By: Abid Bashir

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir LG’s Advisor Baseer Ahmed Khan Monday said that as the temperatures will rise across the country in the next few months, J&K is all set to witness a bumper tourism season as a record number of tourists are expected to visit Kashmir and explore its beauty and hospitality.

Addressing the two-brainstorming conference on Tapping the Tourism Potential—Another Day in Paradise—at SKICC here, Advisor Khan said that the conference is all set to end on a very fruitful, constructive and positive note. “There will be a roadmap after thorough deliberations on how to promote Kashmir’s tourism potential and the road map will be followed in spirit,” he said.

He said the Covid-19 pandemic posed a big challenge for the J&K UT administration last year but the administration decided to move ahead to promote tourism knowing the fact that Tourism industry is the backbone of Kashmir’s economy.

“A series of roadshows were conducted and webinars held to lure tourists and promote Kashmir’s rich culture, tradition, ethos and tourism potential,” he said and expressed his satisfaction that the plan worked as the Valley saw record number of tourists coming since December 2020 to March 2021. “I am glad to put it on record that there was a huge tourist influx in Kashmir during winters. Jammu areas too witnessed a good number of tourist arrivals which encouraged the UT administration to go further to resurrect the tourism industry.”

Hoping the number of tourist arrivals will increase manifold in the next three to four months, Advisor Khan said that when the rest of the states in India would blister in the scorching heat, Kashmir would witness tourism boom. “Temperatures will rise across India in coming months and we are witnessing record number of tourist arrivals and bumper tourism season in summers,” he said.

Advisor Khan said new tourist destinations are being explored and there is a long list before the UT administration. “Our primary focus is to ensure basic infrastructure at the new tourist destinations so that tourists enjoy their stay hassle free,” he said.

Advisor Khan said that to facility the trekkers, trekking routes are being repaired across the UT to provide a better chance for the tourist to trek on slopes and mountains of Kashmir. “We will soon showcase new tourist places across the UT as steps to put in place infrastructure are afoot,” he said. Advisor Khan thanked the Ministry of Tourism Government of India for extra funding and all out support in promoting tourism in J&K UT and also LG Sinha for extending his full support in making Kashmir once again a safe heaven for tourists. Advisor Khan assured the gathering that at all tourist destinations and also at the airports, railway stations, road travel points, there will be strict adherence to Covid protocols and no one will be allowed to violate the same—(KNO)

Jammu: At least eight passengers were killed and four seriously injured on Monday in a road accident in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district.

Police sources said a mini bus travelling on the Thathri-Gandola road went out of the driver’s control and dropped into Kalnai river 42 Kms from Doda town.

“Eight passengers were killed and 4 seriously injured in this accident. A rescue operation has already started”, police said.

The ill-fated mini bus was on its way from Doda to Chilli village.

Meanwhile, an IAF helicopter from Jammu city was pressed into action for the rescue of critically injured passengers, a defence ministry spokesman said.

Authorities are ascertaining the exact number of passengers who were travelling in the mini bus when the accident happened.

Jammu: The online registration of pilgrims for Shri Amarnath Yatra 2021 is going to commence from April 15, for both the Baltal and Chandanwari routes.

This year’s 56-day Yatra shall commence simultaneously on both the routes from June 28 and culminate on Raksha Bandhan, the August 22.

Nitishwar Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board has informed that the intending yatri shall have to visit the URL: www.jksasb.nic.in and click on REGISTER.

The yatri will then be guided for the steps to be followed. He will have to fill up his details in the online application form and attach his photograph and the Compulsory Health Certificate (CHC).

The CEO said that for ensuring against fraudulent health certificates, only such certificates which are issued by doctors / Medical Institutes authorised by the concerned State Government / UT Administrations shall be accepted for the online registration.

For Yatra 2021, only those health certificates which have been issued after March 15 shall be valid.

The steps which yatris need to follow for online registration in order to register for the Yatra, have been put on the Board’s website www.shriamarnathjishrine.com.

The CEO informed that the yatris shall be able to download the Yatra Permits for the Yatra after their applications have been duly processed.

The yatris will have to carry their original Photo ID and CHC with them during the yatra.

Kumar further stressed that for ensuring effective security arrangements along the difficult tracks, only those yatris who are in possession of a Yatra Permit which is valid for a specified date and route, will be allowed to proceed beyond the Base Camps, and cross the entry gates at Domel and Chandanwari. He appealed to all intending yatris to avail the facility of online registration in advance and timely obtain a Yatra Permit, in their own interest, so that they do not face any inconvenience when they embark on their yatra.

