Tourists visiting Kashmir have expressed a sense of pride and confidence on the anniversary of ‘Operation Sindoor,’ saying they will continue to travel to the Valley despite past incidents and tensions. At several tourist spots across Srinagar and nearby destinations, visitors said the events of last year have not deterred them. Instead, they said, the response by security forces has strengthened their resolve to visit Kashmir. “We feel proud of how the situation was handled. We have come here without fear,” said Rohan Mehta, a tourist from Delhi. “Kashmir is safe, and we will keep coming.” Pertinently, ‘Operation Sindoor’ was…
Author: KNO
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday dismissed speculation about defections from the National Conference, asserting that no party MLA would switch sides to support the BJP. Speaking to reporters in Tangmarg, CM Omar, termed the reports baseless and said such claims had no substance. Responding to questions on allegations involving the Peoples Democratic Party, the Chief Minister said they earlier helped the BJP during Rajya Sabha elections and it had already been established through information obtained under the Right to Information Act. Omar also said his government functions independently and does not take instructions from any other organisation, asserting that…
A teenage student from North Kashmir’s Rafiabad in Baramulla district has emerged as a major social media sensation after his singing reel crossed 42.7 million views within nine days, drawing attention from established artists and digital influencers. Rasik Ahmad Meer,15, from Hatchepora village, shot to fame after uploading a cover of a Bollywood track that rapidly went viral on Instagram. The video, recorded on a smartphone without professional setup, has now placed the young singer in the spotlight. The reel caught the attention of Punjabi singer Jasmine Sandlas, who reacted to the performance online. It also drew engagement from digital…
With the cherry harvest season around the corner, fruit growers across Kashmir are looking forward to a significant shift in how their produce reaches markets outside the Valley. Improved railway logistics and expanded parcel services are expected to enable the transportation of an estimated 10,000 metric tonnes of cherries this year—marking a notable rise compared to previous seasons. Officials associated with the horticulture and railway sectors said that the enhanced availability of parcel trains, along with plans to introduce air-conditioned cargo facilities, could streamline the supply chain for one of Kashmir’s most delicate and high-value fruits. The initiative is aimed…
The World Bank-aided Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP) in Jammu & Kashmir has come under scrutiny, with the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) flagging “unfruitful expenditure,” idle infrastructure worth crores, and violations of contractual provisions in its report for the period ending March 2023. The audit, accessed noted that several key assets—including flood rescue boats, oxygen generator plants and search and rescue kits—have remained unused for years, raising concerns over preparedness in a disaster-prone Union Territory still vulnerable to floods like the 2014 deluge. It further pointed to procurement irregularities, stating that the Project Management Unit (PMU) in August…
The Meteorological Department (MeT) on Saturday said that Jammu and Kashmir will witness erratic weather conditions over the next few days, with rain, thunderstorms, hailstorms and strong gusty winds likely in several areas. MeT Director Mukhtar Ahmad said that the weather is expected to remain generally cloudy on Sunday and Monday, with intermittent rain, strong winds and the possibility of hailstorms at some places. Similar conditions are likely on May 5, while improvement is expected between May 6 and 9. From May 10 onwards, the weather is expected to remain largely dry, with brief spells of light rain at isolated…
Jammu and Kashmir has recorded its highest-ever annual investment of Rs 5,824.42 crore in the financial year 2025–26, marking a major milestone in the Union Territory’s industrial growth and ongoing economic transformation. According to official data accessed, the investment is over 13 times the average annual inflow recorded between 2014 and 2021, reflecting a sustained surge in industrial activity across the UT. The data shows that the upward trend has remained consistent over recent years, with investments rising from Rs 2,153 crore in FY 2022–23 to Rs 3,389 crore in FY 2023–24 and Rs 4,145 crore in FY 2024–25, culminating…
The issue of missing village revenue records (Massavis) in Jammu and Kashmir has drawn increased attention, with official figures showing 545 records missing across 20 districts. Of these, 258 remain untraced or unresolved, raising concerns about the integrity of land record systems. District-wise data, shows Udhampur with the highest number at 154 missing Massavis; however, 139 have been restored, leaving 15 pending. Kishtwar follows with 58 missing, of which only 10 have been traced, while 48 remain unresolved. Doda has reported 46 missing Massavis, none of which have been traced so far, leaving all 46 pending. Reasi recorded 40 missing,…
The “Roadmap for Horticulture Development in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir @ 2047” released by NITI Aayog highlights significant growth in the sector, with the area under fruit cultivation expanding from 1.31 lakh hectares in 1980 to 3.44 lakh hectares in 2022, and production rising from 5.6 lakh tonnes to 27.22 lakh tonnes. Jammu and Kashmir, known as the “Land of Fruits”, benefits from favourable agro-climatic conditions that support a wide range of horticultural crops. The sector provides livelihoods to around 3.5 million people and contributes 6–7% to the UT’s GDP, with an annual turnover of about ₹10,000 crore,…
Calling upon member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to adopt a unified and consistent approach against terrorism, separatism and extremism, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said ‘Operation Sindoor’ reflected India’s firm resolve that “terrorism epicentres are no longer immune to justifiable punishment.” Addressing the SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Singh, called for eliminating safe havens and rejecting political exceptions in dealing with terrorism. “There should be no double standards in combating the menace,” he added. “The sight of state-sponsored cross-border terrorism which attacks the sovereignty of a nation must not be lost. There is no…