Ghulam Mohammad Zaz's hard work, dedication and love towards his craft have finally paid off. Zaz was awarded the nation's fourth highest civilian award Padma Shri on the 74th Republic Day of India. He is the only artist alive making traditional Kashmiri musical instruments like Santoor, Rabab and Sarangi in Jammu and Kashmir.&nbsp;

Celebrations are on in Ghulam Mohammad Zaz's home after the news came in about Zaz getting India's highest civilian award. The family, friends and neighbours are thronging his residence in the Zaina Kadal area of Srinagar city. He is the eighth generation of makers of musical instruments in the Kashmir region. And he dedicates this award to the previous generations from whom he learnt and carried forward the art.&nbsp;

"It's God's grace and I am highly thankful to the Government for the Award. It has given me a lot of happiness. This award is for those who taught me,7 generations before me in my family have been making these musical Instruments. I am the 8th generation, and I will keep making these instruments. This craft always remained within the family. I did not do this work for money, It was given to me by my forefathers," said Ghulam Mohammad Zaz.&nbsp;

Zaz is famous for making the most unique musical instruments of Kashmir, they have been preferred by some of the best musicians in India. And not only does he make these instruments for artists in India but abroad too.&nbsp;

His musical instruments have been used by musicians in Europe, the United States and the Middle East. Musicians like Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, Bhajan Sopori and many more have performed internationally playing Santoor made by Ghulam Mohammad Zaz.&nbsp;

"Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma and Bhajan Sopori were one of the pioneers of Santoor players in the country. They took it to another level. Their children are keeping the tradition alive. But what their parents did for the instrument is unmatchable. I have been sending these instruments across the world. Artists from Europe play the same instrument in a different way. I am sad that in the future there is no one taking this tradition forward, but I am also hopeful that the art will not die," said Ghulam Mohammad Zaz.&nbsp;

The locality where Zaz lives is celebrating his award. His family and friends are proud that he has been rewarded for his immense hard work and dedication towards the craft for over seven decades. Zaz has three daughters and all of them are extremely proud of their father's work.&nbsp;

"We are extremely proud of Papa. His dedication towards his work has finally been appreciated by the government. I am feeling happy. It's a celebration all over, we have been receiving so many calls and we are very happy and proud," said Ishfaq Ahmad, who is the son-in-law of Zaz.&nbsp;

If the government does not intervene, the art of making these musical instruments may not survive in future.&nbsp;

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Ghulam Mohammad Zaz's hard work, dedication and love towards his craft have finally paid off. Zaz was awarded the nation's fourth highest civilian award Padma Shri on the 74th Republic Day of India.

Ghulam Mohammad Zaz's hard work, dedication and love towards his craft have finally paid off. Zaz was awarded the nation's fourth highest civilian award Padma Shri on the 74th Republic Day of India. He is the only artist alive making traditional Kashmiri musical instruments like Santoor, Rabab and Sarangi in Jammu and Kashmir. Celebrations are on in Ghulam Mohammad Zaz's home after the news came in about Zaz getting India's highest civilian award. The family, friends and neighbours are thronging his residence in the Zaina Kadal area of Srinagar city. He is the eighth generation of makers of musical instruments in the Kashmir region. And he dedicates this award to the previous generations from whom he learnt and carried forward the art. "It's God's grace and I am highly thankful to the Government for the Award. It has given me a lot of happiness. This award is for those who taught me,7 generations before me in my family have been making these musical Instruments. I am the 8th generation, and I will keep making these instruments. This craft always remained within the family. I did not do this work for money, It was given to me by my forefathers," said Ghulam Mohammad Zaz. Zaz is famous for making the most unique musical instruments of Kashmir, they have been preferred by some of the best musicians in India. And not only does he make these instruments for artists in India but abroad too. His musical instruments have been used by musicians in Europe, the United States and the Middle East. Musicians like Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, Bhajan Sopori and many more have performed internationally playing Santoor made by Ghulam Mohammad Zaz. "Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma and Bhajan Sopori were one of the pioneers of Santoor players in the country. They took it to another level. Their children are keeping the tradition alive. But what their parents did for the instrument is unmatchable. I have been sending these instruments across the world. Artists from Europe play the same instrument in a different way. I am sad that in the future there is no one taking this tradition forward, but I am also hopeful that the art will not die," said Ghulam Mohammad Zaz. The locality where Zaz lives is celebrating his award. His family and friends are proud that he has been rewarded for his immense hard work and dedication towards the craft for over seven decades. Zaz has three daughters and all of them are extremely proud of their father's work. "We are extremely proud of Papa. His dedication towards his work has finally been appreciated by the government. I am feeling happy. It's a celebration all over, we have been receiving so many calls and we are very happy and proud," said Ishfaq Ahmad, who is the son-in-law of Zaz. If the government does not intervene, the art of making these musical instruments may not survive in future. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Kashmir's only maker of traditional musical instruments receives Padma Shri on Republic Day

