SRINAGAR: At least eight persons were injured after two vehicles faced a head-on collision in Bramri area in Kupwara district this afternoon.

An official told GNS that an Eco vehicle bearing  number JK09C 3081 and a Tata Sumo bearing number JK09 1114 collided head on at Maidanpora Bramri, leaving eight persons injured.

The injured persons were evacuated SDH Kupwara with a minor girl with critical injuries taken to District Hospital Handwara. 

More details awaited. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: A CRPF constable died after falling unconscious during physical training at District Police Lines Kupwara on Thursday morning, an official said.

The official told GNS that the CRPF constable namely Sreejith J of 162 Batallion fell unconscious during routine PT. 

"The trooper was immediately removed from the site to SDH Kupwara, where the doctors declared him dead on arrival," the official added. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: In a latest development vis-à-vis the extension of approximately 33.7 kilometre long railway line from Sopore to Kupwara under the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, the Kupwara administration has sought latest requisite data from various offices in the district for the purpose of ‘Final Location Survey’ (FLS) by the Railway authorities.

“Dy. Chief Engineer/C-II, Northern Railway, USBRL Project, Banihal vide communication under reference has conveyed that Northern Railway is conducting the Final Location Survey (FLS) for extending the Railway Line from Sopore to Kupwara. An assessment of the anticipated traffic on this proposed new line has to be made as a part of the project report which will help in deciding the requisite infrastructure at various stations,” reads a communiqué by ADC Kupwara to General Manager DIC, Chief Agricultural Officer, ARTO, Assistant Director FCS&CA, Area Marketing Officer, Deputy Registrar Cooperatives Society Kupwara and Executive Officer MC Kupwara/Handwara/Langate.

“Now therefore, you are requested to provide latest data pertaining to your respective departments with regard to the population of the towns in the Project area and the transportation requirement for various commodities i.e Food Grains, Fertilizer, Cement, Diesel, Petrol, Steel Etc for the Project Area,” reads the communiqué, a copy of which lies with GNS.

“This requires your personal attention and needs to be submitted to this Office (ADC Office) within 03 days positively,” reads the communiqué further. (GNS)

Dr. Ab Qayoom

SRINAGAR: Power supply and road connectivity remained interrupted across distict Kupwara after J&K received its 2nd snowfall of the season on Sunday.

The normal life was severely affected due to uninterrupted snowfall in north Kashmir. The snowfall left most parts of the Kupwara district without electricity while traffic movement too was affected. Most parts of the Kupwara district remained disconnected with the district headquarter.

In many of the adjacent villages of Kupwara, Handwara and Langate, the snow clearing machines had not been pressed into service resulting in the hardships of the locals.

In Kupwara, the upper reaches received heavy snowfall, villages disconnected with the district and sub district headquarters.

The locals said that the snow clearing machines did not reach their areas.The road connectivity between different plane and higher areas too remained severely affected following the heavy snowfall on Sunday evening.

The locals added that following the heavy snowfall, the transporters could not resume their services as the roads were slippery. The snowfall also caused disruption in electricity while drinking water supply too remained affected.

"The upper reaches including plain areas like Monabal Makal, Rangnath, Qaziabad, Pharou, Qalamabad, Haril, Langate, and several other villages have received more than a feet snowfall. However, the authorities’ failure to clear the roads has multiplied the problems of locals here.

People in these areas also alleged that the authorities failed to clear roads off snow facing severe inconvenience. The residents of scores of villages located in the upper reaches of the Kupwara, Handwara, Langate and other areas urged the authorities to press snow clearing machines into service following heavy snowfall in the area.

The residents said, "We are without electricity and are disconnected with the district and sub district headquarters  as roads have not been cleared. We urge authorities to take speedy steps to clear the roads."

With the second snowfall across the district, the majority of areas remained cutoff from district headquarters throwing normal life out of gear. Snowfall led to the closure of Kupwara-Karnah, Keran, Machil, Budnamal, Jumgund and other roads leading to upper reaches of the district.

The business establishments and transport remained affected by and large and traffic off the roads with minimum movement of general public and less percentage of government employees in offices.

The snowfall also caused widespread power and drinking water disruption giving tough time to netizens. People from Rajwar Handwara said that whenever there is snowfall, their area remains cut off from the main town for days together.

The administration which has established control rooms across the subdivisions of the district said that the snow clearance operations were initiated from early in the morning.

Talking to HEADLINES TODAY, concern officals said that, "Main roads in the district had been made accessible while working hard to make all the link roads motorable soon for civil administration."

"Efforts are on to restore the electricity as soon as possible," PDD. (HT)

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Police in Kupwara apprehended a militant associate with arms and ammunition on Friday. 

"Today on 16/02/2024 police Kupwara apprehended one person whose identity was ascertained as Asif Mushtaq Wani son of Mushtaq Ahmed Wani resident of Galizoo Kupwara at a surprise Naka checking jointly established by Police Kupwara, PC Kupwara, 47RR and 162 CRPF near BEd college Dragmullah", reads a statement issued to GNS. 

