Bandipora, Aug 24: A cloudburst struck the Gurez-Bandipora road on Saturday evening, triggering heavy landslides at multiple spots and forcing the closure of this vital mountain route. Several vehicles remained stranded as mounds of debris blocked the highway.

Officials said that the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) immediately launched a massive clearance drive and worked through the night to restore traffic. Bulldozers and earthmovers were pressed into service, and despite continuous rain and difficult conditions, the road was cleared by dawn.

Around 5:00 am on Sunday, stranded vehicles were finally allowed to move, bringing relief to the passengers who had spent the night waiting.

The impact of the cloudburst was also felt in nearby villages, including Kanzalwan and Korulbal, where residents were alarmed by gushing waters and temporary flooding. Many families moved to safer places for the night but returned home on Sunday morning as water levels receded.

Meanwhile, traffic has been resumed on the Gurez-Bandipora road, but authorities have urged commuters to avoid unnecessary travel as the stretch remains vulnerable to fresh landslides.

Adding to the weather impact, light snowfall was reported at Razdan Pass on Saturday evening, accompanied by widespread rain across the region. The change in weather has brought a dip in temperatures, but officials have advised motorists to drive cautiously on slippery, mountainous stretches.

The Meteorological Department has forecast light to moderate precipitation in the higher reaches of north Kashmir over the next 24 hours. [KNT]

Srinagar, Aug 23: The Jammu and Kashmir government has put 46 new hydropower projects to bid, drawing an encouraging response from private players and setting the stage for a fresh wave of clean energy generation in the Union Territory.

Officials say the projects, advertised in June this year, mark a significant step towards harnessing J&K’s vast hydroelectric potential while creating jobs and easing the burden of costly power imports.

The projects include 26 schemes under the Swiss Challenge mode and 20 under the Independent Power Producer (IPP) route, with a cumulative capacity of 78.65 megawatts.

The response has exceeded expectations, with 73 bids received for Swiss Challenge projects and 25 companies expressing interest in IPP sites.

Secretary Science and Technology Department, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, who first announced the development in a tweet, said the administration was determined to unlock the immense hydro potential of the Western Himalayas. “In just two months, our team has taken steps to unlock the immense hydro potential of Jammu & Kashmir. We advertised 46 new hydro projects in June… The response from industry has been inspiring,” he said.

Choudhary highlighted that the benefits of these projects go far beyond power generation. “The social impact is equally important: 1,380 long-term jobs and over 465,000 person-days of work during construction. Alongside, 55 more projects with a cumulative capacity of 298 MW are in the pipeline under PPP and IPP routes, and we expect to commission two projects this season and nine more next year, out of the 28 already under execution,” he explained.

He emphasised that the new hydropower push was designed with ecological sensitivity, given the fragility of the Himalayan ecosystem. “Small and medium hydro projects can provide decentralised clean energy, strengthen local livelihoods, and drive a resilient green transition in fragile mountain ecosystems. The next phase is about completion, commissioning, and scaling — ensuring that hydro, alongside solar, becomes a cornerstone of Jammu & Kashmir’s clean energy journey.”

The government has also proposed a new classification of projects in Draft Hydropower Policy to streamline oversight and approvals. Small hydroelectric projects up to 25 megawatts will fall under the domain of the Science and Technology Department, with projects up to 10 MW handled directly by it, while larger projects above 25 MW and up to 100 MW will be overseen by the Power Development Department (PDD). Officials said the arrangement would reduce overlaps, improve accountability and help speed up execution.

J&K’s dependence on external power continues to weigh heavily on its finances. In the last decade, the Union Territory has spent nearly Rs 75,000 crore on power purchases. In the financial year 2022–23 alone, the expenditure was over Rs 8,500 crore, with demand projected to climb beyond 22,000 million units this year.

A senior PDD official admitted the challenges. “In case of shortage, we buy power at an exorbitant rate. With consumption rising every year, we urgently need to increase local generation,” the official said.

While the smaller and medium projects are expected to make an immediate contribution, the government is also banking on mega projects being executed in partnership with NHPC. These include Ratle (824 MW), Kirthai-II (930 MW), Sawalakote (1,856 MW), Dulhasti-Stage II (258 MW), and Uri-I Stage-II (240 MW). Together, they represent an investment of nearly Rs 35,000 crore and are projected to add more than 4,100 MW to the grid, potentially making J&K power surplus in the coming years.

For now, though, the administration’s focus is firmly on the 46 projects already tendered. With strong investor interest and a promise of fast-track clearances, officials say J&K is poised to turn its mountain rivers into reliable sources of green power while generating much-needed employment at home.

Srinagar, Aug 23: Administrative Judge for District Kargil, Justice Muhammad Yousuf Wani, visited various courts in the district and reviewed judicial infrastructure and inspected criminal and civil files, according to a statement.

Justice Wani was warmly received at Drass by Spalzes Angmo, Principal District & Sessions Judge Kargil.

Earlier, on his arrival to Kargil he was received by Rakesh Kumar, Deputy Commissioner Kargil and other officers. Justice Wani later visited District Court Complex where he was accorded Guard of Honor. After that Justice Wani inspected the Courts of Principal District and Session Judge, Chief Judicial Magistrate and Special Judicial Mobile Magistrate. He also inspected the old criminal and civil files.

Justice Wani was also briefed upon all the pending cases in district Kargil. Later Justice Wani interacted with the staff members and enquired of their grievances.

He also visited the upcoming New Court Complex at Kurbathang and was briefed about the project by Sadiq Ali, Executive Engineer PWD. Justice Wani inspected and reviewed all the upcoming buildings in the complex and also congratulated the Engineers affiliated with this project and the Members of the Judicial Fraternity present on the occasion for the upcoming new court complex, the statement said.

He also had a brief meeting with the Deputy Commissioner Kargil, Executive Engineer PWD, Judicial Officers and Members of the Bars with regard to the timely completion of the Project. He also discussed pending DPRs pertaining to the Judicial Infrastructure.