Srinagar witnessed fresh snowfall which has turned pearly white following the spell. Many houses got covered under the blanket of snow. Watch further to know more.

WION Dispatch: Kashmir turns pearly white after heavy snowfall

In the wake of biting cold and harsh weather, a man in India's Jammu and Kashmir took a step to give a warm welcome to the migratory birds, who will fly into the Indian shores from far-off lands in search of some food and warmth.&nbsp;

A Bird Forest Resort has been established exclusively by an ardent bird lover, Mohammad Yasin, to welcome migratory birds at the Dal Lake in Kashmir.&nbsp;

Most flocked by tourists, Kashmir's Dal Lake also becomes a haven for migratory birds that arrive in the city from all over the world.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kashmir-receives-fresh-snowfall-srinagar-jammu-national-highway-closed-554393">Kashmir receives fresh snowfall, Srinagar-Jammu National Highway closed</a>

Yasin said that looking at the Kashmir valley's harsh winter conditions this year, he decided to create the forest resort to welcome the exotic fowls which nest at the touristy Dal Lake every year around this time in search of food and shelter.&nbsp;

While speaking to the news agency ANI, Yasin said, “I was inspired to set up the resort for bids at Dal Lake after watching people feeding birds during my days abroad.”&nbsp;

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Srinagar, J&amp;K| A man has created a bird forest resort to feed migratory birds during harsh winter in Dal lake <a href="https://t.co/7ftr8PJ5mn">pic.twitter.com/7ftr8PJ5mn</a>
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Yasin works as a tour operator and mostly stays in Rajasthan and Delhi to earn his living.&nbsp;

“In the last few years, I got to visit several countries, including Thailand, Indonesia, Switzerland, and Ukraine. During my travels, I would spot different bird species. I also saw locals feeding them at particular spots on a regular basis. It inspired me to set up the resort at Dal Lake,” stated Yasin.

WATCH | Tourism boom in Kashmir: Indian Army helps boost Kashmir tourism

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Yasin, who lives in a houseboat on the Dal Lake, said that every day he feeds the migratory birds two to three times. He added that a major number of birds arrive every day in the marshland present in front of his houseboat.

Yasin added that to reach particular spots where birds are present in huge numbers, he rows his Shikhara, and feeds them every day.&nbsp;

“Since I built this resort, a good number of birds nest in the midst every day, especially in the morning and evening hours. Not only have I realised my true passion in feeding these birds but it also gives me peace of mind,” said Yasin.

“I feel that it is my responsibility to take care of these birds and feed them properly, especially in this harsh winter when they are not finding enough prey or food,” he added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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In the wake of biting cold and harsh weather, a man in India's Jammu and Kashmir took a step to give a warm welcome to the migratory birds, who will fly into the Indian shores from far-off lands in search of some food and warmth.

