Lead Stories
Uncertainty thy name is Kashmir
Srinagar: Subah hoti hai shaam hoti hai zindagi yuunhi tamaam hoti hai, answers 55-year-old Abdullah, a resident of Bemina, Srinagar on asking how life moves on nowadays in the valley. The sudden speed with which Article 370 that granted J&K special status was revoked has left the valleyites traumatized with only one question on everyone’s lips: “When is this uncertainty going to end?” While the question stays the same, a myriad of answers add to the prevailing chaos and confusion.
A small gathering of middle-aged men waiting for the prayer outside the mosque in Bemina is a microcosm of this uncertainty.
Asked what you think about the prevailing situation, Abdullah, the most vocal person in the group says, “This is going to be the last time the valley will ever witness a long haul of shutdowns. They have already tinkered with the special status. What is left now? Our identity is gone. What should we protest for in the future? This has to be the final nail in the coffin.”
The other men surrounding Abdullah agree in unison. Seconding him, Nazir Ahmad, a businessman by profession says, “I think this has to do with the Indo-Pak war which was brewing from quite some time. Now the two countries have all the possible reasons to wage war against each other. Let’s brace up for something worse.”
Nazir says: “The US president talks of mediation but it never happens. He changes statements at the drop of the hat. I see him saying one thing today and completely opposite the next day. Whom should we trust?”
Rafiq Ahmad, an employee of J&K Bank chips in, “I fear for my job. The bank is already in dire straits. We might be integrated with the Punjab National Bank soon and the salary will directly come from the centre. The salary is definitely going to see a slump instead of hike.”
Manzoor Ahmad, the most patient listener clears his throat to say something, “I don’t think the central government has any concrete strategy in mind about the restoration of normalcy. This will stretch for a longer time than our expectations. They have stuck to the wait and watch formula,” he utters slowly.
He adds, “Whatever be the case, I will not let my young sons go to college even if they issue orders related to reopening of educational institutions. I heard that in our area, scores of youngsters were randomly detained just because they were spotted on roads.”
With this the call to evening prayer is announced and Abdullah ends the conversation on a positive note, “Pashrviv Khudayas (Lets hand over our affairs to God).”
Note: Names in the story have been changed on request.
Srinagar, Nov 12: Sixteen people, including five women and three children, were killed on Tuesday when a passenger vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district, police said.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Doda, Mumtaz Ahmad said one more person was rescued from the accident site near Marmat area of the hilly district in a critical condition and admitted to hospital for treatment.
Twelve people were killed on the spot after the accident and four more succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment, the SSP told PTI.
Officials said the SUV was headed for Gowa village of Marmat from Kleeni when its driver lost control while negotiating a blind curve and the vehicle fell into the 700-metre-deep gorge around 3.25 pm.
The condition of the only survivor, who was initially treated at a local hospital and later shifted to the Government Medical College Hospital Jammu, is critical, they said.
Meanwhile, a minor boy was crushed to death by a speedy truck near Miran Sahib in the outskirts of Jammu on Tuesday.
Sumit Kumar, a Class 7 student, was crossing the road outside his house when he was hit by the truck, a police official said, adding that the erring driver was arrested and the vehicle seized.
Meanwhile, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Sanjeev Verma expressed grief and shock over loss of lives in Doda road mishap.
The Divisional Commissioner said that the accident is heart-wrenching. “We mourn all those who lost their lives and express deep condolences to the bereaved families” he said. He prayed for fast recovery of the survivor.
The administration has ordered an inquiry to ascertain the reasons for the tragic mishap.
Lead Stories
LG reviews situation post snowfall: ‘Provide relief for damaged structures, death and injuries’
Jammu, Nov 12: Lt. Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu reviewed the situation arising due to heavy snowfall in Kashmir and issued directions to the concerned officers for prompt action to alleviate miseries of people due to heavy snowfall in the Valley.
BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary; Bipul Pathak, Principal Secretary to Lt. Governor; Hirdesh Kumar, Secretary PDD; Sanjeev Verma, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Ajeet Kumar Sahu, Secretary PHE; Khurshid Ahmad Shah, Secretary PWD; Sh. Pandurang Pole, Secretary Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction and Alok Kumar, IGP Traffic, J&K participated in the meeting.
