Ganderbal, Oct 20: The Sonamarg Development Authority (SDA) has sought the closure of the Sonamarg bypass road after 6:00 PM to curb the movement of vehicles allegedly transporting illegal construction materials under the cover of darkness.

Reports suggest that some miscreants have been using the bypass road at night to ferry unauthorized building materials, taking advantage of the limited night-time monitoring by the authorities. The Tourism Authority has acknowledged its inability to effectively patrol the stretch due to the absence of shelter or night-duty facilities for staff, creating what officials describe as a “serious security loophole.”

Confirming the development, Chief Executive Officer of Sonamarg Development Authority, Dr. Mantasha Rashid told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that the authority has formally approached the Sonamarg Police and the district administration for immediate intervention. “We have requested the Sonamarg Police to close the bypass road after 6:00 PM for all tippers and material-carrying vehicles to prevent illegal movement,” she said.

Dr. Mantasha Rashid added that the authority has also written to the Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ganderbal, seeking his intervention and directions to the Station House Officer (SHO) Sonamarg to deploy additional police personnel at the tunnel exit to ensure enforcement.

“In addition, a request has been made to the Tunnel Administration to restrict movement through the bypass after 6:00 PM,” Dr. Rashid said, emphasizing that the joint coordination of police and administrative agencies is crucial to plug the loopholes being exploited by unscrupulous elements.

Sources said that the bypass road, primarily meant for tourist and controlled vehicular movement, has increasingly been misused during night hours by tippers and trucks transporting construction materials without valid permits. The activity, according to officials, not only violates construction norms but also poses environmental and safety concerns in the ecologically fragile Sonamarg area. [KNT]

Budgam, Oct 20: The candidates of all major political parties, including National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party, and the Bharatiya Janata Party, filed nominations for key election to the Budgam seat on Monday-the last day for filling nominations papers.

According to details available with news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), National Conference candidate Aga Syed Mehmood was accompanied by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah filed his notomination papers, while Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi was accompanied by MLA Waheed Rehman Parra.

Meanwhile, BJP candidate Aga Syed Mohsin also filed his nomination today. He was accompanied by Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma.

The Budgam by-election will be held on November 11, while counting of votes will take place on November 14.

The by-election was necessitated after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah vacated the Budgam seat, retaining traditional stronghold Ganderbal following the 2024 Assembly elections—(KNO)

Srinagar, Oct 20: National Conference (NC) Chief Spokesperson, Tanvir Sadiq Monday said that there are many surprises for October 24 Rajya Sabha elections in Jammu & Kashmir and that the party will secure all the four seats.

Speaking with reporters in Srinagar, Sadiq, per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that he believes if somebody votes for them he is a friend and not an opponent. “Many surprises will be there on October 24. NC will bag all the four seats,” he said.

He said that the NC will get support in Rajya Sabha elections from the people who are not part of the alliance. “There is also an opportunity for us to win the Nagrota seat this time. Shamim Begum, the party candidate, got a good number of votes last time. Congress will also support us and there are some reports coming that some locals disgruntled with the BJP will also support us. We have also nominated Aga Mehmood for Budgam seat after threadbare discussions. We expect to secure both seats” he said.

He added that they have many issues to put forth before the people and expect voters to support them like they did in the last 2024 assembly elections.

“There is no rift with the Congress and the party preferred the NC candidate for Nagrota as in the last election, the party stood second. We will put our efforts to win all the elections that are being held in the next one month,” he said.

On AIMIM Chief Assadudin Owaisi’s PSA remark, he asked where was he in 2019 when people of J&K were being suppressed. “He was then sitting with the BJP and didn’t say anything. Now, when the time has come to serve the people, he raised his fingers. I want to make an appeal to him to focus on Hyderbad. We have got a mandate from the people and we will do our job,” he added—(KNO)

Anantnag, Oct 20: A truck driver lost his life after his vehicle met with a fatal accident in the Laripora area of Pahalgam in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Monday morning.

Officials said the accident occurred when a tipper truck bearing registration number JK01AJ-7136 went out of control and overturned at Laripora. The impact was severe, leaving the driver trapped under the vehicle.

Locals and police rushed to the spot soon after the mishap and retrieved the driver from the wreckage, but he succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital.

The deceased driver was identified as Mehrajuddin Bhat, son of Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, a resident of Baramulla district.

Police have taken cognizance of the incident and initiated proceedings under relevant sections of law. The vehicle was later removed from the accident site to restore traffic movement in the area.

Locals in the area said the stretch of road where the accident occurred is narrow and slippery, particularly during early hours, which often leads to mishaps. They urged the authorities to take safety measures to prevent further accidents in the tourist zone.

The body of the deceased was handed over to his family after completion of medico-legal formalities. [KNT]