Srinagar, June 30: After several days of intense heat across Kashmir, the weather is set to turn wetter, with intermittent rainfall expected across Jammu and Kashmir over the coming days, Director of the Meteorological Centre Srinagar, Mukhtar Ahmad, said on Monday.

Ahmad said the rise in temperatures had been anticipated in the department’s earlier forecasts.

“As already expected, from the 27th onwards there has been a likelihood of a rise in temperatures. For the past three to four days, intense heat has been prevailing, especially in the Kashmir Valley,” he said.

According to Ahmad, heatwave conditions were recorded on Sunday at a few stations, particularly in Srinagar, Qazigund and Kukernag.

“Today as well, the heat is expected to persist until the afternoon. After that, there is a possibility of a brief spell of rain in some districts, which could provide some relief,” he said.

The MeT Director said another spell of rainfall is likely late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.

“Late tonight and around tomorrow morning, another spell of rainfall is likely, especially over the Jammu division, where intense showers may occur. Similarly, in the Kashmir Valley, some districts may experience light rain from time to time, with the possibility of a few intense showers,” Ahmad said.

He said the wet spell is expected to continue for several days.

“As already forecast, a wet spell is expected in the coming days. From July 2 to July 6, intermittent showers are likely, particularly during the late-night and early-morning hours, as well as during the late afternoon and evening,” he said.

Ahmad said the Jammu division is likely to receive the heaviest rainfall during this period.

“Heavy rainfall is likely, especially over the plains of Jammu and the adjoining hilly areas of the Pir Panjal range, including districts such as Reasi and Udhampur. Moderate to heavy rainfall is also expected in the Chenab Valley,” he said.

The MeT Director said the expected rainfall would bring significant relief from the prevailing heatwave conditions.

“Overall, the ongoing spell of intense heat is likely to ease considerably over the coming days. The weather is expected to remain generally cloudy, although humidity levels are likely to increase,” Ahmad said.

He noted that nights continue to remain unusually warm, with the minimum temperature hovering around 25°C in Central Kashmir, including Srinagar and adjoining areas.

“In the coming days, there should be some relief as maximum temperatures are expected to decline. The drop in minimum temperatures may not be as significant, but night-time conditions are also likely to become somewhat more comfortable,” Ahmad added.

Anantnag, June 30: Continuing its relentless efforts to eradicate the menace of drugs from the Union Territory under the ‘Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyan’, Anantnag Police arrested an inter-district drug smuggler and recovered heroin worth approximately rupees 20 crore, officials said on Tuesday.

“In a major breakthrough in its sustained drive against drug trafficking, Anantnag Police arrested an inter-district drug smuggler and seized 2.613 kilograms of heroin (brown sugar), with an estimated market value of approximately ₹20 crore,” the officials said 

In a prress statement, an official spokesperson said, the recovery was made during routine naka checking at Halmulla, where a police party intercepted a suspicious vehicle bearing registration No. JK09B-2808 (Ignis) for inspection. During the search of the vehicle, four packets containing heroin (brown sugar) were recovered.

The driver was identified as Ishtiyak Ahmad Moghal, son of Abdul Rasheed Moghal, resident of Prada, Tangdar. Following the recovery, FIR No. 195/2026 under Sections 8/21 of the NDPS Act was registered and investigation was immediately set into motion, the spokesperson said.

During the course of investigation, the statement said, the accused was served a notice under Section 50 of the NDPS Act, following which his personal search was conducted in accordance with the prescribed legal procedure. During the search, one additional packet containing heroin (brown sugar) was recovered from his possession.The total quantity of heroin recovered is 2.613 kilograms.

The accused has been arrested, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the source of the contraband, its intended destination, and to identify the entire network involved in the smuggling operation, including both backward and forward linkages, the statement said.

“Anantnag Police remains committed to taking stringent legal action against those involved in the illicit drug trade and appeals to the public to continue supporting the police by sharing credible information regarding narcotics-related activities,” the spokesperson said.

Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), in collaboration with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), on Monday launched a one-week advanced capacity-building program on Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) Modelling for Economic Policy Analysis at its Shalimar campus.

Organised by the Institute of Business and Policy Research (IBPR), SKUAST-K, the program will run from June 29 to July 4, bringing together researchers, academicians, policymakers, and development professionals from across the country for intensive training in advanced economic modelling and policy analysis.

