The Kashmir Valley was recently listed by UNESCO among the creative cities of the world. The valley has innumerable&nbsp;arts and crafts. And one such craft is Glazed pottery.

The glazed tiles and other items have been made for centuries in the valley but the art was on the verge of extinction.

A 26-year-old commerce graduate from Srinagar's Nishat area, Mohamad Omar Kumar has taken it upon himself to revive the craft. Omar has learnt the art from the only person alive in Kashmir valley knowing the craft. And with the help of Jammu and Kashmir's Handicraft department, Omar was able to set up a unit to make these items.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kashmir-apple-orchards-might-not-sustain-climatic-changes-farmers-losing-upto-40-percent-crop-every-year-432750" hreflang="en">Kashmir: Apple orchards might not sustain climatic changes</a>

''My grandfather and father have been doing pottery. But In the beginning I was not interested but once I finished studies I got to know that Glazed pottery is at the verge of extinction. It caught my attention and I searched more. There was only one old man in the Khanyar area of srinagar making the glazed&nbsp;tiles and other stuff. Even that person's children did not take it up. I went to him and learnt for around 6 months. I learnt how to make glazed pottery from him as he is the only person alive knowing the art. I thought of reviving the art and bringing it back to life. I did a lot of hard work. I learned how to make these glazed items here. The glaze is made at home with things which we generally throw away. '' said Mohamad Omar Kumar, Artisan.&nbsp;

The Jammu and Kashmir government has various schemes for the revival of endangered&nbsp;arts of the Kashmir Valley. Among them was Glazed pottery. The government helps artisans establish units and also provide them with raw material as well as stipend. The Jammu and Kashmir governments want to make Srinagar into a craft destination.&nbsp;

''The department of Handicraft launched a policy where we revive critically endangered crafts and glazed pottery is one of the craft which we are endeavouring to revive. We approached&nbsp;this entrepreneur, who was inclined&nbsp;in starting his enterprise of glazed pottery manufacturer. He did his basic training from one of the old teachers. From our intervention under KarKhanDar Scheme, we help in the form of raw material. We also provide stipend to the trainer and also to the trainee so it's a win-win situation for all. Our craft is revived and we incentivised the revival process. We are happy that intervention has borne fruit. Revival of one endangered craft has been accomplished. We want to approach more such individuals who are interested in these critically endangered crafts. This becomes even more critical in view of UNESCO creative city listing wherein we will be pitching&nbsp;in as a craft destination. '' said Mehmood Shah,Director, Handicrafts.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kashmiris-prefer-kangri-to-keep-themselves-warm-in-sub-zero-temperature-431435" hreflang="en">Kashmiris prefer Kangri to keep themselves warm in sub-zero temperature</a>

The Kashmiri tiles were used centuries ago in palaces as well as traditional Kashmiri homes. But with time, people started using ceramic tiles and with no market, the artisans were left with no choice but to stop production. And now the artisans like Omar are trying to bring back the Kashmiri Tiles in the market. Within a short span of time, He has received&nbsp;orders from across the country for these tiles.&nbsp;

''We are not unemployed, we have made ourselves as such. We have so much art here and if we take up all these arts again, no one in the Kashmir valley would be unemployed. Our older generations have left us with so much craft and art, we just need to work on it. The clay tiles I started making were completely&nbsp;finished but now I am making them again with a different&nbsp;design and I have so many orders in a short span of time. I can't manage it alone on my own. We need more and more people taking this up. It's our responsibility to bring alive all these arts. '' said Mohamad Omar Kumar, Artisan.&nbsp;

The government is helping Omar in every possible way. As the orders increase, the government is helping him to meet the growing demand for these items.&nbsp;

''In the years gone by we used to manufacture these glazed clay tiles. In fact&nbsp;our museum has one of the diverse collections of tiles. And The manufacture and baking of tiles is a historical process which has been carried out here and these tiles were all seen in all old houses but we nowaday we are finding it difficult to source but with this intervention we have a source who can churn out tiles. In Fact we are working with him and we are also helping him with production increase. Since it has gotten a lot of attention, people are interested in buying stuff from him so we also have to make sure of the production. '' said Mehmood Shah,Director, Handicrafts.&nbsp;

The Srinagar city has made it to the UNESCO list of creative cities and now the government aims at making the summer capital of Jammu Kashmir into a craft destination.&nbsp;

The Kashmir Valley was recently listed by UNESCO among the creative cities of the world. The valley has innumerable arts and crafts. And one such craft is Glazed pottery.

The Kashmir Valley was recently listed by UNESCO among the creative cities of the world. The valley has innumerable arts and crafts. And one such craft is Glazed pottery. The glazed tiles and other items have been made for centuries in the valley but the art was on the verge of extinction. A 26-year-old commerce graduate from Srinagar's Nishat area, Mohamad Omar Kumar has taken it upon himself to revive the craft. Omar has learnt the art from the only person alive in Kashmir valley knowing the craft. And with the help of Jammu and Kashmir's Handicraft department, Omar was able to set up a unit to make these items. Also read | Kashmir: Apple orchards might not sustain climatic changes ''My grandfather and father have been doing pottery. But In the beginning I was not interested but once I finished studies I got to know that Glazed pottery is at the verge of extinction. It caught my attention and I searched more. There was only one old man in the Khanyar area of srinagar making the glazed tiles and other stuff. Even that person's children did not take it up. I went to him and learnt for around 6 months. I learnt how to make glazed pottery from him as he is the only person alive knowing the art. I thought of reviving the art and bringing it back to life. I did a lot of hard work. I learned how to make these glazed items here. The glaze is made at home with things which we generally throw away. '' said Mohamad Omar Kumar, Artisan. The Jammu and Kashmir government has various schemes for the revival of endangered arts of the Kashmir Valley. Among them was Glazed pottery. The government helps artisans establish units and also provide them with raw material as well as stipend. The Jammu and Kashmir governments want to make Srinagar into a craft destination. ''The department of Handicraft launched a policy where we revive critically endangered crafts and glazed pottery is one of the craft which we are endeavouring to revive. We approached this entrepreneur, who was inclined in starting his enterprise of glazed pottery manufacturer. He did his basic training from one of the old teachers. From our intervention under KarKhanDar Scheme, we help in the form of raw material. We also provide stipend to the trainer and also to the trainee so it's a win-win situation for all. Our craft is revived and we incentivised the revival process. We are happy that intervention has borne fruit. Revival of one endangered craft has been accomplished. We want to approach more such individuals who are interested in these critically endangered crafts. This becomes even more critical in view of UNESCO creative city listing wherein we will be pitching in as a craft destination. '' said Mehmood Shah,Director, Handicrafts. Also read | Kashmiris prefer Kangri to keep themselves warm in sub-zero temperature The Kashmiri tiles were used centuries ago in palaces as well as traditional Kashmiri homes. But with time, people started using ceramic tiles and with no market, the artisans were left with no choice but to stop production. And now the artisans like Omar are trying to bring back the Kashmiri Tiles in the market. Within a short span of time, He has received orders from across the country for these tiles. ''We are not unemployed, we have made ourselves as such. We have so much art here and if we take up all these arts again, no one in the Kashmir valley would be unemployed. Our older generations have left us with so much craft and art, we just need to work on it. The clay tiles I started making were completely finished but now I am making them again with a different design and I have so many orders in a short span of time. I can't manage it alone on my own. We need more and more people taking this up. It's our responsibility to bring alive all these arts. '' said Mohamad Omar Kumar, Artisan. The government is helping Omar in every possible way. As the orders increase, the government is helping him to meet the growing demand for these items. ''In the years gone by we used to manufacture these glazed clay tiles. In fact our museum has one of the diverse collections of tiles. And The manufacture and baking of tiles is a historical process which has been carried out here and these tiles were all seen in all old houses but we nowaday we are finding it difficult to source but with this intervention we have a source who can churn out tiles. In Fact we are working with him and we are also helping him with production increase. Since it has gotten a lot of attention, people are interested in buying stuff from him so we also have to make sure of the production. '' said Mehmood Shah,Director, Handicrafts. The Srinagar city has made it to the UNESCO list of creative cities and now the government aims at making the summer capital of Jammu Kashmir into a craft destination.

