Author: Agencies

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India on Sunday announced the schedule for Assembly elections in Kerala, Assam, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and the Union Territory of Puducherry, with polling set to begin from April 9. According to the schedule announced by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, polling in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry will be conducted in a single phase on April 9. Elections in Tamil Nadu will also be held in a single phase on April 23. Meanwhile, voting in West Bengal will take place in two phases, with the first phase scheduled for April 23 and the second…

NEW DELHI, March 15  : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Minister of State in PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the nature of warfare is rapidly changing and is increasingly becoming technology-driven, where traditional man-to-man combat is gradually declining and advanced technologies are playing a decisive role in strategic preparedness and national security. Speaking during a fire chat session at the Alternate Media Conference, “Unstoppable Bharat 2026” in New Delhi, Dr Jitendra Singh said that sectors such as space, nuclear energy, artificial intelligence, and…

DHARAMSHALA: C. P. Radhakrishnan on Sunday paid obeisance at the revered Mata Chamunda Temple in Kangra district. He was accompanied by Kavinder Gupta during the visit. The dignitaries offered prayers at the shrine and sought the blessings of Goddess Chamunda for peace, prosperity and well-being of the people of the state. During the visit, the Vice President and the Governor interacted with temple authorities and appreciated the spiritual significance of the shrine, which attracts a large number of devotees from across the country throughout the year. Radhakrishnan said that such revered places of worship are not only centres of faith…

JAMMU: More than three lakh houses have been completed in Jammu and Kashmir under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana‑Gramin (PMAY-G), achieving nearly 97 per cent of the target, officials said on Sunday. Secretary of the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department Jammu and Kashmir, Mohammad Aijaz Asad, directed officials to accelerate work on the remaining houses under the scheme. During a review meeting held to assess the progress of PMAY-G in the Union Territory, the secretary said that the current phase of the scheme is nearing completion and all works sanctioned under it must be finished before the new phase…

SRINAGAR: Several higher reaches of Kashmir Valley received fresh snowfall on Sunday, while the plains were lashed by rain, officials said. According to officials, the upper reaches of Gulmarg, including the Apharwat and Kongdoori bowls, witnessed fresh snowfall which continued till the last reports came in. Snowfall was also reported from Peer Ki Gali along the Mughal Road in south Kashmir’s Shopian district, as well as the Sonamarg–Zoji La Pass axis. The fresh snowfall at Zoji La forced the closure of the Srinagar–Leh National Highway, officials added. Meanwhile, the plains of the valley, including Srinagar, experienced steady rainfall that continued…

JAMMU: The historic Mughal Road has been closed for all types of vehicular movement following fresh snowfall and rainfall at Peer Ki Gali, officials said on Sunday. According to SSP Traffic Rural Farooq Qaiser, the road has been shut as a precautionary measure due to snowfall at Peer Ki Gali and prevailing inclement weather conditions along the route. He said the decision was taken to ensure the safety of commuters as the weather situation remains unstable in the higher reaches. Authorities have advised travellers to refrain from using the Mughal Road until further notice. The traffic department said the status…

SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday handed over appointment letters to the next of kin of 50 terror victims under the Compassionate Appointment Rules at the Lok Bhavan Auditorium in Srinagar. Describing the initiative as a form of “sharansthli” (support), the Lieutenant Governor said the move aims to help families affected by terrorism rebuild their lives through employment opportunities. “Many families have been waiting for a long time. By providing employment, we are bringing a new ray of hope and offering them an opportunity to rebuild their lives,” he said while addressing the gathering. Extending Eid greetings, Sinha termed…

JAMMU: Police have solved a theft case and recovered 50 stolen LPG cylinders during an investigation in the Jourian area of Akhnoor, officials said. The case was registered at Akhnoor Police Station under FIR No. 235/2025 on December 11, 2025, under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. During the investigation, police apprehended a suspect identified as Zakir Hussain, son of Abdul Majid Shah, a resident of Kotli Mian Fateh in R.S. Pura and currently residing at Gujjar Basti, Belicharana in Jammu. Police said that during sustained interrogation, the accused confessed to his involvement in the theft and revealed the…

JAMMU: The weather outlook for Jammu over the coming week indicates predominantly cloudy skies with intermittent spells of rain and the possibility of thunderstorms. According to the latest forecast issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), residents may experience scattered showers and stormy conditions during the early part of the week before weather patterns gradually stabilise and slightly calmer conditions return around mid-week. Below is a detailed look at the seven-day weather forecast for Jammu from March 15 to March 21. Jammu Weather Today – 15 March: Thunderstorms and Gusty Winds Expected Weather conditions in Jammu on Saturday are expected…

JAMMU: A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Indian Army fell in the line of duty during ongoing operations in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Saturday. The soldier has been identified as Subedar Sandeep Kumar Dhaka, who was part of prolonged operations being carried out in the region under Operation Sheri Kalan. According to the Army’s White Knight Corps, the incident occurred at around 2:30 pm while troops were operating in the challenging and rugged terrain of the area. During the operation, Subedar Dhaka slipped and fell on the ground and subsequently became unresponsive. He…