Ramban, Nov 19: Ramban district administration has stated that the timely relief and compensation as per SDRF norms have been provided to the Dharmkund cloudburst affected families. Responding to the new item published on November 14 regarding Dharmkund cloudburst, a spokesperson of the district administration said, “Contrary to the claims made in the news, all families affected by the cloudburst and flash-floods on April 20, 2025 in Dharmkund, tehsil Ramban, have been provided due relief and compensation strictly as per SDRF norms.”

“Immediately after the incident, the district administration Ramban extended comprehensive support, temporary shelter, food, water, medical care, and other essential logistics,” the spokesperson said, while maintaining that several “critical facts have been overlooked, leading to a misleading portrayal of the situation.”

Terming the news report as “incomplete and one-sided narrative, lacking proper ground truthing and factual verification”, the spokesperson said that the administration undertook timely damage assessments, processed cases under SDRF guidelines, and released compensation accordingly. “Every affected household received the assistance mandated under SDRF provisions,” the spokesperson said.

It was stated that constructive feedback was always welcomed, however, “reports without verification could create unnecessary panic and undermine the hard work of officials who responded promptly and diligently during the disaster.”

Jammu, Nov 19: A day after raiding 13 locations in Kashmir division in connection with “white-collar terror module”, the Counter Intelligence Unit (CIU) of Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) Wednesday conducted an intensive search operation in high-security Central Jail in Kot Bhalwal, Jammu.

Though no official statement was issued till late Wednesday evening in this connection yet official sources stated that the raids were part of ongoing operations to unearth terror networks.

Kot Bhalwal jail houses hardcore Pakistani and local terrorists, including a number of top terrorist commanders belonging to proscribed terror organisations including Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), besides notorious criminals.

In the recent past, the jail also witnessed recurrent cases of security breach with the recoveries of smartphones from inside the high-security prison, sending alarm bells in the security establishment.

As the jail houses many high-value assets, the security and investigative agencies perceived these breaches as a major concern for the establishment.

Jammu, Nov 19: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo today chaired a comprehensive review meeting of the Forest, Ecology & Environment Department to assess its overall functioning and to take stock of key conservation, protection, and developmental initiatives underway across Jammu and Kashmir.

The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary, Forests, Sheetal Nanda; Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Suresh Kumar Gupta; and heads of various wings of the Department.

At the outset, the Chief Secretary underscored the critical importance of enhancing fodder availability in grazing areas, noting that fodder growth is intrinsically linked to the progress of the Animal, Sheep Husbandry, and Dairy sectors. He directed the Department to take targeted measures to scale up fodder production in all feasible forest zones.

Calling for a renewed push toward eco-tourism, the Chief Secretary observed that J&K’s Forest Department possesses significant assets that can be leveraged to promote sustainable tourism. He instructed officials to upgrade existing infrastructure to meet modern tourism standards and ensure optimal utilisation of these facilities throughout the tourist season, thereby generating meaningful revenue for the Department.

He also emphasised the need to study and adopt successful eco-tourism models from states such as Kerala, the North-Eastern region, and Uttarakhand. He highlighted that J&K, with its vast ecological diversity, holds immense potential to emerge as a leading eco-tourism destination if developed sustainably.

During the meeting, the Chief Secretary identified specific stretches such as Peer ki Gali and Tanghdar that require immediate ecological interventions to restore greenery. He reiterated that afforestation and reforestation should remain core priorities, remarking that forests act as the “lungs of the planet” and thus demand vigorous and continuous efforts for their protection and expansion.

Reviewing progress on major projects, the Chief Secretary examined the ongoing development of Jambu Zoo and the Kishtwar High Altitude National Park. He called for timely completion of all pending works to enhance visitor experience and directed officials to ensure provision of essential public amenities. He also suggested exploring the introduction of Night Safaris at Jambu Zoo and adding more animal and bird species to enrich public engagement and learning.