Reviving Kashmir’s dying crafts, youth becomes an inspiration to bring back glazed pottery

The famous Apple Orchards of Kashmir Valley might soon vanish due to the erratic climatic changes in the region. The valley in the last decade has seen major climatic changes&nbsp;like early snowfall due to which farmers have lost around 40 percent of the crop every year.&nbsp;

In 2021, the first snowfall of the season in the Kashmir valley happened in the month of October. At that time the majority of farmers had not harvested the produce. Researchers say the damage to the apple orchards and produce was between 4-40 percent.

A new research done by Dr. Irfan Rashid suggests that the apple orchards of the valley might not sustain if these climatic conditions&nbsp;prevail.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/quarantine-genome-sequencing-for-passengers-coming-from-south-africa-to-mumbai-says-citys-mayor-432359" hreflang="en">Quarantine, genome sequencing for South African passengers, says Mumbai mayor</a>

''We have a substantial number of farmers all across the Kashmir valley who are doing apple farming. What has happened over the last two or three decades is we are experiencing changes in many meteorological&nbsp;parameters. We have very instrumental evidence with us that is temperature and precipitation patterns. If you look at precipitation patterns, we used to receive substantial precipitation in winters, there were some sporadic events in springs also but Autumn&nbsp;used to be dry but what we are seeing now is erratic snowfall during autumn,''&nbsp;said Dr. Irfan Rashid, Coordinator, Department of GeoInformatics, Kashmir University.&nbsp;

''If we look at Met History we experienced very heavy snowfall in the first week of November in 2018 and in 2019. We received snowfall in the month of October which is very early. There are many varieties of apples that are harvested in November so obviously when we have erratic snowfalls, the crop will suffer and also damage the trees. In 2018 we did a survey, which suggested that 4-50 percent damage, some orchards were damaged up to 50 percent. On an average around 35 percent of our crop got damaged,'' he added.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/uae-to-be-first-foreign-destination-of-prime-minister-narendra-modi-in-2022-432653" hreflang="en">UAE to be first foreign destination of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022</a>

He also said that if we don't&nbsp;bring in the required changes, the horticulture industry which is the backbone of Kashmir's GDP will be majorly impacted.

''If we do not take into consideration the erratic snowfall patterns that Kashmir has been experiencing, this promulgation of horticulture as an economic savior of Jammu and Kashmir will not be sustainable in the long run,'' added Dr. Irfan Rashid, Coordinator, Department of GeoInformatics, Kashmir University.&nbsp;

Researchers believe that the last two decades have seen major climatic changes in the Kashmir Valley, but In the last five years, the apple orchard farmers had to bear the maximum brunt. This year was the third consecutive harvest destroyed by the early snowfall.

2019 saw the maximum damage as Kashmir witnessed the heaviest snowfall during that year damaging crops and trees worth millions.&nbsp;

The Horticulture department has been promoting High-Density Apple orchards to the farmers. A huge number of farms have been converted from traditional apple orchards to High-Density ones. The horticulture&nbsp;department as well as the researchers also believe shifting to High density could save the industry.&nbsp;

''In my research also, we basically vouched for High-density apple orchards, but we have to take into consideration the harvest season and timing has to not be October and November it has to be early. if we receive snowfall in October like this year, it might be likely in years to come October may see snowfall again, &nbsp;so if we have apple varieties where apples are harvested in the month of October, it will be unsustainable, but if we have varieties that can be harvested by mid-September or late September that could be a good way to sustain and channelise horticulture,'' said Dr. Irfan Rashid, Coordinator, Department of GeoInformatics, Kashmir University

The farmers on the other hand say it would be extremely difficult to shift to High-Density Orchards. The existing traditional Apple orchards would need to be completely taken off to plant new trees, which means huge losses to the farmers.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The famous Apple Orchards of Kashmir Valley might soon vanish due to the erratic climatic changes in the region. The valley in the last decade has seen major climatic changes like early snowfall due to which farmers have lost around 40 percent of the crop every year.

The famous Apple Orchards of Kashmir Valley might soon vanish due to the erratic climatic changes in the region. The valley in the last decade has seen major climatic changes like early snowfall due to which farmers have lost around 40 percent of the crop every year. In 2021, the first snowfall of the season in the Kashmir valley happened in the month of October. At that time the majority of farmers had not harvested the produce. Researchers say the damage to the apple orchards and produce was between 4-40 percent. A new research done by Dr. Irfan Rashid suggests that the apple orchards of the valley might not sustain if these climatic conditions prevail. Also read | Quarantine, genome sequencing for South African passengers, says Mumbai mayor ''We have a substantial number of farmers all across the Kashmir valley who are doing apple farming. What has happened over the last two or three decades is we are experiencing changes in many meteorological parameters. We have very instrumental evidence with us that is temperature and precipitation patterns. If you look at precipitation patterns, we used to receive substantial precipitation in winters, there were some sporadic events in springs also but Autumn used to be dry but what we are seeing now is erratic snowfall during autumn,'' said Dr. Irfan Rashid, Coordinator, Department of GeoInformatics, Kashmir University. ''If we look at Met History we experienced very heavy snowfall in the first week of November in 2018 and in 2019. We received snowfall in the month of October which is very early. There are many varieties of apples that are harvested in November so obviously when we have erratic snowfalls, the crop will suffer and also damage the trees. In 2018 we did a survey, which suggested that 4-50 percent damage, some orchards were damaged up to 50 percent. On an average around 35 percent of our crop got damaged,'' he added. Also read | UAE to be first foreign destination of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022 He also said that if we don't bring in the required changes, the horticulture industry which is the backbone of Kashmir's GDP will be majorly impacted. ''If we do not take into consideration the erratic snowfall patterns that Kashmir has been experiencing, this promulgation of horticulture as an economic savior of Jammu and Kashmir will not be sustainable in the long run,'' added Dr. Irfan Rashid, Coordinator, Department of GeoInformatics, Kashmir University. Researchers believe that the last two decades have seen major climatic changes in the Kashmir Valley, but In the last five years, the apple orchard farmers had to bear the maximum brunt. This year was the third consecutive harvest destroyed by the early snowfall. 2019 saw the maximum damage as Kashmir witnessed the heaviest snowfall during that year damaging crops and trees worth millions. The Horticulture department has been promoting High-Density Apple orchards to the farmers. A huge number of farms have been converted from traditional apple orchards to High-Density ones. The horticulture department as well as the researchers also believe shifting to High density could save the industry. ''In my research also, we basically vouched for High-density apple orchards, but we have to take into consideration the harvest season and timing has to not be October and November it has to be early. if we receive snowfall in October like this year, it might be likely in years to come October may see snowfall again, so if we have apple varieties where apples are harvested in the month of October, it will be unsustainable, but if we have varieties that can be harvested by mid-September or late September that could be a good way to sustain and channelise horticulture,'' said Dr. Irfan Rashid, Coordinator, Department of GeoInformatics, Kashmir University The farmers on the other hand say it would be extremely difficult to shift to High-Density Orchards. The existing traditional Apple orchards would need to be completely taken off to plant new trees, which means huge losses to the farmers.

Kashmir: Apple orchards might not sustain climatic changes, farmers losing upto 40 percent crop every year

In a brief shootout in Srinagar's Rambagh area, Security forces killed three terrorists of terror outfit The Resistance Front (TRF).

The Top Commander of TRF Mehran Yaseen was among three terrorists killed in Srinagar.&nbsp;

The Jammu and Kashmir police said that they received input about the movement of terrorists in Rambagh area of Srinagar, a small team from Srinagar Police signalled a suspected Santro vehicle to stop.

