Anantnag, Jan 29: A massive avalanche struck the remote Warwan Valley in Kishtwar district of Chenab Valley on late Wednesday, prompting authorities to warn residents to avoid avalanche-prone areas.

No casualties or damage to property were reported, officials said.

ìThe avalanche descended from a high altitude in the Sukhnoi area amid heavy snowfall in the valley,î an official said.

Authorities advised residents to remain cautious, particularly those living in villages located along foothills.

ìIt has snowed heavily in the isolated twin valleys of Warwan and Marwa. Residents should avoid venturing into vulnerable areas,î the official said.

The only surface road connecting the twin valleys – the Gawran-Margan Top road connecting it with Kashmir remains mostly closed during winter due to heavy snow accumulation at Margan Pass.

The valleys are also not connected to the district headquarters in Kishtwar.

A video circulating on social media captured the moment the avalanche swept through the area, carrying snow and debris downhill.

Earlier Tuesday night, a powerful avalanche struck the tourist resort of Sonamarg in Ganderbal district.

Officials said a large mass of snow rushed towards nearby houses and hotels.

CCTV footage showed snow rapidly engulfing buildings along its path.

No injuries or deaths were reported there either.

The avalanches are part of a continuing spell of harsh weather across J&K.

Over the past two days, higher reaches of the region have received heavy snowfall, while lower areas have seen moderate to light snowfall and rains, disrupting normal life.

A snow avalanche occurs when an unstable mass of snow breaks free from a slope and accelerates downhill, posing serious risks to life and property.

Avalanches can travel at speeds exceeding 320 km per hour.

Authorities have already issued avalanche warnings in several districts in Kashmir and Jammu region.

Srinagar, Jan 29: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir’s Innovation, Incubation & Entrepreneurship (SKIIE) Centre has been recognised as ‘Incubator of the Year’ by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir at the Annual Startup Mela held in Jammu today.

The award was presented by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, in presence of Advisor to CM Nasir Aslam Sogami, MLA Vijaypur Chander Prakash Ganga, Commissioner Secretary Industries and Commerce Vikramjit Singh, Secretary Industries, Director JKEDI, and other senior officials and dignitaries at the event organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) under the Industries and Commerce Department.

The recognition follows a rigorous evaluation process conducted by a Government-appointed committee, which assessed incubation centres across the Union Territory on parameters including innovation output, patents, startup performance, sustainability, governance, mentorship, industry linkages, and overall impact. The committee cited SKUAST-K’s SKIIE Centre for its focused support to disruptive startups, particularly in agri-tech, artificial intelligence, deep-tech, food processing, biotechnology, and rural enterprise sectors, along with its strong mentor network and facilitation of market and investment access.

The award was received by the Chief Executive Officer of the SKIIE Centre Naveed Hamid and comprises a Certificate of Excellence, ₹50,000 as award money, and a ₹50 lakh capital seed fund to further strengthen incubation activities at the Centre.

In a major boost to the university’s startup ecosystem, four startups mentored and incubated at SKUAST-K were also sanctioned seed grants of ₹20 lakh each, amounting to a total seed funding of ₹80 lakh. The startups include M/s Cashmircarbozone Pvt. Ltd., founded by Owais Al Wani; M/s Alhamdan Crafts Pvt. Ltd., founded by Tahir Kalwal; M/s Safavi Organics LLP, founded by Syed Saqib; and M/s Innxu Innotech, founded by Sheikh Zubair. The grants are aimed at supporting product development, validation, and early market entry.

Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-K, Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai, congratulated the SKIIE team on the achievement, stating that the award is a testament to the vision, dedication, and collaborative efforts of the incubation team, faculty mentors, and student innovators. He described the SKIIE Centre as a place of hope for young innovators and startups and urged the team to use this recognition as a catalyst to achieve national and global visibility. He also congratulated Prof Haroon R Naik, Director Planning & Monitoring/Research, and CEO SKIIE Centre Naveed Hamid along with his team for the achievement.

Expressing gratitude for the recognition, Prof Haroon Rashid Naik said the honour reflects the credibility and impact of SKUAST-K’s incubation efforts and reaffirmed the university’s commitment to expanding support services and strengthening partnerships that enable startups to scale and create lasting local impact.

The Government of Jammu and Kashmir’s recognition further consolidates SKUAST-K’s position as a leading institution in innovation and entrepreneurship in agriculture and allied sectors. The SKIIE Centre plans to utilise the award and seed support to scale incubation capacity, strengthen industry collaborations, and deepen outreach across Jammu and Kashmir, with a focus on developing, validating, and scaling solutions to regional agricultural and rural challenges, contributing towards making J&K a model bio-economy in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

Bandipora, Jan 29: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary Ashok Koul on Thursday criticised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, accusing the NC led government of being disconnected from ground realities during a severe snowfall across Kashmir.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a BJP workers’ convention in Bandipora, Koul alleged that while large parts of the Valley were grappling with blocked roads, power outages and disruption of essential services, the Chief Minister was seen skiing in Gulmarg instead of monitoring relief and restoration work.

He said people across several districts were facing immense hardship and expected their elected representatives to remain present on the ground. Leadership, he said, demands responsibility and action during crises.

Koul also blamed past mainstream political regimes for pushing common youth into violence while ordinary citizens suffered the consequences. He claimed the situation in Jammu and Kashmir has improved significantly in recent years, with peace returning and fear receding from daily life.

Referring to the killing of BJP leader Waseem Bari and his family members in 2020, Koul said it reflected a failed system of the past. He also criticised legislators from Bandipora, Sonawari and Gurez for allegedly failing to visit their constituencies during harsh winter conditions.

The BJP leader further expressed dissatisfaction over the recent budget, saying it failed to provide relief to common citizens, and reiterated that public leadership must prioritise people’s hardships over personal engagements. [KNT]

Srinagar, Jan 29: Several water supply schemes in Shopian, Kupwara, Baramulla and Kulgam have been temporarily disrupted due to massive snowfall, with restoration work currently underway, Chief Engineer Public Health Engineering Rakesh Kumar said on Thursday.

Talking to the news agency Kashmir News Trust, the Chief Engineer said snowfall has blocked a number of water schemes, affecting supply in various areas. “Efforts are on to restore water supply. In most areas it will take at least 24 hours, while in upper reaches restoration may take up to 72 hours,” he said.

Rakesh Kumar said that in Shopian, two additional water tankers have been dispatched from Srinagar to provide immediate relief to inhabitants facing supply disruption. He said similar contingency measures are being taken wherever required to minimise inconvenience to the public.

He said the snowfall, while causing temporary disruption, is important for long term water security. “Snowfall is crucial for water charging and will have good results, especially in districts like Shopian, Kupwara, Baramulla and Kulgam. There will be no water shortage problem in the coming months,” he said.

The Chief Engineer said the current issues are short term and are mainly due to heavy snowfall affecting infrastructure. He added that freezing related problems have been comparatively less this season.

Appealing to the public, Rakesh Kumar urged people to avoid wastage of potable water and use it judiciously, particularly during the restoration phase.