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  • J&K Bank’s diary, calendar unveiled

    Jammu: The J&K Bank’s calendar and diary for 2020 was unveiled her on Monday.

    Bank’s chairman and managing director Rajesh Kumar Chhibber jointly with directors Arun Kumar Mehta, Bipul Pathak, Anil Kumar Misra, Vikram Gujral and Sonam Wangchuk took part in the event. Speaking on the occasion, Chhibber said, “J&K Bank calendar has been and continues to be the most sought-after thing in this region every year, for it brings cultural and value-based ethos of J&K and Ladakh to life. The bank has always showcased beauty, heritage, history, talent and other aspects of this place.” “All sections of society not only in the UTs of J&K and Ladakh but also in the rest of India love to possess it as a prized souvenir. It is not a calendar but a social intervention and has historically remained of much importance for the customers and public alike,” he added.

  • Kashmir media suffering due to internet suspension: Madhav

    ‘Internet restoration depends on security assessment’

    Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary, Ram Madhav Thursday said he would raise the issue of internet restoration service to media houses in Kashmir with the authorities sitting in New Delhi.
    Talking on the sidelines of a news conference, Madhav, who was in the city to watch an I-League football match said he was aware about the circumstances in which media works in the Valley in absence of internet services.
    “I’m aware Kashmir media has suffered in the past few months. And I will raise the internet restoration services to media once I reach New Delhi,” Madhav told Rising Kashmir. “I know you people have to go to that place (media centre) for work.”
    Earlier, addressing a news conference, Madhav, who looks after Kashmir affairs, said the restoration of internet service in the Valley would depend on the security assessment.
    “I’m expecting that things will be restored soon,” he said. “We are gradually restoring internet broadband service starting from hotels like this one (Taj Vivanta).”
    In the intervening night of August 4 and August 5, authorities suspended all communication lines across the Valley to “prevent any law and order situation” in response to the Government of India’s decision of abrogation of Article 370.
    Even though the administration restored postpaid mobile connectivity in Kashmir after two months, internet services continue to remain suspended till date.
    Internet blockade in Kashmir continues to hit all spheres of life with businessmen and students facing the major brunt of the ban.
    Earlier around 100 broadband connections had been restored in the Valley since November after authorities took signed bonds from people for taking responsibility that there would be no misuse of the facility.
    On the release of political prisoners, Madhav said, “It is an ongoing process. They (politicians) are currently in preventive detention. So, things will take place accordingly.”

  • Snowfall likely in Kashmir on New Year’s Eve

    Several parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh reeled under cold wave conditions on Saturday, with Srinagar recording the coldest night of the season at -5.8°C.

    The mercury in Leh and Drass in Ladakh plummeted to -19.1°C and -28.6°C, respectively, a Metrological Department official said.

    Water supply lines froze at several places in Srinagar as the minimum temperature in the city settled at -5.8°C on Friday night. It was -5.6°C the previous night.

    The Metrological Department has forecast rain and snowfall in Kashmir on the New Year’s Eve that is likely to bring respite from the cold wave conditions in the Valley.

    Drass shivers at -28.6°C, Srinagar at -5.8°C

    The mercury in Leh and Drass in Ladakh plummeted to -19.1°C and -28.6°C. respectively, a Metrological Department official said.
    Water supply lines froze at several places in Srinagar as the minimum temperature in the city settled at -5.8°C on Friday night making it the coldest night of the season. It was -5.6°C the previous night.
    “There is a possibility of light rains or snowfall across Kashmir for a few days from December 31,” the Metrological Department official said
    “There is a possibility of light rains or snowfall across Kashmir for a few days from December 31,” the official said.

    He said while there was forecast of scattered rains or snowfall on December 31 and January 1, fairly widespread rainfall or snow is likely on January 2, which might continue till January 3.

    The ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded a low of -7.5°C, up from the previous night’s -9.5°C, the official said.

