Srinagar, June 30: The Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to announce the summer vacations for Kashmir schools from July 6 to 19 of 2026.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) Naseer Ahmad Wani said the proposal has been approved and order will be issued as well.

“The proposal submitted by the Directorate has been approved by the Administrative Department. Official order will be issued as well,” Wani told Greater Kashmir.

Earlier, Minister for Education Sakina Itoo said that the summer vacations will be announced from the second week of July.

“We have planned to announce the vacation from July second week but the date has not been finalized yet,” she had told Greater Kashmir.

Ganderbal, June 30: In view of the forthcoming Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra (SANJY)-2026, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Zone V K Birdi-IPS today conducted a comprehensive on-ground review of the security arrangements and deployment plan in district Ganderbal.

He was accompanied by DIG Central Kashmir Range, DIG North Kashmir Range, SSP Srinagar, SSP Ganderbal, SSP Bandipora, SP Ops Srinagar and other senior officers from Police and Civil Administration.

During the visit, IGP Kashmir inspected the Transit Camp Manigam and took a detailed assessment of the arrangements being put in place for the smooth, secure and hassle-free movement of pilgrims. He also reviewed the deployment of Police, CAPF’s and other security components at important locations along the Yatra route.

Srinagar, June 30: Inspector General of Police (IGP), Traffic J&K, M. Suleman Choudhary, today chaired a comprehensive review meeting to assess and finalize traffic management arrangements for the smooth, safe and seamless movement of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra (SANJY)-2026 pilgrims along the Kashmir axis.

The meeting was attended by DIG South Kashmir Range, Javed Iqbal Matoo, DIG CRPF Anantnag, SSP Kulgam, SSP Traffic Rural Kashmir, SSP Traffic National Highway Ramban, SP Headquarters Anantnag, SP NHW Qazigund, besides other senior officers of the Civil Police, CRPF, Traffic Police and district administration of Anantnag and Kulgam.

During the meeting, a detailed review of the traffic management plan was undertaken with emphasis on ensuring close coordination and effective synergy among all stakeholder agencies for the safe and uninterrupted movement of Yatra convoys. The implementation and strict adherence to the notified convoy cut-off timings were discussed at length and all officers were directed to ensure their meticulous enforcement without exception.

The IGP stressed the importance of seamless inter-agency coordination, real-time information sharing, prompt clearance of traffic bottlenecks and effective regulation of civilian traffic to facilitate hassle-free movement of Yatra convoys. He also emphasized the need for continuous monitoring of road conditions, swift response to emergencies and efficient deployment of police personnel at all vulnerable and congestion prone locations.

The officers were instructed to maintain close liaison with the district administration, CRPF, road maintenance agencies and other concerned departments to ensure immediate response to any unforeseen situation. Special emphasis was laid on effective dissemination of traffic advisories, regulation of stranded vehicles whenever required, and ensuring minimum inconvenience to the general public while maintaining the highest priority for Yatra convoy movement.

The IGP Traffic reiterated that the safety and convenience of the pilgrims remain the foremost priority and directed all officers to work in close coordination, maintain high standards of professionalism and ensure flawless execution of the traffic management plan throughout the Yatra period.

Srinagar, June 30: In preparation for the annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg, on Tuesday conducted a comprehensive review of the arrangements put in place at Srinagar International Airport to ensure a safe, seamless, and hassle-free travel experience for pilgrims.

During the inspection, the Divisional Commissioner assessed the facilities established for Yatris, including dedicated eKYC counters, Yatra Facilitation Centre, passenger reception areas, and other essential facilities available at the airport.

On the occasion, senior officials from the Civil Administration, Airport Authority, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) briefed the Divisional Commissioner on the preparedness and coordination measures undertaken by their respective departments to facilitate the smooth movement of pilgrims at the Airport.

Speaking on the occasion, the Div Com stressed the need for coordination and robust communication mechanisms to ensure the timely resolution of issues and uninterrupted services for the pilgrims.

Pertinently, in a major step towards facilitating the seamless and pilgrim-friendly Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2026, the local Administration have substantially augmented the registration infrastructure across Kashmir.

The total number of pilgrim facilitation counters has been increased from 54 in 2025 to 131 in 2026, which includes a significant increase in E-KYC counters from 21 to 59, RFID counters from 20 to 32, and on-spot registration counters from 13 to 40.

The additional registration facilities have been established at key locations including Pantha Chowk, Srinagar International Airport and Railway Station Nowgam.

