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Dust storm deepens power crisis in Jammu
Jammu-bound flights cancelled due to bad weather
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Mercury to rise again: Expert
Lightning kills 3 children
Pitch dark in the afternoon
CBSE Class X results
Power Supply
Stone crusher owners allege harassment
Bag containing arms creates panic
Vendor killed in cylinder blast
Move to appoint stone throwers SPOs decried
Diverting Vaishno Devi pilgrims to other places
Kranti Dal members hold public meeting
Alleged Fake Encounter
Heavy rain in valley
Control of crop pests
Vietnamese Ambassador calls on Governor, Omar
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Dust storm deepens power crisis in Jammu
Jammu, May 28 While till date power cuts were imposed because of supply crunch, in the coming days these would be done because of the damage caused to the power system by the storm. Sources in the security forces said power disruptions would make vigil more challenging. With last night’s dust storm, power supply to Kathua, Rajouri, Doda and some areas of Jammu had been disrupted, a senior official in the Power Development Department (PDD) said. The PDD has assessed losses to the tune of lakhs of rupees due to the storm. Confirming power failure in some areas near the LoC and the international border, Chief Engineer, PDD, Jammu division, Mohammad Qasim said, “We have suffered huge losses in the border belt, including Rajouri and Kathua, due to the prevailing poor weather conditions. If these conditions continued for some more time, the losses would mount.” Qasim said high-tension power wires had fallen in some areas of the region, including Jammu, Doda, Rajouri and Kathua, but work was going on to restore the power supply. He added, “With the prevailing condition of power supply, the region might face power cuts for 10-11 hours, as we don’t have sufficient power to meet the demand this summer.” He further said the PDD had written to the state government to allow it to announce power cuts in the region The sources in the PDD said about 650 MW was needed to meet the demand of the entire region, but the available power supply was only 400 MW. They said there was a need to announce power cuts in the region as the dust storm had worsened the conditions and damaged wires and towers causing huge losses to the department. A large number of billboards and trees had also fallen on roads causing minor accidents. |
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Jammu-bound flights cancelled due to bad weather
Jammu, May 28 As many as 11 out of 12 Jammu-bound flights from Srinagar were cancelled. One flight from Srinagar to Jammu scheduled for 5 pm was put on standby to carry Congress ministers but was cancelled later after weather conditions deteriorated further. As the Civil Secretariat has moved to Srinagar, a majority of the ministers, leaders and bureaucrats are putting up there these days. Sonia Gandhi is visiting Jammu tomorrow morning and Congress ministers had planned to reach here this afternoon to supervise all preparations in connection with the visit of their leader. But after all flights were cancelled these leaders were left with no option but to travel throughout the night on the treacherous track of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. Keeping in view the infighting in the party, all Congress leaders wanted to be present in the Sonia Gandhi’s rally to show their strength, and hence they had to reach Jammu at any cost tomorrow morning. Besides Congress ministers, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Saifuddin Soz was also scheduled to arrive in Jammu this morning but he could not do so due to the cancellation of all flights. Only two Congress ministers, namely Raman Bhalla, Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation and Sham Lal, Minister for Health and Horticulture were in Jammu, while other ministers, including Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, were in Srinagar. “I am coming by road and am likely to reach Jammu by midnight, provided weather remains favourable,” Tara Chand told The Tribune over the phone from Banihal. He said throughout the day he waited for the weather in Jammu to improve. “After the authorities ruled any possibility of flights taking off, I decided to travel by road,” he said.’ During the last 24 hours, the Jammu region witnessed a dust storm and due to less visibility all 12 Jammu-bound flights were cancelled. Different airlines provided accommodation to their passengers who had come to the Jammu Airport to board flights. |
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Mercury to rise again: Expert
Jammu, May 28 “After western disturbance will move further north by tomorrow afternoon, the temperature will rise again,” said Chief Agro-meteorologist and head of the Agronomy Division of Sher-e-Kashmir University for Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) Dr MK Khushu, who described the trend as a normal phenomenon. There was nothing unusual as far as rise in the temperature at this period of summers was concerned. We have recorded similar temperatures from 45 degrees Celsius to 46 degrees Celsius in Jammu in the year 1988, 1998 and 2002, he said. The highest ever temperature in May in Jammu was recorded on May 27, 1988, when it touched 46.6 degree Celsius. On May 25 and 26, mercury had been hovering five to six notches above normal in the Jammu region. The SKUAST scientist said high temperature and prevailing western disturbance caused low convection pressure in the atmosphere, which consequently resulted into thunder squalls. Though the thunder squalls today plummeted the mercury considerably, as the maximum temperature was recorded at Chatha observatory at 37.5 degrees Celsius, but the maximum and minimum humidity were recorded at 53 and 26 per cent respectively. Yesterday, minimum humidity was recorded at 17. On May 25, the Jammu had touched season’s highest temperature at 45.5 degrees Celsius virtually throwing normal life out of gear. “In last winters, we had received deficit rains, 80 per cent below normal and hence a scorching summer was imminent,” he said. Meanwhile, hot and humid weather conditions coupled with erratic water and power supplies continue to give a real tough time to the people in the capital city. |
