Srinagar, Apr 25: An avalanche struck several vehicles at Shaitan Nallah near Zojila Pass on Saturday.
As per initial reports reaching news agency Kashmir News Corner — KNC, no casualties have been reported so far in the incident.
Rescue teams have rushed to the spot and operations are underway to clear the area and ensure safety of those affected.
Further details are awaited.
Shopian, Apr 25: People stood in long queues, all carrying books, as they waited to donate them at designated locations in south Kashmir’s Shopian district.
Senior officials from the district administration received the books and registered them in the names of the donors.
The donations ranged from academic texts and novels to books on current affairs, with residents contributing enthusiastically.
“We are very happy to see such a novel initiative launched by the administration”, said Gulzar Ahmad, a book donor.
The initiative has been launched by the district administration as part of the 100-day Nasha Mukt Abhiyan to promote book culture.
“Promote Books and Not Drugs is the theme of the programme”, said an official.
The drive saw participation from students, residents, and civil society members, with collection centers set up at Municipal Council Shopian and Zainapora and across key locations in the district.
Officials said the response exceeded expectations, reflecting a growing public willingness to support initiatives aimed at promoting education and social awareness.
The campaign also seeks to create community libraries and encourage reading habits among youth, particularly in areas vulnerable to substance abuse.
“The message is simple: share books, not drugs”, said a senior official.
Authorities said the collected books would be distributed to schools, libraries and community centres to ensure wider access.
Over the past several years, the area has been grappling with drug addiction, with young people increasingly turning to even hard drugs such as heroin. Some have even lost their lives to prolonged drug use.
District Magistrate Shopian Shishir Gupta told Greater Kashmir that the initiative aims to promote positive alternatives such as reading by engaging youth in constructive activities through a book donation drive.
He said citizens are being encouraged to donate new or used books at designated centres, adding that the campaign seeks to raise awareness about the harmful effects of drugs while fostering a culture of knowledge and hope.
Gupta said the response so far has been encouraging and urged people to contribute more books to make the initiative a success, with the broader goal of building a healthier, drug-free society.
Jammu, Apr 25: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said that fight against drug menace cannot be won alone, and needs a collective response from the society. He was addressing a large gathering in Samba as part of 100-days drug-free J&K Abhiyaan.
“I assure citizens that we will strike hard against drug networks. Yet this fight cannot be won by law alone, it must be won within society, through awareness, cooperation, and collective effort. We are building a Jammu Kashmir where drugs have no place,” the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said. He said the 100-day drug-free J&K movement will inspire future generations and stand as proof that when people rise together, they can change history.
The Lieutenant Governor said that every Panchayat must be drug-free, and every police station must be free of drug traffickers.
“Success in the next 85 days will not be measured by marches or slogans, but by how deeply the drug menace is cleaned out from villages and city neighborhoods. Weekly outcomes must be clear—how many people were rehabilitated, how many smugglers prosecuted, how many fake centers shut down, how many cases registered, how much contraband seized, and how many women’s committees formed in Panchayat’s and city wards,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
In his address, the Lieutenant Governor observed that continuous auditing of drug-free J&K campaign is essential. He said Deputy Commissioners, SSPs and other enforcement agencies must review weekly marches and programs to ensure this movement builds a complete chain of care- from identification and counseling to treatment, recovery, and rehabilitation.
The Lieutenant Governor said that this grave crisis of drug was systematically fueled by the neighboring country to finance terrorism and create social breakdown. He said the narco-terrorists exploited our weaknesses and targeted our youth.
“Now is the time to confront this challenge with full strength, applying the harshest law against those who conspire against society. For the next 85 days, we must sustain its energy, reach every home across Union Territory and warn against the dangers of drugs. Participation, momentum, and energy are vital, because drug addiction is not an individual’s problem, it is a social crisis,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
He also highlighted that the ongoing historic people’s movement is not a government order but a public resolve and now parents, elders are stepping out to spread awareness, teachers guiding students, and survivors sharing their stories openly to prevent others from falling into darkness.
