Baramulla, Sep 18: A massive fire broke out in the congested locality of Old Baramulla town during the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday, damaging multiple structures including residential houses and shops.

According to officials, the fire was reported at around 12:40 am when flames erupted in two adjoining residential-cum-commercial buildings, one a three-storied and the other a two-storied structure, both roofed with galvanized corrugated iron sheets. The fire quickly spread to nearby houses and business establishments, creating panic among locals.

Fire and Emergency Services personnel rushed to the spot and managed to bring the blaze under control after hectic efforts. By the time the flames were doused, at least three residential houses and two shops had suffered significant damage.

An official confirmed that both the affected buildings were concrete constructions. “The intensity of the fire was high, but timely intervention prevented it from spreading to more structures,” the official said.

Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as locals joined hands with firefighters to contain the flames. “People were rushing with buckets of water while firefighters battled the fire with their equipment. It was frightening as the flames were leaping into the sky,” said a local witness.

Authorities have initiated an assessment of the losses, while the exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Preliminary reports suggest that no casualties were reported in the incident, though property loss is said to be extensive.

Police said they are investigating the matter to establish the cause of the blaze. Meanwhile, the affected families have been provided temporary relief and shifted to safer accommodations.[KNT]

Srinagar, Sep 17: Shopian MLA Shabir Ahmad Kullay has accused the civil administration of failing to deliver during crises such as the ongoing closure of the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway, suggesting that rehabilitation work should be handed over to the Army.

The legislator said that the interests of the people would be better served if the Army directly managed affairs, as it functions without political considerations.

“The Army installed a bridge in Jammu’s Tawi river within 12 hours. When there is desire to do anything, nothing is impossible. If you want to run Kashmir, handover Kashmir to the Army because there will be no politics,” Kullay as per Kashmir News Trust told reporters. Kullay said the continuing hardship faced by farmers, traders, and ordinary commuters highlighted the administration’s lack of urgency. “People are suffering, businesses are collapsing, and yet there is no accountability. “The contrast is clear when we see how the Army gets things done in hours while our officials keep blaming circumstances,” he added.

Notably, the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway, the Valley’s only all-weather road link to the rest of the country, has been repeatedly closed due to landslides and shooting stones triggered by inclement weather. The prolonged disruptions have left fruit-laden trucks stranded for days, leading to huge losses for orchardists and traders. Shortages of essentials have also been reported, adding to public anger.

Srinagar, Sep 17: Virtually inaugurating the 150-feet Bailey bridge on the Ramban-Gool Road, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday said that the bridge restores connectivity to 1.5 lakh residents.

Dedicating the bridge to the people of Ramban on the occasion of the commencement of the fortnight-long ‘Sewa Pakhwada’, LG Sinha said, “The bridge is a symbol of hope and a lifeline for around 1.5 lakh people living in Ramban, Sangaldan, and Gool areas. It will boost connectivity and enhance the ease of living.”

He said that the recent natural calamities had severely impacted lives, leading to infrastructure damage, economic hardships, and disruption on the important route connecting Gool, Sangaldan, and the surrounding areas.

“This Bailey bridge is a testament to the dedication, expertise, and unwavering service of the Indian Army. The vital connectivity and aid to affected communities by the Indian Army has also given a new hope to this entire region,” the LG said, thanking the engineers of the Army who had worked under challenging conditions to build the Bailey bridge.

He also congratulated the Indian Army and civil administration on the occasion.

LG Sinha said the bridge would restore the connectivity between Ramban, Sangaldan, Gool, and surrounding areas, ensuring uninterrupted access to essential supplies, medical assistance, and emergency services.

“This bridge underlines the fact that in times of need, the Indian Army always stands with the nation and its people,” he said.

General Officer Commanding (GOC) Delta Force, Maj Gen APS Bal; Principal Secretary to LG, Mandeep K Bhandari; Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ramban, Muhammad Alyas Khan; Commander 11 Sector RR, Brig K Arun; DIG Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban Range, Shridhar Patil, senior officials of the Army, civil, and Police administration also attended the inaugural ceremony.

LG MARKS PM MODI’S BIRTHDAY WITH JLNM HOSPITAL VISIT

LG Sinha marked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday with fruit distribution to patients at Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial (JLNM) Hospital at Rainawari.

He visited the JLNM Hospital and distributed fruits to the patients as part of ‘Sewa Pakhwada’ to celebrate the 75th birthday of PM Modi.

Speaking to the media persons on the sidelines of his visit, the LG extended his heartfelt birthday wishes to PM Modi.

“Selfless service fosters community bond and a sense of shared purpose. From September 17 to October 2, various Sewa Parv campaigns are being dedicated to women’s empowerment and health,” he said.

LG Sinha said that PM Modi spent his life dedicated to the country’s service.

“Under his leadership, the past 11 years are seen as a milestone in India’s transformation, and it has emerged as the world’s fourth-largest economy,” he said.

The LG said that the PM had ensured that the benefits of economic growth reach the poor and marginalised sections of society.

