Srinagar, Feb 10: A mentally unsound person succumbed to his injuries after being hit by a car in the Chanapora area of Srinagar on Monday, officials said.

An official said that the unidentified person was struck by a Swift Dzire vehicle bearing registration number JK01AU-0385 near Chanapora Srinagar on Monday morning.

He said, the injured individual was shifted to SMHS Hospital Srinagar, where he later succumbed to his injuries, the official said.

Police have registered FIR No. 16/2026 at Sadder Police Station under relevant sections, and an investigation has been taken up. The victim is yet to be identified, the official added. —(KNO)

Srinagar, Feb 10: The Fee Fixation and Regulation Committee (FFRC) has directed private schools not to charge any transport fee during winter or summer vacations if transport facilities are outsourced or hired from third parties.

In a fresh circular issued by chairman FFRC Justice (Retd) Sunil Hali, the schools have been warned of strict action including penalties and de-affiliation, for non-compliance of the instructions.

The circular has been issued after the committee received complaints that several private schools were collecting transport charges during vacations despite not owning their transport facilities.

“Some schools operating buses through contractual arrangements with third parties are charging up to 50 percent of the transport fee during vacation periods, in violation of existing orders,” the fresh circular reads.

As per the circular, FFRC through its order issued on June 30, 2025, has stated that the schools that do not own and operate their transport facilities are explicitly barred from collecting any transport fee during vacations.

“It is hereby directed that private schools shall charge 50 percent transport fee only where the transport facilities are owned and operated by the school itself,” FFRC circular reads.

It reads that no transport fee shall be charged during the winter or summer vacations, in case where the transport facilities are outsourced or hired from third parties and are operated under a contractual agreement

“Any fee collected by the private school on this behalf shall be refunded to the parents forthwith, failing which appropriate action under law shall be taken against the school, including imposition of a penalty of one percent of the total revenue and also de‑affiliation of the school,” the FFRC circular reads.

“This order must be strictly complied with by the private schools.”

Srinagar, Feb 9: Congress legislator Ghulam Ahmad Mir on Monday said recognition of the Anantnag–Kapran–Desa–Doda Road by the Jammu and Kashmir government would pave the way for its declaration as a highway, a move he said could provide a reliable alternative to the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway.

Raising the issue in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Mir said the Union Territory continues to depend on a single surface link – NH-44 to connect Kashmir with Jammu, despite its vulnerability to landslides and repeated weather-related disruptions.

“We have only one surface link, NH-44, and its condition is before the whole world,” Mir said. “Even after 12 years, the Srinagar–Jammu highway remains unstable. The Banihal–Ramban stretch gets washed away repeatedly as happened during last year’s monsoon, forcing closures and making the road unreliable.”

Mir said the Anantnag-Kapran-Desa-Doda Road already exists and can serve as an effective alternative corridor linking south Kashmir with the Chenab Valley and Jammu.

He said proposals for the road were first sent to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in 2013–14 and have again been forwarded by Member of Parliament Mian Altaf and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

“The ministry has written back that the UT government must first recognise this road,” Mir told the House. “Once that is done, it will pave the way for its declaration as a highway.”

Mir said the UT administration has already identified eight to nine roads for transfer to the National Highway network and urged the government to include the Anantnag–Kapran–Desa–Doda project in the current budget and complete all required formalities this year.

Welcoming the Prime Minister’s sanction of the Lakhimpora–Basoli–Bani–Baderwah–Doda Road, Mir said the project would benefit the region and expressed hope that the Anantnag–Kapran route would also be developed as an extension of that network.

“This is the shortest possible road connecting south Kashmir with the Chenab Valley and Jammu,” he said. “Being a hard-rock road, it is less prone to landslides, shooting stones and avalanches.”

Mir said the road would benefit fruit growers, traders, pilgrims and defence movement, and could be used for fruit transportation, religious yatras and logistics.

In a letter written last year to Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, Mir described the Anantnag–Kapran–Desa–Doda road as being of “strategic and national importance” and sought its declaration as a National Highway, followed by preparation of a detailed project report by the National Highways Authority of India.

“The road can serve as a reliable all-weather alternative to NH-44, which remains highly vulnerable to frequent landslides,” the letter said, adding that the corridor would strengthen connectivity between south Kashmir and the Chenab Valley.

He urged the Centre to either declare the road a State Highway and hand it over to the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. or notify it directly as a National Highway under the National Highways Authority of India.

On the Kashmir side, the road is motorable beyond Hengipora up to Habal Mundu in Kapran. On the Jammu side, it extends only up to Manjami in Desa, forcing residents to trek several kilometers’ to reach Doda town.

Srinagar, Feb 09: The Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) on Monday said that due to unavoidable maintenance works, the power supply in various parts of Kashmir division will remain affected in forthcoming days.

In a communication, Chief Engineer, Distribution, KPDCL has informed that shutdown of 33 KV Nowbugh Nagam line and 33 KV Nowbugh-Chadoora line will be observed due to which power supply to Kakawring, Yousmarg, Charar-i-Sharief, Hayatpora, Nagam, Badipora, Hafroo, Loolipora, Watkaloo, Gogjipathri, Ranger, Sogam, Repora, Dawlatpora, Panzan, Lalgam, Chadoora, Wathoora, Bugam, Gadsathoo, Kathairgund and adjoining areas will be affected from 09 AM to 03 PM on 14 & 16 February 2026.

Similarly, shutdown of 220 KV Zainakote-Alusteng Circuit-I will be observed due to which power supply to Wussan, Safapora, Kangan, Lal Bazar, BAMK, Hazratbal, Ellahibagh, Lar-Tullmulla, Ajar, Aloosa, Gurez, Zakura, Nagbal and adjoining areas will be affected from 12 Noon to 03 PM on 10 February 2026.

Likewise, shutdown of 220 KV Amargarh-Zainakote-Circuit-II will be observed on 11 February 2026 from 12 Noon to 03 PM and shutdown of 220 KV Amargarh-Zainakote-Circuit-I will be observed on 14 February 2026 from 12 Noon to 03 PM due to which power supply to Bemina, JVC Hospital, Children’s Hospital, Tengpora, Lower Court, Rakh-i-arth, Narkara, Fatehkadal, Khayam, Barbarshah, Kawdara, Mughal Masjid, Wanganpora, Safakadal, Takanwari, Zoonimar, Soura, Shariefabad, Soibugh, Wadwan, Zainakote, Shalteng, Bakshipora, Noora Hospital, Kawoosa Hospital, Narbal, Sanoor, Mazhama Railway, Pattan, MES, Palahallan, Hamray, Mulgam, Kulhama, Nihalpora, Singhpora, Mirgund, Shadipora, Tangmarg and adjoining areas will remain affected.