In the wake of biting cold and harsh weather, a man in India's Jammu and Kashmir took a step to give a warm welcome to the migratory birds, who will fly into the Indian shores from far-off lands in search of some food and warmth. A Bird Forest Resort has been established exclusively by an ardent bird lover, Mohammad Yasin, to welcome migratory birds at the Dal Lake in Kashmir. Most flocked by tourists, Kashmir's Dal Lake also becomes a haven for migratory birds that arrive in the city from all over the world. ALSO READ | Kashmir receives fresh snowfall, Srinagar-Jammu National Highway closed Yasin said that looking at the Kashmir valley's harsh winter conditions this year, he decided to create the forest resort to welcome the exotic fowls which nest at the touristy Dal Lake every year around this time in search of food and shelter. While speaking to the news agency ANI, Yasin said, “I was inspired to set up the resort for bids at Dal Lake after watching people feeding birds during my days abroad.” Srinagar, J&K| A man has created a bird forest resort to feed migratory birds during harsh winter in Dal lake pic.twitter.com/7ftr8PJ5mn — ANI (@ANI) January 20, 2023 × Yasin works as a tour operator and mostly stays in Rajasthan and Delhi to earn his living. “In the last few years, I got to visit several countries, including Thailand, Indonesia, Switzerland, and Ukraine. During my travels, I would spot different bird species. I also saw locals feeding them at particular spots on a regular basis. It inspired me to set up the resort at Dal Lake,” stated Yasin. WATCH | Tourism boom in Kashmir: Indian Army helps boost Kashmir tourism Yasin, who lives in a houseboat on the Dal Lake, said that every day he feeds the migratory birds two to three times. He added that a major number of birds arrive every day in the marshland present in front of his houseboat. Yasin added that to reach particular spots where birds are present in huge numbers, he rows his Shikhara, and feeds them every day. “Since I built this resort, a good number of birds nest in the midst every day, especially in the morning and evening hours. Not only have I realised my true passion in feeding these birds but it also gives me peace of mind,” said Yasin. “I feel that it is my responsibility to take care of these birds and feed them properly, especially in this harsh winter when they are not finding enough prey or food,” he added. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

See Pics | Man sets up resort at Kashmir’s famous Dal Lake for migratory birds

Pak Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan wants to live in peace with India and called for serious and sincere talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on burning issues like Kashmir.

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif wants to resolve 'burning issues like Kashmir'

Security has been beefed up across the Kashmir valley ahead of Republic Day on January 26. Border Security Forces (BSF) Inspector General, Ashok Yadav while interacting with the media said that not only has security been increased in the city but also&nbsp;along the Line of Control (LoC). Vigilance in all the districts of Kashmir valley has been increased and&nbsp; security&nbsp;personnel have been deployed on the ground to keep a check. More barricades have also been put up in several places across the valley.&nbsp;&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/makkis-un-blacklisting-to-help-indias-efforts-to-dismantle-terror-infrastructure-mea-553591">Makki's UN blacklisting to help India's efforts to dismantle terror infrastructure: MEA</a>

“There are two sides to it. One is the Line of Control, whenever there is a national day celebration in India, we beef up the security grid on the LoC. We have also increased patrolling on the borders. A lot of our companies are involved in law and order also and we are very much alert, and we will make sure it goes smoothly,"&nbsp;said Inspector General of BSF, Ashok Yadav.&nbsp;

The Border Security Force had organised a band show under the aegis of the “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” programme. The Brass and Jazz Band of the BSF, Kashmir Frontier displayed a symphony of martial music at Nishat Bagh on the banks of the iconic Dal Lake to spread a message of unity and solidarity among the people of Kashmir valley and to showcase the glorious history of BSF.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/two-terrorists-belonging-to-let-killed-in-budgam-encounter-553422">Jammu and Kashmir: Two terrorists belonging to LeT killed in Budgam encounter</a>

The visitors, tourists, locals and children witnessed and experienced the rich music and skilful play of the BSF Band and enjoyed it. The audience also liked the BSF song “Hum Seema Ke Prahari Hain” played by the Brass and Jazz Band in a wonderful tuning with heart-touching lyrics. IG of BSF Ashok Yadav said that the BSF displayed its band by playing patriotic songs, “There are many people here like locals and tourists. We want to recognise the contribution of every citizen.”

