The direct Jammu–Srinagar train service is set to commence with an inaugural run on April 30, with Indian Railways introducing a specially designed Vande Bharat train equipped to operate in extreme weather conditions. Officials said that all necessary arrangements have been put in place for the inaugural journey, while the regular schedule and additional halts will be notified separately. They said the train will run with a 20-coach Vande Bharat rake and cover a distance of around 266.66 kilometres during the inaugural run. The train will also halt at Bijbehara, which will remain operational for the cross-run of the service.…
Author: KNO
Doctors in Jammu and Kashmir have linked rising infertility levels to factors such as late marriages, sedentary and stressful lifestyles, imbalanced diets, and a lack of adequate awareness regarding reproductive health and timely medical care. They say infertility, once considered relatively uncommon in the region, is now being increasingly diagnosed among young couples—especially women—emerging as both a medical and social challenge with potential long-term consequences. Dr Sabiya Jan, a gynaecologist from the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir (DHSK), said that the postponement of marriage has become a major contributing factor. “Fertility naturally declines with age, particularly after the mid-20s. However,…
Ahead of the first anniversary of the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian Army on Tuesday reiterated its resolve to counter terrorism, warning that any breach of “the boundaries of humanity” would invite a decisive response. In a post on X, the Army, said, “When boundaries of humanity are crossed, the response is decisive. Justice is served. India stands united.” The message was accompanied by a visual referencing Operation Sindoor, with the caption: “Some boundaries should never be crossed. India does not forget.” The April 22, 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley had left 26 people dead and more than…
A year after the tragic terror attack in the Baisaran meadows of Pahalgam that shook Kashmir’s tourism industry to its core, signs of revival are slowly emerging across the Valley, bringing a sense of cautious optimism among those whose livelihoods depend on the sector. On April 22, 2025, at least 26 persons, mostly tourists were killed in a brutal attack that led to an abrupt decline in tourist arrivals, leaving hotels empty, businesses shut, and thousands grappling with severe financial distress. The incident dealt a heavy blow not only economically but also emotionally to the region, long known for its…
Authorities spent Rs 73548 on conducting the Rajya Sabha elections in the Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory in October 2025. According to official documents accessed, the J&K Election Department had transferred Rs 1 lakh for the exercise, out of which Rs 73548 was utilized to make necessary arrangements for polls to four vacant Rajya Sabha seats. The documents reveal that Rs 21150 was spent on honorarium and refreshments for officers and officials deployed on election duty. The remaining Rs 52398 was utilized to cover other essential arrangements required for the electoral process. The Rajya Sabha polls in Jammu & Kashmir…
Tears, prayers, and heartfelt hopes filled the air at Haj House Bemina here on Saturday morning as Kashmir’s first batch of Haj pilgrims prepared to depart for Saudi Arabia. The departure marked the beginning of the Valley’s annual spiritual journey to Islam’s holiest sites, with families bidding an emotional farewell to their loved ones embarking on the sacred pilgrimage. According to the details available, from the early hours, hundreds of family members gathered at the busiest Haj House premises in Srinagar to bid farewell to their kith and kin and friends chosen this year for the pilgrimage. Some embraced in…
Controlled Atmosphere (CA) cold storage units across Jammu and Kashmir are once again proving their importance for apple growers, as farmers continue to fetch encouraging returns despite recent fluctuations in market rates. Growers said that although apple prices witnessed a dip for a brief period of one to two weeks last month, the rates have now rebounded, offering them profitable returns—though still slightly below the peak levels recorded during January and February. According to estimates from the horticulture sector, around 20–30 per cent of the apple stock is still lying in cold storage units, giving growers the flexibility to release…
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said the INDIA bloc must collectively decide its response to the proposed parliamentary bill, stressing that a unified stand was necessary. Speaking with reporters in Srinagar, the Chief Minister, raised concerns over past delimitation exercises, alleging that constituency restructuring had politically favoured the BJP and its allies. He said he would attend an INDIA bloc meeting in Delhi to be held at the residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, where the opposition is expected to formulate a joint strategy on the proposed bill. He said the INDIA bloc will have to decide together what…
by Umer Maqbool The legislations proposed to be tabled in Parliament by the Union Government empower a delimitation commission, to be constituted by the Union Government, to determine the number and boundaries of Assembly segments in the Union Territory. The Commission will also decide Jammu & Kashmir’s share in Lok Sabha seats among the Union Territories, which have been allocated a maximum of 35 seats. Assembly seats According to the proposed amendments to the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, the Legislative Assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir shall consist of such number of members, to be…
Police have arrested eight persons for their alleged involvement in vandalism during a student protest in Sopore, while 25 others have been identified in connection with the incident, officials said on Tuesday. An official said, that the arrests were made following incidents of damage to public and private property during protests that erupted after allegations surfaced against a lecturer in the town. He said those arrested were involved in ransacking property and damaging vehicles during the protest. “Eight miscreants have been arrested so far, while 25 others have been identified. Strict action will be taken against all those involved in…