Srinagar, Nov 18: PDP President Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said that trained experts should have been tasked to handle the ammonium nitrate involved in the Nowgam Police Station blast, adding that the tragedy could have been avoided with proper safety measures.

She made these remarks during her visit to the Kupwara residence of inspector Peer Asrar ul Haq, one of the nine people who lost their lives in the incident.

Speaking to reporters, Mehbooba said the blast had thrown Kashmir into a difficult and frightening situation, and raised concerns about the way hazardous material was managed.

She said police personnel and other staff were put at unnecessary risk despite the availability of professional expertise that should have been used from the beginning.

Mehbooba added that many of the deceased had very young children who are now left behind, and urged the government to ensure all possible assistance and compensation to the affected families.

She also said those who lost their lives in the Nowgam blast should be honoured with bravery awards for their sacrifice.

Speaking on the Red Fort blast case, she said there should be no collective punishment for Kashmiris and stressed that only those found guilty should be dealt with strictly under the law.

Mehbooba Mufti extended her condolences to the family and called for accountability, proper safety protocols, and trained handling of dangerous materials to prevent such tragedies in future.(KNS)

Srinagar, Nov 19: Kashmir experienced a further drop in night temperatures on Tuesday, with Pahalgam emerging as the coldest location in the Union Territory at minus 2.8 degrees Celsius. According to the India Meteorological Department, the temperature in the south Kashmir resort settled 0.7 degrees below normal, marking the sharpest dip of the season so far.

Kupwara and Srinagar also recorded sub-zero temperatures, with both stations registering lows of minus 1.8 degrees Celsius. Meteorologists said the readings reflect a significant departure from normal night temperatures for this time of the year.

Gulmarg, the famous ski resort, reported a minimum of 2.0 degrees, slightly above the usual range but still within cold weather conditions prevailing across the region.

Daytime temperatures, however, remained comparatively milder. Srinagar recorded a maximum of 16.3 degrees, marginally above normal, while Kupwara reached 18.0 degrees, nearly three degrees higher than average for November. Gulmarg logged the lowest daytime maximum in the Valley at 12.4 degrees.

The IMD said the prevailing dry spell is expected to continue in coming days, maintaining cold nights across Kashmir while keeping the Jammu region relatively warm during afternoons. Jammu city recorded a maximum of 24.7 degrees, making it the warmest station in the Union Territory. [KNT]

Srinagar, Nov 18: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday visited Cygnus Ujala Hospital to meet the injured victims of the Nowgam Police Station blast and said the government owes citizens “clear answers” on how such a massive explosion could take place inside a police facility.

He said the scale of destruction, including the loss of civilians, police personnel, and technical staff, makes a thorough and transparent investigation unavoidable.

Speaking to reporters outside the hospital, Omar said the tragic deaths including a tailor, a photographer and several government staffers have left families devastated. “So many people have lost their precious lives, including police, FSL staff, civil services personnel and even those who had nothing to do with the government. How did this happen? Why did this happen? People deserve answers,” he said.

The Chief Minister said an inquiry is already underway and urged authorities to provide clarity on the circumstances in which such a large quantity of explosives entered and remained inside the premises.

“Such a huge quantity of explosives was brought here. In what conditions was it brought? In what conditions was it kept? In what conditions was it being dealt with? Gradually, we will get the answers,” he said.

Omar praised the immediate response of Cygnus Ujala Hospital staff, who rushed to the spot even before formal communication from authorities. “They saw the explosion and fire from their window and sent their ambulance without waiting for a phone call. Their team reached first and rescued the injured,” he said. Four patients remain in the ICU and several others are under treatment.

He said the government has already announced initial compensation from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, and further support for structural damage to houses is being processed.

“We will provide as much assistance as the procedure allows. Because this happened at a police station, we expect that funds available with the Home Department and especially those placed at the disposal of the Lieutenant Governor should also be used to support the affected families,” he said.

The Chief Minister said he raised concerns at the North Zone Chief Minister’s Conference, held recently in the presence of the Union Home Minister, Home Secretary, and senior officials.

“I requested them not to cast suspicion on the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially Kashmiri Muslims. Those who are responsible must be punished, but innocent people who have always raised their voice against such violence should not be dragged into this,” he said as per KNS.

Omar also referred to the earlier SRO scheme, now renamed but similar in structure, which provides government jobs as compensation to families of those killed in such incidents. He said the administration should immediately process a case for the family of the deceased tailor. “As soon as the case reaches us, we will approve it,” he said.

Calling for patience and fairness, the Chief Minister said the investigation must speak through facts, not assumptions. “Those responsible must face punishment. But the innocent must not suffer. Before the investigation ends, no one should jump to conclusions,” he said.

Omar said that the public has the right to know the truth: “We hope people will get the answers they deserve.”(KNS)

Srinagar, Nov 18: The Army Commander, Northern Command, Lt Gen Pratik Sharma on Tuesday visited North Kashmir to assess the anti-infiltration grid and the operational preparedness of units deployed along the Line of Control (LoC).

Defence officials said that the Army Commander interacted with forward-deployed troops and appreciated their high level of combat readiness, resilience, and consistent performance in challenging terrain.

He urged the personnel to continue sharpening their skills, adopt new technologies, and enhance innovation to remain a future-ready force, PRO Defence Jammu said. (KNC)

Srinagar, Nov 18: Traffic police personnel died of a suspected cardiac arrest in the Chee area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Tuesday morning, officials said.

The deceased has been identified as Munner Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Anantnag. He was found lying unconscious at his residence.

He was immediately shifted to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead, citing cardiac arrest as the likely cause, they said. —(KNC)