ASIF RASHID
POONCH DEC, 08 : Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary has issued a strong warning against illegal mining during a high-level review meeting held today in Poonch. The meeting focused on ongoing development projects and public welfare initiatives across the district.

Chairing the review meeting, the Deputy Chief Minister assessed the performance of various departments in detail. DDC Chairperson Tazeem Akhter and MLA Surankote Chaudhary Mohd Akram were present as key speakers.

During the session, the Deputy Chief Minister reviewed progress in critical sectors including roads, education, health, water and power supply, social welfare, and rural development. He sought department-wise feedback on ongoing works and directed officials to ensure timely completion of all approved projects.

Emphasizing transparency and accountability in government schemes, he called for strict monitoring at every level. The Deputy Chief Minister instructed officers to remain accessible to the public, address grievances on priority, and ensure citizen-friendly governance.

The meeting concluded with clear directions for all departments to submit updated progress reports at the earliest and accelerate efforts for the holistic development of Poonch district.

The Deputy Chief Minister’s firm stance on illegal mining and developmental delays has set a clear message for the administration. Further updates on progress in Poonch will follow.

IMRAN NAIKOO
New Delhi, Dec 8: Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi today shared with the media the letter MP Baramulla Er Rashid has sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the growing disconnect between the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister in Jammu and Kashmir.

In the letter, MP Er Rashid has told the Prime Minister: “I write to you with deep concern about the growing administrative disconnect between the Lieutenant Governor’s administration and the office of the Chief Minister in Jammu and Kashmir, which has unfortunately begun to affect day-to-day governance and the delivery of essential public services.”

Er Rashid has warned that the situation “has started to create uncertainty among citizens and has slowed down decision-making on key developmental and welfare matters.”

Referring to the impact on people, Er Rashid wrote: “People across Jammu and Kashmir are already dealing with difficult socio-economic conditions. Several developmental works, public grievances and routine administrative decisions are reportedly delayed because of friction or unclear lines of authority. This is causing distress to ordinary people who look towards the government with hope and expectation.”

Urging the Prime Minister to intervene, the MP Er Rashid stated: “Only your intervention can ensure smooth governance, restore clarity of functioning and uphold the credibility of both institutions for the larger good of the Jammu and Kashmir.”

He concluded with an appeal for coordinated governance: “I respectfully request your goodself to kindly look into the matter and take steps you deem appropriate to ensure coordinated functioning between the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister so that governance remains stable, responsive and people-centric.”

BUDGAM DEC, 08: A fire broke out on the top floor of Hassanabad Masjid in the Beerwah area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Monday morning, triggering panic among locals before swift action by Fire and Emergency Services and volunteers brought the situation under control.

Officials said flames and thick smoke were first noticed emanating from a section of the mosque’s top floor, following which locals immediately alerted the Fire and Emergency Services in Beerwah. Fire tenders rushed to the spot without delay and launched firefighting operations.Jammu Kashmir tourism

Local youth also played an active voluntary role by assisting the fire personnel, helping evacuate the area, managing the crowd, and ensuring unhindered movement for fire vehicles.

Officials confirmed that no injuries or loss of life were reported in the incident. A preliminary assessment indicated damage to a portion of the mosque. The exact cause of the fire has not been officially ascertained so far.

Police said they have taken cognizance of the incident, while locals expressed gratitude to the Fire and Emergency Services Beerwah and the youth volunteers for their timely and effective response, which averted major damage to the sacred site.

SRINAGAR/GANDERBAL, DEC 08: As forecast by the Meteorological Department, the higher reaches of Kashmir Valley witnessed fresh snowfall late Sunday night, leading to a further dip in temperatures and disruption of traffic movement along the Srinagar–Leh highway.Srinagar city tour

Officials said that light and fresh snowfall was recorded at the health resort of Sonamarg, along with Zojila, Baltal, and Thajwas areas in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. In the Kargil district, areas including Drass, Minamarg, and Gumri also received light snowfall, intensifying winter conditions across higher altitudes.Kashmir handicrafts store

Owing to the fresh accumulation of snow, vehicular movement on the Srinagar–Leh highway was temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure. A traffic police officer said that snowfall at Zojila Pass rendered the road unsafe for travel, forcing authorities to halt traffic movement to prevent accidents.