The programme aims to strengthen participants’ capacity to apply CGE models for evidence-based research, policy simulation, and informed decision-making across sectors such as agriculture, trade, rural development, and public policy.

The inaugural session was presided over by Vice Chancellor SKUAST-K, Prof. Nazir A. Ganai, while Prof. Anjani Kumar, Senior Research Fellow at IFPRI, attended as Guest of Honor. Prof. Azmat Alam Khan, Registrar, SKUAST-K, and Prof. Raihana H. Kanth, Director, Extension and Dean, Faculty of Horticulture, were also present.

Underscoring the institutional significance of the initiative, Vice Chancellor Prof. Nazir A. Ganai said, “Advanced economic modelling is central to designing sustainable and inclusive policy solutions. This program reflects SKUAST-K’s commitment to research excellence and policy relevance.”

Welcoming participants, Course Director Prof. Farhet A. Shaheen highlighted the program’s practical focus and its relevance to strengthening analytical capacity among researchers and policy professionals. Highlighting the broader policy relevance of such analytical tools, Prof. Anjani Kumar said, “CGE modelling has become indispensable for understanding economic complexity and strengthening policy decisions through data-driven insights.” Expanding on the technical significance of the framework, Dr Barun Deb Pal, Lead Resource Person from IFPRI, noted, “CGE models provide a powerful framework to assess economic linkages and policy impacts across sectors.”

The collaboration with IFPRI further reinforces SKUAST-K’s expanding global research partnerships and its growing role in economic policy research and institutional capacity building.

The inaugural session was moderated by Dr. Aiman Fayaz, while the vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Farheen Naqash.

Anantnag, Jun 29: Chief Principal Census Officer (CPCO) and Director of Census Operations (DCO), Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Amit Sharma on Monday conducted surprise inspections in South Kashmir to review the progress of the ongoing House Listing and Housing Census (HLO), the first phase of Census 2027.

During his visit to the Dooru-Verinag and Kokernag areas of Anantnag district, Sharma assessed the implementation of house-listing and housing census operations and interacted with field functionaries to obtain first-hand feedback on the progress of the exercise.

He was accompanied by Census officials, the Executive Officer of the Dooru-Verinag Municipal Committee and members of his team.

As part of the inspection, Sharma reviewed house numbering, mapping and enumeration activities at various locations to ensure that field operations were being carried out in accordance with the guidelines and notifications issued from time to time.

The Census chief conducted random inspections at several locations in Dooru-Verinag and Kokernag to assess the pace and quality of the ongoing Phase-I exercise.

He also interacted with enumerators and supervisors engaged in the Census operations and sought feedback on field-level implementation, challenges encountered and the overall progress of the exercise. The interactions focused on ensuring the accuracy, completeness and timely completion of the enumeration process.

Sharma urged the field staff to maintain the same level of dedication during the second and more critical phase of the Census — Population Enumeration (PE).

Emphasising the importance of high-quality data, he advised enumerators and supervisors to continue their work with diligence and remain fully prepared for Phase-II to ensure a smooth transition to the next stage of Census operations.

He said the Census is being conducted on scientific lines through a fully digital and paperless system for the first time, adding that the data generated would serve as the foundation for future development planning and policy formulation.

The visit formed part of the ongoing monitoring and supervision mechanism to ensure the successful conduct of Census operations across Jammu and Kashmir.

Describing the Census as one of the country’s most important national exercises, Sharma said reliable Census data forms the basis for evidence-based governance, developmental planning and equitable distribution of resources.

He also clarified that all information collected during both phases of Census 2027 is legally protected and cannot be shared with any outside agency, government department or individual. He said the data is also inadmissible in a court of law, as provided under Section 15 of the Census Act, 1948.

Stressing the need for precision, Sharma directed enumerators and supervisors to ensure every entry is recorded accurately and thoroughly verified, cautioning that even minor errors or conceptual misunderstandings could affect the quality of Census data and have long-term implications for policy planning.

He also instructed Charge Officers and Supervisors to conduct regular field inspections and quality checks to maintain data integrity. Sharma called for strict adherence to Census guidelines and directed officials to ensure comprehensive coverage of every household, including those located in remote habitations, border areas and seasonal settlements.