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Stolen VDC weapon recovered in J&K Rajouri; investigation underway

File Photo: VDC member's training

Shivam Bakshi

Rajouri, July 21(NVI): A weapon reported stolen from the residence of a Village Defence Committee (VDC) member in Rajouri district has been recovered, officials said on Tuesday.

According to officials, the weapon belonging to Balwant Singh, a VDC member and resident of Bhella village, was reported missing from his house during the intervening night of July 19 and 20. The owner noticed the weapon was missing at around 3 a.m from the Shamshan Ghat area of the village.

Officials said the Special Operations Group (SOG) Khawas recovered the stolen weapon from Bhella on Tuesday.

They said the circumstances surrounding the theft and recovery are being investigated, adding that further details are awaited. The matter remains under verification.(NVI)

Landslide Damages Shed on Vaishno Devi Himkoti Track; No Casualties

Shivam Bakshi

Jammu, July 21 (NVI): A landslide struck the Himkoti route of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage near Devidwar in Reasi district on Tuesday evening, damaging a portion of the protective shed covering the track, officials said.

There was, however, no loss of life or injuries as the pilgrimage had already been suspended by the administration as a precautionary measure in view of adverse weather conditions, they said.

According to officials, debris and rocks rolled down the hillside near the Devidwar point, damaging a sizeable section of the overhead shed constructed along the pilgrimage route.

Authorities are assessing the damage and will undertake restoration work after ensuring the area is safe, officials added.

The yatra remains suspended until further orders in view of the prevailing weather conditions.—(NVI)

Another Terror Suspect Held for Allegedly Aiding Foreign Terrorists in J&K Kishtwar

Shivam Bakshi

Jammu, Jul 21 (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday arrested another alleged terror associate in Kishtwar district for allegedly providing logistical support to foreign terrorists operating in the Chatroo area, officials said.

The accused, identified as Mohd Rafiq Naik, a resident of Singhpur in Kishtwar, was arrested during the investigation of a terror-related case, they said.

According to police, preliminary investigation has revealed that Naik allegedly acted as a key handler of the Saifullah group in the Chatroo area and provided active assistance to foreign terrorists operating in the region.

Officials said his arrest marks a significant development in the investigation, which is aimed at unearthing the network supporting militant activities in the district.

Earlier, police had arrested two other alleged terror associates, Muneer Ahmed and Mashkoor Ahmed, both residents of Chatroo, in connection with the same case.

Police said further investigation is underway to establish the full extent of the accused’s role and identify other members of the alleged support network.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police reiterated its commitment to taking strict action against those involved in supporting terrorists activities and said all those found involved would be dealt with in accordance with the law.—(NVI)

J&K Flood Crisis BJP Accuses CM Omar Abdullah of Political Theatrics, Seeks Enhanced Relief

Shivam Bakshi

Jammu, July 21 (NVI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday accused Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of indulging in “political theatrics” in New Delhi while Jammu and Kashmir was grappling with the aftermath of flash floods, cloudbursts and landslides, particularly in the districts of Poonch and Rajouri.

Addressing a press conference in Jammu, Leader of Opposition in the J&K Legislative Assembly Sunil Sharma, accompanied by former minister Shama Lal Sharma, MLA Mohan Lal Bhagat, BJP vice president Dr Shenaaz Ganaie, general secretary Gopal Mahajan and spokesperson Zorawar Singh Jamwal, alleged that the National Conference had “chosen politics over humanity” at a time when rescue and relief operations were underway in rain-hit areas.

Sharma said the Chief Minister, as head of the government, should have remained in Jammu and Kashmir to personally monitor rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures instead of participating in a political protest in New Delhi.

The BJP demanded an ex-gratia of ₹20 lakh for the families of those killed in cloudbursts and flash floods, six months’ free ration for affected families, immediate rehabilitation of those displaced, restoration of damaged religious institutions and temporary shelters for slum dwellers in Rajouri who lost their homes and belongings.

