Page 2 - Srinagar

Promise made to India fulfilled: Rahul after hoisting tricolour in Srinagar

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday unfurled the national flag at the historic clock tower of Lal Chowk in the heart of Srinagar as part of the Kanyakumari-Kashmir 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' and said a "promise" made to India has been fulfilled. Gandhi described the yatra as the deepest and beautiful experience of his life. The security for the 10-minute event was at its peak as all roads in a one-kilometre radius leading to the chowk, which holds symbolic importance for the city, were sealed off from Saturday night and no vehicular movement was allowed. Barricades were set up and concertina wires installed at all entry points with a heavy deployment of security personnel, while shops, business establishments and the weekly flea market were closed as part of the security exercise. Gandhi, along with his sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, party leaders and workers, resumed the final lap of the yatra in Jammu and Kashmir from Srinagar's Pantha Chowk around 10:45

Rahul Gandhi unfurls national flag at Srinagar's Lal Chowk as 'BJY' ends

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday unfurled the national flag at the historic clock tower of Lal Chowk here as part of the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', amid stringent security measures usually reserved for a prime ministerial visit. Taking a 30-minute break from the Kanyakumari to Kashmir foot march at Sonawar, Gandhi drove to the Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters on Maulana Azad Road before heading to the clock tower, locally known as 'Ghanta Ghar', to unfurl the tricolour. Gandhi was accompanied by his sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and party leaders from Jammu and Kashmir for the flag hoisting. The security for the 10-minute event was at its peak as all roads leading to Lal Chowk had been sealed off from Saturday night and no vehicular movement was allowed. Shops, business establishments and the weekly flea market were closed as part of the security drill for the flag unfurling by the former Congress president.

Rahul Gandhi resumes final lap of 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' from Srinagar

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi resumed his 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' from Srinagar's Panthachowk on Sunday, as the foot march entered its last day. Gandhi, along with his sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, began the yatra at 10:45 am in his trademark white T-shirt. The Gandhis joined hundreds of Congress supporters, including women, who were seen carrying the tricolour and party flags. The yatra will cover a distance of seven kilometres up to the Sonwar area of the city. After a brief halt there, the Gandhis will reach the Lal Chowk City Centre to unfurl the tricolour. The whole area around Lal Chowk has been sealed off and a multi-layer security ring deployed around the city centre. After Lal Chowk, the yatra will travel to Nehru Park in the Boulevard area of the city, marking an end to the 4,080-km walkathon, which started from Kanyakumari on September 7 and traversed 75 districts across the country. On Monday, Gandhi will unfurl the tricolour at the party ..

JDU chief Lalan Singh to skip conclusion of Cong's Yatra in Srinagar

Janata Dal (United) president Lalan Singh on Thursday expressed his inability to attend the concluding event of the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra in Srinagar on January 30 and asked the Congress to take appropriate steps to unite the opposition. In a letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Singh cited his scheduled engagement for a political programme in poll-bound Nagaland to skip the Yatra's conclusion. Though the Congress has invited heads of several non-BJP parties to attend the event to finish the mega exercised aimed at rejuvenating its organisation in the run up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, it remains to be seen how many of them turn up. Some regional party chiefs may send others to represent their organisation at a time when the opposition is itself divided over what shape any such alliance against the BJP should take and who should be spearheading it. Singh said, "My party sincerely feels that the need of the hour is an unified opposition and expects that the

Republic Day celebrated across Kashmir, relaxed atmosphere in Srinagar

Republic Day was celebrated across Kashmir on Thursday with functions held at all district headquarters of the valley amidst tight security arrangements, officials said here. The main Republic Day function in the valley was held at the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium at Sonawar here. Advisor to Lieutenant Governor Rajesh Rai Bhatnagar was the chief guest and presided over the function. Braving bone-chilling cold, contingents of the police, CRPF, NCC and school children took part in the march past where Bhatnagar took the salute. After the parade, artistes from various parts of the union territory performed at the cultural event. In his address, Bhatnagar highlighted the steps taken by the LG administration and the central government to improve the development scenario and security situation in Kashmir. BJP workers led by the party's state general secretary Ashok Koul unfurled the national flag at Lal Chowk's clock tower. While security force personnel were deployed in numbers to en

