Srinagar, Sep 07: The mortal remains of Dr. Sagadevan R, an Assistant Professor from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, serving at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar, who passed away due to natural causes, will be repatriated to his native state on Monday.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Nasir Khuehami, National Convenor of the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association said that he had spoken to Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi and Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam, urging their intervention to ensure the dignified transportation of the mortal remains. He also confirmed raising the matter with MPs Manickam Tagore, Karti Chidambaram, BJP State Vice President Khushbu Sundar, and Additional Chief Secretary of the state Gagandeep Singh Bedi.

“All have extended their assurances of full support and assistance. The Governor and Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu have conveyed that efforts are already underway to facilitate the repatriation and airlift of the mortal remains from Srinagar to Chennai at the earliest,” Khuehami said.

The Governor’s Office later informed that transportation arrangements from Chennai Airport, including ambulance services, will be provided by Raj Bhavan. State authorities are in touch with the bereaved family and close colleagues of Dr. Sagadevan to ensure all necessary support is extended.

Khuehami added that all legal and administrative formalities in Srinagar have been completed. “The mortal remains will be airlifted on Monday via an Indigo flight at 11:45 AM, and upon arrival in Chennai, they will be transported to his ancestral home. The last rites will be performed in accordance with family traditions and wishes,” he said.

The Association paid tribute to Dr. Sagadevan, describing him as a dedicated academician, deeply respected for his commitment to students and his contributions to the academic community at NIT Srinagar. “His untimely demise is an irreparable loss not only to his family but also to his colleagues, students, and the institution,” the statement read.

The JKSA expressed its deepest condolences, saying that their thoughts and prayers remain with the bereaved family during this difficult time. (KDC)

Sopore, Sep 07: While the water levels in Wular Lake and river Jhelum rise after recent heavy rains in South and Central Kashmir, several families from low-lying Sopore areas have been shifted to safer locations as a precautionary measure.

Authorities, however, maintained that there is no alarming flood situation in Baramulla district at present.

As per the news agency — Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Minga Sherpa, who visited Sopore and adjoining belts to assess the ground situation, said the administration is keeping close watch.

“The water level in Sopore stands at 3.15 metres against the alert mark of 3.60, while in Baramulla it is 3.7 metres against the alert level of 4.5 metres. This shows levels remain below danger, but the next two to three days are crucial as Wullar Lake has touched 15.77 metres, just close to its alert mark,” the DC said.

He added that flood control teams have been mobilised to strengthen embankment and plug vulnerable spots to prevent any breach. “We are ensuring our embankments are secured. A flood spill channel at Haritar, which had developed an issue earlier, has also been rectified,” he informed.

Officials said minor water-logging has been reported at a few locations in Sopore, though residential areas remain largely unaffected. Families in the most vulnerable pockets have been temporarily relocated.

The DC further assured that electricity, road connectivity and water supply, remain functional across Sopore and Baramulla.

With the NHPC releasing additional water at Uri and Gantmulla, the outflow from Jhelum is smooth, raising hopes that accumulated water will recede in the coming days.

“The situation is under control. There is no need to panic, but those living near the riverbanks should remain alert. The coming days are important and we are fully geared to respond,” the DC said.

Srinagar, Sept 07: Flash floods in Kashmir have destroyed standing paddy — mainly rice and apple — spread over thousands of acres in four southern districts of the valley, leaving farmers staring at cumulative losses running into hundreds of crores.

As the Jhelum swelled due to incessant rains and cloudbursts, overflowing waters washed away rice fields in several areas of Anantnag and Pulwama districts.

“We were preparing to harvest the paddy by the end of this month. The crop was abundant, but everything has been destroyed by floods….the entire year’s hard work has gone down the drain,” Mohammad Younis, a farmer from Shamsipora in Anantnag, told PTI.

Younis said the situation was similar across Anantnag, Pulwama and parts of Kulgam district, which together form the rice-producing bowl of south Kashmir.

“Most of the rice in south Kashmir is produced in the bowl which is shared in part by these three districts. The local farmers are devastated as they have lost their livelihood this season,” he added.

Standing crops in Tachoo, Dooru, Shamsipora, Muniwar, Lallipora and Mallapora in Anantnag and Kulgam, Kakapora and Newa in Pulwama have been affected. Some areas of Budgam adjoining Pulwama have also suffered damage.

The horticulture sector too has taken a heavy blow, with orchards washed away in Dachnipora area of Anantnag. “Apple trees in Sallar, Srigufwara, Kullar and other villages on the banks of Lidder stream have been damaged, while new orchards in Pulwama’s low-lying areas have also been affected,” a horticulture department official said.

There has been substantial damage to apple crops in Shopian and Kulgam districts as well, the official added. While farmers claimed losses were running into hundreds of crores, officials said an accurate estimate would take time.

“People are still in the process of recovering from the impact of the flood. Field officials have been deputed and they will visit the affected areas most likely from tomorrow for carrying out loss assessment,” a senior official from Anantnag district said.

Heavy rains in the last week of August pushed the Jhelum’s water level to more than 27 feet, two feet above the flood level. While the river overflowed embankments in several parts of south Kashmir, a breach in Budgam led to inundation of large swathes of central Kashmir, including Srinagar.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has asked the Centre to announce a relief package for flood victims after assessing the losses in Jammu division as well as Kashmir valley.

