Speaking to reporters, Rana said the Government of India would eventually have no option but to restore a united Jammu and Kashmir. He dismissed claims made by a BJP MLA suggesting that Jammu could be carved out as a separate state, calling such assertions imaginary and misleading.

Rana said no such demand for a separate Jammu state has emerged from the Pir Panjal or Chenab regions. He maintained that people from these areas continue to identify with a united Jammu and Kashmir and have not raised any demand for bifurcation.

Highlighting the historical context, the minister said Jammu and Kashmir was once a full-fledged state, parts of which were later occupied by Pakistan and China, while Ladakh was subsequently separated. He expressed confidence that the political situation would change and that Ladakh would once again be part of Jammu and Kashmir.

He said history and ground realities cannot be altered permanently and asserted that the aspiration for unity among the people would ultimately prevail. [KNT]

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The calendars highlight prominent tourist destinations and tourism-related infrastructure across Jammu and Kashmir. Congratulating the concerned departments, the Chief Minister observed that such initiatives would contribute significantly to the promotion and wider publicity of Jammu and Kashmir’s tourism potential.

“These calendars are not merely annual publications; they are visual narratives of Jammu and Kashmir’s natural beauty and evolving tourism infrastructure,” he observed.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister also launched the official website of the Directorate of Tourism, Kashmir. The portal has been designed to publicise tourism events and destinations, maintain digital archives, and provide comprehensive information related to tourism in Jammu and Kashmir. The website also integrates useful links to Jammu Tourism, JKTDC, J&K Cable Car Corporation and other allied organisations, offering all relevant information on a single platform.

The Chief Minister said a modern, dynamic digital presence is crucial for effective outreach. “The new Tourism Kashmir website would be informative and will serve as a comprehensive, single-window platform for tourists and stakeholders alike,” he said.

Also, the Chief Minister inaugurated the Integrated Skiing Course at Gulmarg and Sonamarg, comprising two batches of 32 and 25 trainees respectively. He was informed that the basic skiing course has a duration of 14 days and is aimed for trainees in the age group of 12 to 18 years.

Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary Tourism Ashish Chandra Verma, Director Tourism Kashmir Syed Qamar Sajad, who is also MD JKCCC, Director Tourism Jammu Dr Vikas Gupta, Managing Director J&K Tourism Development Corporation Shreya Singhal, and other senior officers were present on the occasion.

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An official said the deceased has been identified as Haziq a resident of Kulgam, who had been staying at the hotel since last night.

Upon receiving information, police from Police Station Tangmarg rushed to the spot and took cognizance of the matter, they said.

The body has been taken for medico-legal formalities, while police have initiated an investigation to ascertain the cause of death. (KNC)

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Officials said vehicular traffic was thrown open for even Heavy Motor Vehicles after road conditions improved, enabling smooth passage along the vital NH44, which serves as the primary all-weather link between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country. Traffic is being allowed from both Jammu and Srinagar sides in a regulated manner to ensure safety.

Commuters were advised to follow lane discipline and adhere to traffic instructions while travelling on the highway, particularly at vulnerable stretches prone to weather related disruptions. Authorities said the situation is being closely monitored and traffic flow will be reviewed depending on prevailing conditions.

The reopening for HMV has brought relief to transporters, as the highway frequently faces interruptions during winter due to snowfall, rain and landslides. [KNT]

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Officials said fire service units responded to incidents in Srinagar, Anantnag, Budgam, Pulwama, Kupwara, Bandipora and Ganderbal districts. In Rawalpora Matipota area of Ajas in Bandipora, a cow shed was damaged in a fire incident, while dry grass caught fire near the Royal Spring Golf Course close to Lalit Ghat in Srinagar.

In Pehlipora area of Safapora in Ganderbal, a single storey GCI shed was affected by fire. Forest trees were damaged in a separate incident reported from Wazibagh in Char e Sharief area of Budgam. In Anantnag district, a chinar tree caught fire at Mandipora in Dooru, while another cow shed was damaged in Laditahwot area.

Officials said one room of a three storeyed residential house was affected by fire in Wazirbagh near LD Bagh in Srinagar. In Sheikhpora area of Sallar in Anantnag, a residential house was involved in a fire incident. Two hay stacks were gutted in Gujjar Basti area of Zainapora in Pulwama district.

Another incident involving a gas cylinder was reported from Soibugh in Budgam district, while a residential house caught fire in Kachloo area of Qaziabad in Kupwara.

An official said the timely response of Fire and Emergency Services personnel ensured that all fires were controlled swiftly, avoiding casualties and major property damage. No loss of life was reported in any of the incidents.

