Srinagar, July 05: Jammu and Kashmir’s Education Minister, Sakina Itoo, on Saturday said that the government will take a final decision on the possible extension of summer vacations on Sunday, keeping in view the ongoing heatwave that has gripped the region.

Speaking to reporters, Sakina Itoo acknowledged the growing concerns from students and parents alike, saying the department has been receiving numerous calls requesting the government to extend the summer break. “We have received a lot of phone calls from worried parents and students urging us to consider an extension in summer vacations due to the persistent heatwave,” she said.

The education minister, however, noted that a formal decision would be taken after assessing weather conditions on Sunday. “We are monitoring the situation very closely. If the heatwave persists tomorrow, we will announce an appropriate decision in the interest of children’s health and well-being,” she added.

Expressing concern over the intense weather, Sakina Itoo said she hoped for rainfall and divine mercy. “We pray for rain and hope Allah shows mercy upon us. The well-being of our students remains our top priority,” she said.

The Kashmir Valley has been witnessing unusually high temperatures over the past several days, prompting repeated appeals from various quarters for an extension in the summer holidays. The existing break, announced earlier for government and recognized private schools, is currently scheduled to end tomorrow (Sunday). [KNT]

Srinagar, July 05: Another batch of 6,979 Yatris left Jammu on Saturday for Kashmir amid tight security arrangements to perform pilgrimage to the Amarnath shrine as more than 26,800 pilgrims had ‘Darshan’ during the last two days, officials said.

The officials added that more than 26,800 pilgrims had ‘darshan’ inside the holy cave shrine cave during the last two days since the 38-day-long Amarnath Yatra started on July 3.

“Another batch of 6,979 pilgrims left Bhagwati Nagar Yatra Niwas in the morning in two escorted convoys of 312 vehicles for the Valley.”

“Of these, 2,753 are going to Baltal base camp while 4,226 pilgrims are going to Nunwan (Pahalgam base camp),” officials added.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, inaugurated a Yatri Niwas in Baltal base camp on Friday.

The complex includes a disaster management centre.

Part of the ONGC’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) project, Baltal Yatri Niwas has become functional while those in Bijbehara, Nunwan (Pahalgam) and Sidhra in Jammu are nearing completion.

These locations feature dormitories, sewage treatment plants, and other essential utilities.

The Sidhra site (8,500 square metres), designed as a sustainable G+5 structure equipped with solar panels, is expected to be operational by September 2026.

Collectively, these projects, covering over 30,955 square metres, will provide safer and more comfortable facilities for the people.

Authorities have left no stone unturned in providing a multi-tier cover to this year’s Amarnath Yatra, as this takes place after the cowardly attack of April 22 in which Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 civilians after segregating them on the basis of faith in Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam.

An additional 180 companies of Central Armed Police Forces have been brought in to augment the existing strength of the Army, Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Sashastra Seema Bal, and the local police.

All the transit camps en route to the two base camps and the entire route from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu to the cave shrine are secured by the security forces.

Locals have extended complete cooperation to this year’s Amarnath Yatra as they have always done in the past.

To send out a powerful signal that Kashmiris were deeply shocked by the Pahalgam terror attack, locals were the first to welcome the first batch of Yatris with garlands and placards as the pilgrims crossed the Navyug Tunnel to enter the Valley at Qazigund.

This year, the Yatra started on July 3 and will end after 38 days on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.

Yatris approach the holy cave shrine situated 3,888 metres above sea level in the Kashmir Himalayas either from the traditional Pahalgam route or the shorter Baltal route.

Those using the Pahalgam route have to pass through Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarni to reach the cave shrine, covering a distance of 46 km on foot.

This trek takes a pilgrim four days to reach the cave shrine.

Those using the shorter Baltal route have to trek 14 km to reach the cave shrine and return to the base camp the same day after performing the Yatra.

For security reasons, no helicopter services are available to the Yatris this year.

The cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure that wanes and waxes with the phases of the moon.