The party also sought similar relief for families affected by shooting stones in Doda’s Ragi Nullah and those whose structures were damaged in the Kyar-Dachhan belt of Kishtwar.

Sharma said a BJP team led by former party president Ravinder Raina had rushed to the cloudburst-affected Loran-Mandi area to assess the situation and meet affected families.

Criticising the Chief Minister, Sharma alleged that Omar Abdullah was more focused on political activities in Delhi than supervising rescue operations in the flood-hit regions.

He claimed that many affected families were still awaiting assistance and said the administration should prioritise relief, rehabilitation and restoration efforts.

The BJP leaders also said party workers in the affected districts were compiling a comprehensive report on losses to houses, commercial establishments, crops, livestock and agricultural land, which would be submitted to the party leadership for further representation before the Union Territory administration and the Centre.

Accusing the National Conference government of failing to respond adequately to the crisis, Sharma alleged that the recent events had exposed the “moral and operational bankruptcy” of the ruling dispensation and urged the Chief Minister to return to Jammu and Kashmir to oversee relief measures. (NVI)

Heavy Rain in J&K Budgam’s Upper Catchment Triggers Flash Flooding Downstream in Beerwah

Srinagar, July 21 (NVI): Heavy rainfall over the upper catchment of the Sukhnag River in central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Tuesday triggered a sudden surge in the river’s water level, leading to flash flooding in several downstream areas, with Beerwah being the worst affected, officials and locals said.

According to officials, an intense spell of rain lashed the Tosa Maidan area, the origin and upper catchment of the Sukhnag River, during the late afternoon. The heavy rainfall generated a large volume of runoff, causing the river to swell rapidly as it flowed through Arizal, Zanigam, Sail, Beerwah, Rathsun, Makhama, Kawoosa and Narbal.

The overflowing river inundated several low-lying areas in Beerwah, damaging roads, residential properties and other infrastructure, officials said.

Locals said the flooding in parts of Beerwah was severe, with some describing the situation as worse than the devastating floods of 2014. However, there was no official confirmation of the comparison.

Officials said the incident underlined the vulnerability of downstream areas to flash floods caused by intense rainfall over upper catchments, even when weather conditions remain relatively normal in lower reaches.

The administration is assessing the damage, while teams have been deployed to monitor the situation and assist affected residents. There were no immediate reports of any loss of life.(NVI)

Div Com Kashmir Reviews Flood Preparedness in Kulgam, Directs High Alert Amid Inclement Weather

Srinagar, Jul 21 (NVI): Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg on Tuesday reviewed flood preparedness in Kulgam district and directed officials to maintain a high level of readiness to deal with any weather-related emergency amid continuing inclement weather conditions.

Chairing a meeting to assess the preparedness of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Garg reviewed mitigation measures and the operational readiness of departments involved in relief, rescue and rehabilitation, officials said.

Deputy Commissioner Kulgam Shahzad Alam briefed the meeting on the district’s preparedness, including department-wise mitigation plans and the status of emergency response mechanisms.

The Divisional Commissioner instructed all departments to ensure immediate deployment of field teams whenever required and stressed continuous monitoring of water levels, identification of vulnerable flood-prone areas, strategic positioning of manpower and machinery, and full operational readiness of the district control room.

He also reviewed the availability of essential services, including healthcare, drinking water, electricity, telecommunications and essential commodities, and directed the concerned departments to ensure uninterrupted public services during adverse weather conditions.

Garg further asked officials to issue timely public advisories and intensify awareness campaigns in vulnerable areas to reduce the impact of any possible flood situation.

Earlier in the day, the Divisional Commissioner visited Mata Kulwagishori Temple at Bungam and Mata Katyani Temple at Kakran to review arrangements for the upcoming Annual Maha Yagya, officials added.(NVI)

J&K Govt Extends Summer Vacation Till July 26, Schools to Reopen on July 27

Srinagar, July 21 (NVI): The Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday extended the summer vacation for all government and recognised private schools in the Kashmir division and winter zones of the Jammu division till July 26 in view of the prevailing weather conditions.

