Kashmir cut off and in darkness
14 buried in snow
Srinagar, Shimla, Chandigarh, February 19
At least 14 persons including four Border Roads Organisation (BRO) personnel, were feared killed and nearly 35 others were trapped in several houses in Jammu and Kashmir, where heavy snowfall and continuous rains for the past two days have forced the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar highway and several roads linking remote corners with main towns.

A snow covered road in Srinagar, on Saturday. The valley has been cut off from the rest of the world. 
— Reuters photo

J&K page: Blocked highway starves valley of essential commodities Vaishano Devi pilgrimage suspended 
Prof Gupta accuses govt of negligence
Himachal page: 20 passengers stranded in Lahaul valley
Chandigarh page: Chill returns to city

PM ready to attend Dhaka SAARC summit in March-April
New Delhi, February 19
India is ready to participate in the twice-postponed 13th summit of South Asian Association for Regional Coperation (SAARC) in Bangladesh and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be willing to travel to Dhaka anytime between March 25 and April 12 this year when the Indian Parliament’s Budget session will be in recess.

Quake rumour sends tremors in Kangra, Chamba
Thousands spend night in the open
Kangra, February 19
The rumour of an expected earthquake in the Kangra valley forced thousands of residents in the region to rush out into the streets after midnight.

Nation page: SC notice on quake-resistant buildings
Panic in TN after quake in Indonesia

Kidnappers kill 6-year-old boy in Rewari
Rewari, February 19
Apparently irked at the non-payment of ransom and information to the police, kidnappers killed Ankit Yadav (6) and threw his body in a mustard field near Bhatera village, about 14 km from here, from where it was recovered last evening.

Remand of Abhi case accused extended

Chautala’s remark beneath contempt: EC
New Delhi, February 19
The Election Commission today dismissed the personalised attack by Haryana Chief Minister and INLD chief Om Prakash Chautala on Chief Election Commissioner T.S. Krishna Murthy as “beneath contempt.”

Haryana page:
Haryana Vikas Morcha seeks annulment of poll
Chautala blasts EC move to prepone counting of votes
Chautala’s claim on postal ballots disputed

Haryana Cong wants counting on Feb 24
New Delhi, February 19
The Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee has written to the Election Commission requesting it to take up the counting of votes for the state Assembly polls on the morning of February 24 instead of the previous afternoon.

BJP also for February 24

Plane engine catches fire Jammu, February 19 As many as 120 Leh bound passengers of Allianz airlines had a miraculous escape here today as the engine of the aircraft caught fire during takeoff. As many as 120 passengers of an Alliance Air plane had a miraculous escape as the Jammu-Leh flight (IC-7425) was grounded at Jammu airport on Saturday. — Photo Serbjeet Singh