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Lightning kills 3 children
Udhampur, May 28 The police said the deceased had been identified as sisters Gulshan Bano (12) and Hania Beigum (7) and their neighbour Sarwaz (4). The downpour and lighting also damaged maize crop, fruit and vegetable crops at Samphi village in Doda district. More than 50 per cent of the crops were damaged due to bad weather conditions, said Sumit Kumar, a villager. |
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Pitch dark in the afternoon
Jammu, May 28 While there were showers in Jammu, there were reports of snowfall on the higher reaches in Kishtawar and Doda that may help hydroelectric projects badly needing water to run. |
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CBSE Class X results
Jammu, May 28 Delhi Public School, Jammu, secured the top slot in the region with its four students — Annie Basson, Vaishali Mahajan, Rohan Bhatial and Utkarsh Anand — securing the A-one grade. Three students of Jodhamal Public School —Antra Sharma, Erika Kasba and Bhumika Dass — got the A-one grade. From the oldest CBSE-affiliated school of the Jammu province, MAM, Nagbani, two students, Nanni Slathia and Bojesh Kaul, got the A-one grade. Mayanak Kaul of KC Public School, Jammu, also got the A-one grade. Utkarsh Anand, a student of Delhi Public School, who got the A-one grade, gave credit to his parents for the success. Sharing his experience at the Tribune office, Jammu, Utkarsh said, “My father, VK Anand, and mother, Neelam Anand, had been a constant source of inspiration and motivation.” “Annual exams were held in March and I started revision in mid January,” said Utkarsh, who is an IIT aspirant. “I have opted for the non-medical stream with computers and have started attending coaching classes,” he said. He has some words of wisdom for others: “Don’t cram. Understand the concepts and put them in simple language,” he says. |
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Power Supply
Udhampur, May 28 Their plight is sure to continue as the authorities said there was no possibility of any alternative measure, though temporary, to alleviate the situation. Therefore, the people have no option but to wait helplessly because the power supply could be restored by coming Sunday with the re-installation of the 132 KV power transmission tower by NHPC near Pul Doda. Additional District Development Commissioner Nazir Ahmed Shah told The Tribune that corrective measures warranted only a permanent solution in terms of re-installation of the collapsed transmission tower. The entire affected area is being fed by this tower alone. The old 33 KV line which is unaffected reached only up to Darbshala, about 25 km ahead of Kishtwar. Though justifying the public anger, the authorities requested cooperation and restraint as the work to restore the supply was going on a war- footing. They claimed the state government was aware of the problems being faced by the people. As of now, the authorities are helpless as there is no hydel resource from where power could be accessed. “The work is on at Doonadi 10 MW hydel project about 35 km from Kishtwar. But it might take another year to start power generation,” said Shah. Meanwhile, public anger is spilling out on the roads. The PDP has already threatened to launch an agitation if the problem is not rectified in a few days. The Panthers Party has also led a public delegation to make representations in this regard. |
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Stone crusher owners allege harassment
Jammu, May 28 During the meeting, the members discussed the
problems, including harassment of royalty contractors and harassment at Lakhanpur in the name of entry tax of 13 per cent on the purchase of spare parts to be used by unit holders and others. The association unanimously decided to fight
and not allow contractors from outside the state to install stone crushers in Jammu. Randhawa said, “The association has decided not to tolerate harassment anymore and raise its voice
against it.” He assured the members that he would work for the betterment of the association members
and solving their problems. Those present in the meeting included Anil
Gaind, Arun Gupta, Dev Choudhary, Prem Sharma, Ramesh Kapoor, Col GS Sudan, Badrinath, Sudhir Mehta, Sinil Badyal, Pawan Gupta, SK Sharma
and other office-bearers and executive members of the association. |
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Bag containing arms creates panic