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Security has been beefed up across the Kashmir valley ahead of Republic Day on January 26. Border Security Forces (BSF) Inspector General, Ashok Yadav while interacting with the media said that not only has security been increased in the city but also along the Line of Control (LoC).

Security has been beefed up across the Kashmir valley ahead of Republic Day on January 26. Border Security Forces (BSF) Inspector General, Ashok Yadav while interacting with the media said that not only has security been increased in the city but also along the Line of Control (LoC). Vigilance in all the districts of Kashmir valley has been increased and security personnel have been deployed on the ground to keep a check. More barricades have also been put up in several places across the valley. ALSO READ | Makki's UN blacklisting to help India's efforts to dismantle terror infrastructure: MEA “There are two sides to it. One is the Line of Control, whenever there is a national day celebration in India, we beef up the security grid on the LoC. We have also increased patrolling on the borders. A lot of our companies are involved in law and order also and we are very much alert, and we will make sure it goes smoothly," said Inspector General of BSF, Ashok Yadav. The Border Security Force had organised a band show under the aegis of the “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” programme. The Brass and Jazz Band of the BSF, Kashmir Frontier displayed a symphony of martial music at Nishat Bagh on the banks of the iconic Dal Lake to spread a message of unity and solidarity among the people of Kashmir valley and to showcase the glorious history of BSF. ALSO READ | Jammu and Kashmir: Two terrorists belonging to LeT killed in Budgam encounter The visitors, tourists, locals and children witnessed and experienced the rich music and skilful play of the BSF Band and enjoyed it. The audience also liked the BSF song “Hum Seema Ke Prahari Hain” played by the Brass and Jazz Band in a wonderful tuning with heart-touching lyrics. IG of BSF Ashok Yadav said that the BSF displayed its band by playing patriotic songs, “There are many people here like locals and tourists. We want to recognise the contribution of every citizen.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

India: Security beefed up across Kashmir ahead of Republic Day; LoC on high alert

India's Kashmir has witnessed its season's heaviest snowfall and as many as seven avalanches have been witnessed in the course of the last one week. Watch this report to know more.

WION Climate Tracker: Seven avalanches in a week rock Kashmir valley

The intense snowfall across the Kashmir region not only brought cheer among the people but also misery and disruption to normal life. Kashmir witnessed seven avalanches in one week and thousands of people have been relocated and rescued from the avalanche-prone areas while five people lost their lives.

Kashmir region witnessed this season’s heaviest snowfall, especially over the higher reaches. Central Kashmir's Ganderbal and North Kashmir's Kupwara received around six feet of snow leading to extreme difficulties for the locals living in the area. Sonamarg area in the Ganderbal district witnessed four Avalanches in a week resulting in the deaths of two labourers working for the Zojila tunnel. Over 1100 people have been relocated from the Sonamarg tunnel site while 172 were rescued by the Indian army and local administration after an avalanche hit the project camp for Zojila Tunnel.&nbsp;

“There were around 1100 people located there in those areas. Normally we stop all external work during December. No external work was going on, only tunnel work was going on, we were having 1100 people out of those 300 people were directly involved in tunnel work out of which 800 were just located there, they were not doing any work. After the occurrence of these avalanches, 800 have been sent to their respective home, 300 people were still there who were involved in tunnel work, after the occurrence of second avalanche which took place on Saturday, we sent home 172 people,” said V K Pandey, General Manager NHIDCL.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gulmarg-pahalgam-receives-fresh-snowfall-kashmir-packed-with-tourists-552425">Gulmarg, Pahalgam receives fresh snowfall, Kashmir packed with tourists</a>

