the services of Mobile Food Testing Laboratories for on-spot testing of food items.

The Commissioner FDA has appealed to the consumers to come forward and play an active role in identifying the lapses on the part of FBOs or the enforcement staff so that corrective measures as envisaged under the Act are taken.

The consumers may file a complaint with regard to the quality/sale of food either through email: [email protected] or contact us on mobile No: 9596089227/7006773447.

Further the consumers can also seek onspot testing of food samples by the mobile food testing vans for which the Deputy Commissioner Food safety of the respective Divisions can be contacted on these 9796201517/ 7006351401 numbers.