Relaxed security situation in Srinagar on India's 74th Republic Day

Security arrangements were eased in Srinagar city on Republic Day with fewer check posts set up in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, while in a rare break from practice, internet services were not suspended on Thursday. Security forces were deployed in adequate numbers on the roads leading to the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium , the venue of main function in the valley, but the concertina wires that used to block the intersections in the city were missing, officials said. Check posts were set up at very few places in the city, allowing for free movement of people and vehicles. Suspension of mobile phone and internet services on Republic Day and Independence Day have been part of the security drill in the Valley since 2005 when terrorists used a mobile phone to trigger an IED blast near the venue of Independence Day celebrations.

Ensure proper security for Bharat Jodo Yatra in Srinagar: ADGP Security

Additional Director General of Police, Security, Jammu and Kashmir, S D Singh Jamwal on Wednesday directed officers to ensure proper security for the Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra in the city. Jamwal chaired a meeting of officers of the police, Army, CAPF and the civil administration at Sher-i-Kashmir Cricket Stadium here to finalise the arrangements for Republic Day celebrations. He also reviewed security arrangements for the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the G20 event to be held here. With reference to Congress' foot march, Jamwal emphasised upon the officers that the security for the Yatra should be taken care of in coordination with all sister agencies and stakeholders. He stressed that nodal officers from all security and police agencies should coordinate the arrangements as per the guidelines. The ADGP also directed the officers to make necessary security arrangements for Republic Day celebrations. He stressed on proper and intensive foot-patrolling, surveillance of the area in and a

All security measures in place for BJY along Jammu-Srinagar highway: CRPF

Security forces are on alert and have put in place all measures along the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway for the safety of Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, officials said on Wednesday, a day before it is scheduled to reach Kashmir. CRPF Deputy Inspector General (Operations), South Kashmir, Alok Avasthi said the force is anyway always on alert. "We are more alert as far as the Bharat Jodo Yatra is concerned. Otherwise also, we are alert always. Whoever travels on the highway should feel safe, we have taken all security measures," he told reporters in Pulwama. Asked about the security measures for Republic Day, Avasthi said any intelligence about attempts to vitiate the peace here will be acted upon strongly. "We are fully alert. If there are intelligence inputs of any element trying to disrupt peace, we will destroy those elements," the CRPF officer said. Earlier, the CRPF distributed sewing machines among beneficiaries who had approached the CRPF helpline 'Madadgaar'.

Fresh light snowfall in parts of Kashmir; Srinagar-Jammu highway closed

Some areas in Kashmir received intermittent light snowfall amid a decrease in minimum temperatures in most parts of the Valley, officials said on Saturday. The bad weather also forced closure of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. Some areas in the Kashmir Valley, especially the upper reaches, received fresh light snowfall early on Saturday, the officials said. Pahalgam, the tourist resort town in south Kashmir's Anantnag district, recorded 13 inches of snow in the last 24 hours, followed by eight inches in Kokernag, six inches in Qazigund and four inches in Shopian, they said. There was very light snowfall in Srinagar, Ganderbal and some other areas in the plains. Some other areas in Jammu and Kashmir received intermittent rainfall. The inclement weather also hit air traffic to and from the Valley with many flights being delayed. The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, the only all-weather road connecting the Valley with the rest of the country, was closed for traffic due to shoo

At minus 6.4 degrees Celsius Srinagar records coldest night of season

At minus 6.4 degrees Celsius, J&K's Srinagar city recorded the coldest night of the season so far on Thursday.

Grenade attack on CRPF vehicle in Srinagar misses target, injures civilian

A grenade was hurled targeting a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) vehicle in Srinagar on Sunday night.The incident occurred at MK Chowk in Srinagar. However, the grenade missed the target and caused injury to a local boy."There was an attempt to throw a grenade on a CRPF vehicle in a crowded area of MK Chowk, Srinagar. it missed the target and caused a minor splinter injury to one local boy. Operations were launched in the area to nab the culprit," said Srinagar Police.Further details awaited.