The work on the Zojila tunnel has been stopped for two weeks and a decision would be taken after a team of experts who predict the avalanches gives a report of resuming the work. Although the accumulation of snow is around five to six feet which makes it look unlikely that work would be started soon.&nbsp;

“Last year we were working throughout the winter because last year there was no occurrence of avalanches. But this year we have witnessed 4 avalanches, this was more severe. So, we have got the direction from the administration to suspend the work for the time being, till the situation improves. At least work is suspended for next two weeks, we are planning to call the experts who can predict the snow avalanches during the end of January. We will take their advice and then we will resume the work. we have all the precautions to start the work,” said Pandey.&nbsp;

The snow has created havoc for the local population as well. The roads are completely cut off from the rest of the districts, especially in Ganderbal's Sonamarg and North Kashmir's Kupwara, where the accumulation of snow has been around six feet. The majority of people living in these higher reaches have shifted to safer locations and people in the hilly areas have been advised to remain vigilant and not venture out during the nighttime.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kashmirs-fresh-snowfall-disrupts-national-highways-air-traffic-552380">Fresh snowfall in Kashmir disrupts traffic on national highway, affects flights' schedule</a>

These villages in the Ganderbal district are facing a shortage of electricity, water supply and road connectivity. The people are asking the government to open the roads so that the needy and sick people in these villages can be taken to hospitals without any hassle. &nbsp;

“We have a lot of problems in the area, the roads are completely cut off due to snow, issues of electricity and water supply, and there is no ambulance service nor the hospital. The roads have not been cleared as we have more than two feet of snow. We have to shift our sick people more than 20 km to reach a hospital or doctor. Sonamarg villages have been relocated. Due to the danger of avalanches, all those people have been taken out of those places. Electricity is also an issue with hefty electricity bills,” said Irfan Ahmad, a local resident of Gagangir Sonamarg.&nbsp;

The locals from these areas have demanded the government to open all the roads cut off due to heavy snowfall in higher reaches. The power cuts in these areas are longer than eight hours a day and some people said that they can’t even charge their phones.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/two-terrorists-belonging-to-let-killed-in-budgam-encounter-553422">Two terrorists belonging to LeT killed in Budgam encounter</a>

“We have a lot of problems due to the fresh snowfall. The roads are not cleared, there is no electricity, and there should be a hospital close by where we can take our sick people. The main concern is road connectivity, Our hospital is 10 km away and we can't move on the roads as they are covered with snow. Government has issued a warning to not venture out in the area, but we only come when we desperately need to, like taking sick people to hospital. If the roads were cleared it would be easy. We also lose our employment due to heavy snowfall. We hardly get electricity to even charge our mobile phones. There is no fire service either. They are over 25 km away,” said Ishfaq Ahmad, a local resident of Gagangir Sonamarg.&nbsp;

The government of Jammu and Kashmir has issued an avalanche warning across the ten districts of the Union Territory. People living in higher reaches have been advised to stay alert. The MeT has predicted another wet spell from January 18 to 25. However, there would be moderate to heavy snowfall from January 24 to January 25. Additionally, keeping in view the snow accumulation and prediction, Jammu and Kashmir along Ladakh have been put on high alert. Hence, the rescue teams have been kept on stand-by to meet any untoward incidents in these areas.&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

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The intense snowfall across the Kashmir region not only brought cheer among the people but also misery and disruption to normal life. Kashmir witnessed seven avalanches in one week and thousands of people have been relocated and rescued from the avalanche-prone areas while five people lost their lives.

