Srinagar, Apr 13: A group of medical students from SKIMS Medical College organized a cleanliness drive from Dal Lake to Shankaracharya Hill as part of an initiative to promote environmental awareness and public health. 

They were joined by students from GMC and other medical colleges.

The drive focused on collecting waste, spreading awareness among visitors, and encouraging responsible practices to preserve the natural beauty of the area.

The activity witnessed active participation from students who voluntarily dedicated their time and effort for the cause. Equipped with cleaning materials, they worked collectively to remove litter and ensure proper disposal of waste.

The initiative also served as an opportunity to engage with the public and sensitize them about maintaining cleanliness in such ecologically and culturally significant areas.

The students emphasized that environmental health is directly linked to human health, and such efforts are essential in preventing disease and promoting overall well-being. Through this drive, they aimed to inspire others, especially the youth, to take responsibility and contribute toward a cleaner and healthier environment.

This initiative reflects the commitment of future healthcare professionals toward community service beyond clinical settings, reinforcing the idea that safeguarding the environment is a shared responsibility.

The students expressed their intention to continue such activities in the future and hoped for greater community involvement in similar initiatives. 

Principal SKIMS Medical College Prof Fazl Q Parray lauded the environmental awareness among MBBS students despite tight academic schedules.

People’s Democratic Party ( PDP)  president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday said that the party stitched an alliance with BJP to “safeguard the special position of Jammu and Kashmir and not for power.”

“We did not form an alliance for the chair but to safeguard Article 370. For the chair, Omar sahib had offered us support,” she said while addressing a workers’ rally in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

Mufti said her party would have accepted the offer if power had been the only objective. “ But we made the government for the people”, she added. Highlighting her government’s achievement, she said around 12,000 youths were released from jails and efforts were made to bring India’s leadership to Kashmir for dialogue. “But people did not realise it and resorted to stone pelting. Did not the entire Indian leadership come to Kashmir? Did they not reach the doorstep of Geelani Sahab?” she said.

She also referred to political developments in 1996, saying that Dr Farooq Abdullah, despite having the support of 60 MLAs, had opposed talks with separatists at the time.

“He (Abdullah) said he would raise the banner of rebellion against India if talks were held with the Hurriyat”, Mufti alleged. Mufti criticised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for “maintaining  silence” over civilian killings in Iran.  She alleged that a major attack had taken place in Iran but drew no response from him. Mufti said the US withdrew because it could not secure what it believed it could obtain despite sacrifices made by people there.

Over the recent Ganderbal incident, Mufti said, “If I had not raised the issue, it would have been suppressed,” she said, adding that LG Manoj Sinha ordered an inquiry after her party flagged the case. Referring to achievements during her tenure, Mufti said that while only one medical institute was sanctioned across the country at the time, her government secured two for Jammu and Kashmir — one each for the Jammu and Kashmir regions. Prominent among others who addressed  the rally included MLA Pulwama Waheed Parra , MLA Tral Rafiq Ahmad Nayak and former minister Abdul Rehman Veeri.

Baramulla, Apr 12: The death of an eight-year-old girl in Sopore has once again brought the growing menace of stray dog attacks in north Kashfmir into sharp focus, with residents accusing authorities of inaction and policy paralysis.

Aiman Adnan Sheikh was mauled to death after being attacked by a pack of stray dogs in the Seloo area on Friday while visiting her family’s land. The incident has triggered widespread outrage and fear, particularly among parents, as such attacks are increasingly being seen as part of a disturbing pattern rather than isolated cases.

Baramulla district has witnessed several fatal and non-fatal dog attacks in recent years. One of the most shocking incidents occurred in 2020, when a prominent advocate was killed in a similar attack in Dewanbagh, Baramulla.

Despite repeated public outcry and assurances from the administration, a comprehensive sterilisation programme has yet to take off in large parts of north Kashmir. Residents allege that official response has largely remained confined to announcements, with little visible action on the ground.

“We will be training our men for the sterilisation programme. The drive will be started within five months in the Sopore area,” said Wali Muhammad, Executive Officer of the Municipal Council Sopore.

However, locals say such assurances have been repeated after every major incident without any tangible outcome.

“Every time a tragedy happens, promises are made. But nothing changes,” said Fayaz Ahmad, a resident of Muslim Peer area of Sopore.

Officials acknowledge that coordination between the Animal Husbandry Department and municipal bodies is crucial for implementing the sterilisation programme. In the past, the Animal Husbandry Department has expressed readiness to conduct sterilisation surgeries, but maintained that the responsibility of capturing and transporting stray dogs lies with municipal authorities.

Municipal bodies, on the other hand, cite lack of funds and infrastructure as key constraints, resulting in a prolonged delay in launching the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme in semi-urban and rural areas such as Sopore and Baramulla.

Government data indicates that over 43,000 stray dogs have been sterilised across Jammu and Kashmir between 2023 and 2025. However, most of the exercise has been concentrated in urban centres like Srinagar and Jammu, leaving rural belts—where human-animal conflict is often more acute—largely neglected.

The absence of sterilisation measures, coupled with poor waste management, has led to a sharp rise in stray dog population, residents say.

Even basic groundwork, such as identification of land for sterilisation centres and deployment of dog-catching teams, remains incomplete in many areas.

In several parts of Baramulla and Sopore, residents say stepping out early in the morning or late in the evening has become risky, with packs of stray dogs roaming freely and often targeting children and the elderly. Schools, orchards and residential lanes have increasingly turned into potential danger zones.

The latest incident has intensified calls for urgent intervention, with residents demanding immediate sterilisation drives, dedicated funding and clear accountability to prevent further tragedies.