Says Kashmir's basic character under threat due to climate change
Srinagar, Feb 17: Peoples Democratic Party leader and former Minister Naeem Akhtar on Monday urged the government to constitute a rapid response force and make it a top priority to address the pervasive climate impacts in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the PDP leader, the situation has the potential to alter the character of this Himalayan region, which otherwise serves as a source of ecological stability for much of South Asia.
In a statement, Akhtar said that drastic climate change is wreaking havoc on Kashmir, with alarming trends such as continuous drought, snowlessness during peak winter months, and the drying up of water bodies and springs that have been vital water sources for centuries. He described the situation as deeply alarming and disturbing.
Akhtar added that addressing the pervasive and drastic effects of climate change must be a top governance priority. He called for the government to consult experts and monitor the situation on a war footing.
"Short- and long-term action plans must be devised, including climate adaptation and mitigation measures, alongside the creation of a loss and damage fund to tackle the severe impacts of climate change. There should be no quick-fix solutions to this apocalyptic situation. A well-considered government response is the need of the hour," Akhtar said.
He warned that if the situation is not handled with caution, the region faces the looming threat of severe drinking water scarcity and a lack of irrigation facilities for agriculture and horticulture.
He added that this is the worst climatic situation in living memory, threatening the very existence of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
He urged the government to revisit the drawing board and review development plans.
"Any project detrimental to the environment should be halted immediately, and the government should adopt alternative approaches that do not stress land and plantations. The mad rush to turn ecologically fragile zones into concrete jungles must stop. Otherwise, Kashmir is on the brink of losing its very basic character," Akhtar said.
He added that forest fires are another calamity striking Kashmir with full force, and so far, the government has not implemented any effective mechanism to address the crisis.
"A robust response is needed, along with measures to ensure ecological awareness at both the public and government levels sooner rather than later," Akhtar said.
Suhail Khan Baramulla, Jan 6: A young aerospace engineer from Sopore in north Kashmirâs Baramulla district is proving that dedication and ambition can propel one to global heights. Munaf-ul-Raquib who holds a B.Tech in Aerospace Engineering, has gained international recognition for his research on black holes and cosmology. Munaf-ul-Raquib revealed that his paper on the thermodynamics of black holes was recently published in the International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR). âAbout a year ago, I conducted research on the gravity of black holes and cosmology, which has now been published in IJSR,â he said. He said that since his research was published in the international journal, he has been receiving opportunities from various countries to participate in research dialogues. Raquib added that in the coming months he is scheduled to participate in international conferences in Paris on April 16 and later in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The Sopore aerospace engineer noted that he is also participating in various conferences across different countries. Speaking about his research, Munaf-ul-Raquib addressed a fundamental paradox in astrophysics: how black holes can appear to violate thermodynamic laws, particularly concerning entropy.âIf we observe a black hole, it seems to contradict thermodynamic principles,â he said. Using the frameworks of Anti-de Sitter space (AdS) and Conformal Field Theory (CFT), Raqeebâs research proposes a theoretical model that reconciles black hole mechanics with thermodynamics. âIn this paper, I have explained how a black hole can function without violating thermodynamic laws,â he said. He described the achievement as both personal and symbolic. âIt is a proud moment for me to represent my state, especially Sopore, on an international platform,â he said. Raqeeb shared that Astrophysics was his childhood dream, and his grandfather encouraged me immensely. "After my grandfather passed away during the Covid-19 pandemic, my parents continued to champion my aspirations. My parents left no stone unturned in helping me pursue my dreams,â he said. He said that his academic path included taking the JEE and later the AME CET entrance exams, through which he secured a seat in aerospace engineering at the Nasik Research Centre. âMy parents not only supported me morally but also created an environment where I could pursue my dreams freely,â he said. He emphasized the role of family in nurturing talent. âJust as my parents supported me, it is the responsibility of all parents to help their children follow their dreams.â âYoung people should avoid wrong practices. They must dream of a beautiful tomorrow but work hard today to make their parents proud,â he further added.
