Srinagar, Dec 17: Traders of the Boulevard area have expressed concern over frequent unscheduled power cuts in the area from last over a week.
A delegation from traders and locals said that power supply was snapped for hours during the day.
“We are not receiving the power supply as per the schedule. This has affected our business. We urge PDD authorities to strictly adhere to the curtailment schedule for the convenience of traders and locals,” they said.
Rajouri, Dec 17: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti on Wednesday held protest demonstrations across Jammu province against the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) and the Jammu and Kashmir government over the ongoing controversy surrounding admissions to the MBBS course in the newly established Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) under Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), Katra.
Samiti, which was recently constituted with the stated objective of opposing what it termed as irregularities and injustice in the admission process of the medical college, held protests in different parts of Jammu region against admission to 42 students of a particular community out of total 50 students selected in SMVDIME.
The protesters termed this as a direct affront to the sentiments of the Hindu community, asserting that funds generated through offerings made by pilgrims at the shrine were being utilised for running the university.
As part of the protest, the demonstrators blocked the main Jammu–Rajouri–Poonch National Highway (NH-144A) at Salani bridge in Rajouri, resulting in suspension of vehicular movement for over an hour and causing inconvenience to commuters.
Raising slogans, the protesters demanded that the Shrine Board should ensure transparency and fairness in admissions to the institutions run under its aegis.
Similar protest demonstrations were also held in Poonch, Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Jammu, Udhampur, Reasi and other districts of the province by the respective units of the Sangharsh Samiti.
Pulwama, Dec 17: Terming incident involving Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pulling a hijab of a girl “wrong” Jammu and Kashmir BJP General Secretary (Organisation) Ashok Koul on Wednesday said that Kumar’s act appeared to be unintentional, considering his age.
Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of a BJP workers’ convention held at Patipora Lassipora in Pulwama district, Koul, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO said, “The incident involving the Bihar Chief Minister and the girl wearing a hijab was not right. He should not have asked the girl to remove her hijab. However, keeping in view his age, it seems that the act was not intentional.”
He said that its important for everyone to respect individual faith, identity and constitutional values.
During the convention, Ashok Koul, accompanied by BJP State Secretary Mudasir Wani, District President Pulwama Er. Showkat Gayoor, BJP Kisan Morcha leader and programme organiser Arshad Bhat, and senior leader Awataar Singh, interacted with party workers and local residents, listening to their concerns, aspirations and suggestions.
Responding to questions regarding the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, Koul reiterated the BJP’s stand, saying that statehood would be granted at an “appropriate time.”
“Jammu and Kashmir will get statehood. The commitment of the BJP and the Government of India is clear. It will be restored at the right time, keeping in view peace, stability and the larger interest of the people,” he said.
Ashok Koul also addressed the admission-related issues concerning Mata Vaishno Devi College, stating that the matter would be examined by the Sangathan committee of the college and Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.
“The admission issue in Mata Vaishno Devi College is being looked by the Sangathan committee. We are hopeful that a way forward will be found that safeguards everyone’s’ interests,” he added.
Earlier addressing the public gathering, Koul said that Jammu and Kashmir has “touched new heights” under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while acknowledging that there is always scope for further improvement.
“In the Modi era, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed unprecedented development. There is peace, infrastructure growth, expanding tourism and new opportunities for youth. At the same time, an elected government also have a responsibility to work on remaining challenges. The BJP will continue to work for the all-round development of J&K,” he said.
Koul highlighted that the PM Modi-led government has shifted Kashmir’s narrative from terrorism and instability to development, tourism, youth empowerment and economic growth.
He said, “Focused attention has been given to road connectivity, healthcare, education, employment generation and tourism promotion.”
“Kashmir is today hosting international sporting events, cultural festivals and global conferences. Tourism revival has strengthened the local economy and restored confidence among the people, especially the youth, who are now choosing sports, innovation and entrepreneurship over conflict,” he said.
Calling for greater public participation, Ashok Koul urged people to actively support development initiatives and send a strong message of peace and harmony to the world.
“The BJP, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, remains committed to grassroots welfare. Schemes for farmers, youth, women and the underprivileged are being implemented in a mission mode,” he said.
Koul asserted that the PM Modi-led BJP government would continue to work tirelessly for inclusive growth, social justice and lasting peace in Jammu and Kashmir, ensuring that the benefits of development reach every household across the region.