Meanwhile, Director General Fire and Emergency Services Alok Kumar urged people to strictly follow fire safety guidelines, ensure safe use of electrical appliances and gas cylinders, and report any fire incident immediately to the nearest fire station to minimize damage. [KNT

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Skipper Smagey Khajuria led from the front with a composed century, while Atharav Sharma remained unbeaten on 92 as J&K piled up 400 runs, taking a decisive 300-run first-innings lead.

The bowlers then completed the formalities, bundling Mizoram out for 118 in the second innings.
Left-arm spinner Sanil Singh and pacer Jaskaran Singh starred with the ball for J&K.

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According to details available, the tourist had inadvertently left the bag inside the cab after completing the journey in Pahalgam. The bag reportedly contained a substantial amount of cash, an iPhone, and important personal belongings. Upon noticing the unattended bag, the cab driver made efforts to trace the owner instead of keeping the valuables.

After confirming the identity of the tourist, the driver returned the bag intact, drawing appreciation from the visitor and locals alike. The tourist expressed gratitude for the honesty shown, stating that such a gesture is rare and reflects the deep rooted values of trust and integrity prevalent among the inhabitants of Kashmir.

Incidents like these continue to reinforce the long standing reputation of Kashmir’s people for honesty and ethical conduct. Despite facing challenging circumstances over the years, such acts repeatedly highlight the strong moral fabric of society in the region and leave a lasting impression on visitors.

Locals said that such gestures are not isolated incidents and that similar examples of honesty are frequently witnessed across Kashmir, especially in interactions involving tourists. [KNT]

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According to officials, nearly four inches of fresh snow has accumulated on various stretches of the Mughal Road during the latest spell, making the surface unsafe for movement. The snowfall has further aggravated already challenging winter conditions in the area, leading to continuous blockage of traffic.

Teams of the Border Roads Organisation have been deployed and snow clearance operations are currently underway. Heavy machinery has been pressed into service to remove snow and restore connectivity, but officials said that it will take some time before the road is declared fit for traffic.

Authorities have advised locals and commuters to avoid attempting travel on the Mughal Road until clearance work is fully completed and an official clearance order is issued. The road is prone to frequent closures during winter due to heavy snowfall and avalanches, and reopening depends largely on weather conditions.

Officials said continuous monitoring is being carried out and further updates will be shared once the situation improves and traffic movement becomes possible. [KNT]

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Gulmarg, a popular tourist resort in north Kashmir, was the coldest place in the Valley, registering a minimum temperature of minus 8.6 degrees Celsius.

Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 6.8 degrees Celsius, while Shopian settled at minus 6.0 degrees Celsius.

Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.0 degrees Celsius, while the temperature at Srinagar Airport dropped to minus 4.8 degrees Celsius.

Other places in the Valley also witnessed freezing night temperatures, with Anantnag at minus 5.6 degrees Celsius, Pulwama at minus 5.4 degrees Celsius, Kupwara at minus 3.1 degrees Celsius, Baramulla at minus 4.0 degrees Celsius and Bandipora at minus 3.1 degrees Celsius.

Kokernag recorded a low of minus 2.0 degrees Celsius, Awantipora minus 2.4 degrees Celsius and Budgam minus 3.9 degrees Celsius. Pampore registered a minimum of minus 3.0 degrees Celsius. Kulgam was comparatively warmer at minus 0.2 degrees Celsius.

Zethan Rafiabad recorded a minimum temperature of minus 5.5 degrees Celsius, according to weather data compiled by Kashmir Weather. Temperature data for Ganderbal and Sonamarg was not available.

In the Jammu region, temperatures remained above the freezing point at most places. Jammu city recorded a minimum temperature of 5.2 degrees Celsius, while Jammu Airport logged 7.6 degrees Celsius. Kathua was the warmest place in the region at 8.4 degrees Celsius.

Banihal recorded 1.5 degrees Celsius, Batote 1.7 degrees Celsius, Ramban 2.7 degrees Celsius and Doda 3.1 degrees Celsius. Rajouri recorded the freezing point at 0.0 degrees Celsius, while Bhaderwah was the coldest in the region at minus 2.2 degrees Celsius.

In Ladakh, Leh recorded a minimum temperature of minus 11.2 degrees Celsius, officials said.

The Meteorological Department has forecast continuation of cold conditions in the region, with chilly nights expected to persist over the next few days. (KNS).

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An official said that the deceased has been identified as, a resident of Ratherpora Delina and was found near Masjid Ratherpora Delina.

Police reached the spot soon after the body was noticed and have taken it into custody for medico-legal formalities.

Meanwhile, a case has been registered and investigation has been taken up to ascertain the cause of death. (KNC)

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