Srinagar, Jan 12: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) will declare the result of class 10th and 12th examination on January 14 of, 2026 (Wednesday), minister for education Sakina Itoo said on Monday. Minister for education Sakina Itoo said the government has decided to declare the result of both the classes-10th and 12th on the same day. "We understand that students have been waiting for the results. So we decided that result of both the classes will be declared on Wednesday (January 16 of 2926)," Sakina Itoo said. She said the meeting of the Result Declaration Committee (RDC) will be convened by the Secretary JKBOE along with the members-Director School Education (DSE) Kashmir and Jammu division besides the joint secretaries as well. "We will give the administrative approval to the result instead of getting approved by the chairman," she said. The announcement comes amid the delay in appointment of chairman JKBOSE as the position is lying vacant for the last one year. "After declaration of the results, we will also appoint the permanent chairman for JKBOSE as well," education minister said. An official from JKBOSE said the class 1oth result will be declared on Wednesday morning followed by the declaration of result of class 12th students in late afternoon on the same day. As per the official figures, 94783 students- 68804 from Kashmir and 25,224 students from winter zone areas of Jammu division besides 660 students from Kargil and 95 from Leh district registered for the class 10th JKBOSE examination this year. Also, the examination for class 11th and 12th students was scheduled from November 19 and November 8 of 2025 respectively. Approximately, 81622 students â 64001 from Jammu and 17621 from winter zone areas of Jammu have registered for class 11th examination while 70117 studentsâ56423 from Kashmir and 13694 from winter zone areas of Jammu have registered for class 12th examination.
'Results likely to get delayed in absence of Chairman' Jammu, Jan 7: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) on Wednesday said the result of the class 10th examinations will be declared soon after the appointment of the Chairman of the Board. The statement comes amid the uncertainty about the declaration of the results by JKBOSE. In an official handout issued here, JKBOSE has advised students not to pay heed to fake links and websites announcing declaration of class 10 results. "Result of class 10th will be declared within few days soon after the appointment of new Chairman," the statement reads. The JKBOSE has stated that the results of annual examination of class 10 of Kashmir valley and winter zone areas of Jammu Division are almost ready. "But its approval by Result Declaration Committee headed by BOSE Chairman is a pre- requisite before its declaration. In absence of the Chairman the results are likely to get a little delayed," it reads. The JKBOSE officials have advised the students to wait for the formal declaration on the official website of the Board- www.jkbose.nic.in. "Students should not get misled by scamesters and fake narratives circulated by some mischievous elements, whose sole aim is to create confusion in the innocent student community," the statement reads.
Srinagar, Jan 8: Contractual faculty members working in government degree colleges of Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Department (HED) have expressed strong resentment over what they term as a glaring disparity in salaries, demanding revision of their pay in line with University Grants Commission (UGC) norms and regularisation of their services. The faculty, many of whom hold PhDs and are qualified through NET, SET and JRF, said they have been denied UGC-recommended pay scales despite discharging academic responsibilities equivalent to their regular counterparts. âHundreds of highly qualified scholars have been pushed into silent suffering. For years, we have been assured that our pay revision is under consideration, but nothing has materialised so far,â said Dr Ishfaq Gowhar, a contractual faculty member. Earlier, Director Colleges J&K had acknowledged the legitimacy of the facultyâs demand, stating that while the issue was genuine, its implementation involved significant financial implications due to the large number of contractual appointments. âWe are aware that they deserve salary enhancement, but the number of contractual faculty is huge and it has financial implications,â he earlier said. Dr Gowhar pointed out that contractual lecturers, who form the backbone of the higher education system, continue to work on a fixed monthly honorarium of Rs 28,000, which has remained unchanged for nearly a decade. âThe irony is that a Class IV employee with a Class 10 qualification draws a salary exceeding Rs 50,000, while doctorate-holding teachers engaged in teaching, mentoring and academic research are paid a fraction of that,â he said. He added that institutions such as SKUAST-K, University of Kashmir and Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) have implemented revised UGC pay scales, but the Higher Education Department has failed to extend similar treatment to its contractual faculty. Dr Gowhar said the demand for âequal work, equal payâ gets prominently featured in election campaigns, raising hopes among contractual teachers. âPromises were made and slogans echoed during elections, but once the process ended, our voices were reduced to silence. Even meeting officials now feels impossible,â he said. He said contractual faculty were not seeking privileges but dignity, fairness and recognition for their service. The faculty appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Education Minister to intervene and take concrete steps towards addressing their long-pending demands. âThis issue is not merely about salaries. It is about survival, justice and dignity in the classrooms of Jammu and Kashmir,â he said.