“A total of 25 crore people have been lifted out of poverty. India’s prestige in the world has greatly increased under the PM’s visionary leadership. We pray for his long and healthy life,” he said.

Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Syed Abid Rasheed Shah; SSP Srinagar, G V Sundeep Chakravarthy; Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Akshay Labroo, and other senior officials accompanied the LG.

LG FLAGS OFF 16-DAY WOMEN’S HEALTH CAMPAIGN

LG Sinha attended the ‘Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan – Healthy Women, Empowered Families’, a national health campaign launched by PM Modi.

The 16-day campaign would strengthen screening, maternal health services, lifestyle counselling, yoga, and Ayush-based interventions for women, adolescent girls, and children.

The event also witnessed the commencement of the 8th Rashtriya Poshan Maah, which would be celebrated from September 17 to October 16 across the country.

In his address, the LG thanked PM Modi for dedicating the national health campaign to promote women’s health and well-being.

He called upon all the stakeholders to work with a “whole of government approach” and make this campaign a huge success.

“A healthy woman is the foundation of a happy and prosperous family, which in turn builds a strong nation. Today, the supreme position of women in public life is seen as key to ensuring peace and progress in society.  The ‘Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan’ is poised to turn a new chapter in women’s empowerment,” LG Sinha said.

He said that the PM’s holistic approach to improving the lives and prioritising the health of women had given new strength to women’s power.

“PM’s vision, which places women at the forefront of development, has made women powerful agents of change,” the LG said.

He said India had witnessed rapid economic development under the guidance of PM Modi.

“India has overcome previous slow growth to become one of the world’s fastest-growing economies,” LG Sinha said.

He said peace was essential for development, and peace could only be achieved by completely dismantling the terror ecosystem.

“The people from all sections of society must realise that those who provide ideological and financial support for terrorism, create false narratives, are dangerous to peace and development.

‘Viksit Bharat’ requires a ‘Viksit Jammu Kashmir’, which can only be achieved when economic benefits reach the poor and the common people, and not only to handful of persons. On this occasion, we must also introspect on these important issues,” the LG said.

He called for a widespread awareness campaign using various platforms to encourage public participation and leveraging Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Anganwadi centres for the dissemination of detailed information on health camp schedules and services.

The LG inaugurated a health camp to mark the occasion.

He also distributed medical aids and handed over sanction letters under Mission YUVA among the beneficiaries.

‘Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan’ is a landmark initiative by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD), aimed at strengthening healthcare services for women and children across India, with a focus on improving access, quality care, and awareness.

The Abhiyan is organising more than 1 lakh health camps, making this the largest ever health outreach for women and children in the country.

These camps would be organised at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, Community Health Centres (CHCs), and other healthcare facilities and would actively promote nutrition, health awareness, and overall family well-being.

Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo; Commissioner Secretary Housing and Urban Development Department, Mandeep Kaur; Commissioner Secretary Social Welfare, Sarmad Hafeez; Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Syed Abid Rasheed Shah; Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg; Deputy Commissioner (DC), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Shobhna Gupta; Mission Director NHM J&K, Baseer-ul-Haq Choudhary; Administrative Secretaries, senior officials, women, and people from different walks of life were present at the event in Srinagar.

Srinagar, Sep 17: With the frequent closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway leaving fruit growers in a state of despair, an unusual scene is unfolding: dumpers, usually meant for construction material, are now being used to transport apple boxes to outside markets.

On Tuesday, fruit growers were seen loading dumpers with apples at the fruit mandi in Shopian to take their fruits to outside Kashmir markets.

Speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), growers said the decision comes in the backdrop of an acute shortage of transport vehicles.

With the authorities allowing only six-tyre trucks on the Mughal Road, the demand for vehicles has skyrocketed, pushing freight charges beyond the reach of many small farmers.

“At this critical time, we have no option left. Dumpers, which are generally used for sand and gravel, are now ferrying our fruit to Jammu. It is unsafe and unscientific, but we can’t afford to let the produce rot in orchards or mandis,” said Ghulam Nabi, an orchardist from Shopian.

Another grower, Bashir Ahmad from Pulwama, expressed anguish over the rising freight rates. “The transport shortage has become a nightmare. The rates have tripled, and we are being forced to pay whatever the transporters demand. If the government doesn’t intervene, we will face huge losses.”

Growers have urged the intervention of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to address the crisis on an urgent basis. They appealed for the immediate deployment of Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (RTC) trucks to ferry apple consignments.

“RTC vehicles can provide major relief to us. Their deployment will not only ease the pressure but also help put a cap on skyrocketing freight charges,” said Abdul Rashid, a trader at Fruit Mandi Shopian.

Fruit associations have also raised concerns about the safety of produce being loaded in dumpers. “Apples are delicate, and such rough transportation damages the boxes and reduces market value. The government must step in and provide a proper transport mechanism before it is too late,” said Farooq Ahmad, a member of the fruit association in south Kashmir.

With Kashmir’s horticulture sector reeling under the impact of prolonged highway closure, growers warn that if immediate steps are not taken, the Valley’s apple economy—supporting lakhs of families—will face devastating losses this season, and it has faced a loss of hundreds of crores.