Srinagar, May 2: Demand is mounting for the Jammu–Srinagar Vande Bharat Express to halt at Anantnag district in south Kashmir after authorities skipped the station while finalising stopovers. .

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced Udhampur as a halt, but the long-pending demand to include Anantnag remains unaddressed.

The Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC), J&K, welcomed the launch of the Vande Bharat service between Jammu and Srinagar but urged authorities to add the station.

“By excluding Anantnag, passengers from Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian and parts of Pulwama are forced into avoidable travel to Srinagar and back,” the group said.

“We will continue to take up the issue and approach the Union Railway Ministry if needed,” said Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, a former bureaucrat and GCC member.

Lateef-uz-Zaman Deva, also a former bureaucrat and GCC member, said, “We have already raised the matter with the Chief Secretary and Railway Authorities in Jammu.””

Traders also backed the demand.

 “A strong and united voice has emerged across south Kashmir,” said Hakeem Sajad Ahmad Shah, chairman of the Traders and Manufacturers Federation, Anantnag.

“A halt at Anantnag will improve connectivity, promote tourism and ease travel for patients, students and traders,” Shah said. “Anantnag, being a major commercial centre, deserves due consideration.”

Member of Parliament (MP) for Anantnag-Rajouri, MianAltaf, had written to the Railways before and after the service launch.

“Providing a stoppage at Anantnag would ensure equitable access to premium rail services for south Kashmir, which has a larger catchment area,” he said.

The Katra–Srinagar service was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6, 2025.

Banihal was initially the only halt on the Kashmir side, with Reasi added later.

Senior Congress leader and Dooru legislator Ghulam Ahmad Mir has also sought a stop in Anantnag. “The absence of a halt is affecting a large population, including students, traders, employees, tourists and patients,” he said in a letter addressed to the Union Railway Minister.

“Anantnag serves as a commercial and tourism hub and a gateway to Pahalgam, Verinag, Daksum and Kokernag,” Mir said.

 “A stoppage would ensure balanced regional access, ease pressure on nearby stations and support local trade.”

According to Northern Railway, the train runs from Jammu Tawi to Srinagar with stops at Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan station, Udhampur; Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra; Reasi; and Banihal before terminating at Srinagar.

The Jammu-Srinagar route spans about 267 km and includes 27 stations- 15 in the Jammu region and 12 in the Kashmir Valley.

The distance from Jammu to Banihal is about 189 km, while the Banihal–Srinagar stretch covers around 78 km without any halt.

Anantnag, the largest station between Banihal and Srinagar, serves the south Kashmir districts including Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian and parts of Pulwama.

It is also a gateway to tourist destinations such as- Pahalgam and lies on the route of the AmarnathYatra.

The Jammu–Srinagar Vande Bharat service- is seen as a major boost to connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir. Freight trains are already operating regularly- on the corridor.

Srinagar, Mar 2: Several government buildings, which have been left abandoned by the concerned departments, have turned into a safe haven for drug addicts, posing a major challenge for the authorities to control the menace.

The move comes amid a sustained campaign launched by the Jammu and Kashmir government to curb the menace of substance abuse in society, particularly among youth.

Concern is being raised by the concerned citizens that the government buildings left abandoned due to incomplete construction or other reasons have been taken over by drug addicts.

Recently, the J&K government revealed that several school buildings constructed under different government schemes in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district have been left abandoned or incomplete.

The government attributed the lapse to cost escalation and the transition of centrally sponsored schemes from the erstwhile SSA and RMSA to SamagraShiksha.

An official told Greater Kashmir that these projects, after being taken up for execution, remained incomplete owing to various reasons such as cost escalation, transition of SSA and RMSA schemes to SamagraShiksha.

“These buildings do not exist only in Baramulla district, but there are dozens of such buildings which have been left abandoned with no watch and ward from the concerned department,” the official told Greater Kashmir.

13 such school buildings have been identified in the Pattan area alone, which have been left abandoned by the school education department.

A top official told Greater Kashmir that the School Education Department (SED) is projecting these buildings in the annual plans under SamagraShiksha to complete work on the incomplete, abandoned buildings.

“We have already started the process for it,” he said.

Besides school buildings, other unused government buildings are also being used as shelter by the drug addicts.

A citizen from Hygam shared a video on social media and highlighted how the government buildings were becoming safe haven for drug addicts due to a lack of attention from the concerned department.