    The night temperature at Pahalgam resort in south Kashmir settled at a low of -11.2°C as against -12°C on Friday.

    Pahalgam was the coldest place in the Valley, he added.

    The official said Qazigund in south Kashmir recorded a low of -10.8°C.

    South Kashmir’s Kokernag town recorded a low of -7.6°C, while the minimum temperature in north Kashmir’s Kupwara settled at -6.3°C, the official said.

    Kashmir is currently under the grip of ‘Chillai Kalan’, the 40-day harshest period of winter when the chances of snowfall are maximum and most frequent and the temperature drops considerably.

    ‘Chillai Kalan’ began on December 21 and will continue till January 31. The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day-long ‘Chillai Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day-long ‘Chillai Bachha’ (baby cold). — PTI

  • New Year To Bring Rain, Snowfall In J&K

    SRINAGAR – The weather department on Thursday predicted fresh rain and snowfall from next week, even as cold wave prevailed in the Kashmir valley, where majority water bodies and taps were frozen yet again when minimum temperature witnessed a further drop and many areas, including Srinagar, recorded coldest night.

    The first day of ”New Year” is likely bring some relief as a first Western Disturbance (WD) could hit the region and could result in scattered rain in Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir and isolated in UT of Ladakh region, A Met department spokesman said.

    He said that weather will remain dry till December 31. However, a fresh WD could hit the region on the first day of “2020”, when there could be scattered rain or snow in Kashmir and Jammu and isolated in Ladakh region, he said. This system will help increase in the minimum temperature, he said.

    Drass, a border town in UT Ladakh, was again coldest at minus 30.2 degree minimum temperature while at Leh it was minus 18 degree against yesterday’s minus 17.8 degree. The sky would remain mainly clear during the next 24 hours and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around zero degree and minus 18 degree respectively at Leh during the next 24 hours.

    Meanwhile, the Sun again greeted people as they woke up this morning though the intensity of the heat remained low due to icy cold winds. Dry and chilly weather conditions had resulted in increase in cold related diseases, including headache, bad cold, chest infection.

    Doctors have already issued a warning that elderly persons besides those having heart problem and children should avoid going out, particularly in the morning and evening hours when temperature remained sub zero.

    Due to clear sky, the minimum temperature continued to witness drop though maximum temperature remained near or above normal in the valley.

    Majority water bodies, including Dal Lake and “ Chunt-Khul” were frozen this morning after Srinagar recorded coldest night of the winter so far at minus 5 degree, three notches below normal. Water supply in many areas was disrupted after taps were frozen. However, frozen water defreeze as the day progress. The Public Health Engineering (PHE) department is stopping water supply through pipes during night to avoid damage though water supply during the day remained normal.

  • Intensify Anti-Militancy Operations: DGP To Officers

    SRINAGAR – The Director General of Police J&K, Dilbag Singh on Wednesday impressed upon officers to intensify cordon and search operations to flush out the militants.

    Adressing a high level meet at police control room here, DGP said that nobody was above the law and the lawbreakers must be dealt with firmly, a police spokesperson said today.

    ADGP CID Dr B Srinivas, IGP Kashmir SP Pani, DIG central Kashmir V K Birdi, DIG north Kashmir Suliaman Choudary and other senior police officers attended the meeting.

    “The DGP emphasized on collective measures to tackle any situation and any subversive act by the militants and their masters across the border,” the police spokesperson said.

    “ We have got successes across Jammu and Kashmir against the militants, yet we should continue our actions against them with coordinated strategies to ensure long lasting peace in Jammu and Kashmir”he added.

  • DAK cautions against use of unvented gas heaters in closed spaces

    Srinagar, Dec 25: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Wednesday advised people not to use unvented gas heaters in closed spaces. “People are dying due to use of unvented gas heaters,” said DAK President Dr Nisar ul Hassan said in a statement issued to the wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

    “Two weeks back, a young couple was found dead in HMT area of Srinagar. They had gone to bed leaving a gas heater switched on in a closed room. Last winter in January, five members of a family died under similar circumstances in Bemina area of Srinagar,” he said.

