Author: Agencies

JAMMU: With the Air Quality Index (AQI) touching an alarming 226, placing Jammu in the severe category, the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has stepped up efforts to control air pollution and protect public health. Acting on the directions of JMC Commissioner Dr. Devansh Yadav, all concerned wings of the Corporation have been directed to implement immediate and stringent mitigation measures to curb dust and particulate emissions across the city. Key measures include night-time mechanical sweeping of major roads, daytime water sprinkling in high-traffic areas, markets and construction zones, and deployment of anti-smog gun–mounted vehicles to suppress airborne dust. At present,…

JAMMU: Heritage School on Monday hosted the TGF National Golf Talent Hunt, an initiative of The Golf Foundation, supported by the BMW India Foundation, under the EWS Talent Identification Programme, at its school premises. The programme aims to identify and nurture young golfing talent, particularly from Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), by providing structured exposure, professional training and a clear developmental pathway in the sport. The initiative seeks to promote inclusivity and accessibility in sports while strengthening grassroots-level excellence. The event aligns closely with the vision of Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, whose focus on inclusion and empowerment…

SRINAGAR: Recent snowfall and rainfall across Kashmir have led to a rise in night temperatures and a drop in daytime temperatures, with the Meteorological Department forecasting another spell of snow or rain over the next 12 hours. An official of the Meteorological Department said the minimum temperature in Srinagar was recorded at 4.0°C on Sunday night, which is 6.4°C above the seasonal average. In contrast, the maximum temperature in the city settled at 6.0°C, about 3.4°C below normal. Gulmarg in north Kashmir was the only weather station to record sub-zero temperatures, with the mercury dipping to minus 2.4°C. However, the…

JAMMU: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital (SMVDNSH), Kakryal, has achieved a major milestone in advanced cardiac care by completing 50 open heart surgeries during the current year, taking the total number of such procedures performed at the hospital to over 250 since the establishment of its Cardio Thoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS) department. The achievement reinforces SMVDNSH’s position as the only private tertiary care hospital in Jammu and Kashmir providing comprehensive cardiac care under one roof, integrating cardiology, interventional cardiology and cardiac surgery with round-the-clock emergency and critical care support. This integrated model has significantly reduced the need…

NEW DELHI: Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Monday said the “demolition” of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) would have catastrophic consequences for crores of people in rural India, and called for unity to safeguard rights that protect citizens. In an editorial published in The Hindu titled “The bulldozed demolition of MGNREGA”, Gandhi described the repeal of the rural employment law as a collective failure, a day after President Droupadi Murmu gave assent to the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, which replaces MGNREGA and provides for up…

NEW DELHI: The lawyer representing Captain Virender Sejwal, who was involved in an altercation with a fellow passenger at Delhi’s IGI Airport, on Sunday said the incident was resolved on the spot in the presence of CISF officials, with both parties voluntarily agreeing not to pursue legal action. In a statement, the lawyer said that recent media reports and social media posts had misrepresented the incident, portraying it inaccurately as a “pilot versus passenger” dispute. According to the statement, Captain Sejwal was travelling as a passenger at the time and was not on flight duty, and the matter was purely…

JAMMU: Director General of Police (DGP), Jammu and Kashmir, Nalin Prabhat, IPS, on Saturday visited the Crime Branch J&K at Jammu and reviewed its functioning. He was received by Inspector General of Police, Crime Branch/Security J&K, Sujit Kumar, IPS, along with other senior officers of the Crime Branch. During the visit, the DGP inspected all wings housed in the Crime Branch Complex and chaired a meeting attended by DIG Crime Branch J&K Abdul Qayoom, IPS; Joint Director Prosecution Laeeq Ahmed Dar; SSP Crime Branch EOW Jammu Mohd Fiesel Qureshi (JKPS); SSP Fingerprint Bureau J&K Mohd Yousif (JKPS); SSP CICE J&K…

JAMMU: In two separate incidents, police on Sunday recovered a Chinese-made weapon-mountable telescope from the Sidhra area of Jammu and apprehended a 24-year-old man for questioning in Samba district, officials said. A police spokesperson said Jammu (Rural) Police recovered the telescope from the Sidhra locality. Officials added that a six-year-old boy from the Asrarabad area was found in possession of the Chinese-made telescope. During preliminary inquiry, the child’s family told police that the boy had found the object in a nearby garbage dump earlier in the day. Police teams, along with the Special Operations Group (SOG), have launched a detailed…

NEW DELHI: President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday gave her assent to the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) [VB-G RAM G] Bill, which replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005, and provides for 125 days of wage employment for rural workers. With the presidential assent, the legislation has now become the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025, and a notification to this effect has been published in the Gazette of India. The Ministry of Rural Development described the move as a decisive reform in India’s rural employment and development framework. According to the government,…

JAMMU: V&M Clinics (24×7), in collaboration with the Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC), organised a free medical camp at the JKTDC venue in Jammu, witnessing large public participation. The camp was attended by Yudhvir Sethi, MLA Jammu East, and Arun Gupta, President, Chamber of Commerce and Industry–Jammu, who interacted with doctors and patients and highlighted the importance of public–private and community partnerships in strengthening grassroots healthcare services. Speaking on the occasion, Yudhvir Sethi appreciated V&M Clinics’ round-the-clock healthcare model, particularly its initiative of providing free medical services from 9:00 pm to 7:00 am for the underprivileged. Arun Gupta…