Through video conferencing, Baseer Ahmad Khan, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, briefed Lt. Governor about the status of the restoration of power supply, clearance of snow from the roads, adequacy of food items, fuel, water supply, availability of medicines and other basic amenities in areas of heavy snowfall in Kashmir.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir informed that machines have been put in place for snow clearance, Centres for relief facilities have been set up in 3 places on the National Highway with sufficient stocking of essential commodities including dry ration, heaters, blankets, and provision of water and toilet facilities. He added that these Centres have the capacity to accommodate 1500 people at a time.
It was informed that 602 winter dumping stations have been established in inaccessible areas of Kashmir with all the basic necessities stocked for 6 months, these areas are mostly situated in the districts of Kupwara, Bandipora, Baramulla, Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag and a few areas in Budgam district.
The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir informed that winter control rooms have been established at district and sub divisional level and their telephone numbers have been widely publicized. All officers/officials have been asked not to leave stations without proper permission. Besides officers are touring extensively in areas of their jurisdiction to oversee public facilities.
Khan informed that snow clearance from roads and restoration of electricity supply has been done in record time and train services in the Valley have again started working from today. It was informed that 100 % major roads and more than 95 % internal roads in every district of Kashmir have been cleared for traffic movement. 95 % of the electricity supply in Srinagar district, 78% in Pulwama, 73 % in Kulgam and 70% each in Shopian and Ganderbal has been restored. Provision of alternate electricity supply for Baramulla and Kupwara districts has been made from Lower Jhelum, Kishenganga and Dilena sub-station. This interim arrangement has been made till electric lines are restored in these districts.
As regarding water supply, Divisional Commissioner informed that 680 out of 859 water schemes are fully functional with 100 % water supply restoration in Srinagar, Anantnag, Bandipora, Kulgam and Ganderbal and more than 90 % in other districts. He informed that 80 stationary and 105 vehicle mounted pumps have been pre-positioned at vulnerable places to avoid inundation of low lying areas.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir further informed that 64,700 candidates appeared for 10th class examination today and adequate heating and lighting facilities were available at all the examination centres. He said that teams have also been constituted to check overcharging and hoarding of essential items by the traders.
Chief Secretary informed that Rs. 20 crore for Kashmir and Rs. 10 crore for Jammu have been provided and asked both the Divisional Commissioners to utilize the funds sanctioned under the SDRF.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir told that the SDRF teams have also been kept ready for carrying out rescue operations in upper reaches in case of landslides.
While reviewing the traffic management, Lt. Governor suggested for setting up kiosks wherever the space for traffic boy is not available. He directed deployment of adequate traffic personnel with provision of uninterrupted communication channels for smooth flow of traffic particularly along the Jammu-Srinagar Highway. He advised the PDD to ensure well designed towers for future including laying out of underground cables to protect the supply and directed the PHE Department for providing more vehicle mounted pumps.
Lt. Governor directed Divisional Commissioner Jammu to identify land for facilitating passengers who get stranded due to landslides on the Jammu-Srinagar Highway and create facilities for provision of food, water, toilets, tents and medicines.
Lt. Governor directed the administration to put in added efforts in mitigating the difficulties of the people and meeting their requirements. He advised constant monitoring and all out efforts for ensuring public convenience. He directed for providing immediate relief for damaged structures and in cases of death and those injured.
Srinagar, Nov 12: For different government departments, Jammu and Kashmir is still a state with its own flag.
Sample this: Satya Pal Malik is still shown as Governor on the official website of Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir.
Malik was recently appointed as Governor of Goa while Girish Chandra Murmu took over as Lieutenant Governor of J&K on October 31.
On August 5, Centre abrogated Article 370 and from November 1, the state was officially bifurcated into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
A picture displayed on the General Administration Department website shows erstwhile J&K’s state flag on the civil secretariat Srinagar. The state that was governed through its own constitution has lost legal status and the state flag.
The websites of the Jammu Kashmir Power Development Department and State Electricity Regularly Commission have neither been updated and nor its old information has been removed.
In fact websites of most of the departments are either not updated or defunct.
Take for instance the website of Legal Metrology Department has not been updated for months. Similarly, departments like Social Welfare Department, Forest, Health, Medical Education, Industries and Commerce have not been updated for months neither the outdated information has been removed from the websites.
Jammu and Kashmir Government Spokesperson Rohit Kansal said he will take up the issue with concerned departments for updating official websites.