Bandipora, Oct 6, : The Razdan Pass, often referred to as the gateway to Gurez Valley, witnessed a fresh spell of snowfall on Monday, bringing a sudden dip in temperature and marking the early onset of winter in north Kashmir’s higher reaches.

The snowfall, though light, painted the mountain slopes of Razdan Top in white, adding scenic charm to the region while also signaling the beginning of the harsh cold season ahead. According to officials, the Bandipora–Gurez road, which stretches about 84 kilometres and serves as the sole surface link between Gurez and the district headquarters, remains under close observation due to unpredictable weather conditions.

A senior official from the district administration said that although the fresh snowfall has not disrupted vehicular movement yet, authorities are keeping a strict watch on the situation. “We are continuously monitoring the Razdan stretch to ensure road safety. Any adverse change in weather may force a temporary closure to prevent accidents,” the official said.

Locals in Gurez expressed both delight and concern at the early snowfall. “The valley looks breathtaking after the first snow, but it also means our long winter isolation is near,” said Abdul Rahman, a local from Dawar. The area remains cut off from the rest of the Valley for several months during winter due to heavy snowfall that blocks the Razdan route.

The Meteorological Department has forecast more light precipitation over the upper reaches in the coming days, advising travellers to stay cautious and avoid unnecessary movement along high-altitude routes. Authorities have also appealed to locals to stay updated through official weather advisories and ensure early winter preparedness.

Poonch, Oct 5: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) organized a special programme today at the Satra Bowli Temple in Poonch as part of its centenary celebrations.

Following the event, a route march was carried out to commemorate 100 years of the RSS’s founding. Youth from various parts of Poonch actively participated in the march, showcasing enthusiasm and solidarity.

As part of the ongoing centenary celebrations, the RSS has been organizing a series of special programmes across different regions to mark this historic milestone.

“I don’t think they’ll get any more. I believe both are truly deserving of this award because participation itself is a big achievement,” said one of the organizers while appreciating the young participants.

In the state-level competitive exam held in October, around 1,500 children aged 5 to 15 took part. The participants were given 70 to 100 arithmetic problems to solve within just 5 minutes — a remarkable test of speed and accuracy.

It’s a matter of pride that Satyam, one of the award winners, successfully completed these challenging operations in such a short span.

Competitions like these, experts say, are crucial for children’s development. They not only strengthen numerical understanding, but also enhance problem-solving and critical thinking skills — abilities that shape a child’s intellectual foundation.

Looking back at the history of mathematics, especially arithmetic, it’s clear that these operations have long played a key role in mental and cognitive growth.
In the Vedic era, the Gurukul education system emphasized teaching children between the ages of 5 and 15 the values of reasoning, logic, and problem-solving — laying the groundwork for analytical thinking and lifelong learning.

Jammu, Oct 4: Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district suspended Machail Mata pilgrimage for three days from October 5 following an inclement weather advisory issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), an official said on Saturday.
Earlier, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board had also announced suspension of the pilgrimage during the same period as a precautionary measure.
Sixty-five persons, mostly pilgrims, were killed and more than 100 injured, and 32 others remain untraced following a cloudburst in Chisoti, the gateway village to the Machail Mata shrine on August 14. In another incident, 34 pilgrims lost their lives and 20 others were injured in a landslide along the Vaishno Devi track on August 26.
In view of the inclement weather advisory issued by the IMD, the movement of pilgrims towards the Machail Mata shrine shall remain suspended from October 5 to 7 as a precautionary measure, Kishtwar District Magistrate Pankaj Kumar Sharma said in an order.
He said the decision has been taken in view of the forecast of adverse weather conditions, including heavy rainfall and potential landslides in the region.
“No pilgrim shall be permitted to proceed towards the shrine during the said (suspension) period,” Sharma said, requesting cooperation from all stakeholders and the pilgrims.
Meanwhile, authorities have issued advisories urging people to remain vigilant and avoid flood-and landslide-prone areas in the Doda district, following the IMD’s weather alert predicting rains and snowfall from October 4 to 7.
Doda Deputy Commissioner Harvinder Singh said that the residents should stay away from rivers and other water bodies and urged nomadic families not to camp near riverbanks. He further advised that pregnant women and critical patients be shifted to safer locations in advance.
“We have made all the arrangements. Teams of snow clearance and road clearance have been put in place. Route safety is our priority,” Singh told reporters in Doda.