“Jammu Kashmir is now illuminated with a new resolve against drugs. It is a flame of hope that will end the darkness, erase fear, and light the future. In these past 15 days, the transformation I have witnessed among people is nothing short of a miracle,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor also flagged off a bike rally and launched the Samba Cricket Premier League under Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyaan.
Baramulla, Apr 25: Jammu and Kashmir Education Minister Sakina Itoo on Saturday condemned the use of abusive language on social media against women, saying it reflected the “failure” and “weakness” of those indulging in it.
Addressing a gathering at the Government Degree College for Women in Baramulla, minsiter Itoo as per news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) said while she was open to discussion and criticism, foul language on platforms like Facebook was unacceptable.
“If you want to have a discussion, you can do it with me. You can discuss it with the MLAs for the government. You can discuss with the director,” she said.
“However, your failure, your weakness, the way you use abusive language on Facebook — I think it is the biggest humiliation for you,” minister Itoo added.
The minister said Islam accords the highest respect to sisters and daughters. She also pointed out the irony of such abuses being hurled when the head of a particular political party is a woman herself.
“That sister should also be explained that using abusive language on Facebook is not right. These things should be stopped. If you want to criticise, you can come and have a discussion. We are ready for a discussion,” Itoo said. (KNS)
Srinagar, April 25: A 55-year-old woman from Srigufwara in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district died at the Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag on Friday evening, triggering allegations of medical negligence by her family and subsequent unrest within the hospital premises.
According to the details, the deceased, identified as Khajida, had initially been taken to a local health facility after her condition deteriorated.
As per her family members, she was later referred to GMC Anantnag for specialized treatment. However, they alleged that despite repeated requests, she was not attended to by a cardiologist in the emergency ward.
“The doctors at the local hospital had told us that a cardiologist would examine her at GMC Anantnag, but despite our repeated pleas, no such consultation was provided in time,” a family member told reporters. “Had she been seen promptly, her life could have been saved,” they added, blaming delays in critical care for her death.
The allegations sparked protests by the grieving relatives and locals within the hospital premises. The situation soon escalated, with a group of individuals resorting to vandalism and physically assaulting on-duty medical staff, leading to damage to hospital property and injuries among healthcare workers.
Hospital authorities confirmed the incident, stating that the matter has been taken seriously. “A group of individuals created a disturbance inside GMC Anantnag, resulting in damage to infrastructure and injuries to staff members,” an official said.
Police have registered an FIR (No. 118) under relevant sections of law and launched an investigation into the incident. “Four persons have been arrested so far and efforts are underway to identify others involved. The investigation will also look into the sequence of events that led to the unrest,” officials added.
Meanwhile, Principal of GMC Anantnag, Dr. Rukhsana Najeeb, strongly condemned the assault on hospital staff and destruction of public property. She stressed that violence against healthcare professionals cannot be justified under any circumstances.
“Immediately after the allegations surfaced, we constituted an internal inquiry committee to examine the claims of negligence. However, no medical negligence was found in the preliminary findings,” Dr. Rukhsana said.
“Resorting to violence without substantiated facts is deeply unfortunate. We expect strict action against those involved to prevent such incidents in the future,” she added.
Meanwhile the All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA) has strongly condemned the assault on a junior doctor at Government Medical College Anantnag during the evening hours of April 24.
AIMSA in a statement said that Dr. Ainul Huda was attacked by members of a patient party after he examined a patient whose vitals were stated to be non-recordable.
AIMSA Vice President Dr Mohammad Momin Khan denounced the incident and stated that violence against doctors is unacceptable under any circumstances. He urged the administration to ensure the safety and security of healthcare workers and demanded strict action against those responsible.
He further stated that doctors working under stressful emergency conditions should be supported, not targeted and called for stronger protection measures in hospitals across the region.