New Delhi, Dec 17: Hundreds of miles from China’s eastern seaboard, a dramatic bend in a remote Himalayan River is poised to host one of Beijing’s most ambitious and controversial infrastructure projects, a $168 billion hydropower system on Tibet’s Yarlung Tsangpo river that could reshape regional energy, ecology and geopolitics.
According to a detailed report by CNN, the project, expected to generate more electricity than any dam in the world, will harness a 2000-metre drop in altitude at the river’s “Great Bend” through a network of tunnels, dams, and underground power stations.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has personally pushed for the project to be “advanced forcefully, systematically, and effectively,” underscoring its strategic importance for China’s clean-energy push and national security goals.
While Beijing projects the dam as a climate-friendly alternative to coal, experts warn that its consequences will not stop at China’s borders.
Tens of millions of people in downstream India and Bangladesh depend on the river Brahmaputra after it enters India, for drinking water, agriculture and fisheries.
Scientists cited by CNN caution that the environmental and hydrological impacts on these downstream regions remain poorly studied.
Indian media has already labelled the project a potential “water bomb,” reflecting concerns that China could gain leverage over transboundary water flows, especially during periods of political tension.
The dam’s location near the disputed China-India border in Arunachal Pradesh further raises fears that water could become a strategic tool in an already volatile bilateral relationship.
“This is the most sophisticated, innovative dam system the planet has ever seen,” Brian Eyler of the Stimson Center told CNN, adding that it is also “the riskiest and potentially the most dangerous.”
Alterations in sediment flow, seasonal flooding patterns and fish migration could significantly affect farming and fishing livelihoods in Assam and downstream Bangladesh, experts warn. China, however, has rejected such concerns.
In a statement to CNN, its Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the project had undergone “decades of in-depth research” and included “thorough measures for engineering safety and ecological protection,” insisting it would not adversely affect downstream countries.
Beijing also claimed it has maintained transparency and would share necessary information as the project progresses.
Yet analysts say transparency has been limited.
CNN’s investigation, drawing on satellite imagery, official documents and open-source data, indicates extensive construction activity since July, including road-building, bridge construction, and village relocations, even as detailed technical information remains scarce.
As construction gathers pace, India and Bangladesh face a shared dilemma: how to engage a powerful upstream neighbour on an opaque project that could alter the ecological and economic lifelines of South Asia’s great river basin for decades to come.
New Delhi, Dec 17: There has been no breach of Aadhaar card holders’ data from the Unique Identification Authority of India’s (UIDAI) database till date, Parliament was informed on Wednesday.
The ministry emphasised about the safety of the world’s largest biometric identity system.
“Aadhaar is the world’s largest biometric identity system with approximately 134 crores live Aadhaar holders,” the ministry said.
“It has completed more than 16,000 crore authentication transactions,” it added.
Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada said Aadhaar continues to remain secure due to strong technological and institutional safeguards put in place by the government.
Aadhaar, issued by UIDAI, has around 134 crore live Aadhaar number holders. Since its launch, the system has processed more than 16,000 crore authentication transactions, making it the largest biometric identity programme in the world.
The minister said UIDAI follows a multi-layered security framework based on the “defence-in-depth” approach to protect personal data.
“This means several levels of protection are built into the system, so even if one layer is compromised, others continue to safeguard the data,” the ministry stated.
“The entire system is regularly reviewed and audited to ensure it remains secure,” it added.
To prevent misuse or interception, Aadhaar data is protected using advanced encryption technologies, both when it is being transmitted and when it is stored.
The Aadhaar system has been declared a protected system, which brings it under the continuous watch of the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC).
The agency regularly provides security advisories to strengthen UIDAI’s cybersecurity posture.
In addition, an independent audit agency has been engaged to build and monitor a Governance, Risk, Compliance and Performance framework for the Aadhaar ecosystem.
The minister further informed the House that UIDAI carries out continuous cybersecurity audits of its applications, including static and dynamic security testing, to identify and fix vulnerabilities at an early stage.
Srinagar, Dec 17: Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Srinagar observed Sexual Harassment Prevention Week with a series of awareness and sensitisation activities aimed at reinforcing a safe, respectful and dignified environment for learning and work.
As part of the observance, a lecture and an awareness programme were conducted for officers, coordinators, academic counsellors and staff members of the Regional Centre, focusing on prevention, awareness and institutional commitment to eliminating sexual harassment in educational and workplace settings, said an official press release.
Dr AH Rizvi, Regional Director in his welcome address underscored the importance of sexual harassment prevention as a cornerstone of institutional ethics and human dignity. He highlighted the institution’s commitment to maintaining a safe and secure environment through comprehensive policies, including the Prevention of Sexual Harassment framework in educational institutions.