The intense snowfall across the Kashmir region not only brought cheer among the people but also misery and disruption to normal life. Kashmir witnessed seven avalanches in one week and thousands of people have been relocated and rescued from the avalanche-prone areas while five people lost their lives. Kashmir region witnessed this season’s heaviest snowfall, especially over the higher reaches. Central Kashmir's Ganderbal and North Kashmir's Kupwara received around six feet of snow leading to extreme difficulties for the locals living in the area. Sonamarg area in the Ganderbal district witnessed four Avalanches in a week resulting in the deaths of two labourers working for the Zojila tunnel. Over 1100 people have been relocated from the Sonamarg tunnel site while 172 were rescued by the Indian army and local administration after an avalanche hit the project camp for Zojila Tunnel. “There were around 1100 people located there in those areas. Normally we stop all external work during December. No external work was going on, only tunnel work was going on, we were having 1100 people out of those 300 people were directly involved in tunnel work out of which 800 were just located there, they were not doing any work. After the occurrence of these avalanches, 800 have been sent to their respective home, 300 people were still there who were involved in tunnel work, after the occurrence of second avalanche which took place on Saturday, we sent home 172 people,” said V K Pandey, General Manager NHIDCL. ALSO WATCH | Gulmarg, Pahalgam receives fresh snowfall, Kashmir packed with tourists The work on the Zojila tunnel has been stopped for two weeks and a decision would be taken after a team of experts who predict the avalanches gives a report of resuming the work. Although the accumulation of snow is around five to six feet which makes it look unlikely that work would be started soon. “Last year we were working throughout the winter because last year there was no occurrence of avalanches. But this year we have witnessed 4 avalanches, this was more severe. So, we have got the direction from the administration to suspend the work for the time being, till the situation improves. At least work is suspended for next two weeks, we are planning to call the experts who can predict the snow avalanches during the end of January. We will take their advice and then we will resume the work. we have all the precautions to start the work,” said Pandey. The snow has created havoc for the local population as well. The roads are completely cut off from the rest of the districts, especially in Ganderbal's Sonamarg and North Kashmir's Kupwara, where the accumulation of snow has been around six feet. The majority of people living in these higher reaches have shifted to safer locations and people in the hilly areas have been advised to remain vigilant and not venture out during the nighttime. ALSO READ | Fresh snowfall in Kashmir disrupts traffic on national highway, affects flights' schedule These villages in the Ganderbal district are facing a shortage of electricity, water supply and road connectivity. The people are asking the government to open the roads so that the needy and sick people in these villages can be taken to hospitals without any hassle. “We have a lot of problems in the area, the roads are completely cut off due to snow, issues of electricity and water supply, and there is no ambulance service nor the hospital. The roads have not been cleared as we have more than two feet of snow. We have to shift our sick people more than 20 km to reach a hospital or doctor. Sonamarg villages have been relocated. Due to the danger of avalanches, all those people have been taken out of those places. Electricity is also an issue with hefty electricity bills,” said Irfan Ahmad, a local resident of Gagangir Sonamarg. The locals from these areas have demanded the government to open all the roads cut off due to heavy snowfall in higher reaches. The power cuts in these areas are longer than eight hours a day and some people said that they can’t even charge their phones. ALSO READ | Two terrorists belonging to LeT killed in Budgam encounter “We have a lot of problems due to the fresh snowfall. The roads are not cleared, there is no electricity, and there should be a hospital close by where we can take our sick people. The main concern is road connectivity, Our hospital is 10 km away and we can't move on the roads as they are covered with snow. Government has issued a warning to not venture out in the area, but we only come when we desperately need to, like taking sick people to hospital. If the roads were cleared it would be easy. We also lose our employment due to heavy snowfall. We hardly get electricity to even charge our mobile phones. There is no fire service either. They are over 25 km away,” said Ishfaq Ahmad, a local resident of Gagangir Sonamarg. The government of Jammu and Kashmir has issued an avalanche warning across the ten districts of the Union Territory. People living in higher reaches have been advised to stay alert. The MeT has predicted another wet spell from January 18 to 25. However, there would be moderate to heavy snowfall from January 24 to January 25. Additionally, keeping in view the snow accumulation and prediction, Jammu and Kashmir along Ladakh have been put on high alert. Hence, the rescue teams have been kept on stand-by to meet any untoward incidents in these areas. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Over 1100 people rescued, relocated from avalanche prone areas in Kashmir. MeT predicts more snow after Jan 18

Kashmir Valley witnessed a fresh spell of Snowfall across various districts. Tourist resorts like Gulmarg and Pahalgam received a fresh snow and thousands of tourists thronged the hill stations.