He thanked SSP Anantnag for registering FIR in this case and hoped that strict action will be taken in this regard. —(KNO)
London, Apr 25: Let’s begin with a simple question that rarely gets a straight answer: what would victory over Iran actually look like? In Washington and Jerusalem, the answers tend to sound definitive: eliminate Iran’s nuclear capability, break its regional power, perhaps even force political change at the top.
It’s the language of decisive war, the kind with a clear endpoint.
But shift the perspective to Tehran, and the definition changes completely. Victory, for Iran, is survival.
That asymmetry shapes the entire conflict. In wars like this, the side that needs less to claim success often has the advantage – and, right now, Iran needs far less.
There is no denying the military imbalance. The US and Israel can strike with extraordinary precision and reach. They have demonstrated that repeatedly – targeting infrastructure, leadership and strategic assets.
But tactical success has yet to translate into political outcome. Iran’s state hasn’t fractured. Its governing system remains intact, and its networks – military, regional, ideological – continue to function.
Even its most sensitive capabilities, including nuclear expertise, remain resilient.
The deeper miscalculation lies in assuming Tehran is playing the same game as Washington. It isn’t. Iran is not trying to defeat the US or Israel outright.
It is trying to outlast them, complicate their objectives and raise the cost of progress until it becomes unsustainable.
This logic is visible in how the conflict has unfolded. The battlefield extends beyond direct confrontation into shipping lanes, energy markets and regional alliances. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are not incidental – they are pressure points with global consequences.
Iran’s strategy is not about dominance but entanglement. It doesn’t need battlefield superiority if it can draw its adversaries into a conflict that is too costly to resolve and too complex to conclude.
When wars stall, the instinct is to escalate: more bombing, strikes on energy infrastructure, even, in extremis, “boots on the ground”. The assumption is that more force will finally produce a different outcome.
But Iran is not a passive target. It has already shown a willingness to retaliate across the region, including against Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, as well as targets in Jordan and Iraq.
Strikes on Iran’s energy systems would not stay contained – they would invite retaliation against these same states, widening the conflict.
There is another constraint: American is estimated to have already used up around 45 per cent to 50 per cent of key missile stockpiles, including roughly 30 per cent of its Tomahawk missile inventory.
So the stark reality is that escalation is no longer just about willingness, but capacity — and in any wider war, the question may not be how far the US can go, but how much it has left.
The consequences would also extend beyond the battlefield. Iran’s response would be sustained attacks on neighbouring countries, on their power, fuel, and water systems, rendering parts of the region increasingly unlivable as temperatures soar over summer.
Huge numbers of people would be forced to leave, risking another large-scale displacement crisis.
Even then, the core reality remains unchanged. Iran is built for endurance – any ground campaign would likely become prolonged and attritional. More importantly, escalation misses the point – the problem is not a lack of force, but the absence of a political objective that force can realistically achieve.
Compounding the problem is a quieter but equally significant reality; the US and Israel do not appear to be fully aligned in their end goals. Israel’s posture suggests a pursuit of maximal outcomes – deep, possibly irreversible weakening of Iran’s system, if not outright regime collapse.
The US, by contrast, appears to oscillate between coercion, containment and negotiation.
These are not just differences in emphasis – they are differences in strategy. Wars fought without a shared definition of victory rarely produce victory at all. What they produce instead is sustained military activity without strategic convergence – constant movement, but little progress toward resolution.
No conclusion in sight
At some point, it becomes necessary to describe things as they are. This is no longer a war moving toward a decisive conclusion. It is a conflict settling into a pattern – strikes followed by pauses, ceasefires that hold just long enough to prevent collapse, and negotiations that advance just enough to avoid failure.
And those ceasefires tell their own story. Their repeated extension reflects not progress, but constraint. Washington, under Donald Trump, has strong incentives to keep talks alive, avoid deeper escalation, and end the war sooner rather than later.