The officer said that the Border Roads Organisation has started snow-clearance operations on the Zojila stretch to restore connectivity, subject to weather conditions. He added that due to fresh snowfall and low temperatures, slippery conditions prevailed on the Sonamarg road during the morning hours, making driving difficult for commuters.Authorities have advised drivers intending to travel in snow-bound areas to use snow chains on their vehicle wheels to ensure better grip and safety on slippery roads. Motorists have also been urged to avoid unnecessary travel until road conditions improve.

Meanwhile, officials said that weather conditions improved after 10 am, following which the situation at Sonamarg turned relatively pleasant. Authorities said updates regarding the reopening of the Srinagar–Leh highway will be issued after an assessment of road conditions and completion of snow-clearance work.

DODA, Dec 8: Two persons, including a woman, were injured after a wild bear attacked them in separate incidents in the Kashtigarh area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district on Monday, officials said.

According to officials, the injured have been identified as Rubina, and Muneer.
Locals rushed to help and managed to drive the bear back into the forest, the officials said. Both were taken to hospital.
Villagers, anxious after the incidents, have asked the wildlife department to take measures to prevent further attacks.

Budgam ,Dec 8 : A Power Development Department (PDD) employee, Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Rather (55) of Mahawara Budgam, died on Monday morning at SMHS Hospital Srinagar after suffering severe electrocution while repairing an electric wire at Lakhripora, Budgam.

He was initially taken to the District Hospital Budgam in critical condition before being referred to SMHS Hospital for advanced care. Authorities have taken cognizance of the incident, and an investigation is underway.

Tral , Dec 8 : Several people were injured on Monday when a tractor and a Tavara vehicle collided near a petrol pump in Lalgam, Tral, Pulwama district.

Officials said the injured were immediately taken to nearby hospitals for treatment and their condition is reported as stable.

Police arrived at the scene, managed traffic, and have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident.

Srinagar , Dec 8 : Large parts of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh experienced a severe cold wave on Monday, with night temperatures dropping below freezing across the Valley.

In Kashmir, Shopian was the coldest at –4.2°C, followed by Budgam, Pulwama, and Baramulla at –3.1°C each. Srinagar city recorded –2.4°C, while the airport area saw a sharper low of –3.2°C. Gulmarg and Sonamarg registered –2.5°C and –2.8°C respectively. Other areas included Qazigund and Kupwara at –1.2°C, Pampore –2.0°C, Bandipora –2.2°C, and Awantipora and Anantnag –1.4°C. Kokernag and Kulgam remained slightly above freezing at 0.1°C and 0.8°C.

In Jammu, Udhampur was the coldest at 2.0°C, followed by Rajouri 1.8°C and Samba 2.7°C. Jammu city recorded 7.9°C, Katra 9.6°C, and the airport area 9.0°C. Other areas included Kathua 7.8°C, Banihal 4.5°C, Bhaderwah 2.6°C, and Doda and Kishtwar 5.0°C each.

In Ladakh, Leh dropped to –6.2°C, Kargil to –5.0°C, and Nubra Valley to –3.7°C.

The meteorological department has forecast mainly dry conditions across Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh over the next 24 hours.

Srinagar Dec 8 : Flight operations at Srinagar International Airport saw fresh disruption on Monday morning after IndiGo cancelled 16 flights, officials said.

An airport official said the airport had 64 scheduled movements for the day, including 32 arrivals and 32 departures. IndiGo was operating 36 of these.

By 8 am, the airline had cancelled 8 arrivals and 8 departures owing to operational issues. No other airline reported cancellations, and there were no delays in IndiGo flights that remained on schedule.

The official added that all other flight operations were running normally.