Calls for strong academic ecosystem Srinagar, March 6: President of the Private Schools Association Jammu & Kashmir (PSAJK), Dr. Baba Nazrul Islam Friday extended his heartfelt congratulations to the 17 candidates from J&K and Ladakh who successfully cleared the prestigious Indian Administrative Service (IAS) examination. He termed the achievement as a moment of immense pride for the region and a powerful inspiration for the youth. He said that success of these candidates reflect the immense talent, determination, and intellectual potential present among the students of the region. Nazrul Islam Baba emphasised that educational institutions must work collectively to create a robust academic ecosystem that encourages students to aspire for and excel in national-level competitive examinations like the IAS. He stressed that schools should nurture curiosity, discipline, analytical thinking, and leadership qualities from the early stages of education. âSuch remarkable achievements demonstrate that our youth possess the capability to compete at the highest national platforms," he said. He said a supportive academic environment, mentorship, and access to quality resources need to be kept available so that more students from J&K and Ladakh can prepare for and succeed in prestigious examinations. PSAJK President further highlighted the need to develop benchmark institutions and academic support systems in the region that can guide and mentor students aspiring for civil services and other competitive examinations. "Creating a culture of excellence and competition within educational institutions will help channelize the talent of the youth towards nation-building roles," he said. He urged educators, parents, and policymakers to work in synergy to foster an environment where students feel motivated to pursue ambitious goals and contribute meaningfully to society. âEvery success story from our region becomes a beacon of hope for thousands of young minds. These achievers have shown that with perseverance, dedication, and proper guidance, no dream is beyond reach. Their journey should inspire our students to believe in their abilities and strive for excellence,â he added. PSAJK expressed hope that this achievement will ignite a new wave of aspiration among students across schools in J&K and Ladakh, motivating them to prepare for the countryâs most competitive examinations and play a vital role in shaping the future of the nation.
Srinagar, Mar 12: Political leaders across party lines have strongly condemned the assassination bid on Dr Farooq Abdullah and demanded a thorough probe into the major security lapse that allowed an armed man to allegedly open fire at him during a private function in Jammu late Wednesday evening. Senior Abdullah, president of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, escaped an assassination attempt late Wednesday evening when a man allegedly opened fire at him during a marriage function in the Greater Kailash area of Jammu. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said his father had a âvery close shaveâ and credited the security personnel for preventing a major tragedy. âAllah is kind. My father had a very close shave. The details are sketchy at the moment but what is known is that a man with a loaded pistol was able to get within point blank range and discharge a shot. It was only the close protection team that deflected the shot and ensured that the assassination attempt failed,â Omar Abdullah wrote on his X handle. He also raised serious concerns about the security breach, questioning how an armed individual could get so close to a former Chief Minister who is under Z+ security cover by the National Security Guard. Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, who was accompanying Abdullah at the time along with Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, said all those present were safe and the circumstances surrounding the incident were under investigation. âIt is by Godâs grace that the unfortunate attack on Dr Farooq Abdullah ended without harm. I was accompanying him along with Nasir Sogami and we are safe,â he said. Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet Minister Javed Ahmad Rana termed the incident âvery unfortunateâ and expressed relief that Abdullah and others escaped unharmed. He said the former chief minister had returned safely to his residence in Bathindi. He expressed concern over the security situation in J&K UT and questioned the effectiveness of the existing security arrangements. âIf Dr Farooq Abdullah, a towering national leader, is not safe in this environment, then who else can be?â he asked and urged a thorough investigation into the incident. Several political leaders across party lines condemned the attack and demanded strict action against the perpetrators. Former MLC Vikramaditya Singh described the incident as âgravely shocking and disturbing,â while expressing relief that Abdullah, Choudhary and Wani were safe. "I sincerely hope this serious security lapse is thoroughly investigated at the earliest and that the perpetrator is punished. Such blatant lawlessness is unacceptable and must be dealt with firmly and swiftly," he wrote on X. Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Hameed Karra said the firing incident was deeply disturbing and raised serious concerns about the prevailing security scenario in the region. âThe increasing criminalisation and lawlessness cannot be ignored. Those entrusted with maintaining law and order must be held accountable,â Karra said. "Such acts of violence are deeply disturbing and raise serious concerns about the prevailing security scenario in the region," he wrote on X. He said the people deserve safety, stability, and a secure environment. "It is the responsibility of the administration to ensure that such incidents are not repeated," he said. JK Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Lone also condemned what he termed a âcowardly firingâ at Abdullah and other leaders and thanked Almighty that they were safe. "Condemn the cowardly firing at Dr Farooq sahib and Surinder Choudhary Ji and Nasir Aslam sahib. Thanks to Allah Almighty that they are safe," he wrote on X. Former minister and senior leader JKPC Imran Raza Ansari expressed concern over the reports of the attempt on Abdullahâs life and said it was a matter of serious concern despite the fact that he had escaped unhurt. "Deeply concerned by reports of an attempt on Dr. Farooq Abdullah Sbâs life at a wedding in the Greater Kailash area of Jammu. Details remain sketchy at the moment, but it is a matter of serious concern," he wrote on X. National Conference leader Ali Mohammad Sagar said he was appalled by the âheinous and cowardlyâ shooting and demanded a time-bound probe to bring the perpetrators and conspirators to justice. "Appalled by the heinous, cowardly shooting targeting veteran leader and JKNC President Jenab Dr. Farooq Abdullah Sahab and others present alongside him including the Deputy CM Surindher Kumar Chowdhary," he wrote on X. "I stand in absolute condemnation of this assault and urge the security establishment to look into this failure on part of security present there," the post reads. "We demand a thorough investigation in a time bound manner and whosoever are the perpetrators and who conspired must face the law." Health minister Sakina Itoo also condemned the incident, saying such a serious attack involving a Z+ protected former chief minister raised troubling questions about security arrangements. "Strongly condemn the shocking attack on Farooq Sb. Such a serious incident involving a Z+ protected former Chief Minister raises deeply troubling questions about how this was even possible," she wrote on X. "The entire matter must be thoroughly investigated and accountability fixed for this grave security lapse," the post reads. Police have apprehended the accused who was in intoxicated condition and identified himself as Kamal Singh Jamwal, 63, son of late Ajit Singh Jamwal, resident of Purani Mandi, Jammu. He claimed to have owned shops in Purani Mandi. Further investigation was underway. Police, however, ruled out any terror angle in the incident.
Srinagar, March 10: Bharti Airtel, one of Indiaâs leading telecommunications service providers, Tuesday announced the expansion of its network footprint to Marwah - a geographically remote area linking Kishtwar and Anantnag in Jammu & Kashmir. With this milestone deployment, Airtel has become the first and only service provider to deliver reliable mobile connectivity to this strategically significant and difficult-to-reach region. Marwah, characterized by its rugged terrain and limited seasonal road access to Kishtwar and Anantnag, remains disconnected during winters due to heavy snow fall. This isolation forces residents to rely on mules or foot travel for essential supplies, work, or emergencies, while the absence of telecom coverage left approximately 150-km corridor disconnected. Airtelâs high-speed network rollout in this area marks a transformative step, empowering residents, security forces, and tourists with seamless connectivity in one of the Indiaâs most challenging terrains. This deployment also unlocks immense tourism potential of this globally renowned destination. âWe are proud to bridge the digital divide in Marwah, bringing high-speed mobile connectivity to a region long isolated by natureâs toughest barriers,â said Dibyendu Aich, COO â Jammu and Kashmir, Bharti Airtel.â Airtelâs relentless expansion into high-altitude and remote areas underscores our commitment to strengthening Indiaâs digital backbone and ensuring every citizen, no matter how remote, stays connectedâ.  Airtelâs ongoing expansion in such challenging environments reflects its dedication to bridging the connectivity gap and powering Indiaâs digital transformation.
Jammu, Mar 8: A senior police officer has directed intensified surveillance across the hilly Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, with particular focus on tourist and religious places to thwart attempts by anti-national elements to disturb peace. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Doda, Sandeep Mehta was chairing a security review meeting which was attended by all Additional Superintendents of Police, supervisory officers, Station House Officers and in-charges of police posts of the district, a police spokesman said on Sunday. He said the SSP emphasised the need for heightened vigilance and alertness, including in minority populated areas. He instructed officers to intensify surveillance with particular focus on tourist places, religious places, critical installations and identified hotspots besides enhancing foot patrolling and deployment of long range and short range patrols, establishment of surprise check points at strategic locations and effective area domination to prevent any disruption by anti-national and anti-social elements. The SSP emphasised people-friendly policing and directed officers to wipe out the remnants of the terror ecosystem through active area domination and by keeping a close watch on the activities of suspected associates. Mehta also directed officers to take strict action against offenders involved in NDPS cases and bovine smuggling, and initiate property attachment proceedings against habitual offenders. (PTI)