The alternatives – regional war or global economic shock – are far harder to manage. That dynamic gives Tehran leverage. It does not need to concede quickly when delay itself strengthens its position.
Time, in this sense, is not neutral. The longer the conflict drags on, the more it intersects with the most sensitive pressure points of the global economy. Energy markets are stressed, with supply routes under strain and reserves tightening.
Industries that depend on stable fuel flows – aviation, shipping, manufacturing – are increasingly exposed.
What began as a regional conflict has morphed into systemic risk. Even limited disruption can ripple outward, affecting prices, supply chains and political stability. The longer the stalemate persists, the greater the cumulative strain and the closer it edges toward a broader economic shock.
Who really holds the advantage?
In purely military terms, the answer is obvious: the US and Israel retain overwhelming superiority. But wars are not decided by capability alone. They are decided by how goals, costs, and time interact.
In that equation, Iran’s position is stronger than it appears. It has set a lower threshold for success, demonstrated a higher tolerance for prolonged pressure, and shown an ability to impose costs beyond the battlefield.
Most importantly, it does not need to win. It only needs to prevent its adversaries from achieving their aims. So far, it has done exactly that.
Which brings us back to the original question: can the US and Israel win this war? If winning means forcing Iran into submission or fundamentally reshaping its strategic posture, the answer is increasingly difficult to avoid – they cannot.
What they can do is continue. Manage the conflict, contain its spread and shape its margins. But that is not victory. It is endurance.
The real danger is not defeat, but the persistence of a belief that just a little more pressure, a little more escalation, or a little more time will produce a different result. If that belief is wrong, then this is not a war on the verge of being won. It is a war that cannot be won at all. A forever war. (The Conversation) SKS
Jammu, Apr 25: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday reached Samba district headquarters as part of the 100-day intensive campaign under ‘Nasha Mukt Abhiyan’, saying the youth hold the key to ending the drug menace.
Samba witnessed a massive gathering as people from all walks of life came together to support the drug-free campaign, pledging to eliminate the menace of drugs from society.
“I reiterated that this 100-day movement will inspire future generations and stand as proof that when people rise together, they can change history,” the LG said, addressing the gathering.
On April 11, Sinha led a padyatra from M A Stadium to Parade Ground in the heart of Jammu to mark the beginning of the anti-drug campaign. He led rallies in different districts as part of the campaign over the past fortnight.
— Greater Kashmir (@GreaterKashmir) April 25, 2026
The LG conveyed to the youth that the solution to this “grave problem” rests in their hands.
“Their dreams are powerful; their potential limitless and society must rally behind them to make those dreams real. I urged them to stay firm on the right path with determination,” he said, highlighting the critical role of the youth.
In a major crackdown across Jammu and Kashmir over the past two weeks, authorities arrested scores of drug peddlers, including several kingpins, and demolished more than half a dozen residential properties linked to notorious traffickers.
Srinagar, Apr 25: As Jammu and Kashmir Police intenified its crackdown on drug peddlers across the Union Territory under ‘Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyaan, Srinagar Police on Saturday said that they have attached three crore fifty lakh worth assests belonging to drug kingpins under NDPS Act in the capital city.
“Continuing its intensified crackdown against Drug trafficking and under the aegis of the ongoing Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyaan, Srinagar Police has attached Immovable Properties worth ₹3.5 crores belonging to Narcotics smugglers,” a police spokesperson said in a statement.
The spokesperson said that Police Station Sangam, acting under the provisions of Section 68-F of the NDPS Act, attached two immovable properties linked to accused persons involved in FIR No. 56/2025 under Sections 8/20 and 29 of the NDPS Act.
A per the statement, the details of the attached properties are: A double-storey residential house valued at over ₹2 crore along with 1 kanal of land, belonging to accused Shakeel Ahmad Ganie, son of Ab Satar Ganie; and a double-storey residential house valued at approximately ₹1.5 crore along with 1 kanal of land, belonging to Farooq Ahmad Mir, son of Ab Rehman Mir, both resident of Kreshbal, Noorbagh, Srinagar.