However, the terrorists started firing indiscriminately on the police party from inside the car while trying to flee from the spot under the cover of firing. The fire was however effectively retaliated leading to gunfight.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/chinese-army-conducts-live-fire-drills-with-high-altitude-weapons-near-indias-border-431417" hreflang="en">China conducts live-fire drills with high-altitude weapons near India's border</a>

''In the ensuing gunfight, three terrorists got killed and identified as terrorist commander of proscribed terror outfit LeT (TRF) Mehran Yaseen Shalla resident of Jamalatta Srinagar, Manzoor Ahmad Mir resident of Babhar Pulwama and Arafat Ahmad Sheikh resident of Nikloora Pulwama.'' said IG Kashmir Vijay Kumar.&nbsp;

The police also said that the killed terrorist Mehran Yaseen had a long history of terror crimes and was wanted by law for his involvement in several terror crime cases.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-forces-conduct-multi-agency-exercise-in-rajasthan-gujarat-431442" hreflang="en">Indian forces conduct multi-agency exercise in Rajasthan, Gujarat</a>

''The cases including grenade attack at Barbar Shah Srinagar on 26/06/2021 in which one civilian namely Mudasir Ahmad Bhat resident of Hanjigund Beerwah got killed &amp; three other civilians got critically injured, Killing of &nbsp;Meeran Ali Sheikh at Bulbul Lanker Nawa Kadal on 27/07/2021, Killing of PSI Arshad Ahmad at Khanyar on 12/09/2021, Killing of School Principal Supinder Kour and teacher Deepak Chand of Government Higher Secondary School, Khankah Noorbagh Sangam on 07/10/2021.'' said a JK Police.

Moreover, the other killed terrorist Arafat Ahmad was also involved in several terror crime cases including killing of non-local labour at the Litter area of Pulwama on 16/10/2021.&nbsp;

Incriminating materials including arms &amp; ammunition have been recovered from their possession. Police have registered a case in this regard and investigation is in progress.&nbsp;

In a brief shootout in Srinagar's Rambagh area, Security forces killed three terrorists of terror outfit The Resistance Front (TRF). The Top Commander of TRF Mehran Yaseen was among three terrorists killed in Srinagar.

In a brief shootout in Srinagar's Rambagh area, Security forces killed three terrorists of terror outfit The Resistance Front (TRF). The Top Commander of TRF Mehran Yaseen was among three terrorists killed in Srinagar. The Jammu and Kashmir police said that they received input about the movement of terrorists in Rambagh area of Srinagar, a small team from Srinagar Police signalled a suspected Santro vehicle to stop. However, the terrorists started firing indiscriminately on the police party from inside the car while trying to flee from the spot under the cover of firing. The fire was however effectively retaliated leading to gunfight. Also read | China conducts live-fire drills with high-altitude weapons near India's border ''In the ensuing gunfight, three terrorists got killed and identified as terrorist commander of proscribed terror outfit LeT (TRF) Mehran Yaseen Shalla resident of Jamalatta Srinagar, Manzoor Ahmad Mir resident of Babhar Pulwama and Arafat Ahmad Sheikh resident of Nikloora Pulwama.'' said IG Kashmir Vijay Kumar. The police also said that the killed terrorist Mehran Yaseen had a long history of terror crimes and was wanted by law for his involvement in several terror crime cases. Also read | Indian forces conduct multi-agency exercise in Rajasthan, Gujarat ''The cases including grenade attack at Barbar Shah Srinagar on 26/06/2021 in which one civilian namely Mudasir Ahmad Bhat resident of Hanjigund Beerwah got killed & three other civilians got critically injured, Killing of Meeran Ali Sheikh at Bulbul Lanker Nawa Kadal on 27/07/2021, Killing of PSI Arshad Ahmad at Khanyar on 12/09/2021, Killing of School Principal Supinder Kour and teacher Deepak Chand of Government Higher Secondary School, Khankah Noorbagh Sangam on 07/10/2021.'' said a JK Police. Moreover, the other killed terrorist Arafat Ahmad was also involved in several terror crime cases including killing of non-local labour at the Litter area of Pulwama on 16/10/2021. Incriminating materials including arms & ammunition have been recovered from their possession. Police have registered a case in this regard and investigation is in progress.

TRF Top Commander Mehran Yaseen among three terrorists killed in Srinagar shootout

Kashmir Valley has been hit by an intense cold wave with temperatures&nbsp;dipping to sub-zero as&nbsp;people in the Valley have been using every method and appliance to keep themselves warm. But the age-old Kangri (earthen pot) still is the favourite to keep themselves&nbsp;warm.&nbsp;

Kangri is an earthen pot encased in a wicker basket. The weaving around it is intricate and beautifully designed. The locals in the Valley call it a portable heater to keep warm under freezing condictions.&nbsp;

The Chraar-e-Shareef area in central Kashmir's Budgam district is known for making the best Kangri's in the Kashmir Valley. For its craftsmanship and quality, lakhs of Kangri's are sold every winter from this area.&nbsp;

<img alt="Kangri weavers in J&amp;K" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c56a2b23-6c2f-48d7-879f-bf6bfab5fde8" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/kk3.jpeg" />

''Necessity is the mother of invention. We live in a region which is very cold with&nbsp;at least for 4-5 months of winter. And to counter the cold, Kangri was invented. It keeps us warm. It has new designs&nbsp;now as well,"&nbsp; said Ghulam Hassan Bhat, a Kangri businessman.&nbsp;

"We get raw material from the jungle for weaving. We dry the twigs and later colour it. There is an earthen pot inside. It's a lot of work for the artisans. There are various types of Kangris. And their&nbsp;pricing also depends on the same. It's a part of our culture and also a necessity,"&nbsp; Bhat added.

"Although there are new heating devices in the market, this can never go out of fashion. It's a craft which will always stay here. The best craftsmanship of making the Kangri is in this area of Chraar-e-Shareef. There is no electricity in our areas, we have huge power cuts and that's why Kangri is our best way to keep warm,'' he said.&nbsp;

One artisan makes around 3-4 Kangris in a day. The artisans say that the demand for Kangri has gone up. The long power cuts make most of the new gadgets and appliances useless while countering cold. So Kangri is a tradition as well as a&nbsp;necessity for the&nbsp;Kashmir Valley.&nbsp;

<img alt="Kangri weavers in J&amp;K" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="88f71468-14db-4546-aac8-e56bb8768079" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/KK4.jpeg" />

"I have been making these Kangris for 21 years. Our Kangris are famous for weaving. We take a lot of time to gather the raw material and use the best quality. We also get orders to weave Kangris for decoration. In our area, we must be making around 3 lakh Kangris every year. Now even people who were not associated with this craft have started making these Kangris,'' said Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, an artisan.&nbsp;

Kangri making is also an art in itself. Artisans use different colours while weaving to make it look beautiful. The weaving is done stepwise and that decides the pricing of the Kangri.&nbsp;

''I make around four&nbsp;Kangris a day. The best quality Kangri is made in our area. We have beautiful colourful Kangris. It has many types, we differentiate the Kangris on the basis of workmanship. The weaving is done in steps and there are many such steps which make them better. I have been making Kangris&nbsp;for ages, although the rate of raw material has gone up. Kashmiris cannot do without the Kangri,'' Ghulam Nabi&nbsp;Bhat said.&nbsp;

The younger generation has also started to pick up this art. They say&nbsp;with growing unemployment, they have also learnt the art from their elders and will teach the next generation as well.&nbsp;

<img alt="Kangri weavers in J&amp;K" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c247882b-393c-4143-a463-4781d651ec50" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/JJ1.jpeg" />

''I have been making it for the last fiver&nbsp;years due to unemployment I started making Kangris. I looked for a job and didn't&nbsp;get any so finally started making them. The younger generation doesn't want to be associated with it. We were taught by our elders and we will teach it to our future generations. '' said Nasir Hussain Bhat, an artisan.

Kangri works on burning coal and it does have side effects. Experts say that it can cause skin burns, pollution and sometimes also be responsible for fire incidents in many areas,&nbsp;so while using Kangri's a lot of protection needs to be taken.

Kashmir Valley has been hit by an intense cold wave with temperatures dipping to sub-zero as people in the Valley have been using every method and appliance to keep themselves warm.

