Srinagar, Oct 19: Transport Commissioner Vishesh Mahajan has urged motorists across Jammu and Kashmir to drive responsibly and follow road safety norms.

In a post on X, Mahajan stated, “Please drive carefully on roads. We shall continue with this drive.” He informed that the RTO Jammu and ARTO Kishtwar have already cancelled more than 50 driving licenses of careless and rash drivers over the last two days.

Mahajan emphasized that the enforcement drive against traffic violations will continue to ensure safer roads across the Union Territory. (KNC)

Srinagar, Oct 18: On the evening of October 12, a seven-year-old boy, Muhammad Razak Bajad, was mauled to death by a leopard in Wupzan village of Bijbehara in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

His father, Iqbal Bajad, a nomad from Reasi district, said the child was playing near their tent when the animal attacked.

“I was offering prayers just outside when I heard my son scream,” Bajad said. “We rushed to save him, but the leopard had already dragged him away.”

The Bajad family, like many nomads, had been guarding apple orchards during the harvest. Wildlife officials later launched a search operation in the area, while terrified residents now avoid venturing out after dusk.

Wildlife attacks have sparked renewed fear across Kashmir, particularly in south Kashmir districts, as a surge in leopard and bear incidents has left two toddlers dead and several others injured during the ongoing harvest season.

“This isn’t an isolated case,” said a senior Wildlife Department official. “We are witnessing a disturbing rise in Human-Wildlife Conflict this season.”

A similar tragedy occurred on September 6, when a five-year-old girl, Tanzeela Jan, also from a nomadic family, was killed by a leopard in Gujjar Basti Midoora village of Tral in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

“The leopard dragged her into a nearby forest. Her body was recovered hours later after extensive searches,” said Ajaz Ahmad, a local.

“Many nomadic families live in makeshift tents that are open on most sides,” said another Wildlife Department official. “A leopard or even a bear can easily enter them.”

Even people living in houses have been targeted, and the adults have not been spared either.

In recent weeks, several people, mainly youth, have been injured in bear attacks in Tral, Dooru, Kokernag, Verinag, and Aishmuqam, while a seven-year-old boy in Shopian suffered head injuries after being attacked near his home.

On October 15, a bear attacked Yasir Mir, son of Abdul Hamid Mir, outside his home in Takia Gulab Bagh, Tral, leaving him critically injured.

“Yasir is battling for life at a Srinagar hospital,” a local villager said.

On September 5, a black bear injured five people in the Dooru area of Anantnag district.

“People were working in the fields when the bear suddenly appeared. There was panic everywhere,” said a villager.

Wildlife officials say areas where orchards border forests are the most vulnerable.

“Leopards often target children playing alone or strike when they feel threatened,” said Sajad Bhat, Wildlife Warden for Anantnag-Kulgam.

Experts attribute the growing number of encounters to changing land use, shrinking buffer zones, and the easy availability of food near human settlements.

“The leopards in conflict with humans actually live and breed within urbanised populations,” said Head of the Department of Wildlife Sciences at SKUAST-Kashmir, Khurshid Ahmad Shah. “They now prey on domestic dogs. The conversion of paddy fields and grazing lands into apple orchards has made food easily available throughout the year.”

He said that black bears have also adapted to living near human habitation.

“Except for those in Dachigam National Park, most bears now survive in semi-urban areas, feeding on livestock and garbage,” Shah said. “A study revealed that Dachigam bears never descend for food, showing how secure habitats influence behaviour.”

Wildlife officials also point to poor waste management and neglected orchard practices as major factors behind the rise in attacks.

“Bear attacks increase during the fruit season,” said Suhail Ahmad Wagay, Wildlife Warden for Shopian-Pulwama. “Fallen fruit must be cleared promptly, and household waste disposed of properly. Otherwise, these areas become feeding grounds for wild animals.”

Wagay said unharvested apples and stray dogs have created “ideal habitats” for leopards and bears near villages.

“If food is available here, why would they go back to the forests?” he said.

Suhail Intesar, Wildlife Warden for North Kashmir, said bear sightings are increasingly being reported from populated areas.

“We get frequent distress calls, especially from Kupwara,” he said. “Our quick response has prevented further casualties, but vigilance remains crucial.”

