Srinagar, July 19
As the entire Kashmir was brought under curfew in the wake of civilian killings in Ramban district of Jammu region, the train operation from Baramulla in north Kashmir to Banihal in Jammu was suspended today by the railway authorities.

The rail service is likely to remain suspended till Sunday as separatists have called for a three-day strike to protest the killing of four civilians in Ramban in BSF firing.

"On Thursday, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir directed the Chief Area Manager Budgam Northern Railways to suspend railway services due to the prevailing situation across Kashmir. After holding consultation with the railway security official, we decided to suspend the train till Saturday," said a senior railway official.

"The train service is likely to remain suspended till Sunday," he added.

Presently, three trains chug between Baramulla and Banihal, making 14 trips every day. After the train service was extended up to Banihal on June 27, the train has been witnessing a heavy rush and is turning out to be a popular mode of travelling.

The number of commuters that travel every day through train is above 20,000. The number was 9,000 before the rail plied between Baramulla and Qazigund in south Kashmir.

Kupwara, July 19
It was a testing time for patients and attendants today due to restrictions imposed in the wake of the Ramban incident yesterday. They were seen stranded in deserted bus stands, roads and hospitals due to restrictions as public and private transport was completely off the roads.

Health care was also affected in major hospitals across north Kashmir.

A senior doctor at Kupwara sub-district hospital said many surgeries listed for Friday could not be performed as patients failed to reach the hospital. The surgeries could not be performed at District Hospital Handwara too.

Only 24 patients registered themselves in Out Patient Department (OPD) of Kupwara hospital on Friday. On an average, 750 to 800 patients report in the OPD every day. Reports said that patient care was hit in Handwara and Baramulla hospitals due to restrictions enforced by the authorities.

Patients and attendants could not reach the hospitals for treatment and those discharged from hospitals also faced great difficulty in reaching their homes. Some doctors also failed to attend to their duties, said reports.

Bashir Ahmad Badana from remote village Chowkibal said, “The hospital has only two ambulances and scores of patients from remote areas are unable to reach their respective destinations due to absence of public transport from roads. I am struggling to take home my mother who was discharged from the hospital this morning.”

Srinagar, July 19
All the Kashmir University and Central University of Kashmir (CUK) examinations that were scheduled to be held on Saturday have been postponed by the authorities.

The KU Public Relations officer said all the examinations scheduled to be held on July 20 have been postponed and fresh dates will be notified separately.

The entrance examination for LLB integrated programme which was scheduled to be held on Saturday has also been postponed. It will now be held on Tuesday, July 23, at 3 pm on the university campus.

The Kashmir University had already postponed the examinations that were scheduled for Friday after the state government decided to impose a curfew across the Valley.

Meanwhile, the Central University Kashmir (CUK) has postponed all its examinations scheduled for Saturday, July 20.

"The examinations have been postponed due to unavoidable circumstances. Fresh dates for these examinations would be notified separately," the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, the CUK also cancelled all the examinations which were scheduled to be held on Friday.

Srinagar, July 19
The J&K government would bring all districts under the purview of National Programme of Non-communicable Diseases (NCD).

“This facility is being provided in six districts of the state, three each in Kashmir and Jammu divisions,” said the state’s Health Minister Shabir Ahmad Khan while reviewing the status of several healthcare schemes under implementation in Kashmir division. “The Union Health Ministry, in principle, has agreed to provide funds and a detailed proposal would be mooted soon to the Centre for approval,” he said.

Shabir said Non-communicable Diseases programme is presently under implementation in the districts of Kupwara, Kargil and Leh in the Kashmir province, where the patients having ailments of diabetes, malignancy, cardio-vascular disorders, cancer and hypertension gets free treatment facilities with complete assistance of Central Government.

“The Centre is funding the programmes at district level to scan the patients with these diseases in the state,” he said.

Receiving appraisal about the status of the Non-communicable Diseases programme implemented in three districts of the Kashmir division, the minister was informed that so far 36383 patients have been provided different free medicare facilities.

Srinagar, July 19
After pressing hopper vehicles into service for door to door garbage collection, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has now started night collection of garbage from hotels, restaurants, guest houses and other food outlets at the tourist spots along the Boulevard road on the banks of the Dal Lake.

While the service was started on Wednesday, a Srinagar Municipal Corporation official said three hopper vehicles, including one compactor, had been pressed into service for garbage collection from 102 food business operators in the area.

“The hopper vehicles will go for door to door collection from these food outlets between 10 pm and 12 pm,” an official said.

Night collection of garbage was started following a recent meeting between Srinagar Municipal Corporation commissioner GN Qasba and several hoteliers’ associations, including Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHARA) and Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Federation (KHAROF).