Police said the attached properties have been identified as “illegally acquired assets” generated through proceeds of drug trafficking.
“Such stringent measures are aimed at deterring individuals involved in drug-related activities,” the spokesperson said.
Police urged the public to cooperate with the Police and share any information related to drug trafficking to help build a drug-free society.
Srinagar Police reiterated committed to dismantling illegal narcotics network by not only arresting offenders but also targeting and confiscating properties acquired through illicit means.
Budgam, April 25: Authorities in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district have declared spring water sources in parts of Khag unsafe for drinking, issuing a public advisory urging residents to avoid consumption without proper precautions.
According to an official notice issued by the Office of the Assistant Executive Engineer, PHE Sub-Division Beerwa, the water from natural springs in Zargar Mohalla, Apri Bagh, and Sugin areas of Khag has been found unsafe for drinking based on test reports conducted by the Block Medical Officer (BMO) Khag.
The advisory states that the general public in the affected areas should strictly use the water from these sources only for washing and other non-potable purposes until further notice.
Officials have advised that in unavoidable or extreme circumstances, the water may be consumed only after proper boiling as a precautionary measure.
The PHE department has said it will conduct independent sampling and testing of the affected water sources. Necessary technical procedures and remedial measures will be taken on priority to restore water quality and make it safe for drinking at the earliest.
The advisory also calls for public cooperation in adhering to the guidelines to safeguard community health, while local administrative and police officials have been informed to ensure wider dissemination of the information. [KNT]
In a peculiar example of its slapdash approach, the J&K government itself violated the terms and conditions of the interest subvention scheme, floated under the UT’s Business Revival Package 2020, as it (the government) provided its interest subvention) benefit to more than one account of the beneficiaries.
As a consequence, an ineligible benefit of interest subvention of Rs 59.21 Cr was extended to 39,136 accounts by providing interest subvention in more than one account.
Not only this, in yet another violation of norms, the benefit of interest subvention was granted to Kissan Credit Card (KCC) accounts under the personal segment, though they were not to be covered under the scheme.
Serious irregularities in the implementation of the interest subvention scheme under the Business Revival Package 2020 of J&K government have been flagged by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India in its compliance audit report, for the year ended March 2022, on Revenue and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) of J&K.
Censuring the UT government and its departments, the audit report observed that benefit was provided to more than one account of the beneficiaries as the J&K Finance Department neither framed the guidelines for implementation of the interest subvention scheme nor communicated the terms and conditions for release of interest subvention to the banks.
“The terms and conditions of the sanction orders for release of three tranches aggregating to Rs 750 Cr stipulated that only one account of beneficiary shall be eligible for relief under interest subvention. However, the J&K Finance Department, neither framed the guidelines for implementation of the scheme nor communicated the terms and conditions for release of interest subvention to the banks, as a result of which, benefit was provided to more than one account of the beneficiaries,” it observed.
Audit noticed that an amount of Rs 202.47 Cr was credited by the Jammu and Kashmir Bank Limited (JKBL) to 65,456 accounts.
Scrutiny of these accounts revealed that 30,019 beneficiaries, who had more than one account were provided a subvention of Rs 57.80 Cr.
This resulted in providing interest subvention of Rs 57.80 Cr to 35,437 ineligible accounts by the JKBL.
Similarly, the J&K Grameen Bank (JKGB) credited an amount of Rs 5.08 Cr to 7,151 accounts of 3,452 beneficiaries who had more than one account.
As a result, interest subvention amounting to Rs 1.41 crore was provided to 3,699 ineligible accounts of these beneficiaries by JKGB.