Prof Aamina Parveen, Head, Department of Education, University of Kashmir delivered the keynote address. Dr Nusrat, Bilquees Ara and Shuffali Manzoor also spoke on the occasion. The speakers focused on the broader educational and societal dimensions of gender equity and harassment prevention, covering legal and ethical aspects of sexual harassment, the importance of gender sensitisation in educational curricula, practical strategies to recognise, respond to and prevent incidents.
Srinagar, Dec 17: Tramboo Sports on Wednesday congratulated Jammu and Kashmir cricketer Auqib Nabi on his selection into the Delhi Capitals squad for the Indian Premier League, terming the achievement a reflection of his talent, discipline and years of perseverance. The company, as per a statement issued, expressed pride in being part of Auqib’s journey from Kashmir to the top tier of Indian cricket and said his success continues to inspire aspiring cricketers across the region.
“This remarkable achievement stands as a testament to his talent, discipline, and unwavering commitment to the game,” the statement read.
He represents the dreams of countless young cricketers who aspire to make it big through dedication and perseverance. Tramboo Sports is immensely proud to have been part of his journey and is confident that he will make a strong impact with Delhi Capitals.
The statement added, “It is a moment of immense pride for Tramboo Sports that Auqib will continue his professional journey using Tramboo equipment on this prestigious platform.”
Srinagar, Dec 17: Administrator, Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, has informed that MRI services at Government SMHS Hospital and Government Super Speciality Hospital, Shireen Bagh, Srinagar will resume from tomorrow, December 18, 2025.
The MRI facility had been temporarily suspended due to scheduled maintenance involving de-icing of the magnet to ensure optimal performance and uninterrupted functioning of the equipment. The Administrator stated that the de-icing process has now been successfully completed.
Accordingly, MRI investigations will once again be conducted within the hospital campus, providing relief to patients and ensuring continuity of diagnostic services.
Bhaderwah Dec 17: In a major fire incident that erupted in Karal Mohalla locality of Puneja village in J&K’s Bhaderwah, four residential houses belonging to Raj Mohd, Abdul Shakoor, Abdul Qayoom and Jan Mohd were gutted.
Although fire tenders could not reach the Puneja village immediately which is just 7-km away from the town but the incident site is located at hill top 1-km from motorable road.
SDPO Bhaderwah Naveed Qazi who was supervising the fire extinguishing operation said that despite being located 1-km uphill from the motorable road, the fire has been brought under control.
Locals along with police and fire tenders did a commendable job and risked their lives to bring the rapidly spreading fire under control, but till then four houses got gutted in the fire.
The cause of the fire is not known yet while locals alleged that the fire could have been controlled easily and property worth crores saved if there would have been a motorable road to the village which has a population of about 1500 people.
“I noticed the flames coming from the top floor and due to wind the fire rapidly spread to the adjoining houses, although we informed fire tenders immediately but it took them one hour to trek the hill and reach the incident site,” said Mohd Iqbal, an eye witness.
“If there would have been a motorable road to the village, there would have been a minimum loss. Still we are thankful to SDPO and his team who risked their life to douse the flames,” Iqbal added.
“We are a meager vote bank for the politicians and only get promises which always turn fake, the motorable road could have saved the homes of poor but there is no one to listen to our miseries instead every time we get lame excuses,” Siad Durga Devi, a resident of Puneja.
Srinagar, Dec 17: The Indian Army on Wednesday inducted tanks and artillery guns into the Kashmir Valley through a Military Special Train, marking a major logistics milestone and a significant boost to operational readiness along the northern borders.
The Army, in a post on X, said that the induction was carried out as part of a validation exercise, during which tanks, artillery guns and dozers were successfully moved from the Jammu region to Anantnag, demonstrating enhanced mobility and logistics capability.
The Army said the move was achieved in close coordination with the Ministry of Railways, highlighting the transformative impact of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link in enabling rapid logistics build-up.
“Enhancing Capabilities Along the Borders. The Indian Army achieved a major logistics milestone on 16 December 2025 with the induction of tanks and artillery guns into the Kashmir Valley by a Military Special Train. As part of the validation exercise, tanks, artillery guns and dozers were successfully moved from the Jammu Region to Anantnag, Kashmir demonstrating enhanced mobility and logistical capability,” it said.
It added; “This milestone was achieved in close coordination with Railway ministry, underscoring the transformative impact of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project in enabling rapid logistics build-up and strengthening operational readiness along the Northern Borders”. (KNO)