    Dr Nisar said the best way to prevent deaths due to unvented gas heaters is to discontinue their use. People should use vented gas heaters instead.

    “But, if people continue using unvented gas heaters, they should not use them in bedrooms, bathrooms or enclosed spaces,” he said adding “these heaters should only be used in rooms with adequate ventilation.”

    He further said unvented gas heaters should be used no more than 4 hours per day, since they are meant to supplement other heating methods rather than provide the main heating source.

    Dr Nisar said unvented gas heater is a commonly used heating appliance in Kashmir Valley during winter to keep rooms warm particularly at night. It has no chimney to vent the combustion products like carbon monoxide outside the home, as a result, this toxic pollutant remains in the room and exposure to high levels of this toxin causes death.

    “Carbon monoxide is a silent killer as you can’t see it, you can’t smell it and u can’t taste it. The individual is rendered completely helpless without feeling the harm thus becoming unconscious during sleep leading to death. Some people are particularly vulnerable to carbon monoxide poisoning, such as children, elderly, pregnant women and those with chronic medical conditions,” informed Dr Nisar.

  • Pahalgam Coldest In Valley At Minus 10.8 Degrees Celsius

    SRINAGAR – The minimum temperature across Kashmir and Ladakh decreased on Monday but in some respite to the residents, the weather remained dry and clouds made way for sunshine, a Meteorological Department official said.

    The weather remained dry in Kashmir and the night temperature went down across the valley and the Ladakh region, the MeT official said here, adding the cloud cover receded, allowing sunlight to reach the ground in the morning.

    He said Srinagar recorded the minimum temperature of 0.8 degree Celsius on Sunday night down from 1.2 degrees Celsius the previous night.

    The night temperature in the city was 2.8 degrees above the normal for this part of the season, the official said.

    The minimum temperature in Drass plummeted about six degrees from minus 21.6 degrees Celsius a day earlier to settle at a low of minus 27.4 degrees Celsius, the official said.

    The ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 8.5 degrees Celsius on Sunday night down from the previous night’s minus 7.6 degrees Celsius, he said.

    The night temperature at Pahalgam resort, which also serves as one of the base camps for the annual Amarnath yatra in south Kashmir, settled at a low of minus 10.8 degrees Celsius four degrees down from minus 6.8 degrees Celsius a day earlier, he said.

  • J&K Bank Recruitment Scam: 2 Ex-Chairmen, 15 Others Charged

    SRINAGAR – The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday filed chargesheet against 17 Jammu & Kashmir Bank (JKB) officials, including two chairmen in the infamous Bank recruitment scam.

    According to an official handout issued here today, the ACB produced first chargesheet against ex-Chairmen Sheikh Mushtaq and Parvez Nengroo and fifteen others, including three retired employees over 3,000 backdoor appointments that were made clandestinely. The chargesheet was filed today in the Anti Corruption Court of R.N. Wattal.

    The case has been listed for next hearing on January 27, 2020.

    The scam surfaced in 2018 after ACB recieved inputs that J&K Bank made 3000 illegal appointments contrary to the rules and norms of the bank. Among the appointees were kith and kin of mainstream politicians, bank officials and bureaucrats.

    The ACB filed a case FIR No. 10/2019 in P/S ACB Srinagar and started a probe. During the course of investigation, a raid was carried out by the ACB sleuths at the JKB Corporate Headquarters and important documents were seized from human resources section, recruitment section and office of Chairman.

    “The voluminous record was seized and scrutinized wherein it surfaced that from the year 2011 onwards Chairmen of the time have made around 2500 backdoor appointments illegally and fraudulently, consequently a thorough probe was ordered to unearth this illegal appointment scam so that corrective measures are taken by the bank to put an end to such illegal practice,” the ACB handout read.