Airtel announces launch of 5G service in Jammu, Srinagar in a phased manner

Telecom operator Bharti Airtel on Wednesday announced the launch of its 5G services in Jammu and Srinagar. Airtel, in a statement, said that its '5G Plus' services will be available to customers in a phased manner as the company continues to construct its network and complete the roll out. Customers with 5G enabled devices will enjoy high speed Airtel '5G Plus' network at no extra cost until the roll out is more widespread, the company said. Adarsh Verma, Chief Operating Officer of Bharti Airtel - Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, said: "I am thrilled to announce the launch of Airtel 5G Plus in Jammu and Srinagar. Airtel customers can now experience ultrafast network and enjoy speeds upto 20-30 times faster than the current 4G speeds." "We are in the process of lighting up the Union territories of J&K and Ladakh which will allow customers to enjoy superfast access to high-definition video streaming, gaming, multiple chatting, instant uploading of photos...," Verma added. Airtel 5G Plus .

Srinagar freezes at minus 5.5 degrees C, coldest in this season so far

The 40-day long period of harsh winter cold, called the 'Chillai Kalan' in local parlance, started on a frozen note for the people in J&K's Srinagar city who faced the coldest night of this season so far on Thursday at minus 5.5 degree Celsius as the minimum temperature.

How smart must smart city planners of Srinagar be?

A city with a rich heritage like Srinagar merits that its planners strike a delicate balance between its great past and its inherent fault lines

Srinagar makes it to the list of top places to visit in 2023, says report

Srinagar makes it to the top places of 2023 to visit in Conde Nast Traveler's latest article, 'The 23 Best Places to Go in 2023

Temp drops below freezing point in Srinagar for the first time this season

For the first time this season, the minimum temperature dropped below the freezing point in Srinagar on Wednesday, according to the weather department

3 hybrid militants arrested in J-K's Srinagar; arms, ammunition recovered

Three 'hybrid' militants have been arrested in Jammu and Kashmir's summer capital, police said on Sunday. "Army (2RR) and Srinagar Police arrested three hybrid terrorists along with a huge consignment of 03 AK rifles, 02 Pistols, 09 Magazines & 200 rounds from outskirts of Srinagar," Kashmir Zone Police said on Twitter. An investigation is going on in the matter, they said.

4 people killed, 6 injured in landslides in Jammu-Kashmir's Kishtwar

Four people, including a policeman, were killed and six injured after landslides struck near the under-construction Ratle power project in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district on Saturday, officials said. An operation to find and rescue survivors trapped under the debris has concluded, they said. Labourers were working on the construction of a link road near the Ratle power project site and a JCB machine was digging when a big boulder rolled down, trapping the workers, Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner (DC) Devansh Yadav told PTI. As an operation team comprising six people rushed to the spot to rescue those trapped under the debris, another landslide hit the area, burying more people, the officials said. Yadav said a rescue operation was launched immediately and six people, including an assistant sub-inspector of police, were pulled out from the debris and taken to the hospital. Four people, including a policeman and the JCB operator, were killed in the incident. The JCB operator was

2-day International Film Festival of Srinagar opens to jam-packed audience

With much fanfare and ceremony, 'The International Film Festival' of Srinagar (TIFFS) began with the first-ever Red-Carpet show for the local artists present here in Srinagar on Saturday.TIFFS will take place at Tagore Hall over the course of two days, on October 29 and 30, and the closing event will include a major prize presentation. 30 foreign submissions will be screened, including short films, documentaries, and music videos. The location had a festive appearance and was quite popular with both artists and the general people. An incredibly large crowd attended the inaugural ceremony.Divisional Commissioner Kashmir PK Pole was the chief guest on the occasion while Manoj Kumar Pandita, AIG, PHQ and Satish Vimal, writer, poet, and senior broadcaster were the guests of honour.The event started with the traditional Rouf and solo dance followed by a welcome address by Festival Director Rohit Bhat."We felt a strong urge to bring Srinagar its own international film festival, with ...

Srinagar's 7-yrs-old mosaic artist wins gold in National Cube Championship

The youth in the valley are honing their skills in art, literature, education, technology, health and art. Among them, there is Muhammad Ashar Chasti, who made a name for himself in mosaic art