Pulwama, Dec 7: The ongoing land marking for the proposed Pulwama–Shopian railway line has triggered strong resentment across several villages, where residents fear losing their fertile agricultural land, considered their primary source of livelihood.

The demarcation work, carried out through the installation of short poles to indicate the proposed alignment, has alarmed farmers who say the project threatens thriving apple orchards and paddy fields sustaining thousands of families.

Officials have been visiting villages, including Gudoora, Kangan, Babhara and neighbouring areas over the past week to mark the corridor. The move prompted farmers to rush to the sites, demanding that the work be halted until their concerns are addressed. Locals said they were caught off guard when they noticed poles being erected inside orchards and farmland without prior consultation.

“The area is currently being surveyed, and poles are being installed to demarcate the land,” said Ghulam Mohammad, a farmer from Kangan, describing the act as deeply distressing for land-dependent households. Several orchard owners said the fresh round of surveying has revived year-long anxiety, noting that this is the fourth time the alignment has been examined.

A similar demarcation exercise last year had sparked widespread protests, forcing authorities to put the process on hold temporarily. However, the resumption of land marking has reignited tensions. Altaf Ahmad, a resident and political activist from Zadoora, questioned the need for the project, arguing that Pulwama and Shopian are already well-connected by road. “There is absolutely no need for a railway line that will destroy our orchards. Hundreds of families depend on this land to survive,” he said.

Villagers insist they are not against development but believe that infrastructure should not come at the cost of agricultural sustainability. They say alternative barren land should be identified, or the government should explore improving existing road connectivity rather than cutting through productive orchards.

Residents in Newa echoed similar concerns, accusing authorities of repeatedly targeting farmland for different projects. “First it was the engineering college, and now the railway project. Every time, the burden falls on our farms,” they said.

Farmers warned that they will resist any attempt to convert agricultural belts into railway corridors. “Our orchards are our economic lifeline. We will not allow these poles to turn into railway tracks,” they said, urging the government to reconsider the alignment and initiate dialogue with affected families before proceeding further.

The rural development department’s Block Development Office in Gund continues to operate without a full-time Block Development Officer (BDO), causing inconvenience to residents who say development-related work has slowed over the past two months.

Sources said the previous BDO was transferred recently, but no permanent replacement has been posted since.

The charge is currently held additionally by the BDO Kangan, who is managing two blocks simultaneously. Locals have demanded immediate posting of a full-time officer to ensure swift public service delivery and redressal of routine administrative matters.

Srinagar, Dec 7: Ujala Cygnus Hospital (UCH) Srinagar achieved a major milestone by becoming the first hospital in Srinagar and the second in the entire J&K to receive the prestigious NABH-Certified Emergency Excellence Recognition.

A statement of Ujala Hospital issued here said that the certification acknowledges the hospital’s commitment to delivering high-quality emergency care in line with stringent standards set by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH).

The statement said the recognition reflects the Emergency Department’s advanced clinical readiness, skilled medical workforce, and continuous adoption of modern technologies, placing it among the most trusted emergency care centres in the region.

It said the hospital has introduced several cutting-edge systems including digital triage tools, automated vital-sign monitoring and rapid diagnostic technologies including bedside ABG analysers, enabling faster decision-making and improved patient outcomes.

“With dedicated emergency beds, robust triage protocols, real-time monitoring systems and a seamless IT-enabled workflow, the Emergency Department ensures rapid stabilisation, accurate diagnosis and smooth care delivery,” the statement said. “The integration of expert manpower, strong infrastructure and advanced systems positions UCH-Srinagar among the leading emergency care facilities in J&K.”

Quoting Vice President, Quality, Ujala Cygnus, Jasjit Singh, the statement said the recognition reflects the hospital’s “unwavering commitment to raising the bar for emergency care in the region.”

“At UCH-Srinagar, we believe every second counts in an emergency. Our team has worked tirelessly to ensure our systems, training and technology meet the highest national benchmarks,” he said. “The certification motivates the hospital to further strengthen services for people of J&K.”

The statement also quoted Managing Director and Unit Head, Emergency Department, Dr Pervez Ahmed Sofi, as saying that the accreditation is a testament to the dedication and clinical precision of the emergency team.

“Managing emergencies requires speed, coordination, advanced protocols and round-the-clock preparedness. With this certification, we have strengthened our commitment to delivering timely, evidence-based and life-saving care to every patient,” he said.

The statement said the Emergency Department’s operations are fully aligned with NABH Emergency Care Excellence Guidelines through a comprehensive framework covering human-resource management, safety protocols, resuscitation readiness, care delivery, medication management and patient-safety practices.

It said integration of EMR systems, standardised documentation and continuous quality-assurance processes ensures accuracy, transparency and adherence to national emergency-care benchmarks.

The statement said that with this milestone, UCH-Srinagar has reaffirmed its position as a leader in emergency medicine, setting new standards in patient safety, clinical efficiency and rapid-response care in the region.