Gulmarg, Pahalgam receives fresh snowfall, Kashmir packed with tourists

WION Dispatch: Gulmarg, Pahalgam receives fresh snowfall, Kashmir packed with tourists

Fresh snowfall disrupted normal life across the region of Kashmir as the majority of flights got cancelled from the Srinagar airport and national highways were blocked.&nbsp;The Srinagar Jammu National highway, which connects the valley to the rest of India, was closed in the wake of continuous snowing in areas like Qazigund and Banihal. The snowfall in Srinagar also affected air traffic, leading to the cancellation of the majority of flights at Srinagar airport.

“The weather conditions would improve in the next few hours in the plains. And we are expecting the weather to be dry from January 14 till January 18. It will be followed by a fresh western disturbance affecting the weather in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. There is a possibility of light to moderate snowfall at most places of Kashmir on January 23 as another western disturbance is affecting J&amp;K on the particular date,”&nbsp;Deputy Director Meteorological Department Mukhtar Ahmad said.

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tourists-cheer-kashmirs-latest-snowfall-as-dream-sequence-from-a-movie-552007">Tourists cheer Kashmir's latest snowfall as 'dream sequence from a movie'</a>

According to the Meteorological (MeT) department, most of the areas across the Kashmir region witnessed snowfall and accumulation of snow was reported in various areas.

A Met official gave the figures for the scale and concurrent status of snowfall across Kashmir as follows:

<ul>
	<li>Srinagar: 2cm.. Snowing</li>
	<li>Pahalgam: 28cm..Overcast</li>
	<li>Kokernag: 23cm.. Snowing</li>
	<li>Qazigund: 10cm.. Snowing</li>
	<li>Kupwara: &nbsp;5cm.. Snowfall just started</li>
	<li>Bhadarwah: 2cm.. Light Rain</li>
	<li>Batote: 2.7cm.. Snowing</li>
	<li>Jammu: 5.6 mm.. Cloudy</li>
	<li>Katra: &nbsp;19mm.. Overcast</li>
</ul>

The MeT has predicted that the same weather is likely to continue till evening. Officials said that there is no heavy snowfall prediction for plain areas of the valley including Srinagar.

WATCH|&nbsp;Gravitas Plus: The genesis of Kashmir issue

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The Jammu and Kashmir government has issued an avalanche warning for all the higher reaches in North and Central Kashmir. The people living in these areas have been asked not to venture into the hilly areas.

Pertinently five people, including three army personnel and two labourers, lost their lives during the last two days in Kashmir valley due to snow and avalanches.

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Fresh snowfall disrupted normal life across the region of Kashmir as the majority of flights got cancelled from the Srinagar airport and national highways were blocked.

