With the onset of winter season frequent and unscheduled power cuts are a daily affair in Kashmir. Be it metered areas or not-metered areas, consumers are subjected to long hours of power cuts. People blame Power Development Department( PDD) for the whole mess. We talk to Chief Engineer, PDD Hashmat Qazi to know the reasons behind power curtailments during winters.

69000 candidates appeared for the 12th standard board examination today.The students and parents faced great inconvenience in wake of the shutdown called by Joint Hurriyat. The parents blamed the authorities of being unjust as they decided to conduct the exams despite the strike. They urged the government to either provide them with transport facilities or defer the exams in future.

The valley is witnessing a drop in the footfall of tourists since the government announced civic polls in the state.Municipal elections in the state will commence October 8, while Panchayat polls are scheduled to be held from November 17. While Kashmir Valley is expecting a surge in violence, the travel agents have noticed a fall in the tourist arrivals and bookings for this and the next month.General Secretary Chamber of Commerce and Industries Kashmir (CCIK), Tariq Rashid Ghani, said almost 70 per cent of the bookings got cancelled after election announcement.