Srinagar, Sep 07: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha addressed the inaugural session of the International Conference on “Nanotechnology for Better Living (NBL-2025)” at University of Kashmir.

The five-day mega event, organised by University of Kashmir in collaboration with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad, has brought together leading scientists and researchers to showcase recent advancements in nanotechnology and its applications for sustainable living.

In his keynote address, the Lieutenant Governor spoke on the advancements and breakthroughs in Nanotechnology that is reshaping the lives and work environment and ensuring ease of living.

“Today evolution in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology is having transformative impact across various sectors. The cutting-edge research in future will address critical global challenges in industries, healthcare and the environment.

There is not a single area of global socio-economic development that does not bear the signature of Nanotechnology in some form or the other. In the years to come, this will become more prominent as we script the new advancements in technology,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor, in his address, exhorted the scientists and experts to establish a group which can help in developing an Advance Early Warning System for Flash Floods by making more sensitive and accurate sensors through nanotechnology.

“Keeping in mind the challenges of climate change, we should focus on creating nanomaterials that can reduce pollution in chemical manufacturing.

We must also explore the new possibilities to develop soil sensors specifically for the Himalayan regions. These sensors would be part of an Advanced Early Warning System that can warn about the dangers of landslides in advance based on changes in soil saturation,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

He said these projects will prove to be game changers in preventing loss due to natural disasters for the Himalayan region of India in the future.

The Lieutenant Governor further called on the scientists and experts associated with nanotechnology to make their significant contributions in defense sector, particularly in manufacturing the lighter components of defense equipment.

Nanotechnology experts and scientists must join this effort and strengthen the self-reliance campaign in the defense sector, he said.

The Lieutenant Governor also called for devising a plan to incentivize talents in Nano-Technology in Academic institutions.

“Our focus should be on developing and using Nano Technology for the benefit of humanity. We simply cannot ignore the daunting challenges of climate change that confront us. Our inventions and initiative show how quickly we are leading various areas of Nano-Technology.

In the future, new innovations in nanoscale transistors, nano-particles, nano materials and nanoscale additives in energy, environment, food, agriculture and electronics will be very important for the welfare of humanity. I hope that the benefits of these technologies will reach the common man,” the Lieutenant Governor further said.

On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor also released an abstract book on the 5-day International Conference.

Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir, Prof. Nilofer Khan; Dean Academics, BRIC-InStem, Bangalore, Prof. Praveen K. Vemula; eminent Scientist from IIT Kanpur, Prof. Ashok Kumar; Head, Department of Nanotechnology, Kashmir University and Organizing Chair of the Conference, Prof. Rabia Hamid; scientists, experts, researchers and heads of educational institutions were present.

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg; DIG Central Kashmir Range, Rajiv Pandey; Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Akshay Labroo; SSP Srinagar, Dr GV Sundeep Chakravarthy; Registrar, Kashmir University, Prof. Naseer Iqbal, scholars, faculty and students also attended the inaugural ceremony.

Chadoora, Sept 07: Authorities on Saturday made the vital Badipora-Sogam bridge through for light motor vehicles here in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district, days after Greater Kashmir highlighted the issue.

The bridge, inaugurated in the run-up to the 2014 assembly elections, had been defunct since March 16 this year after heavy rains washed away its retaining wall on the Sogam side.

The Public Works (R&B) Department made the bridge through for LMVs by filling the deep gorge left beside the retaining wall.

While construction work was taken up by the department soon after the March damage, the bridge gradually went on the backburner leaving people agitated. After initial concrete raft work on the retaining wall, the department later shifted to gabions (crate work) to save time and money. Still the road is not through, leaving the locals all the more perplexed.

Greater Kashmir on Sept 2 carried an exclusive report on the ordeal faced by thousands of people in the area, who commute through the bridge on a daily-basis for the last six months.

The bridge was inaugurated by Chrar-e-Sharif MLA and Jammu and Kashmir Speaker, Abdul Rahim Rather in the run-up to the 2014 Assembly Elections at an estimated cost of Rs 55 lakh.

Rather, a National Conference veteran, who lost the 2014 state election to PDP’s Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura, made a comeback in last year’s first assembly polls in the UT of J&K from his traditional bastion Chrar-e-Sharif.

Ganderbal, Sept 07: In a fresh action against illegal mineral extraction, Ganderbal Police in coordination with the Geology and Mining Department seized four vehicles engaged in unlawful transportation of minor minerals from Nallah Sindh on Sunday.

Officials said three tippers and one tractor loaded with illegally extracted material were intercepted within the jurisdiction of Police Station Lar and Police Station Gund. The seized vehicles bear registration numbers JK01S/1372, JK04B/0681, JK15/0205 and JK16B/7118.

Police said the crackdown is part of the ongoing campaign to curb illegal mining and safeguard natural resources of the district. Strict legal action has been initiated against the violators.

Authorities urged residents to cooperate by providing information about such activities in their localities. Police assured that the identity of informants will be kept confidential and reiterated its resolve to continue strict measures against illegal mining. [KNT]