Legendary folk singer, dancer and sarangi player Ustaad Ghulam Nabi Bulbul was remembered on his first death anniversary at his final resting place in Batsuma, Dangiwacha, Rafiabad.

Fateha Khwani was offered at his grave, while admirers, students and well-wishers paid floral tributes to the celebrated artist. Members of the Bulbul Academy of Performing Arts, Rafiabad (BAPA), founded by the late maestro, also participated in the commemorative gathering.

Prayers were led by Chairman Rafiabad Civil Society, Basharat Meraj. Among those present were veteran writer and thinker Shahnaz Rasheed, Sahitya Akademi Award recipient Nisar Azam, noted young singer Elyas Azad, and Dr Rafeeq Masoodi, Patron of BAPA.

Remembering the late artist, Dr Rafeeq Masoodi, who remained a close associate of Bulbul Sahib for decades, described him as a unique blend of traditional and contemporary musical styles who carved a distinct niche for himself in Kashmiri folk music.

“His songs continue to mesmerise listeners and viewers whenever they are broadcast on radio, television or shared on social media platforms,” Masoodi said.

Srinagar, Jun 11: An eight-member team of Kashmiri mountaineers successfully scaled the 4,620-metre Mt Sentinel in the Sind Valley on June 6, claiming to have become the first Kashmiris to reach the summit and the first climbers to do so since a British mountaineer ascended the peak in 1945, as per a statement issued on Thursday.

The team included SaqibShafi, Faik Aijaz Pattahoo, Muzakir Khan, Yasir Khan, Faizan Shafi, Adnan Altaf, Salman Altaf and Arun Jasrotia.

The statement adds that on June 6, 2026, at exactly 11 in the morning, eight men from Kashmir broke that silence on the summit of Mt Sentinel for the first time in eighty-one years. They did not arrive as conquerors. They arrived as something rarer, the first people from this land to ever stand there at all.

The mountain had not been summited since 1945, when John Jackson, an RAF officer and one of Britain’s finest mountaineers, climbed it while stationed in Sonamarg during the Second World War. The same man would later stand on Kangchenjunga, the third-highest peak on Earth. That the only person to have ever touched this summit went on to do something like that tells you everything about the kind of mountain Sentinel is remote, demanding, and until last week, almost entirely forgotten.

The team of eight set out on June 5 from Kullan in Ganderbal, at 2,200 metres, carrying packs, rope, and a plan. Their destination was a base camp near Khemsar Lake, ten kilometres through dense forest, uphill, in the rain.

For another team, in another frame of mind, that might have been the end of it. For this one, it turned out to be exactly what they needed.

In 2025, a Kashmiri team led by Yaseen Lone had attempted Sentinel and been driven back by rockfall, the mountain shedding loose rock onto their chosen line as if unwilling to be disturbed. This year’s eight-member team remembered that. When they left base camp at five in the morning on June 6, under a sky still crowded with stars, they climbed with that knowledge tucked carefully in their minds.

They took it. Two hundred metres of steep snow, one careful step at a time, until they reached the shoulder of the mountain. They have named this route Mamkhan Gully, a name that now belongs to Kashmir’s mountaineering history.

Pulwama, Jun 11: Residents of several villages in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district have expressed resentment over the discontinuation of the smart bus service, saying its absence has caused considerable inconvenience to commuters, particularly students, patients and daily wage earners.

According to residents, the buses have not been operating on routes connecting Newa, Inder, Gudoora, Parigam and Karimabad villages for nearly three weeks, leaving hundreds of commuters dependent on private transport. “For the last three weeks, we have not seen the smart buses on our route. No explanation has been given for their suspension,” said Abdul Ghani, a resident from New Colony Pulwama. “Many people had adjusted their daily schedules around the bus timings. Now they are forced to spend more on transport”, he added.  The resident said that even the authorities issued orders to restart the service, but to no avail.  “We can’t afford the expensive travel by cabs”, he added.  The smart bus service was introduced months ago on the Nowgam, Srinagar to New Colony Pulwama route and was welcomed by commuters as an affordable and reliable mode of transport.

Residents said the service had significantly eased travel for students attending colleges and universities in Srinagar as well as patients visiting hospitals in the city. “The buses were punctual, comfortable and economical. Their discontinuation has hit students and daily commuters the hardest,” said Musadiq Reyaz, a social activist from Pulwama. He said the buses are currently not operating beyond Parigam village, depriving residents of several adjoining villages of the facility.

A college student from Karimabad said many students now have to change multiple vehicles to reach their destinations.  “The smart buses reduced both travel time and expenses. We are now spending almost double the amount on transportation,” he said. Another resident said the suspension of the service has particularly affected elderly people and patients who frequently travel to Srinagar for treatment. The residents urged the Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama, and the transport authorities to intervene and restore the service at the earliest, stating that its continuation is essential for thousands of commuters in the area.

Srinagar, Jun 11: Inspector General of Police (Security), J&K, Sujit Kumar, on Thursday carried out a detailed on-ground inspection of critical Yatra transit camps along the Pahalgam route to evaluate security arrangements and overall readiness for the upcoming AmarnathYatra.

The IGP specifically inspected the Walnut Factory Transit Camp at Qazigund and the MirbazarYatra Transit Camp (also referred to as FCI Mirbazar in Kulgam), two major halting points for pilgrims traveling towards the holy cave shrine. He was accompanied by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ramban, the Commanding Officer of the CRPF, and other senior police and security officials.

During the visit, Sujit Kumar thoroughly examined the deployment of security forces, the availability and quality of basic infrastructure and pilgrim facilities, and the effectiveness of inter-agency coordination mechanisms.

Officials briefed him on the multi-layered security grid in place, including advanced gadgets such as explosive detectors, RCIED jammers, X-ray scanners, multi-zone door frame metal detectors, CCTV networks, and other hi-tech screening tools recently deployed by the J&K Police Security Wing for enhanced pilgrim safety.

The IGP also reviewed logistical arrangements, medical and sanitation facilities, contingency and emergency response plans, traffic management, and communication systems designed to handle large numbers of devotees.

He stressed the importance of maintaining heightened vigilance, area domination, and seamless cooperation among all stakeholders including the Police, CRPF, Army, and civil administration to ensure a secure and hassle-free experience for pilgrims.

“Robust security measures, prompt response capabilities, and close inter-agency coordination are vital for the smooth conduct of the Yatra,” the IGP directed officers, asking them to ensure all arrangements are fully implemented well within the stipulated timelines.

As part of his broader review, Sujit Kumar had earlier visited the Baltal base camp and other associated facilities.

He also inspected additional transit camps at Lambar and Chanderkot during the day’s itinerary.

These inspections are part of the intensified multi-agency preparations for the annual pilgrimage, which is expected to see lakhs of devotees from across the country.

The yatra is scheduled to commence shortly, with authorities focusing on a comprehensive three-tier security cover, drone surveillance, mock drills, and improved infrastructure at base camps and en-route halting points to facilitate the safe movement of pilgrims via both the traditional Pahalgam and Baltal routes.

The administration and security forces remain committed to delivering a safe, well-managed, and spiritually fulfilling AmarnathYatra.