Srinagar, June 30: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vidhi Kumar Birdi, on Tuesday said a robust, multi-tier security grid has been put in place for the annual Amarnath Yatra, complemented by extensive mock drills to ensure seamless coordination among security agencies and effective response to any emergency.

IGP Birdi, while interacting with media, said extensive mock drills have been conducted to clearly define their respective roles and responsibilities in case of any emergency or contingency.

He said the objective of these mock drills is to ensure that every stakeholder understands their responsibility and responds in a coordinated manner during any unforeseen situation.

Birdi said monitoring and supervision are also being carried out from elevated locations to maintain a watch over the Yatra route and surrounding areas.

The IGP kashmir also said that several stretches along the pilgrimage route remain vulnerable to natural calamities, including landslides, avalanches and glacial movement. “To address these risks, tabletop exercises have been conducted by the agencies concerned,” he added.

He further said Medical Response Teams (MRTs) and other emergency rescue units have been strategically deployed at sensitive locations to provide immediate assistance in case of any weather-related emergency or other incident.

While J&K government is yet to officially declare a heatwave or announce any relaxations for schools and offices, the Regional Transport Office (RTO), Kashmir, has become perhaps the first government department to advise the public against unnecessary visits.  

The order, which is being widely circulated on social media, advises people not to come to the office “unless it is absolutely necessary.” The citizens have been directed to send their grievances and service requests through WhatsApp, with a promise that these will be resolved within 48 hours wherever possible.

The move has been widely hailed on social media as a welcome initiative, with many users expressing hope that the department will be able to deliver on its promise.

The order has been issued right at the onset of the intense spell of heat hitting Kashmir. However, no heatwave has been declared officially yet. Consequently, no closure or change in working hours for schools or most government offices has been announced.

Meanwhile, thousands of children, a majority under 10 years of age, continue to commute daily in buses and vans to schools. There are growing calls for a summer break from parents and doctors to protect children from prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures.

 Moreover, many schools lack fans and adequate drinking water facilities, exposing students to discomfort and potential health risks One parent lamented that his two children take nearly 90 minutes to get to school by bus from school. “They travel at 3 pm, which is the hottest hour of the day,” he said, not wishing to identify himself. 

Srinagar, June 30: After several days of intense heat across Kashmir, the weather is set to turn wetter, with intermittent rainfall expected across Jammu and Kashmir over the coming days, Director of the Meteorological Centre Srinagar, Mukhtar Ahmad, said on Monday.

Ahmad said the rise in temperatures had been anticipated in the department’s earlier forecasts.

“As already expected, from the 27th onwards there has been a likelihood of a rise in temperatures. For the past three to four days, intense heat has been prevailing, especially in the Kashmir Valley,” he said.

According to Ahmad, heatwave conditions were recorded on Sunday at a few stations, particularly in Srinagar, Qazigund and Kukernag.

“Today as well, the heat is expected to persist until the afternoon. After that, there is a possibility of a brief spell of rain in some districts, which could provide some relief,” he said.

The MeT Director said another spell of rainfall is likely late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.

“Late tonight and around tomorrow morning, another spell of rainfall is likely, especially over the Jammu division, where intense showers may occur. Similarly, in the Kashmir Valley, some districts may experience light rain from time to time, with the possibility of a few intense showers,” Ahmad said.

He said the wet spell is expected to continue for several days.

“As already forecast, a wet spell is expected in the coming days. From July 2 to July 6, intermittent showers are likely, particularly during the late-night and early-morning hours, as well as during the late afternoon and evening,” he said.

Ahmad said the Jammu division is likely to receive the heaviest rainfall during this period.

“Heavy rainfall is likely, especially over the plains of Jammu and the adjoining hilly areas of the Pir Panjal range, including districts such as Reasi and Udhampur. Moderate to heavy rainfall is also expected in the Chenab Valley,” he said.

The MeT Director said the expected rainfall would bring significant relief from the prevailing heatwave conditions.

“Overall, the ongoing spell of intense heat is likely to ease considerably over the coming days. The weather is expected to remain generally cloudy, although humidity levels are likely to increase,” Ahmad said.

He noted that nights continue to remain unusually warm, with the minimum temperature hovering around 25°C in Central Kashmir, including Srinagar and adjoining areas.

“In the coming days, there should be some relief as maximum temperatures are expected to decline. The drop in minimum temperatures may not be as significant, but night-time conditions are also likely to become somewhat more comfortable,” Ahmad added.

Anantnag, June 30: Continuing its relentless efforts to eradicate the menace of drugs from the Union Territory under the ‘Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyan’, Anantnag Police arrested an inter-district drug smuggler and recovered heroin worth approximately rupees 20 crore, officials said on Tuesday.

“In a major breakthrough in its sustained drive against drug trafficking, Anantnag Police arrested an inter-district drug smuggler and seized 2.613 kilograms of heroin (brown sugar), with an estimated market value of approximately ₹20 crore,” the officials said 

In a prress statement, an official spokesperson said, the recovery was made during routine naka checking at Halmulla, where a police party intercepted a suspicious vehicle bearing registration No. JK09B-2808 (Ignis) for inspection. During the search of the vehicle, four packets containing heroin (brown sugar) were recovered.

The driver was identified as Ishtiyak Ahmad Moghal, son of Abdul Rasheed Moghal, resident of Prada, Tangdar. Following the recovery, FIR No. 195/2026 under Sections 8/21 of the NDPS Act was registered and investigation was immediately set into motion, the spokesperson said.

During the course of investigation, the statement said, the accused was served a notice under Section 50 of the NDPS Act, following which his personal search was conducted in accordance with the prescribed legal procedure. During the search, one additional packet containing heroin (brown sugar) was recovered from his possession.The total quantity of heroin recovered is 2.613 kilograms.

The accused has been arrested, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the source of the contraband, its intended destination, and to identify the entire network involved in the smuggling operation, including both backward and forward linkages, the statement said.

“Anantnag Police remains committed to taking stringent legal action against those involved in the illicit drug trade and appeals to the public to continue supporting the police by sharing credible information regarding narcotics-related activities,” the spokesperson said.