Author: Agencies

JAMMU: Ahead of the Christmas celebrations and in a bid to improve civic infrastructure across the city, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) Commissioner Dr. Devansh Yadav on Monday conducted an extensive inspection of several churches and adjoining residential localities, including Prem Nagar, Christian Colony, Dogra Hall, Bakshi Nagar, Gandhi Nagar and Valmiki Colony. During the visit, Dr. Yadav interacted with residents, community representatives, and church authorities to review the availability of civic amenities and identify ground-level concerns. Locals highlighted several long-pending issues such as damaged inner roads, clogged and overflowing drains, faulty streetlights, scattered garbage, sewer blockages, and poor upkeep of…

JAMMU: Showcasing impressive talent and teamwork, both the Heritage School Boys and Girls handball squads clinched silver medals at the 10th District Handball Championship held at Playing Field, Shastri Nagar, from November 6 to 8, 2025. The young athletes delivered strong performances throughout the tournament, displaying exceptional skill, determination and sportsmanship against tough competition. Their achievement has brought pride to the school and highlighted the growing sports culture among students. Lauding the players for their success, Heritage School management congratulated both teams and appreciated the tireless efforts of the coaching staff. The school expressed confidence that its handball teams will…

JAMMU: The Jammu Division of Indian Railways has achieved a record milestone in its ongoing push for asset monetization, with a mega e-auction successfully allocating multiple multi-purpose stalls across key railway stations in Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab. Led by Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM) Uchit Singhal, the auction witnessed strong participation from bidders, reflecting increased commercial interest in station-level business opportunities. Officials said the initiative is aimed at enhancing passenger amenities while significantly boosting non-fare revenue for the Railways. According to auction results, stalls have been allotted at prominent stations including Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Pathankot Cantt, Sopore…

NEW DELHI: A windborne ash cloud from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano drifted into parts of northwest India on Monday night, reducing visibility and disrupting flight operations across Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi-NCR and Punjab. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an advisory to airlines and airports, cautioning them about operational challenges and urging close monitoring of real-time volcanic ash updates. Operators were instructed to maintain heightened alertness and take precautionary actions as conditions evolved. Flight schedules were immediately hit. Akasa Air, IndiGo and KLM cancelled multiple services, while several others were rerouted due to the shifting ash plume. Aviation…

MUMBAI: Union Minister of State for Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh today dedicated to the nation India’s first “Liquid Helium” Cryogenic Facility, an important milestone in India’s growing ecosystem of quantum science, cryogenics, advanced materials, and next-generation computing. During his visit to the Quantum Lab, the Minister reviewed India’s first series of indigenous quantum sensing and imaging platforms that signal a major leap in the nation’s R&D capabilities. He was briefed on QMagPI, the country’s first portable magnetometer capable of detecting ultra-low…

MUMBAI: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, today announced the establishment of four state-of-the-art Quantum Fabrication and Central Facilities worth ₹720 crore across IIT Bombay, IISc Bengaluru, IIT Kanpur and IIT Delhi under the National Quantum Mission (NQM). Making the announcement during his visit to IIT Bombay, the Minister said that these cutting-edge facilities mark a decisive leap in India’s journey toward technological sovereignty, positioning the nation among the select global leaders advancing next-generation quantum technologies. The event was attended by senior leadership from the country’s premier scientific institutions, including Dr. Sireesh, Director of…

KATRA: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi (SMVD) Narayana Superspeciality Hospital has achieved a remarkable advancement in hepatopancreato-biliary (HPB) surgical care, successfully performing a series of highly complex procedures with outcomes that match the finest international centers. The milestone surgeries were led by Dr. Manoj Gupta, Senior Consultant – Surgical Gastroenterology, GI Oncology & HPB Surgery. The hospital has carried out multiple advanced interventions, including liver resections, pancreaticoduodenectomies (Whipple procedures) and bile duct reconstructions, providing life-saving treatment for patients suffering from liver tumors, pancreatic cancers and severe biliary disorders. Beneficiaries include patients not only from Jammu & Kashmir but also Punjab, Himachal…

GOA: Renowned actor and motivational speaker Anupam Kher enthralled a packed audience at Kala Mandir today with his masterclass “Giving Up Is NOT a Choice” — a session infused with humour, honesty, and heartfelt life lessons drawn from his own journey. Kher began by recounting one of the most defining chapters of his career — nearly losing the lead role in Saaransh after preparing for six months. Devastated and ready to leave Mumbai forever, he visited director Mahesh Bhatt for a final farewell. Moved by Kher’s emotional breakdown, Bhatt reconsidered, cast him back, and the film eventually launched Kher into…

NEW DELHI: Justice Surya Kant took oath as the 53rd Chief Justice of India on Monday, succeeding Justice BR Gavai, and marking the beginning of his nearly 15th month tenure. President Murmu administered the oath of office to Justice Surya Kant at the Rashtrapati Bhavan today. Justice Kant was born on February 10, 1962 in Hisar, Haryana. He started practicing as a lawyer in the Hisar district court from 1984, and shifted to Chandigarh for practicing in Punjab and Haryana High Court in 1985. Specialising in constitutional, service and civil matters, he has represented a number of universities, Boards, Corporations, Banks…

SRINAGAR: The winter chill tightened its grip over Jammu and Kashmir with Srinagar recording the coldest night of the season at minus 3.2°C on Sunday, the Meteorological Department reported today. The biting cold was felt across the Valley as temperatures fell sharply overnight. In south Kashmir, Pulwama slipped to -5.0°C and Shopian hit -5.1°C, making them among the coldest places in the region. Higher reaches remained in deep freeze, with Zojila experiencing an extreme -16.0°C. Tourist destinations were no exception to the chill. Pahalgam settled at -4.0°C, while Gulmarg saw the mercury dip to -1.9°C. North and central Kashmir also…