JAMMU, Oct 4: Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau Saturday registered a Disproportionate Assets (DA) case against Head Draftsman in the office of Executive Engineer PWD(R&B) Division Poonch.
According to the statement ACB spokesman in a statement said that a case FIR No. 18/2025 u/s 13(1)(b) r/w 13(2) PC Act 1988 (as amended in 2018) in P/S ACB Jammu was registered on the outcome of a verification conducted into the allegations that the accused public servant has acquired huge assets, both moveable and immovable, disproportionate to his known source of income, on his own name as well as in the names of his family members.
“The verification so conducted has revealed that the above named public servant has accumulated huge assets in the shape of palatial double storey residential house, luxurious vehicles, costly electronic items apart from huge bank balances etc,” it reads.
ACB statement further said that during the course of investigation, search warrant was obtained from the Court and search was conducted at the residential premises of the accused person located at Chandan Vihar Muthi, Jammu in the presence of independent witnesses and Magistrate. “Further investigation of the case is going on.”

SRINAGAR: The body of a man from Budgam district was found in Parimpora area of Srinagar, triggering a police investigation into the circumstances of his death.

Police said the deceased has been identified as Firdous Ahmad Hajam, a resident of Budgam. The body was spotted by locals near the roadside in Parimpora, following which police were informed.

A police team from Parimpora Police Station reached the spot soon after receiving the information and took possession of the body. The area was subsequently examined, and forensic samples were collected as part of the preliminary investigation.

Officials said the body has been taken to a nearby hospital for medico-legal formalities, including a post-mortem, to ascertain the cause of death.

“Initial proceedings have been taken up, and the cause of death will be confirmed only after the autopsy report is received,” a police officer said.

• Sunil Sethi: Party to contest all seats, names to be finalized soon
• BJP eyes one winnable seat; NC-led alliance holds majority in House
• Core group meets in Jammu; Jitendra Singh, Tarun Chugh attend

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced its decision to field three candidates in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for October 24, signaling a determined bid to contest all available seats.

Speaking to reporters in Jammu, BJP spokesperson Sunil Sethi confirmed that the party will contest each of the seats going to polls. “We have decided to field three candidates in the elections,” Sethi said, adding that discussions were held to identify the right kind of individuals capable of effectively representing the party in the Upper House.

According to party insiders, BJP plans to field candidates on all seats — two for symbolic contests against the ruling National Conference-led alliance, and one for a seat where the party sees a realistic chance of victory.

Sources suggest that the BJP may opt for strong contenders for the winnable seat, while the first two contests are expected to be largely symbolic, given the numerical strength of the NC-led coalition in the House.

The ruling alliance currently holds 53 members, while the BJP has 28, and non-BJP opposition parties collectively have seven members.

The BJP core group meeting, held in Jammu, was attended by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh and BJP national general secretary and J&K in-charge Tarun Chugh.

Among the names being discussed for Rajya Sabha tickets are Sunil Sethi, former party president Ravinder Raina, and former Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Nirmal Singh, though the final decision will be made by the party’s central leadership.

Sethi said the meeting focused more on the qualities required in the prospective candidates rather than specific names, and the recommendations from the J&K unit will soon be conveyed to the party high command.

Srinagar, Oct 4: Member of Parliament from Srinagar, Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, in a strongly worded statement on social media, lashed out at the BJP-led central government and its ideological parent body RSS, accusing them of creating divisions on paper but uniting people in “pain, suffering, subjugation and oppression.”

In his post, Ruhullah Mehdi said that while the abrogation of Article 370 and subsequent bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir in August 2019 geographically separated Kashmir and Ladakh, it has in reality created a shared experience of political and social disempowerment.

The BJP & RSS regime might have divided us (Kashmiris & Ladakhis) geographically on paper, but they have united us in pain and suffering, subjugation and oppression,” the MP wrote.

He emphasized that the hardships and injustices faced by Kashmiris for decades are now being echoed from Ladakh, where voices of discontent have been growing over issues of identity, representation, land rights, and autonomy.

The pain which the people in Kashmir have endured for a long time finds an expression from Ladakh today. We in Kashmir never wanted any other society to experience it. We only wanted to be heard,” Ruhullah added.

Highlighting the widening disillusionment across the country, the Srinagar MP said that many people outside Kashmir initially dismissed the grievances of Kashmiris as isolated. However, according to him, today communities across India are beginning to experience the same challenges of “injustice and suppression.”

When we cried injustice, everyone else thought that it’s only upon Kashmiris, it will never come upon us. But today from Ladakh (J&K) to Kanyakumari, people are slowly but surely being subjected to the miseries and subjugation that Kashmiris have been subjected to since long ago,” he wrote.

Ruhullah Mehdi concluded his message with an assurance of solidarity to the people of Ladakh, stating that Kashmiris will stand with them in their rightful struggle for dignity, rights, and justice.

I can assure my fellow citizens in Ladakh, though we were alone, but we won’t let you be alone in your (our) rightful cause and struggle,” he affirmed.

The statement comes at a time when Ladakh has been witnessing persistent protests and demonstrations by civil society groups and political leaders demanding constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule, statehood, and protection of jobs and land.

Political observers note that Ruhullah Mehdi’s message highlights an attempt to build broader solidarity between Kashmir and Ladakh against what he described as “centralized authoritarianism.”