    It further adds that on conclusion of investigation of the case, allegation were established against the bank officials which included 2 Ex Chairman and other employees.

  • Srinagar Deputy Mayor Sheikh Imran removed

    Srinagar: The deputy mayor of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Sheikh Imran, was removed from his post on Monday after majority of corporators passed a no-confidence motion against him.
    SMC commissioner Khurshid Sanai said an application seeking removal of the deputy mayor was signed by 47 of the total 70 corporators.
    He said new deputy mayor would be elected in next three to four days.
    The councilors from Peoples Conference, National Conference and Congress and Independent corporators moved no confidence motion against Imran and expressed their support to Mayor Junaid Azam Mattu.
    Many corporators told that confidence motion was moved to keep BJP away from electing its own Mayor and Deputy Mayor.
    A coporator wishing anonymity said they have decided to support incumbent Mayor to foil designs of BJP. “It was a collective decision taken in the interest of people”.
    When Imran was elected as Deputy Mayor, he was backed by Congress. However, he later joined Peoples Conference (PC) of Sajjad Gani Lone.
    Another corporator said another group of corporators from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and independents are mulling to move no confidence motion against the SMC Mayor.
    “Within 2-3 days, there will be new Mayor also,” he said.
    BJP’s Kashmir Media Incharge Manzoor Bhat said moving no confidence against Deputy Mayor was long pending demand of the SMC Corporators.
    “We have 11 coporators in the SMC and BJP backed the no confidence motion. We supported the no confidence motion because public works were suffering in Srinagar,” he said.
    Imran is under detention at MLA Hostel here along with several other political leaders after the Centre scrapped provisions of Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcated the state into Union territories.

  • Mental illness cases on rise across Kashmir post Aug 5, say experts

    One in five common Kashmiris have PTSD symptoms, reveals 2015 Study, experts say number has gone up of late

    Srinagar, Dec 23: The ongoing internet suspension and the three month long clampdown since August 5 has added to the already traumatized people of Kashmir as the number of people with various psychiatric ailments has shown a steep rise in the past five months.

    According to wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), nearly one in five people in Kashmir shows symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTST), according to a 2015 study by Médecins Sans Frontières and the Srinagar-based Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, or IMHANS.

    Dr. Arshad Hussain, a psychiatrist who co-authored the Action-Aid study, calls Kashmir one of the “saddest places in the world”.

    “The chaos that Kashmir has witnessed over the years has definitely deepened this problem,” he said. The situation has escalated as the clampdown coupled with the internet shutdown has added more to the figures of mentally sick patients.

    The Kashmir valley has been on lockdown since 5 August, when Centre rolled back Article 370 and imposed curfews, cutting off communications on all platforms.

    “If the instability and violence don’t subside mental health disorders are going to increase,” said Hussain.

    The IMHANS and Action-Aid study estimated only 6.4 percent of people with a mental illness had seen a psychiatrist, and only 12.6 percent sought any kind of healthcare help at all. Hussain, the study’s co-author, says this is partly to blame on stigma and a poor understanding of mental illness.

    An October paper by a group of academics and activists researching the crackdown in Kashmir reported that the programme was functional in only two districts amid “an acute shortage of psychiatrists” across Kashmir.

    “It will be highly surprising if a few months from now we do not find extraordinarily high rates of PTSD,” wrote Dr. Anirudh Kala, a psychiatrist and one of the paper’s researchers.

    For Fatima, a resident of Ompora, Budgam, her son has been declared mentally unwell with chronic symptoms of PTSD. “My son started behaving abnormally post August 5 and now he is being counselled and is on a drug,” she said. “I am not able to find out what happened to him. He gets irritated over small issues and starts breaking everything that comes into his way. His is just 10.”

    An official at the directorate of Health Services Kashmir, while talking to KNO admitted that mental health programmes are limited and said that it’s still a goal to make district-level treatment more widely available. “We are working on it,” he said, wishing not to be named. (KNO)