On being pointed out in the audit, the JKGB admitted in March, 2023 that as per the guidelines received from Union Territory Level Bankers’ Committee (UTLBC), there was no mention of any condition with regard to providing of benefit to only one account of the beneficiary.
“However, it can be seen that this condition was mentioned in the sanction of J&K Government of October 2020,” the audit report flagged.
The audit pointed out that the government while endorsing the replies of JKBL and JKGB in December, 2023, stated that the condition regarding disbursement of interest subvention to more than one account of the beneficiary was not mentioned in the sanction order.
“The government’s reply may be seen in light of the fact that all three sanction orders of the Finance Department contain the condition that only one account of the beneficiary was eligible for relief under the scheme,” the report revealed.
The audit also flagged interest subvention to KCC, Artisans Credit Card (ACC) and loans under personal segment in violation of norms.
It revealed that as per the sanction order in October 2020 for the scheme, interest subvention was not to be provided to borrowers under KCC, ACC, loan against deposits and loan under personal segments.
Audit observed that JKBL violated the conditions for the release of interest subvention despite the same being clearly mentioned in the original sanction order for the scheme. Scrutiny of beneficiary accounts revealed that benefit of interest subvention of Rs 1.91 lakh was granted to 10 KCC accounts which were not to be covered under the scheme.
It was also observed that JKBL provided the benefit of interest subvention of Rs 1.07 lakh to 22 accounts under the personal segment.
On being pointed out by audit in April, 2023, the government in December, 2023, replied that out of 10 KCC accounts, eight accounts were eligible under the scheme as these were wrongly opened in KCC GL Head and the recovery of Rs 1.41 lakh against the remaining two accounts would be made.
Further, it was stated that 22 accounts were eligible under the scheme as they were wrongly opened under GL Head ‘Personal Saholiat’ instead of GL Head ‘Saral Finance’.
“The reply of the government regarding extending of benefit of interest subvention to 22 accounts opened under Personal segment is not acceptable as at the time of extending the scheme benefit, these accounts were categorised under the personal segment, rendering them ineligible for the benefits as per the scheme guidelines,” the audit censured, adding that the scheme was formulated without conducting any survey with regard to its financial requirements.
Considering the difficulties being faced by the various sectors of the economy in Jammu and Kashmir, a committee was constituted in August 2020 by the Industries and Commerce Department, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, for preparing a proposal for relief and revival of the business sector in the Union Territory.
The Committee, in September 2020, submitted its report after deliberations with various business associations in the UT.
Based on the recommendations of the Committee, the J&K Finance Department in October 2020 approved scheme of interest subvention of five per cent for all borrowers, excluding borrowers under Kissan Credit Card (KCC), Artisans Credit Card (ACC), loan against deposits, loans under personal segments and Non-Banking Financial Corporation (NBFC) for a period of six months with effect from April 1, 2020.
The benefit under the scheme was to be provided to those borrowers whose accounts were standard as on July 31, 2019 or March 31, 2020, whichever is applicable.
The scheme also provided for pending interest subvention under the rehabilitation schemes of 2014 and 2016. The scheme was floated by J&K Industries and Commerce Department whereas the Finance Department was the implementing agency and the Union Territory Level Bankers’ Committee (UTLBC) acted as a monitoring agency for the scheme.
J&K Finance Department in October 2020 approved the Business Revival Package with financial implication of Rs 950 Cr for the Interest Subvention Scheme of 2020 and an amount of Rs 139.24 Cr for rehabilitation schemes of 2014 and 2016.
J&K Finance Department, however, released Rs 750 Cr in three tranches during October 2020 to May 2021 to UTLBC, which included an amount of Rs 138.03 Cr, earmarked for rehabilitation schemes of 2014 and 2016.
As per the audit, out of Rs 750 Cr, an amount of Rs 526.50 Cr was utilised towards five per cent Interest Subvention Scheme of 2020 and an amount of Rs 137.75 Cr was utilised for the Interest Subvention Schemes of 2014 and 2016.