The CEO further informed that persons under the age of 13 years or above the age of 75 years and women who are more than six weeks pregnant would not be registered for this year’s yatra.

The yatris who propose to travel by helicopter do not require registration as their helicopter tickets shall suffice for this purpose.

However, they shall be required to produce the Compulsory Health Certificate,(CHC) in the prescribed format issued by an authorised doctor, before they are allowed to travel by helicopter.

Srinagar: Upper reaches received fresh light to moderate snowfall while plains had rain in the Kashmir valley, where weather woes will continue during the next five days.

Meanwhile, the Metrological department has issued a warning isolated thunders, lightening with gusty 30 km to 40 km winds from April 14 to 16 in the Kashmir valley, where sun was on Monday playing hide and seek.

A Met department spokesman said today that there could be isolated very light rain and thundershowers in the upper reaches of Kashmir valley and Pirpanjal range of Jammu division during the next 24 hours. However, weather in plains of Jammu and Kashmir will remain mainly dry.

During the subsequent 48 hours there could be isolated to scattered light rain, thundershowers and snow in the Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

The upper heights in the Kashmir valley experienced light to moderate fresh snowfall since Sunday night, affected road connectivity in far flung and remote areas, including Bandipora-Gurez road which was recently put through for traffic after remaining suspended for about four months due to accumulation of snow and avalanches.

In the central Kashmir district of Ganderbal, tourist resort of Sonamarg on Srinagar-Leh national highway, which is closed since January Ist, also received light snowfall early this morning. Baltal, base camp of holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas also received fresh snowfall.

Reports of snowfall were also received from holy cave and its periphery, Panjterni, Sheshnag, Mahaguns and Pisso top on traditional yatra route from Pahalgam, where the maximum temperature yesterday was 15 degree, which was two notches below normal while the minimum temperature today was 4 degree , 1.2 degree above normal.

There was also light snowfall in the upper heights of Gulmarg, the world famous ski resort in north Kashmir, where the mercury remained below normal. The maximum temperature there was 6 degree, 3.5 notches below normal while the minimum temperature was minus 0.2 degree, 1.3 notches below normal.

Fresh snowfall was also received in upper reaches in north Kashmir, including near the Line of Control (LoC). Snow and avalanches forced closure of the road connecting border town of Gurez with district headquarter Bandipora.

In summer capital, Srinagar the maximum temperature yesterday was 15 degree, about 13 notches below normal while the minimum temperature today was 7.8 degree, which was slightly above normal.

There could be partly to generally cloudy sky in Srinagar during the next 24 hours and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 20 degree, eight notches below normal and 8 degree respectively.

JAMMU: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha has conveyed his greetings to people of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on the auspicious occasion of Navratras, Navreh, Ramzan, and Baisakhi. He prayed for the well-being and prosperity of the people on the occasion.

In his message of greetings, the Lt Governor observed that the coming together of these auspicious occasions is a good omen and marks the transition of J&K towards an era of peace and prosperity, besides host of opportunities for the youth. “I hope and pray that this auspicious period would be the harbinger of harmony, brotherhood, amity, progress, and growth for all in Jammu and Kashmir”, the Lt Governor added.

During the divine festival of Navratras, people honour and worship Goddess Durga in her nine forms. The festival has a special significance in J&K as large number of devotees visit the Holy Cave Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji during this auspicious period. The Lt Governor also extended warm greetings to all Kashmiri Pandits who celebrate the first day of the Chaitra Navratras as Navreh, the beginning of the Hindu New Year.

Extending his greetings to the people on the commencement of the holy month of Ramzan, the Lt Governor observed that the holy month is a period dedicated to fasting, service, prayers, and highlights the values of patience, self-restraint, tolerance, and austerity, which promotes feelings of compassion and respect for others.

The Lt Governor also greeted the people of the UT on the occasion of Baisakhi and observed that this day has a special significance for the people of Northern India, particularly for the Sikh community as the Khalsa Panth was born on this day. Baisakhi also marks the commencement of the harvesting season, when farmers reap the fruit of their hard work. The Sikh community also observes it as the day of thanksgiving for abundant harvest, and an occasion to pray for future prosperity.

The Lt Governor observed that these celebrations are reminders calling upon all of us to inspire our entire community and to cement our glorious pluralistic traditions.