Kashmir Valley has been hit by an intense cold wave with temperatures dipping to sub-zero as people in the Valley have been using every method and appliance to keep themselves warm. But the age-old Kangri (earthen pot) still is the favourite to keep themselves warm. Kangri is an earthen pot encased in a wicker basket. The weaving around it is intricate and beautifully designed. The locals in the Valley call it a portable heater to keep warm under freezing condictions. The Chraar-e-Shareef area in central Kashmir's Budgam district is known for making the best Kangri's in the Kashmir Valley. For its craftsmanship and quality, lakhs of Kangri's are sold every winter from this area. ''Necessity is the mother of invention. We live in a region which is very cold with at least for 4-5 months of winter. And to counter the cold, Kangri was invented. It keeps us warm. It has new designs now as well," said Ghulam Hassan Bhat, a Kangri businessman. "We get raw material from the jungle for weaving. We dry the twigs and later colour it. There is an earthen pot inside. It's a lot of work for the artisans. There are various types of Kangris. And their pricing also depends on the same. It's a part of our culture and also a necessity," Bhat added. "Although there are new heating devices in the market, this can never go out of fashion. It's a craft which will always stay here. The best craftsmanship of making the Kangri is in this area of Chraar-e-Shareef. There is no electricity in our areas, we have huge power cuts and that's why Kangri is our best way to keep warm,'' he said. One artisan makes around 3-4 Kangris in a day. The artisans say that the demand for Kangri has gone up. The long power cuts make most of the new gadgets and appliances useless while countering cold. So Kangri is a tradition as well as a necessity for the Kashmir Valley. "I have been making these Kangris for 21 years. Our Kangris are famous for weaving. We take a lot of time to gather the raw material and use the best quality. We also get orders to weave Kangris for decoration. In our area, we must be making around 3 lakh Kangris every year. Now even people who were not associated with this craft have started making these Kangris,'' said Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, an artisan. Kangri making is also an art in itself. Artisans use different colours while weaving to make it look beautiful. The weaving is done stepwise and that decides the pricing of the Kangri. ''I make around four Kangris a day. The best quality Kangri is made in our area. We have beautiful colourful Kangris. It has many types, we differentiate the Kangris on the basis of workmanship. The weaving is done in steps and there are many such steps which make them better. I have been making Kangris for ages, although the rate of raw material has gone up. Kashmiris cannot do without the Kangri,'' Ghulam Nabi Bhat said. The younger generation has also started to pick up this art. They say with growing unemployment, they have also learnt the art from their elders and will teach the next generation as well. ''I have been making it for the last fiver years due to unemployment I started making Kangris. I looked for a job and didn't get any so finally started making them. The younger generation doesn't want to be associated with it. We were taught by our elders and we will teach it to our future generations. '' said Nasir Hussain Bhat, an artisan. Kangri works on burning coal and it does have side effects. Experts say that it can cause skin burns, pollution and sometimes also be responsible for fire incidents in many areas, so while using Kangri's a lot of protection needs to be taken.

Kashmiris prefer Kangri to keep themselves warm in sub-zero temperature

&nbsp;Temperatures dropped below zero degrees Celsius in India’s Jammu and Kashmir union territory, with Srinagar city recording the lowest temperature of the season at minus 1.6 degrees Celsius.

Other parts of the state also experienced sub-zero temperatures as the mercury went down two to three degrees below normal. Pahalgam, the famous hill station in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 3.7 degrees Celsius, the ski resort Gulmarg recorded the minimum temperature at minus 0.8 degrees Celsius.

The state meteorological department has attributed “the erratic weather condition” to global warming.&nbsp;

“Global warming is a worldwide issue and is not Kashmir centric, but it does have an impact here as well,” said Sonam Lotus, Director MeT Department Kashmir.&nbsp;

The winter conditions in Kashmir have set in much ahead of the beginning of extremely harsh weather conditions which usually start around the third week of December.

‘Chillai Kalan’, the 40-day period of harsh winter in Kashmir, begins on December 21 every year.

Meanwhile, the Met department will be soon launching an awareness campaign on asphyxiation, which is often linked to winter the season. &nbsp;

“With the onset of winter, people keep themselves warm and use appliances like bukhari (portable room heater). But the main problem of using such a traditional device is that there is little room for exhaust and no ventilation. Because of this, carbon monoxide increases and causes a lot of damage, as we recently saw how a girl died in her room due to asphyxiation. We are always aware of do’s and don’ts and we will soon start the awareness programme,” said Lotus.&nbsp;

In neighbouring Ladakh, too, the temperatures remained at sub-zero level. The minimum temperature at the capital Leh was at minus 8 degrees Celsius. Kargil recorded the minimum temperature at minus 3.6 degrees Celsius. The second coldest place in the world, Drass, recorded the temperature at minus 12.8 degrees Celsius.&nbsp;

The onset of cold weather conditions often worries the locals living in the area, as they face long electricity cuts, avalanches, etc.

“It's extremely cold here, we can't go out in the mornings. We use kangri (an earthen pot woven around with wicker filled with hot embers) which works on coal and now we have been facing shortage of the coal as well. The water pipes freeze and then there is no water as well. We want the government to help the poor. It's unbearable. There is no electricity also, too many power cuts. The government needs to intervene. There is so much fog in the morning that we can't go out. '' said Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Srinagar.&nbsp;

The Met department has predicted that weather will remain mainly dry in Jammu and Kashmir with morning fog at isolated places over plains of the valley till November end.

Temperatures dropped below zero degrees Celsius in India’s Jammu and Kashmir union territory, with Srinagar city recording the lowest temperature of the season at minus 1.

Temperatures dropped below zero degrees Celsius in India’s Jammu and Kashmir union territory, with Srinagar city recording the lowest temperature of the season at minus 1.6 degrees Celsius. Other parts of the state also experienced sub-zero temperatures as the mercury went down two to three degrees below normal. Pahalgam, the famous hill station in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 3.7 degrees Celsius, the ski resort Gulmarg recorded the minimum temperature at minus 0.8 degrees Celsius. The state meteorological department has attributed “the erratic weather condition” to global warming. “Global warming is a worldwide issue and is not Kashmir centric, but it does have an impact here as well,” said Sonam Lotus, Director MeT Department Kashmir. The winter conditions in Kashmir have set in much ahead of the beginning of extremely harsh weather conditions which usually start around the third week of December. ‘Chillai Kalan’, the 40-day period of harsh winter in Kashmir, begins on December 21 every year. Meanwhile, the Met department will be soon launching an awareness campaign on asphyxiation, which is often linked to winter the season. “With the onset of winter, people keep themselves warm and use appliances like bukhari (portable room heater). But the main problem of using such a traditional device is that there is little room for exhaust and no ventilation. Because of this, carbon monoxide increases and causes a lot of damage, as we recently saw how a girl died in her room due to asphyxiation. We are always aware of do’s and don’ts and we will soon start the awareness programme,” said Lotus. In neighbouring Ladakh, too, the temperatures remained at sub-zero level. The minimum temperature at the capital Leh was at minus 8 degrees Celsius. Kargil recorded the minimum temperature at minus 3.6 degrees Celsius. The second coldest place in the world, Drass, recorded the temperature at minus 12.8 degrees Celsius. The onset of cold weather conditions often worries the locals living in the area, as they face long electricity cuts, avalanches, etc. “It's extremely cold here, we can't go out in the mornings. We use kangri (an earthen pot woven around with wicker filled with hot embers) which works on coal and now we have been facing shortage of the coal as well. The water pipes freeze and then there is no water as well. We want the government to help the poor. It's unbearable. There is no electricity also, too many power cuts. The government needs to intervene. There is so much fog in the morning that we can't go out. '' said Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Srinagar. The Met department has predicted that weather will remain mainly dry in Jammu and Kashmir with morning fog at isolated places over plains of the valley till November end.

Cold wave grips Kashmir, sub-zero temperature recorded across valley

Jammu and&nbsp;Kashmir&nbsp;has become a hub of drugs. A recent study has revealed that Jammu&nbsp;Kashmir&nbsp;has 600,000&nbsp;people involved in drug-related issues which are approximately 4.6 per cent&nbsp;of the population of the Union Territory.

90 per cent&nbsp;of these drug users are in the age group of 17-33 years.

A meeting was called by the Chief Secretary of Jammu and&nbsp;Kashmir&nbsp;where the state-level committee of the narco coordination centre&nbsp;outlined a project for tackling the drug menace in the Union Territory.&nbsp;

In recent years, the number of drug abusers has increased by many folds in the UT. There is a change in the pattern of drugs used as well.