The social media user uploaded a video from a tourist spot in the Hygam area and pointed towards the bottles and syringes found in the government buildings.

The video was shot at Veer, a scenic and emerging picnic spot in the Hygam area near Sopore.

“The department has developed this area as a tourist spot, but the infrastructure built here lacks watch and ward from the department,” he said.

In the video, one can see how the infrastructure was damaged by an unknown person, and the buildings are seen in complete disorder.

“This is happening because the government property does not have proper watch and ward,” he said.

The locals urged the concerned department to ensure proper watch and ward of these government buildings.

“These buildings have become safe haven for drug addicts. Tablets and syringes are seen spread all over the area here,” he showed in the video.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA), Tariq Hussain, who is holding the additional charge of CEO HygamNingliTarzoo Development Authority (HNTDA) said the assets are being renovated and will be outsourced very soon.

“We have done a lot of renovation of the buildings and other infrastructure at Veer Hygam. The asset will be outsourced very soon,” he said.

He said the GDA has also taken up the matter with the local police and urged them to increase patrolling near the tourist spot Veer Hygam.

“Once the asset is outsourced, it will become a good facilitation centre for tourists,” CEO GDA told Greater Kashmir. 

Srinagar, May 02: The Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has announced power shutdown in Kashmir parts in forthcoming days.

In a statement issued, Chief Engineer, Distribution, KPDCL said that the shutdown of 33 KV Shamsipora Tapline will be observed due to which power supply to Shamsipora, Sudsanoo, Turka, Tachloo and adjoining areas will be affected from 10 AM to 03 PM on 04 & 06 May 2026.

Similarly, shutdown of 132/ 33 KV, 100 MVA GIS Khanyar will be observed due to which power supply to Nowshera, Raja Colony, Industrial Estate BAMK, Zadibal, Hawal, Botakadal, BSNL, Gilkadal, Kathi Darwaza, Rainawari Psychiatric Hospital, PHE, Central Jail, Saida Kadal and adjoining areas will be affected from 09 AM to 04 PM on 04 & 06 May 2026.

Likewise, shutdown of 33 KV KP Bagh line and 33 KV Exhibition line will be observed due to which power supply to KP Bagh, Soiteng, PHE, Kursoo Rajbagh, Rajbagh bund, Gogjibagh, Museum, Jawahar Nagar, Mehjoor Nagar, Rambagh, Old Barzullah and adjoining areas will be affected from 10 AM to 3 PM  on 05, 11 & 14 May 2026.

Similarly, shutdown of 33 KV Nehalpora Markundal line and 33 KV Nihalpora HMT line will be observed due to which power supply to Markundal, Naidkhai, Sumbal, Gund Boon, Shadipora, Trigam, Mirgund, Singhpora, Kalsari, HMT, SKUAST, SSM college and  adjoining areas will be affected from 9:30 to 3:30 PM on 05 May 2026.

Kulgam, May 02: A severe hailstorm accompanied by heavy rainfall lashed the Kund area of Kulgam district on Saturday, causing extensive damage to orchards and standing crops, local residents reported.

According to eyewitnesses, the sudden spell of inclement weather struck the area in the afternoon, with large hailstones and intense rainfall battering fruit-bearing trees and agricultural fields. Apple orchards, which form the backbone of the local economy, are feared to have suffered significant losses at a crucial stage of the growing season.

Farmers expressed concern over the scale of destruction, stating that the hailstorm has not only damaged blossoms but may also impact the overall yield this year. “The hailstorm came without warning and lasted long enough to ruin a large portion of our orchards,” a local grower said.

Residents have urged the administration to conduct an immediate assessment of the damage and provide compensation to the affected farmers. They also called for the implementation of preventive measures to safeguard crops against such weather events in the future.

Officials are yet to release an official estimate of the losses. (KNC)

Srinagar, May 02: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said Kashmir belongs to all communities, including Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs, and called for collective efforts to rebuild trust and ensure peace in the region.

Addressing a gathering here, Abdullah, as per KNS, urged people to reject hatred and divisions, saying unity is essential for progress. He called for prayers for the safe return of those who have left their homes, describing their absence as a significant loss.

He said differences based on religion weaken society and stressed that people must live and work together to move forward.

Referring to unity in diversity, Abdullah said the country can progress only by upholding this principle. He also invoked the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, urging people to follow the path of truth and non-violence.

The NC leader said mistrust between regions must end, adding that peace and stability can be ensured only through cooperation and mutual understanding. (KNS)