Education Minister Sakina Itoo said the schools will now reopen on July 27.

“Keeping the safety and well-being of students, teachers and their families as our foremost priority, the summer vacation for all government and recognised private schools in the Kashmir division and winter zones of the Jammu division is hereby extended up to July 26,” Itoo said in a post on X.

She said the schools will reopen on Monday, July 27.

The minister also urged people to remain safe, stay vigilant and follow advisories issued by the concerned authorities.(NVI)

J&K LG Orders Speedy Restoration, Intensified Rescue in Flood-Hit Rajouri, Poonch

File Photo: LG J&K Manoj Sinha

Shivam Bakshi

Jammu, July 21 (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday reviewed the damage caused by heavy rains, flash floods and landslides in Rajouri and Poonch districts, directing all departments to work round the clock to expedite rescue, relief and restoration efforts.

In a post on X, Sinha said he spoke with senior officials and the deputy commissioners of the two districts to assess the damage to residential houses and key public infrastructure.

He said the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, and the Inspector General of Police (Jammu Zone) are on the ground supervising relief operations, while all departments have been instructed to ensure close coordination in restoring normalcy.

The Lieutenant Governor said reopening key roads and restoring power and water supply remain the administration’s top priorities. He added that 356 of the 435 roads damaged due to the inclement weather have already been restored.

Sinha urged people to avoid non-essential travel in vulnerable areas and strictly follow safety advisories issued by the district administration.

He said teams of the SDRF, NDRF, Army, BRO, NHAI, J&K Police and Civil Defence are jointly carrying out rescue and relief operations, while Quick Response Teams have been deployed in vulnerable locations.

Expressing grief over the loss of lives in the natural calamity, Sinha conveyed condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.—(NVI)

Indian Army Restores Connectivity, Extends Medical Aid Amid Flash Floods in J&K Poonch

Shivam Bakshi

Poonch, Jul 21 (NVI): The Indian Army on Tuesday launched multiple humanitarian assistance operations in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, restoring road connectivity, clearing debris from a national highway and providing medical aid to villagers affected by heavy rain and flash floods.

Officials said troops of the White Knight Corps responded to several emergencies triggered by incessant rainfall in different parts of the district.

At Jaran Wali Gali, a boundary wall of PM SHRI Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya collapsed onto parked vehicles, blocking movement on the Jammu-Poonch National Highway (NH-144A). Army personnel cleared the debris, rescued the trapped vehicles and restored traffic on the highway.

In another operation near Khari Karmara, heavy rain damaged a key bridge, disrupting connectivity to nearby villages. The Army, in coordination with the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and local residents, restored the damaged link within about three hours, enabling the resumption of movement.

Meanwhile, at Dara Sangla, where flash floods washed away an iron bridge and cut off access to the village, an Army medical team crossed the flooded stream using an improvised wooden log bridge to reach the affected residents.

The medical team provided first aid to an injured civilian, conducted health assessments and distributed essential medicines among villagers, including women and children, officials said.

They said the Army’s timely response helped restore connectivity, ensured emergency medical assistance and supported relief efforts in the rain-affected areas of Poonch.(NVI)

Arms, Ammunition Recovered Near LoC in Uri J&K

File Photo

Srinagar, July 21 (NVI): Security forces on Tuesday recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition from the Line of Control (LoC) in the Gawalta area of Uri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, officials said.

Officials said that an Army unit deployed along the LoC recovered the cache during an operation in the area. The recovered items include one AK-47 rifle, two MP5 submachine guns, four pistols, one AK-47 magazine, four MP5 magazines, 12 pistol magazines, 839 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, 255 rounds of MP5 ammunition, 50 live pistol rounds and a wire cutter.

They said a police team reached the spot soon after the recovery, took possession of the seized arms and ammunition and completed all legal formalities.

Meanwhile, police have registered a case in connection with the recovery and initiated further investigation to ascertain the source and intended destination of the recovered arms and ammunition. (NVI)

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