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Illicit drugs like heroin, cocaine, and brown sugar are available in the drug market. 90 percent of the patients enrolling in drug de-addiction centres are using heroin.&nbsp;

''The number is increasing, as per our OPD's we see around 40-50 patients every day and the kind of addiction we are seeing is very dangerous. Most of them are using illicit drugs like heroin and brown sugar and that too via injections. It's very dangerous because they get infections like hepatitis c and hepatitis b and also HIV,''&nbsp;said Dr Yasir Rather, Professor, Incharge drug de-addiction center, SMHS, GMC Srinagar.

In fact what we saw in our study is that there is an epidemic within an epidemic. It's become very common&nbsp;in these patients. And It leads to chronic liver diseases resulting in death. From last one decade the numbers are increasing and also the pattern has changed. What we are seeing is illicit drugs are being used commonly like heroin and brown sugar. Around 90 percent of our opd cases are using heroin. There are multiple factors related. '' he added.

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The Psychiatric Hospital in Srinagar did a survey in two districts of&nbsp;Kashmir&nbsp;Valley. What they found was shocking and alarming. In Srinagar and Anantnag districts only, 18000 people were using illicit drugs which amounted to 3.5 crore rupees every day.&nbsp;

 
''We did a survey in two districts Srinagar and Anantnag, In that survey, we saw how much is the economic&nbsp;burden of addiction. We found 18000 people using these illicit drugs that are heroin and in that we found 3.5 crores rupees were spent on procuring these drugs on a daily basis. '' said Dr Yasir Rather, Professor, Incharge drug de addiction center, SMHS, GMC Srinagar.

The drug addicts who are being treated at the Government De-Addiction centre in Srinagar say that drugs are easily available across the&nbsp;Kashmir&nbsp;Valley. Once they get addicted to these substances, they go to any extent to get them. One such story is of Showkat Ahmad Sheikh, A labourer by profession, Showkat &nbsp;was about to sell his baby as he was falling short of money to get drugs. He even took the advance payment to sell his own baby for money so that he could get drugs.&nbsp;

'''It used to be cheaper earlier, but now it's become expensive. Every household has one addict and I have been on drugs for three years. I used to work as a labourer. And I used to spend all my money on drugs. During that period only my wife was pregnant. And when she delivered the baby in the hospital, I tried selling my own child to make money to get drugs,'' said former drug abuser&nbsp;Showkat Ahmad Sheikh.

I was in the hospital and some ladies asked me if I could find them a couple to give them a child and hearing this I decided to sell my own baby. They had offered me ten lac rupees and I had said yes. I even took 20 thousand rupees from them.&nbsp;&nbsp;I spent 15 thousand for 3 gms of substance. They later paid me 60 thousand rupees. Later I realised what I was about to do. I was thinking of stealing my own baby. I am begging people who are involved in the drugs to stay away,&nbsp;'' he added.

The biggest problem is the easy availability of these illicit drugs across the UT. The drug abusers say that From cocaine&nbsp;to heroin to brown sugar, everything is available&nbsp;over a phone call. This menace has also led to an increase in crime rate in some areas.&nbsp;

According to&nbsp;former drug abuser&nbsp;Mohammad Umar, ''I started with cigarettes&nbsp;and due to unemployment I started getting involved in various drugs. I wouldnt like to reveal everything but I was addicted to F10 and F11. Drugs are available everywhere, you should just have the money. There is a chain which starts in South&nbsp;Kashmir's Sangam area, the government&nbsp;needs to take action on them. Most of the drugs are charas, cocaine, brown sugar and Heroin. Srinagar gets all its supplies from these areas.''

''I would want the Police to intervene and put the drug dealers behind the bar. We need to stop it from the very first level of the chain. I have been coming to this rehab centre for more than a year and I am thankful to Dr Yasir who has helped me a lot to deal with the addiction. Now I am etally and physically fit. I would appeal to all boys and girls to stay away from drugs. I was working and spending all the money, used to ask my parents for money then I decided either I have to steal or leave this menace. I managed to give up on drugs. Unemployment is one of the major reasons for getting into these things,&nbsp;'' he added.&nbsp;

The Jammu and&nbsp;Kashmir&nbsp;police have recovered Illicit drugs from various parts of the Union Territory worth crores of rupees. The Police also say that most of the drugs supplied come from across the border of Pakistan.

Many such consignments were recovered mostly in areas close to the Line of Control, like Kupwara and Uri. Also, a lot of these drug&nbsp;consignments were dropped via drones from across the International borders in different&nbsp;parts of Jammu.&nbsp;

Jammu and Kashmir has become a hub of drugs. A recent study has revealed that Jammu Kashmir has 600,000 people involved in drug-related issues which are approximately 4.

Jammu and Kashmir has become a hub of drugs. A recent study has revealed that Jammu Kashmir has 600,000 people involved in drug-related issues which are approximately 4.6 per cent of the population of the Union Territory. 90 per cent of these drug users are in the age group of 17-33 years. A meeting was called by the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir where the state-level committee of the narco coordination centre outlined a project for tackling the drug menace in the Union Territory. In recent years, the number of drug abusers has increased by many folds in the UT. There is a change in the pattern of drugs used as well. Also read | India likely to get first openly gay person as judge of high court Illicit drugs like heroin, cocaine, and brown sugar are available in the drug market. 90 percent of the patients enrolling in drug de-addiction centres are using heroin. ''The number is increasing, as per our OPD's we see around 40-50 patients every day and the kind of addiction we are seeing is very dangerous. Most of them are using illicit drugs like heroin and brown sugar and that too via injections. It's very dangerous because they get infections like hepatitis c and hepatitis b and also HIV,'' said Dr Yasir Rather, Professor, Incharge drug de-addiction center, SMHS, GMC Srinagar. In fact what we saw in our study is that there is an epidemic within an epidemic. It's become very common in these patients. And It leads to chronic liver diseases resulting in death. From last one decade the numbers are increasing and also the pattern has changed. What we are seeing is illicit drugs are being used commonly like heroin and brown sugar. Around 90 percent of our opd cases are using heroin. There are multiple factors related. '' he added. Also read | Indian minister Bhagwat Karad helps co-passenger mid-flight, earns PM's praise The Psychiatric Hospital in Srinagar did a survey in two districts of Kashmir Valley. What they found was shocking and alarming. In Srinagar and Anantnag districts only, 18000 people were using illicit drugs which amounted to 3.5 crore rupees every day. ''We did a survey in two districts Srinagar and Anantnag, In that survey, we saw how much is the economic burden of addiction. We found 18000 people using these illicit drugs that are heroin and in that we found 3.5 crores rupees were spent on procuring these drugs on a daily basis. '' said Dr Yasir Rather, Professor, Incharge drug de addiction center, SMHS, GMC Srinagar. The drug addicts who are being treated at the Government De-Addiction centre in Srinagar say that drugs are easily available across the Kashmir Valley. Once they get addicted to these substances, they go to any extent to get them. One such story is of Showkat Ahmad Sheikh, A labourer by profession, Showkat was about to sell his baby as he was falling short of money to get drugs. He even took the advance payment to sell his own baby for money so that he could get drugs. '''It used to be cheaper earlier, but now it's become expensive. Every household has one addict and I have been on drugs for three years. I used to work as a labourer. And I used to spend all my money on drugs. During that period only my wife was pregnant. And when she delivered the baby in the hospital, I tried selling my own child to make money to get drugs,'' said former drug abuser Showkat Ahmad Sheikh. I was in the hospital and some ladies asked me if I could find them a couple to give them a child and hearing this I decided to sell my own baby. They had offered me ten lac rupees and I had said yes. I even took 20 thousand rupees from them. I spent 15 thousand for 3 gms of substance. They later paid me 60 thousand rupees. Later I realised what I was about to do. I was thinking of stealing my own baby. I am begging people who are involved in the drugs to stay away, '' he added. The biggest problem is the easy availability of these illicit drugs across the UT. The drug abusers say that From cocaine to heroin to brown sugar, everything is available over a phone call. This menace has also led to an increase in crime rate in some areas. According to former drug abuser Mohammad Umar, ''I started with cigarettes and due to unemployment I started getting involved in various drugs. I wouldnt like to reveal everything but I was addicted to F10 and F11. Drugs are available everywhere, you should just have the money. There is a chain which starts in South Kashmir's Sangam area, the government needs to take action on them. Most of the drugs are charas, cocaine, brown sugar and Heroin. Srinagar gets all its supplies from these areas.'' ''I would want the Police to intervene and put the drug dealers behind the bar. We need to stop it from the very first level of the chain. I have been coming to this rehab centre for more than a year and I am thankful to Dr Yasir who has helped me a lot to deal with the addiction. Now I am etally and physically fit. I would appeal to all boys and girls to stay away from drugs. I was working and spending all the money, used to ask my parents for money then I decided either I have to steal or leave this menace. I managed to give up on drugs. Unemployment is one of the major reasons for getting into these things, '' he added. The Jammu and Kashmir police have recovered Illicit drugs from various parts of the Union Territory worth crores of rupees. The Police also say that most of the drugs supplied come from across the border of Pakistan. Many such consignments were recovered mostly in areas close to the Line of Control, like Kupwara and Uri. Also, a lot of these drug consignments were dropped via drones from across the International borders in different parts of Jammu.