During the visit, the Div Com was accompanied by DC Budgam Athar Aamir, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Budgam, and other officers from the concerned departments.

Srinagar, Jun 30: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday reviewed preparations for the first International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK)-2026, envisaged as a landmark initiative to revive the region’s cinematic legacy.

Abdullah chaired a meeting here in which extensive deliberations were held on the festival’s vision, its screening and programming strategy, branding, digital outreach, industry partnerships and international participation, an official spokesperson said.

Director of Information and Public Relations, Shreya Singhal, gave a comprehensive presentation outlining the proposed framework for the inaugural edition of the festival.

Reviewing the proposals, the chief minister said the film festival should evolve into a globally recognised cinematic event celebrating storytelling while showcasing Jammu and Kashmir’s breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural heritage, artistic traditions and emerging creative talent.

He stressed the need to deliver a professionally curated festival of international standards capable of attracting renowned filmmakers, producers, artists and cinema enthusiasts from across the world.

Abdullah underlined that the event must not be viewed as a mere film festival but as a defining cultural and economic platform for Jammu and Kashmir.

He said it should generate opportunities in tourism, investment, employment and the creative economy while reaffirming Jammu and Kashmir’s historic place as India’s preferred destination for film production, creative pursuits and cinematic tourism.

Emphasising the importance of nurturing the local creative ecosystem, the chief minister directed that local filmmakers, writers, directors, actors, cinematographers, technicians, photographers, designers, artisans, craftsmen and other creative professionals be meaningfully integrated with the film festival through exhibitions, facilitating networking opportunities and business engagements.

He also instructed the organisers to facilitate structured interactions between local talent and eminent national and international filmmakers, producers, directors, actors and industry experts through masterclasses and in-conversation sessions, workshops, panel discussions, mentoring sessions and knowledge-sharing programmes.

Such engagements would provide aspiring professionals from Jammu and Kashmir with global exposure, technical expertise and industry networks while encouraging innovation and excellence in filmmaking, he added.

The chief minister also called for instituting a special segment to recognise distinguished actors, filmmakers, directors, producers, cinematographers, musicians and other cinema personalities who have played a significant role in keeping Jammu and Kashmir’s cinematic legacy alive by creating memorable films in the region over the decades.

Recognising their contribution would celebrate Kashmir’s enduring association with Indian cinema while inspiring a renewed partnership between the film industry and Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

Highlighting the festival’s wider developmental potential, the chief minister said it should also create meaningful opportunities for local artisans, craftspeople, entrepreneurs, and tourism stakeholders, ensuring that the benefits of the event extend well beyond the film fraternity.

He directed the departments concerned to make the festival a comprehensive celebration of Jammu and Kashmir’s artistic, cultural and entrepreneurial excellence.

The proposed festival will feature international competition, Indian cinema, documentaries, short films, student films, animation, regional cinema, industry forums, workshops and cultural programmes.

The proposed four-day festival, scheduled to be held in September 2026, will host screenings across multiple venues, offering an immersive experience for filmmakers, delegates and audiences.

Baramulla, June 30: Baramulla Police on Tuesday conducted a comprehensive multi-agency mock drill at Railway Station Hamray in close coordination with the 29 RR, 2nd Battalion SSB, GRP Hamray, RPF Hamray, and the Fire & Emergency Services to assess operational preparedness, response capability, inter-agency coordination, and overall security arrangements ahead of the Amarnath Yatra.

“As part of the security preparedness for the forthcoming Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, Baramulla Police today conducted a comprehensive multi-agency mock drill at Railway Station Hamray in close coordination with 29 RR, 2nd Battalion SSB, GRP Hamray, RPF Hamray, and Fire & Emergency Services,” officials said in a press statement.

The exercise was aimed at assessing the operational preparedness, response capability, inter-agency coordination, and overall security arrangements at the railway station in view of the upcoming pilgrimage.

“Various emergency scenarios were simulated to evaluate the effectiveness of joint response mechanisms, communication, evacuation procedures, and crisis management,” the officials said.

The participating agencies demonstrated seamless coordination and swift response during the exercise, reaffirming their commitment to ensuring a safe and secure environment for pilgrims and the general public.

“Baramulla Police remains fully committed to maintaining a robust security grid and will continue to conduct such preparedness exercises in coordination with sister agencies to ensure the peaceful and smooth conduct of the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra,” the officals said.