“The hoteliers put forth their request to Qasba to relocate the dumper bins from the Boulevard so as to keep the tourist hub free of stink and visible garbage and also to keep away stray packs, which otherwise affects their daily business. Besides, Rs 500 as night cess charges per month will be charged from these hoteliers and other food outlets, for which they showed full commitment and support,” the official added.

While Qasba had personally visited and taken stock of night collection work last night, Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Federation president Faiz Bakshim, on behalf of his association, hailed the SMC team for the endeavour. He said the initiative would definitely help to keep the Boulevard cleaner.

Srinagar, July 19
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday laid emphasis on speeding up of land acquisition for construction of roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).

"The Rs 710 crore provided by the Prime Minister as special grant needs to be utilised meticulously and in a transparent manner to achieve the set target within the prescribed time frame," an official spokesman said while quoting Omar.

Omar chaired a high-level meeting here to review the progress under PMGSY and get appraisal on the status of land acquisition process being carried on across the state to ensure hassle-free construction of roads.

"PMGSY provides necessary succour to the efforts of the state government to expand road communication network in the state and open up villages and remote areas for holistic development and generation of economic activities. He asked the department concerned to ensure spending of funds as per work schedule and concentrate on realising outcomes rather than outputs," said the spokesman.

The Chief Minister said he will review the land acquisition process under PMGSY on a quarterly basis. He asked the Principal Secretary, Planning and Development, to take stock of this process on a monthly basis.

Kupwara, July 19
Property worth lakhs of rupees was destroyed in a devastating fire at Sogam market in Lolab valley early Thursday morning. About two dozen shops were gutted in a fire that erupted around 2.20 am.

A few government offices, including treasury, post office, sub-division irrigation department and a library also suffered partial damage in the fire.

The fire and emergency services in Kupwara pressed 18 fire tenders from 16 stations into service to douse the flames.

In addition, 17 fire engines supplied water from open sources to bring the fire under control. Bashir Ahmad Shah, Assistant Director, Fire and Emergency, Kupwara, who rushed to the spot and supervised fire extinguishing operations said, “The fire was brought under control after nearly two hours of strenuous work. We spared no effort in preventing the fire from spreading to nearby houses and the local masjid”.

The incident created panic in the locality and people including, women and children, rushed to the spot to help the fire services douse the flames.

Army’s 28 RR, CRPF’s 98 battalion, and the police assisted the fire department in dousing the flames.

“Fire service, police, Army and CRPF did a commendable job in bringing the fire under control. They made every effort to prevent the fire from spreading further. The fire could have inflicted heavy collateral damage had there not been timely and swift action,” said sarpanch, Sogam, Bashir Ahmad Lone.

Abdul Jabbar, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Kupwara, DP Pandey, Brigadier, 8 sector and CO CRPF 98 battalion also visited the spot. The Minister for Rural Development and Panchyati Raj Mohammad Sagar today visited the spot and assured that the affected families would be given compensation. He asked the district administration to built a water reservoir in the village. He was accompanied by former MLA Lolab Qaiser Jamsheed Lone. 

Srinagar, July 19
As many as 19,000 youth will be trained under the Himayat programme during the current financial year. This was stated by an official after Chief Secretary Iqbal Khanday chaired a meeting here on Wednesday to review the progress of Himayat scheme in the state.

Under the programme, one lakh school drop-outs and under graduate youth from all over the state are expected to be provided placement-linked skill training.

“In addition to four existing Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs) which act as training partners and identify jobs available and conduct training as per the job requirements, five new PIAs have been selected to work under Himayat and sanctioned projects for starting their training from this year,” the official added.

Srinagar, July 19
Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) carried out a demolition drive today in uptown Srinagar residential localities of Hyderpora, Natipora and Chanpora.

At least 15 illegal structures were razed in the Humhama area by a team of enforcement officers. The demolition was carried out in Almadar Colony, Gogo Land, Hill View Colony and Shiekhpora Colony of Humhama.

Eighteen illegal constructions were demolished, under the supervision of Chief Enforcement Officer Hakeem Aijaz, at an initial stage in various areas, including Chanpora, Natipora, Iram Lane, Iqbal Lane, Methan, Mehboob Colony and Shah Hamdaan colony.

Srinagar, July 19
Ghulam Hassan Mir, Minister for Agriculture, called on Governor NN Vohra here today. The Governor and Mir discussed long-term adverse consequences of climate change on the agricultural and horticultural productivity of the state and the measures which must be implemented in the short and medium term. 

They also discussed issues arising from the growing shortage of water in several areas and the need for urgent steps to be taken by farmers and growers to optimise the available moisture resources.

Mir and Governor Vohra also discussed issues related to delay in democratic decentralisation.