600,000 youngsters in Jammu and Kashmir have become drug addicts: Study

The Kashmir Valley witnesses a magical change in colours during the autumn season. The fall splashes the Valley with red colour. The majestic chinar trees look as if they have been decorated with layers of colours&nbsp;&nbsp;and to witness these beautiful visuals&nbsp;thousands of tourists are visiting the Valley.&nbsp;

The red leaves cover the landscape of Kashmir Valley like a carpet. The Nishat Garden, Naseem Bagh&nbsp;and Chinar Bagh are full of tourists taking pictures in these breathtakingly beautiful locations. The scenes these tourists have only seen in Bollywood movies.

''We are feeling as if we are in heaven, If there is paradise on earth it's Kashmir. People who want to experience paradise should visit. The gardens here are Gulmarg and Pahalgam. There is a different beauty to Autumn, we have only seen this in movies. The red coloured trees are looking beautiful. '' said Damodar Agarwal, a tourist.&nbsp;

Some of the tourists visiting the Valley have only read about the beautiful autumn season but have never seen it since&nbsp;the rest of India does not have four&nbsp;seasons like the Kashmir Valley.&nbsp;

<img alt="Kashmir Valley" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e4700645-5dfa-4529-b147-fd39a8548cca" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Kashmirr1.jpg" />

''It's very beautiful. We don't get to see these seasonal changes where we live and this looks like a movie. It looks like a set. We had studied about autumn but now we are witnessing it. It's beautiful. We had missed a lot in life but finally, we are here. '' said Maulina Agarwal, tourist.&nbsp;

The government has also announced special discounts and offers for the tourists coming to the Valley during the autumn season.

<img alt="Kashmir Valley" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ca3b7667-f240-4a4b-8043-b026345f7b64" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Fire11.jpg" />&nbsp;

''We have visited thrice before this, it is our fourth trip but in autumn we have come for the first time and of course, in autumn it's very cold but bearable but a beautiful experience. It's really a paradise,'' said Satish Modi, Tourist.&nbsp;

There are very few places across the world which are so&nbsp;exotic in every season of the year and Kashmir is one of them.

The Kashmir Valley witnesses a magical change in colours during the autumn season. The fall splashes the Valley with red colour. The majestic chinar trees look as if they have been decorated with layers of colours and to witness these beautiful visuals thousands of tourists are visiting the Valley.

The Kashmir Valley witnesses a magical change in colours during the autumn season. The fall splashes the Valley with red colour. The majestic chinar trees look as if they have been decorated with layers of colours and to witness these beautiful visuals thousands of tourists are visiting the Valley. The red leaves cover the landscape of Kashmir Valley like a carpet. The Nishat Garden, Naseem Bagh and Chinar Bagh are full of tourists taking pictures in these breathtakingly beautiful locations. The scenes these tourists have only seen in Bollywood movies. ''We are feeling as if we are in heaven, If there is paradise on earth it's Kashmir. People who want to experience paradise should visit. The gardens here are Gulmarg and Pahalgam. There is a different beauty to Autumn, we have only seen this in movies. The red coloured trees are looking beautiful. '' said Damodar Agarwal, a tourist. Some of the tourists visiting the Valley have only read about the beautiful autumn season but have never seen it since the rest of India does not have four seasons like the Kashmir Valley. ''It's very beautiful. We don't get to see these seasonal changes where we live and this looks like a movie. It looks like a set. We had studied about autumn but now we are witnessing it. It's beautiful. We had missed a lot in life but finally, we are here. '' said Maulina Agarwal, tourist. The government has also announced special discounts and offers for the tourists coming to the Valley during the autumn season. ''We have visited thrice before this, it is our fourth trip but in autumn we have come for the first time and of course, in autumn it's very cold but bearable but a beautiful experience. It's really a paradise,'' said Satish Modi, Tourist. There are very few places across the world which are so exotic in every season of the year and Kashmir is one of them.

Autumn in Kashmir, Valley turns red as tourists throng to witness colour changes

Security forces have neutralised three&nbsp;terrorists in two encounters in the last 24 hours in Kashmir valley. One terrorist identified as Aamir Riyaz of Khrew Pulwama, affiliated with proscribed terror outfit Mujahideen Gazwatul Hind, was killed in the Srinagar encounter.

Police said that he was a relative of one of the accused of the Lethpora terror attack and was assigned to carry out fidayeen attack.&nbsp;

He had also shot a video before carrying out the attack in Srinagar but was neutralised by security forces before that. The video has gone viral on social media.&nbsp;

"Terrorist killed in Srinagar encounter identified as Aamir Riyaz of Khrew Pulwama affiliated with proscribed terror outfit Mujahideen Gazwatul Hind. He was a relative of one of the accused of LetPora terror attack and was assigned to carry out fidayeen attack," said Vijay Kumar, IG JK Police, Kashmir Zone.&nbsp;

Another&nbsp;two terrorists were gunned down by the security forces in another encounter in South Kashmir's Kulgam district. Both of them belonged to the Hizb Ul Mujahideen outfit. Police said that the terrorists were involved in recruiting young boys into terror outfits.&nbsp;

"Two terrorists killed. These killed terrorists identified as District commanders of HM Shiraz Molvi and Yawar Bhat. Shiraz has been active since 2016 and&nbsp;was involved in recruiting innocent youth into terror ranks and several civilian killings. A big success for us,"&nbsp;said Vijay Kumar, IG JK Police, Kashmir Zone.

Both the operations have been called off by security forces. Huge arms and ammunition cache has been recovered from both the sites.&nbsp;

Security forces have neutralised three terrorists in two encounters in the last 24 hours in Kashmir valley. One terrorist identified as Aamir Riyaz of Khrew Pulwama, affiliated with proscribed terror outfit Mujahideen Gazwatul Hind, was killed in the Srinagar encounter.

Security forces have neutralised three terrorists in two encounters in the last 24 hours in Kashmir valley. One terrorist identified as Aamir Riyaz of Khrew Pulwama, affiliated with proscribed terror outfit Mujahideen Gazwatul Hind, was killed in the Srinagar encounter. Police said that he was a relative of one of the accused of the Lethpora terror attack and was assigned to carry out fidayeen attack. He had also shot a video before carrying out the attack in Srinagar but was neutralised by security forces before that. The video has gone viral on social media. "Terrorist killed in Srinagar encounter identified as Aamir Riyaz of Khrew Pulwama affiliated with proscribed terror outfit Mujahideen Gazwatul Hind. He was a relative of one of the accused of LetPora terror attack and was assigned to carry out fidayeen attack," said Vijay Kumar, IG JK Police, Kashmir Zone. Another two terrorists were gunned down by the security forces in another encounter in South Kashmir's Kulgam district. Both of them belonged to the Hizb Ul Mujahideen outfit. Police said that the terrorists were involved in recruiting young boys into terror outfits. "Two terrorists killed. These killed terrorists identified as District commanders of HM Shiraz Molvi and Yawar Bhat. Shiraz has been active since 2016 and was involved in recruiting innocent youth into terror ranks and several civilian killings. A big success for us," said Vijay Kumar, IG JK Police, Kashmir Zone. Both the operations have been called off by security forces. Huge arms and ammunition cache has been recovered from both the sites.