Jammu, May 28 However, after preliminary investigation it was found that the bag belonged to a jawan, Manpreet Singh of 12 Sikh Rifles, and was later handed over to an officer at the Transit Camp here. Meanwhile, the police denied any bag was found from the railway station. SHO, railway police station, Pawan Khajuria said, “I am not aware of any bag recovered from the railway station in the last 24 hours.” |
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Vendor killed in cylinder blast
Jammu, May 28 The sources further said the vegetable vendors were coming to the city around 6 am to sell their goods and suddenly a cylinder exploded that took the life of Rumal Singh, a Samba resident and injured four others. Investigation under Section 174 of the CrPC have been initiated in this regard. |
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Move to appoint stone throwers SPOs decried
Jammu, May 28 Addressing a press conference, state president of the BJYM Munish Gupta said such an offer was a clear example of appeasing the anti-national forces in the state. “Earlier, the government jobs were appointed to the militants, who have laid down their arms, now the government is offering employment to the stone pelters, who are responsible for creating turmoil in the Valley for the last one year,” he added. Sharma said the government jobs should be given on the basis of education and not to those who have indulged in anti-national activities. “Giving jobs to such elements will only encourage anti-nationals and other peace loving youths will also indulge in such acts to get jobs,” he observed. The BJYM also opposed the decision of the state government to impose registration tax worth Rs 25,000 on those who want to provide free meals to the devotees during the annual Amarnath Yatra. He demanded that this tax should be immediately withdrawn, as it was hurting religious sentiments of a particular section of the society. |
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Diverting Vaishno Devi pilgrims to other places
Jammu, May 28 Addressing a public meeting in the Bahu Fort area, Bhalla said other tourist destinations of Jammu would be developed to attract pilgrims. He said the government had made allout efforts to provide all infrastructural facilities to visitors at Bahu Fort and Har-Ki Podi, including public conveniences, cafeterias and tourist reception centres, besides wayside facilities. Bhalla said Rs 11.87 crore had been spent on three tourist circuits in the Jammu region, including Bagh-e-Bahu, during the last financial year. He added the government had approved Rs 10 lakh for the construction of an entry gate to Har-Ki Podi on modern lines. The minister said efforts were under way to divert the pilgrims of Mata Vaishno Devi to other pilgrim places and adventure spots in the Jammu region and for the purpose the government had upgraded infrastructure and recreational facilities at various tourist spots across the region. He said focused attention was also being paid to the conservation and restoration of the pristine glory of Bahu Fort, Mubarak Mandi and other heritage places, besides upgrading of tourism-related infrastructure in order to attract domestic and foreign tourists to the city of temples.
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Kranti Dal members hold public meeting
Jammu, May 28 During the meeting, local residents demanded that their locality should be named after Shaheed Bahagat Singh Nagar. Those who were present during the meeting were Raj Roop Singh Chib, Pritam Sharma, Sanjeev Kumar, Lovely Singh, Gagandeep Singh, Kimat Angral, Bhupinder Singh and Rajinder Singh Chib. Raj Roop Singh, president, Kranti Dal, assured the residents that their party would highlight their demands and would also fight for their rights. |
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Alleged Fake Encounter
Nadihal (Baramulla), May 28 The Army claimed to have killed three militants along the Line of Control (LoC), but the three later turned out to be youths belonging to Nadihal village in Baramulla district. Muhammad Shafi, Shehzad Ahmed and Reyaz Ahmed had been missing since April 27 and the police had registered a case. The three were reported to have been kidnapped by a former Special Police Officer(SPO). Speaking to The Tribune, Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara, Showkat Ahmad Mir said: “ The family members had already identified the youths from photographs. After I gave the orders, the bodies were exhumed today in the presence of the police and a medical team.The family members identified the bodies which were handed over to them for a proper burial”. Meanwhile, Ghulam Mohammad Khan, father of Shezhad Ahmed ,said he identified his son from his photographs published in local dailies. “My son was last seen with an SPO and his accomplice, but I was shocked to see his photograph in newspapers where he was labelled as a militant having been killed in an encounter”, he alleged. He said his son had no link with any militant outfit. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has asked the Army authorities to cooperate in the investigation in the encounter. Omar who has already ordered a magisterial enquiry into the encounter today met the GOC, 15 Corps, Lt-Gen N.C Marwah, who assured the Chief Minister that the Army would cooperate fully with all investigating agencies. “We had already registered a missing case which was later converted into a case of kidnapping.The investigations are going on and suitable sections would be added in due course of investigation”, DIG, North Kashmir, AQ Manhas told the Tribune. The police has arrested former special police officer Bashir Ahmed and his accomplice, Fayaz Ahmad, in connection with the kidnapping and killing of the three youths. Meanwhile,the GOC-in- C of the Northern Command, Lt-Gen BS Jaswal, has also ordered an internal enquiry into the incident. An Army spokesman said in Srinagar that the Army was concerned about the seriousness of the allegations of fake encounter. “As and when a formal report is received from the police, a fast-track enquiry will be instituted to ascertain the facts. In case any wrongdoing comes to the light, expeditious action to bring the guilty to book will be taken”, he said. |
