On September 13, nearly 700 people were affected, and about 95 houses were damaged after days of heavy rain. Families housed in relief camps are being supplied with food, drinking water and other basic amenities, officials said.

Meanwhile, the Vaishno Devi yatra remained suspended for the 20th consecutive day on Sunday due to adverse weather and repeated landslides along the Katra route. Devotees expressed disappointment but welcomed arrangements.

“We could not have darshan because of the rainfall up there. But we are lucky to have prasad here. People are coming from far away, and at least they are getting prasad. I am just happy to be here,” said Durgesh Sharma, a devotee from Delhi.

The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), in a post on X, said the yatra scheduled to resume on September 14 had been postponed due to incessant rainfall, and urged pilgrims to follow official updates.

Meanwhile, in Udhampur district, long traffic jams were reported on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) at Thard on Sunday, where only one lane is operational after a massive landslide.
Officials said thousands of vehicles, including nearly 2,000 trucks, were stranded as the temporary road created by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) cannot handle heavy traffic.

Deputy SP (Traffic) Udhampur, Jatinder Singh, said the makeshift stretch could accommodate only around 40 trucks per hour, leading to severe congestion and delays of up to two hours.

Jammu, Sept 15: Authorities in Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts have blocked as many as 300 social media accounts in just three days after they were found circulating provocative content and spreading misinformation aftermath the arrest of MLA Mehraj Malik.

According to officials, the IT Cells of these three districts monitored Facebook, X and Instagram platforms round-the-clock and traced accounts involved in sharing morphed images, distorted videos and fabricated posts aimed at provoking unrest.

Police sources confirmed that First Information Reports (FIRs) have been recommended against several identified handlers operating these accounts. While some accounts were traced locally within Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country, law enforcement agencies have also written to social media companies for permanent blocking of the rest.

Officials said the propaganda mainly included manipulated visuals of protests, misleading timelines of events and unrelated photographs portrayed as current demonstrations in Doda. “The content was deliberately designed to instigate the public and create a false sense of tension,” an officer said.

DIG Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban Range, Sridhar Patil, stated that the IT Cells of the three districts worked tirelessly to identify and neutralize accounts spreading fake news. “Action as warranted under law has been taken and will continue against such elements,” he said.

Authorities have also passed on evidence to intelligence agencies for further investigation. Police emphasised that strict vigil will be maintained to ensure that no account is allowed to spread hatred or misinformation in the sensitive region. [KNT]

Jammu, Sep 14: In alignment with its two-pronged strategy of cultural integration and financial sustainability, Jammu Railway Division of the Northern Railway has decided to effectively monetize station space with the allotment of a contract for a “Textiles and Handicrafts” Store at Srinagar Railway Station.

The contract of Rs 11.39 lakh, through e-auction, has been awarded for three years.

Railway authorities anticipate that the store, besides showcasing diverse cultural heritage of J&K, would emerge as a model for similar initiatives, to be emulated at other stations.

Public Relations Inspector Jammu Railway Division, Raghavender Singh, while sharing specifics about the initiative, said, “Jammu (Railway) Division of Northern Railway, in a significant step towards enhancing non-fare revenue, has successfully awarded the contract for setting up a Textiles and Handicrafts Store at Srinagar Railway Station. The move reflects the Division’s continued focus on innovation and passenger-centric development.”

“The store will showcase and promote the rich cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir through a wide range of local textiles and handicrafts products, providing both utility and aesthetic benefits to passengers and tourists,” he stated.

The initiative, according to Raghvender Singh, was executed through a transparent e-auction process, ensuring fairness and maximum revenue generation. “This contract will generate a total revenue of Rs 11,39,876.46 for Indian Railways over a period of three years,” he said.

Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Jammu Division, Uchit Singhal, commenting on this initiative, asserted, “Enhancing non-fare revenue while promoting local crafts is in perfect sync with our twin goals of cultural integration and financial sustainability. We are confident that this store will enrich the passenger experience and become a model for similar initiatives at other stations.”

He stated that the move was part of Indian Railways’ broader strategy to effectively monetize station spaces and promote regional art, culture and entrepreneurship.