Jammu, Jul 20: PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) Jammu region chapter and Hotel and Restaurant Association Katra (HRAK) have demanded immediate direct bus service from Jammu to Kakryal.

Chairman PHDCCI Jammu region and president HRAK Rakesh Wazir, in a joint meeting held here in Jammu on Sunday, raised this demand stating that in its (direct bus service’s) absence, daily commuters were forced to switch two to three vehicles to reach Narayana Hospital and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU).

Wazir, while speaking on the occasion, said that while the government continued to promote slogans like “Healthcare for all” and “Education at every doorstep”, the ground reality depicted a different story.

“Just 45 kilometers away from Jammu, Kakryal, home to two of the region’s most important institutions i.e., Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Super Speciality Hospital and SMVD University are still not connected to Jammu by any direct public bus service and as a result commuters, including poor patients and university students, are compelled to change at least two to three different vehicles daily to reach their destination – a situation that has remained unchanged for years,” he pointed out.

Shyam Lal Kesar, chairman HRAK, while speaking on the occasion, said that every day, hundreds of patients, many of them from underprivileged backgrounds using the Ayushman Bharat health scheme, travelled to Narayana Hospital for treatment.

“Ironically, their struggle begins not at the hospital gate, but on the road to it. First, they take a local bus or matador from Jammu to Domel, followed by a mini-bus towards Katra, and then finally another mini-bus to Kakryal. This inconvenient and tiring journey becomes even more painful when a patient is elderly, disabled, or in critical condition,” Kesar said.

He said, “Currently, this entire route is operated by only 3–4 minibuses, with irregular timing and excessive crowding. Many patients are forced to stand throughout the journey.”

He questioned, “Can a heart patient stand through three bumpy mini-bus rides just to reach the hospital?

Kesar pointed out that the students studying at SMVD University were also facing severe transport challenges. Those coming from Jammu, Samba, and Kathua had no choice but to take multiple connecting vehicles every day.

“Students report that this exhausting commute saps their energy before classes even begin, and ultimately hampers their academic performance. Even university staff and faculty are not spared from this logistical hardship,” he said.

Virender Kesar, senior vice president HRAK, while addressing the meeting, suggested that keeping in view the difficulties of people an immediate launch of a dedicated daily bus service from Jammu to Kakryal with routes like Ambphalla, Panjtirthi, Sidhra Bypass, Domel and Kakryal (SMVDU and Narayana Hospital) with departure at 7.30 am and 3.30 pm and return from Kakryal to Jammu at 9.15 am and 5.30 pm respectively be started and likewise direct bus service from Katra to Kakryal too should be started.

The meeting among others was attended by Ajay Kotwal, Vivek Sharma, Sudershan Sharma and Ramneek Nawada.

Jammu, July 20: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) Tariq Hameed Karra was among scores of activists detained on Sunday by police during their march for statehood here.

This was the second time in as many days that police did not allow Congress to hold a rally, held under the banner ‘Hamari Riyasat Hamara Haq’.

On Saturday, a congress rally was stopped by police in Srinagar.

Hundreds of Congress activists led by Karra and party general secretary G A Mir assembled at party headquarters at Shaheedi Chowk in the heart of Jammu.

They were to march to Raj Bhawan to submit a memorandum to Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, but were thwarted by police barricades. Mir was also among the detainees.

Karra denounced the authorities, saying, “By this action, they showed their frustration and their mentality that they do not believe in a democratic system and have no respect for people’s voice.”

He said they were not on the roads to spread unrest but had planned to submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi through the Lt Governor championing people’s yearning for statehood.

“The Congress will not be cowed down by such actions but will further strengthen our resolve to fight for our rights,” Karra said.

He said police action in Srinagar and Jammu notwithstanding, the party will go ahead with its ‘Delhi challo’ programme on Monday to ‘ghareo’ parliament on the first day of the Monsoon Session.

“We will try to surround the Parliament on reaching Delhi. We will try to wake up this deaf, blind and handicapped government so that they can make Jammu and Kashmir a state as soon as possible,” the PCC president said.

He said the entire INDIA bloc MPs support the demand for statehood for Jammu and Kashmir.

Mir said, “This is the commitment that was made by the prime minister. It has been 10 months (since the Lok Sabha elections), but statehood has not been restored yet. Modi should fulfil his commitment.”

AICC secretary Shahnawaz Choudhary, among the detainees, accused police of trying to suppress the voice of the people.

“There is no justification for such an action against our peaceful rally. We will continue our struggle for restoration of statehood,” he said.

Srinagar, July 20: An encounter has erupted between security forces and terrorists in the Dachhan Kishtwar area of Jammu division on Sunday.

A top police said that after receiving specific input about suspicious movement, tight cordon was underway.

During the searches, security forces came under intense fire, triggering a gunfight, and heavy exchange of fire is ongoing, the officer said.

Security forces have cordoned off the location, and reinforcements have been rushed. More details are awaited. (JKNS)

Poonch, July 20: A youth tragically drowned while bathing in a river in the Saujiyan area of Mandi tehsil, Poonch district.

According to police sources, the incident occurred in the Saujiyan Gagrian area, where a youth from Poonch town was bathing in a nearby river. Suddenly, he slipped and drowned, resulting in his unfortunate death.

The deceased has been identified as Akashdeep, son of Gardeep Singh, a resident of Poonch.

Police sources added that legal formalities are being carried out in connection with the incident.