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Heavy rain in valley
Srinagar, May 28 The water level in the Jhelum at Sangam in south Kashmir has been recorded at 15.9 ft, about two ft below the danger mark, 12.5 ft at Ram Munshi Bagh (Srinagar) and 10.16 ft at Asham, Sumbal in north Kashmir. There was no flood alarm that is sounded at 18 ft or flood alert sounded at 21 ft at Sangam, said head of the Disaster Management at the office of Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Aamir Ali. “We are monitoring the situation on hourly basis,” he said. A control room has been set up at the office of the Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control, Kashmir, here to monitor the overall situation. Heavy pressure of traffic was thrust on the MA Road and the Residency Road in the civil lines area as the connecting links in between had been inundated, SSP Traffic Showkat Ahmad Shah said. He added that the waterlogging in the Lal Chowk, Regal Chowk, Polo View and Baba Demb areas resulted in difficult situation for the movement
of traffic. According to the Met Department, more than 62 mm rainfall was recorded here since last night. Heavy rains and thunderstorm with hails are likely to occur at isolated places during the next 24 hours, after which there would be a decline, the Met Department officials added. |
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Control of crop pests
Srinagar, May 28 “The valley is situated at much interior latitude. Besides, there is no proper transportation and no labour of our own. Chemical control is a difficult job keeping into consideration the location of orchards here,” Khan said during the 19th Bio-control Workers’ Group meeting on “biological control of crop pests and weeds” organised by the SKUAST-K and the National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Insects, Bangalore. He added, “We are totally at disadvantage and have our own biological problems. More funds are required exclusively for the varsity to work in this direction.” Khan said ‘sanjo scale’ and ‘red mite’ were some of the major concerns here. “Sanjo scale has been controlled in the state by chemical control.” Dr TP Rajendra, ADG (PP), ICAR, New Delhi, said, “We have to survey the entire state with respect to sanjo scale”. “ICAR spends a lot of money on education and we’ve to gear up, as we can’t walk with conventionality,” he said. He added that “challenges are huge and manpower is shrinking. If these pressures are not taken well into consideration, the system that has been going well will crumble.” |
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Vietnamese Ambassador calls on Governor, Omar
Srinagar, May 28 Ambassador Diem, who met the Governor at Raj Bhavan, updated him about the recent developments in the historical relations between India and Vietnam. The Ambassador commented particularly on the growing trade and business relations and the enormous potential that existed in expanding their relations. Among the many potential areas of collaboration, Diem also referred to the possibility of Vietnamese experts supporting the state’s efforts in enlarging floriculture and its exports. The Governor suggested to Diem to consider asking his Economic Counsellor to maintain a sustained connectivity with the Chamber of Commerce in Leh, Srinagar and Jammu and, as possible, for periodic meetings, collectively, to identify concrete areas of future collaboration. The Governor also suggested closer academic and research collaboration in the field of Buddhist studies and the promotion of tourist visits to the centuries’ old historical sites in the valley and Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh. The Vietnamese Ambassador was accompanied by the country’s Commercial Counsellor, Nguyen Son Ha, and the Economic Counsellor, Pharm Ngoc Uyen, during the meeting. During the meeting with the Chief Minister, the Vietnam Ambassador discussed various issues pertaining to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, an official spokesman said. He also called on Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir and discussed the modalities of a joint venture between the state and the Vietnamese agriculture experts for boosting agriculture production on a scientific basis in the state. Mir and Diem debated various issues in the agriculture sector and during interaction discussed various measures for boosting the agriculture production with high yield varieties involving the minimal land use. Diem said since the climatic and geographical conditions of both areas were same a team would be sent here for an exchange of technical know how between the two countries. Meanwhile, the British High Commissioner in India, Sir Richard Stagg, called on the Chief Minister here today. In an hour-long meeting, the two discussed various socioeconomic and political developments in the state, an official spokesman said. |
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Jammu, May 28
Srinagar, May 28