Srinagar: 3 terrorists killed in two encounters in 24 hours in the valley

Jammu and Kashmir has been witnessing a sharp rise in the COVID-19 cases as 165 new cases have been reported in the last 24 hours, while three succumbed to the deadly virus.

Kashmir division has reported 147 cases, while Jammu had 18 new cases.&nbsp;Notably, this is the highest number of infections that have been recorded in the last six weeks.

Srinagar is emerging as one of the hotspots for the Covid spread, as about 554 out of 968 active cases (that is 57 per cent) have been reported so far.

“We have taken a lot of containment measures. We have created micro containment zones. There are five wards which&nbsp;are under corona curfew, these are: Lal Bazaar, Hyderpora, Chanapora, and Bemina. We have&nbsp;also mobilised our health staff for screen testing. We have also upped the speed of the vaccination drive in the region,” said Ajaz Asad, District Collector, Srinagar.&nbsp;

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The medical staff fear that a further spike in the COVID cases could be expected as a huge influx of tourists is being witnessed in the state. They say that the current scale of testing capacity needs to be upgraded to test more tourists.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/96-countries-accept-indias-covid-vaccination-certificates-says-health-minister-428210">96 countries accept India’s Covid vaccination certificates, says health minister</a>

“'There is a standard protocol for any tourist visiting the valley. At the airport, either you require an RT-PCR test or on the spot the Rapid Antigen Test. I feel there is a good influx of tourists at the moment as all the hotels are booked, that’s why we want to control the Covid cases at the beginning. We are taking all the measures to curb the spread&nbsp;of infection. We overcame the first and second wave with the support of people, and we can again if people adhere to the Covid protocols,” Asad said.&nbsp;

The Jammu Kashmir Administration is currently doing more than 50,000 tests across the Union Territory daily.

Jammu and Kashmir has been witnessing a sharp rise in the COVID-19 cases as 165 new cases have been reported in the last 24 hours, while three succumbed to the deadly virus.

Jammu and Kashmir has been witnessing a sharp rise in the COVID-19 cases as 165 new cases have been reported in the last 24 hours, while three succumbed to the deadly virus. Kashmir division has reported 147 cases, while Jammu had 18 new cases. Notably, this is the highest number of infections that have been recorded in the last six weeks. Srinagar is emerging as one of the hotspots for the Covid spread, as about 554 out of 968 active cases (that is 57 per cent) have been reported so far. “We have taken a lot of containment measures. We have created micro containment zones. There are five wards which are under corona curfew, these are: Lal Bazaar, Hyderpora, Chanapora, and Bemina. We have also mobilised our health staff for screen testing. We have also upped the speed of the vaccination drive in the region,” said Ajaz Asad, District Collector, Srinagar. Also read | Booster dose to be taken 6 months after Covaxin's 2nd dose: Bharat Biotech CMD The medical staff fear that a further spike in the COVID cases could be expected as a huge influx of tourists is being witnessed in the state. They say that the current scale of testing capacity needs to be upgraded to test more tourists. Also read | 96 countries accept India’s Covid vaccination certificates, says health minister “'There is a standard protocol for any tourist visiting the valley. At the airport, either you require an RT-PCR test or on the spot the Rapid Antigen Test. I feel there is a good influx of tourists at the moment as all the hotels are booked, that’s why we want to control the Covid cases at the beginning. We are taking all the measures to curb the spread of infection. We overcame the first and second wave with the support of people, and we can again if people adhere to the Covid protocols,” Asad said. The Jammu Kashmir Administration is currently doing more than 50,000 tests across the Union Territory daily.

Covid cases rise in India's Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar emerges as hotspot

Srinagar city has made it to the list of creative city networks of the&nbsp;United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). &nbsp;Srinagar made it to the&nbsp;list of 49 cities across the world.

The 49 cities have been added to the network of 246 cities following their designation by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, in recognition of "their commitment to placing culture and creativity at the heart of their development and to sharing knowledge and good practices".

"Delighted that beautiful Srinagar joins the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) with a special mention for its craft and folk art. It is a fitting recognition for the vibrant cultural ethos of Srinagar.&nbsp;Congratulations&nbsp;to the people of Jammu and Kashmir,'' tweeted PM Narendra Modi.

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Delighted that beautiful Srinagar joins the <a href="https://twitter.com/UNESCO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UNESCO</a> Creative Cities Network (UCCN) with a special mention for its craft and folk art. It is a fitting recognition for the vibrant cultural ethos of Srinagar. Congratulations to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1457743252803801104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2021</a></blockquote>
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This listing will help the local art and craft to make it on the global platforms.

''Great News for Srinagar. Srinagar has been inscribed as a UNESCO&nbsp;creative city of art and craft. the only city from India to make it to the list,'' said Junaid Mattoo, Mayor Srinagar.

There were two cities competing for the position this year and only Srinagar has made it.

''The cultural heritage and current creative assets of the city will be the pillars to build a consistent action plan, which contributes to the sustainable urban development of the city in line with the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development,'' said Saleem Beg, convenor INTACH Kashmir Chapter.

Mumbai and Hyderabad had made it to the list in 2019.

Srinagar city has made it to the list of creative city networks of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Srinagar made it to the list of 49 cities across the world.

Srinagar city has made it to the list of creative city networks of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Srinagar made it to the list of 49 cities across the world. The 49 cities have been added to the network of 246 cities following their designation by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, in recognition of "their commitment to placing culture and creativity at the heart of their development and to sharing knowledge and good practices". "Delighted that beautiful Srinagar joins the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) with a special mention for its craft and folk art. It is a fitting recognition for the vibrant cultural ethos of Srinagar. Congratulations to the people of Jammu and Kashmir,'' tweeted PM Narendra Modi. Delighted that beautiful Srinagar joins the @UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) with a special mention for its craft and folk art. It is a fitting recognition for the vibrant cultural ethos of Srinagar. Congratulations to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 8, 2021 × This listing will help the local art and craft to make it on the global platforms. ''Great News for Srinagar. Srinagar has been inscribed as a UNESCO creative city of art and craft. the only city from India to make it to the list,'' said Junaid Mattoo, Mayor Srinagar. There were two cities competing for the position this year and only Srinagar has made it. ''The cultural heritage and current creative assets of the city will be the pillars to build a consistent action plan, which contributes to the sustainable urban development of the city in line with the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development,'' said Saleem Beg, convenor INTACH Kashmir Chapter. Mumbai and Hyderabad had made it to the list in 2019.

Srinagar listed in UNESCO’s creative city list, PM Modi congratulates people of J&K

Tour operators are apprehensive about future of only international air-route from Srinagar after Pakistan denied airspace for planes travelling to Sharjah. The recently inaugurated Srinagar-Sharjah air-route has hit a roadblock. There are fears that flights will not take-off.

In 2009-10, Srinagar-Dubai flight was also stopped for the same reason as Pakistan denied airspace. This led to high fares. The flight was suspended later.

Jammu Kashmir's former chief minister Omar Abdullah tweeted and said,"Very Unfortunate. Pakistan did the same thing with the Air India Express flight from Srinagar to Dubai in 2009-2010. I had hoped that GoFirstAirways being permitted to overfly Pak Airspace was indicative of a thaw in relations but alas that wasn't to be".&nbsp;

The Tour operators in Kashmir valley say that the fares have gone up by 200 percent, after the Inaugural price of Rs 5500.&nbsp;

Now the rates are Rs 35,000 for a one-way ticket.

"It was a great initiative that we had a direct flight to the middle east. It was a great relief and connected to the world. But unfortunately this act which is leading to the stoppage of this flight will again create a problem. People will have to take the longer routes. It will impact the locals. This would have given a boost to tourism. I have been selling it since day 1. It started from 5 thousand then 11 thousand and then 15 and now I am getting a one way fare for 32 thousand. Why would anyone take this flight if the fares are so high? Civil Aviation Ministry should have done the homework as in the recent past a srinagar dubai flight met the same fate,"said Umar Nazir , director of Labaika Travel.

The Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba mufti also tweeted criticising the government of India for not doing the groundwork before starting the flight. She tweeted and said,"Puzzling that GOI didn’t even bother securing permission from Pakistan to use its airspace for international flights from Srinagar. Only PR extravaganza without any groundwork''&nbsp;

However, BJP has hit out strongly at Pakistan saying the real face of Pakistan has come out yet again. Pakistan does not want to see Jammu Kashmir develop.&nbsp;

"Government of India started this flight from Srinagar to Sharjah for the trade of Kashmir. To benefit the Kashmiris so that they directly send their products to the international market. Pakistan has shown its real face again. Pakistan wants dead bodies of Kashmiris and terror. Pakistan has nothing to do with the development of Kashmiris. This is an eye opener for those who support and celebrate the win of a cricket match, said Altaf Thakur, BJP Spokesperson.

The Home Minister of India Amit Shah had inaugurated the first direct international flight between Srinagar- Sharjah on October 23rd.&nbsp;

Tour operators are apprehensive about future of only international air-route from Srinagar after Pakistan denied airspace for planes travelling to Sharjah. The recently inaugurated Srinagar-Sharjah air-route has hit a roadblock.

Tour operators are apprehensive about future of only international air-route from Srinagar after Pakistan denied airspace for planes travelling to Sharjah. The recently inaugurated Srinagar-Sharjah air-route has hit a roadblock. There are fears that flights will not take-off. In 2009-10, Srinagar-Dubai flight was also stopped for the same reason as Pakistan denied airspace. This led to high fares. The flight was suspended later. Jammu Kashmir's former chief minister Omar Abdullah tweeted and said,"Very Unfortunate. Pakistan did the same thing with the Air India Express flight from Srinagar to Dubai in 2009-2010. I had hoped that GoFirstAirways being permitted to overfly Pak Airspace was indicative of a thaw in relations but alas that wasn't to be". The Tour operators in Kashmir valley say that the fares have gone up by 200 percent, after the Inaugural price of Rs 5500. Now the rates are Rs 35,000 for a one-way ticket. "It was a great initiative that we had a direct flight to the middle east. It was a great relief and connected to the world. But unfortunately this act which is leading to the stoppage of this flight will again create a problem. People will have to take the longer routes. It will impact the locals. This would have given a boost to tourism. I have been selling it since day 1. It started from 5 thousand then 11 thousand and then 15 and now I am getting a one way fare for 32 thousand. Why would anyone take this flight if the fares are so high? Civil Aviation Ministry should have done the homework as in the recent past a srinagar dubai flight met the same fate,"said Umar Nazir , director of Labaika Travel. The Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba mufti also tweeted criticising the government of India for not doing the groundwork before starting the flight. She tweeted and said,"Puzzling that GOI didn’t even bother securing permission from Pakistan to use its airspace for international flights from Srinagar. Only PR extravaganza without any groundwork'' However, BJP has hit out strongly at Pakistan saying the real face of Pakistan has come out yet again. Pakistan does not want to see Jammu Kashmir develop. "Government of India started this flight from Srinagar to Sharjah for the trade of Kashmir. To benefit the Kashmiris so that they directly send their products to the international market. Pakistan has shown its real face again. Pakistan wants dead bodies of Kashmiris and terror. Pakistan has nothing to do with the development of Kashmiris. This is an eye opener for those who support and celebrate the win of a cricket match, said Altaf Thakur, BJP Spokesperson. The Home Minister of India Amit Shah had inaugurated the first direct international flight between Srinagar- Sharjah on October 23rd.

Srinagar-Sharjah air-route in jeopardy after Pakistan's denial of airspace

After years, the saffron farmers of Kashmir valley are happy. It's a bumper crop this year. The late rains across the Kashmir Valley, have helped the farmers with the best produce after a long time.&nbsp;

Farmers associated with saffron are busy plucking the saffron flowers from the fields. Around 3700 hectares of land are being used for the cultivation of the crop. The Pampore area in Pulwama is the main hub, although now the crop is being cultivated across different districts of Kashmir valley as well.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/life-to-net-zero-emissions-key-takeaways-from-pm-modis-historic-cop26-speech-426012" hreflang="en">'LIFE' to 'net zero emissions: Key takeaways from PM Modi's historic COP26 speech</a>

''It's a good harvest this season, the produce is much better than the previous years. It was really less in the last 5-6 years, but this year due to rainfall it is a good harvest. Kashmir saffron is of the best quality and it has a lot of medicinal properties. We are hoping that the government will help us to market the saffron. The GI Tag will help us a lot. The rains are the main factor for the increase in the produce'' says a farmer, Zahoor Ahmad Kuchay.&nbsp;

The farmers have been demanding that the rates of saffron should be revised. With everything becoming expensive in the market and also the process involved in growing and processing saffron, the saffron farmers say the rates need to be increased for them to sustain.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/government-appeals-to-farmers-not-to-hoard-fertilisers-425948" hreflang="en">Government appeals to farmers not to hoard fertilisers</a>

''This year the produce is much better than last year. We are hopeful the market will grow since we have a lot of production this year. The saffron rates are not growing, and we want the government to intervene to increase the rates. It's very expensive to grow saffron and we need the government to revise the rates. We have been demanding it for a long time now&nbsp;'' said Sahil Ahmad Yatoo, Farmer.&nbsp;

The tourists coming to Kashmir Valley are visiting these saffron farms. For some of them, this was their first exposure to saffron farming and they were impressed with the farmers' efforts.&nbsp;

''I am seeing it for the first time. Kashmir is famous for saffron and I am getting happy to see the saffron flowers. It's beautiful and now I see how difficult it is to grow. Salute to the farmers who are growing it. We use it in making desserts, pregnant women have it. It has a lot of nutritional value. '' said Rukesh, Tourist.&nbsp;

The government has also begun GI tagging Kashmir Saffron, which will boost sales of saffron across the world.&nbsp;

After years, the saffron farmers of Kashmir valley are happy. It's a bumper crop this year. The late rains across the Kashmir Valley, have helped the farmers with the best produce after a long time.

After years, the saffron farmers of Kashmir valley are happy. It's a bumper crop this year. The late rains across the Kashmir Valley, have helped the farmers with the best produce after a long time. Farmers associated with saffron are busy plucking the saffron flowers from the fields. Around 3700 hectares of land are being used for the cultivation of the crop. The Pampore area in Pulwama is the main hub, although now the crop is being cultivated across different districts of Kashmir valley as well. Also read | 'LIFE' to 'net zero emissions: Key takeaways from PM Modi's historic COP26 speech ''It's a good harvest this season, the produce is much better than the previous years. It was really less in the last 5-6 years, but this year due to rainfall it is a good harvest. Kashmir saffron is of the best quality and it has a lot of medicinal properties. We are hoping that the government will help us to market the saffron. The GI Tag will help us a lot. The rains are the main factor for the increase in the produce'' says a farmer, Zahoor Ahmad Kuchay. The farmers have been demanding that the rates of saffron should be revised. With everything becoming expensive in the market and also the process involved in growing and processing saffron, the saffron farmers say the rates need to be increased for them to sustain. Also read | Government appeals to farmers not to hoard fertilisers ''This year the produce is much better than last year. We are hopeful the market will grow since we have a lot of production this year. The saffron rates are not growing, and we want the government to intervene to increase the rates. It's very expensive to grow saffron and we need the government to revise the rates. We have been demanding it for a long time now '' said Sahil Ahmad Yatoo, Farmer. The tourists coming to Kashmir Valley are visiting these saffron farms. For some of them, this was their first exposure to saffron farming and they were impressed with the farmers' efforts. ''I am seeing it for the first time. Kashmir is famous for saffron and I am getting happy to see the saffron flowers. It's beautiful and now I see how difficult it is to grow. Salute to the farmers who are growing it. We use it in making desserts, pregnant women have it. It has a lot of nutritional value. '' said Rukesh, Tourist. The government has also begun GI tagging Kashmir Saffron, which will boost sales of saffron across the world.

After years Kashmir sees a bumper harvest of saffron

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