Authorities have issued advisories urging residents to avoid leaving children unattended during early morning and evening hours and to move in groups in areas where wild animals have been sighted.

“People are terrified,” said Ahmad, a resident of Tral. “Children no longer step out in the evenings.”

Local legislator Syed Bashir Ahmad Shah (Veeri) called for stronger coordination between departments.

“The Wildlife and Forest officials should create fenced buffer zones near forest edges to prevent incursions,” he said.

Officials warn that unless waste disposal, stray dog control, and orchard management improve, Human-Wildlife Conflict is likely to persist, posing continuing danger to both people and animals.

Srinagar, Oct 18: The University of Kashmir (KU) convened the first meeting of its newly constituted Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), marking a significant step toward strengthening inclusivity on campus.

The meeting, chaired by Vice-Chancellor KU Prof. Nilofer Khan, was attended by Registrar Prof. Naseer Iqbal, Dean Students’ Welfare Prof. Pervez Ahmed, Prof. (Dr.) Mohammad Maqbool, President, Voluntary Medicare Society (VMS); Prof. Masooda Yaseen, Vice President, VMS; Prof. Shazia Manzoor, Head, Department of Social Work KU; Prof. Amina Parveen, Head, Department of Education KU; and representatives of students and parents of PwDs.

A key highlight of the meeting was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the University of Kashmir and the Voluntary Medicare Society (VMS).

The agreement envisions skill-based workshops and training programmes for persons with disabilities, with a focus on enhancing human resources, improving infrastructure accessibility, providing technical support, and exploring the introduction of a Bachelor’s Programme in Special Education through the University’s academic bodies.

On the sidelines of the meeting, a two-day training workshop on “Beyond Barriers: Reading and Learning with Assistive Tools and Technologies” was organised by the Allama Iqbal Library (AIL) in collaboration with the Special Cell under the aegis of the Department of Students’ Welfare (DSW), KU.

The workshop aimed to promote inclusive education by sensitising participants to assistive tools and technologies that facilitate effective learning for persons with disabilities (PwDs).

Srinagar, Oct 18: In a major boost to interdisciplinary research and sustainable engineering innovation, two faculty members from National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar have been awarded a prestigious research grant of Rs 73,60,921.5 by the Ministry of Mines, Government of India.

The grant has been sanctioned for a groundbreaking project titled “Bioremediation-Enhanced Pavement System for Removal of Toxic Elements from Underground Soil.”

The project will be spearheaded by Dr. Vivek, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, as the Principal Investigator (PI), and Dr. Anshul Gupta, Assistant Professor, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, as the Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI).

The central objective of the research is to develop and demonstrate sustainable pavement systems that incorporate bioremediation techniques for removing toxic and harmful elements from underground soil.

This dual-purpose system will not only help in environmental remediation but also maintain and enhance pavement durability and performance.

According to the investigators, the project seeks to create field-deployable solutions for contaminated sites by bridging the gap between geotechnical engineering and environmental remediation.

It will also explore the integration of biological agents and material engineering strategies to ensure cost-effective and sustainable soil purification methods.

Upon completion, the project is expected to make a significant contribution to sustainable infrastructure development and eco-friendly engineering practices throughout India.

In his message, Director NIT Srinagar, Prof. Binod Kumar Kanaujia, congratulated the investigators and appreciated the Ministry of Mines for supporting such crucial research.

“This project reflects NIT Srinagar’s growing commitment to sustainable technologies and applied research with national impact. Environmental restoration using engineering innovation is the need of the hour, and this grant will strengthen our contribution to that cause,” he said.

Prof. Kanaujia added that the institute continues to encourage collaborative, cross-disciplinary projects that address real-world challenges, promoting innovation among both faculty and students.

Registrar NIT Srinagar, Prof. Atikur Rahman, also lauded the faculty for securing the competitive grant and highlighted the project’s broader relevance.

“Such research initiatives are crucial for addressing pressing environmental issues. The efforts of Dr. Vivek and Dr. Anshul reflect the research excellence and academic dedication of NIT Srinagar,” he said.

Prof. Rehman further said the institute is fully committed to providing infrastructural and administrative support to ensure the successful execution of the project.