"The person tried to escape on seeking the alert joint security forces party , however he was apprehended after putting hectic efforts. On the search of the said person one Pistol Chinese Make, one pistol magazine and 6 pistol rounds were recovered from his possession", reads the statement. 

"In this regard case FIR No 37/2024 under relevant sections of law has been registered in police station Kupwara and investigation has been taken up", reads the statement further. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Authorities issued a “low danger” avalanche warning in the higher reaches of Jammu Kashmir’s Kupwara district during the next 24 hours, officials said.

Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Authority (JKDMA) on Friday said a “low danger” level avalanche is likely to occur at 2800 metres above sea level in the higher reaches of Kupwara district during the next 24 hours.
People living in these areas have been advised to take precautions and avoid venturing in the avalanche prone areas till further orders.

Upper reaches of Kashmir valley including the Kupwara district received light to moderate snowfall on Friday. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: Two militants have been killed in an ongoing encounter in Machil Sector in north Kashmir's Kupwara district. 

Taking to microblogging site 'X' (formerly Twitter), Kashmir Police Zone Police wrote; "Based on a specific information provided by Kupwara Police, an #encounter has started in Machhal sector in which two #terrorists have been killed so far."

"Operation underway. Further details shall follow", it wrote further. (GNS)

Dr. Ab Qayoom

SRINAGAR:  In response to the public demand, a surprise visit was conducted on Thursday during the early hours around 10:30 am to several health and wellness centers within the Langate Medical Block.

Surprisingly, three medical sub-centers located in village Ujroo, Guloora, and Yaroo were found to be locked during the designated duty hours.

The locals have expressed their frustration and demanded strict action against the absent employees responsible for the negligence.

Senior Citizens in the community have raised concerns, fuming and said it is 'disheartening'  that the employees leave before their scheduled duty hours, leaving the public without access to crucial healthcare services.

Meanwhile, the Block Medical Officer (BMO) of Langate has issued a stern warning and initiated proceedings to hold the salaries of the absent employees. He emphasized the importance of adhering to the guidelines set by the health center department.

It is essential to note that this incident has raised further criticism in light of today's visit by the Lieutenant Governor (LG) to Kupwara, underscoring the urgent need for accountability and improvements in the functioning of these health centers. 

SRINAGAR: Three residential houses were gutted and another damaged in separate fire incidents in Lolab area in north Kashmir's Kupwara district, reports and officials said. 

Reports reaching GNS said that a fire broke out from a residential house belonging to one Mohammad Aarif Mir son of Late Haji Mohi Ud Din Mir, a resident of Machil, currently residing in Badd Gagal and another house belonging to Lal Din Chard son of Deen Mohammad, reducing both the structures to ashes. 

Another house was also damaged in the incident. 

The fire was brought under control after intervention from the F&ES Department alongside Army, Police and locals. 

Another incident has been reported from Shatmuqam Lolab, where a house belonging to Bashir Ahmad Shah son of Abdul Salaam Shah caught flames and soon after led to complete damage of the structure. 

Officials confirming the incidents told GNS that the cause of fire was being ascertained. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Two unidentified militants were killed as security forces foiled an infiltration bid in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district on Saturday, Police said.

Police also said a major terror plan was neutralized with the killing of two infiltrators who were heavily armed.

The latest bid was foiled along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kumkadi area of Machil sector of Kupwara.

The counter infiltration operation was jointly launched by Army and police based on intelligence input provided by Kupwara Police.

“The joint team observed movement of terrorists, employing meticulous tactics, the terrorists were intercepted who fired indiscriminately upon the joint team. The fire was retaliated, leading to the elimination of two heavily armed unidentified terrorists,” a police spokesman said.

The identification and affiliation of the slain militants was being ascertained.

They said two AK series rifles, four AK magazines, 90 rounds, a Pistol (Pak origin), a pouch, cash Rs 2100 (Pak currency) & other incriminating materials was recovered from the site of encounter.

Extensive search of the area was still being carried out.

Police said the neutralized terrorists were found to be heavily armed, equipped with sophisticated weaponry which indicated their malicious intent to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in the valley.

“However, due to the timely and effective response by the Police & Army, their plans were foiled and a significant threat to peace and stability in the area was neutralized,” the police spokesman said.

A case under relevant sections of law has been registered.

This is the second infiltration bid that has been foiled by forces in Kashmir in the past fortnight.

On September 16, three infiltrators were killed in a gun battle in the Uri sector of Baramulla district. After that counter infiltration operation, the Army said the infiltrating militants received “fire support” from the Pakistan Army. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: Police on Saturday claimed to have killed two unidentified militants as Infiltration bid had been foiled. 

On X Kupwara Police wrote, "Based on an intelligence input provided by Kupwara Police,in a joint operation carried by Army and Police in kumkadiarea of Machal sector,2 infiltrating militants have been killed so far.The operation is still in progress.

In another update, Kupwara Police wrote, " 
So far, 02 Aks, 4AKMags, 90rds, 01 Pak Pistol, 01 Pouch and Rs. 2100 Pak currency etc has been recovered from encounter site. Search continues.(GNS)