Devotees believe that the ice stalagmite structure symbolises the mythical powers of Lord Shiva.

Shri Amarnath ji Yatra is one of the holiest religious pilgrimages for the devotees, as legend says Lord Shiva narrated the secrets of eternal life and immortality to Mata Parvati inside this cave.

Two pigeons accidentally happened to be inside the cave when the eternal secrets were being narrated by Lord Shiva.

Traditionally, even to this day, a pair of mountain pigeons flies out of the cave shrine when the annual Yatra begins.

Srinagar, Jul 4: Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha Friday said that he was proud to see women breaking barriers in agricultural sciences and technology.

In his address at the 6th convocation ceremony of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir (SKUAST-K), the LG said, “Proud to see our daughters breaking barriers and achieving success in Agricultural Science and Technology. It reflects a bright future for J&K and the nation.”

During the convocation, of the 5250 degrees of undergraduate, master’s, and PhD, 2661 degrees were awarded to women, of the 150 students conferred with gold medals, 115 were women, and of the 445 Certificates of Merit, 334 were conferred to women.

LG Sinha, who is also the Chancellor of J&K universities, asked the SKUAST-K graduates to uphold curiosity, innovation and lifelong learning as core values, saying these were essential for personal growth and national development.

He said that the greatest divine gift bestowed upon humankind was “curiosity of the mind.”

“I urge every graduating student to keep the flame of curiosity alive throughout their life. It is this curiosity that drives innovation, leads to discovery, and enables one to contribute meaningfully to society and the country,” the LG said.

He said that ‘Viksit Bharat, Viksit Jammu Kashmir’ and ‘prosperous farming community’ were the resolutions of the J&K administration.

“The Centre, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is committed to developing J&K as a hub of horticulture,” LG Sinha said.

He congratulated SKUAST-K for creating a competent and competitive human resource, shaping up the farm sector in J&K, besides showing remarkable improvement in its ranking.

In his address, the LG also spoke on the transformative reforms taking place in agriculture and allied sectors in J&K over the past few years.

“The agriculture and allied sectors have truly become the mainstay of India’s economy under the visionary leadership of PM Modi,” he said.

LG Sinha said this change was strongly reflected in J&K’s agricultural landscape.

“Today, the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) has emerged as a role model of agricultural revolution in the entire country,” he said.

The LG said that J&K has set four major goals for agriculture and allied sector in the last five years which include transforming the agriculture sector into a sustainable-commercial agriculture economy, creating an agri-business ecosystem with value chain, farmer and community-centric approach for holistic development of agriculture, increasing the income of farming families, and securing their livelihood.

“I urge the graduating students to make their valuable contribution to innovation and progressive farming and take the lead in agri-technology, food technology, and groundbreaking innovation. Your passion and ideas will shape the future of India’s agriculture sector,” he said.

LG Sinha said that education was not preparation for life but life in itself.

“I firmly believe that if education is in accordance with the time and the needs of the global industry, then it is the most precious asset of society,” he said.

The LG also commended Vice Chancellor SKUAST-K, Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai and his team for developing modern, state-of-the-art infrastructure and a new-age educational platform.

“New academic programmes, centres of excellence, and research in modern technology areas – Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Gene Editing, Regenerative Medicine, Speed Breeding – have brought J&K closer to achieving its goal of becoming a knowledge economy and provided an opportunity to promote J&K’s bio-economy,” he said.

Srinagar, Jul 4: On the occasion of 8th Muharram-ul-Haram, the National Conference organised multiple refreshment camps in different parts of Kashmir for the mourners participating in the mourning processions including the one from Chota Bazar to Dalgate.

The initiative was taken following the directions of party General Secretary Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar, with active efforts from MLA Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq, MLA Lal Chowk Ahsan Pardesi, MLA Hazratbal Salman Ali Sagar, MLA Chadoora Ali Mohammad Dar.

The camps provided water and refreshments to the mourners, reflecting the party’s commitment to the universal and eternal teachings of Hazrat Imam-e-Aalimakam (AS), a press release said.