Fresh snowfall disrupted normal life across the region of Kashmir as the majority of flights got cancelled from the Srinagar airport and national highways were blocked. The Srinagar Jammu National highway, which connects the valley to the rest of India, was closed in the wake of continuous snowing in areas like Qazigund and Banihal. The snowfall in Srinagar also affected air traffic, leading to the cancellation of the majority of flights at Srinagar airport. “The weather conditions would improve in the next few hours in the plains. And we are expecting the weather to be dry from January 14 till January 18. It will be followed by a fresh western disturbance affecting the weather in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. There is a possibility of light to moderate snowfall at most places of Kashmir on January 23 as another western disturbance is affecting J&K on the particular date,” Deputy Director Meteorological Department Mukhtar Ahmad said. ALSO READ| Tourists cheer Kashmir's latest snowfall as 'dream sequence from a movie' According to the Meteorological (MeT) department, most of the areas across the Kashmir region witnessed snowfall and accumulation of snow was reported in various areas. A Met official gave the figures for the scale and concurrent status of snowfall across Kashmir as follows: Srinagar: 2cm.. Snowing Pahalgam: 28cm..Overcast Kokernag: 23cm.. Snowing Qazigund: 10cm.. Snowing Kupwara: 5cm.. Snowfall just started Bhadarwah: 2cm.. Light Rain Batote: 2.7cm.. Snowing Jammu: 5.6 mm.. Cloudy Katra: 19mm.. Overcast The MeT has predicted that the same weather is likely to continue till evening. Officials said that there is no heavy snowfall prediction for plain areas of the valley including Srinagar. WATCH| Gravitas Plus: The genesis of Kashmir issue The Jammu and Kashmir government has issued an avalanche warning for all the higher reaches in North and Central Kashmir. The people living in these areas have been asked not to venture into the hilly areas. Pertinently five people, including three army personnel and two labourers, lost their lives during the last two days in Kashmir valley due to snow and avalanches.

Fresh snowfall in Kashmir disrupts traffic on national highway, affects flights' schedule

Kashmir Valley witnessed fresh spell of snowfall across various districts. Resorts hosting tourists at places such as&nbsp;Gulmarg and Pahalgam also received fresh spells of snowfall, attracting thousands of tourists to Kashmir's picturesque&nbsp;hill stations. All the hotels and guest houses are completely booked for the next few weeks. Tourism&nbsp;stakeholders say the more the snow, the better the tourism would be.&nbsp;

Tourists were enjoying the snowfall in Gulmarg region where more than one foot of snow accumulated since yesterday.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/kashmir-receives-seasons-first-major-snowfall-in-pictures-531911">Kashmir receives seasons first major snowfall - In pictures</a>

"It is the paradise on earth, we had only come to see snowfall and our dream has come true. The falling snow looks like a dream sequence from a movie. We are definitely lucky to witness these beautiful visuals," said Nitesh Kumar, a tourist.&nbsp;

The weather&nbsp;department has predicted weather to remain same for the next two days. Snowfall and rains are expected again in the higher reaches of the Kashmir Valley.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/jammu-kashmir-with-fresh-snowfall-tourist-destinations-like-gulmarg-pahalgam-look-spectacular-440177">Jammu &amp; Kashmir: With fresh snowfall tourist destinations like Gulmarg, Pahalgam look spectacular</a>

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"I have directly come to the paradise. This is my first time to see&nbsp;snowfall and I am yet to believe if it's true. Gulmarg is better than Switzerland and I would ask everyone to come to Kashmir in this season. It looks extremely dreamy and beautiful, " said Ashwini Kadam, another tourist visiting Kashmir.&nbsp;

While the tourists enjoy the snowfall, it isn't that much of a good news to&nbsp;the local people of the valley.

At present, all the surface roads remain cut off due to the snowfall in the north and central Kashmir.

The Srinagar-Leh, Srinagar Mughal road, Srinagar-Keran, Bandipora-Gurez roads have been closed due to snowfall in the region.&nbsp;

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Kashmir Valley witnessed fresh spell of snowfall across various districts. Resorts hosting tourists at places such as Gulmarg and Pahalgam also received fresh spells of snowfall, attracting thousands of tourists to Kashmir's picturesque hill stations.

Kashmir Valley witnessed fresh spell of snowfall across various districts. Resorts hosting tourists at places such as Gulmarg and Pahalgam also received fresh spells of snowfall, attracting thousands of tourists to Kashmir's picturesque hill stations. All the hotels and guest houses are completely booked for the next few weeks. Tourism stakeholders say the more the snow, the better the tourism would be. Tourists were enjoying the snowfall in Gulmarg region where more than one foot of snow accumulated since yesterday. ALSO READ | Kashmir receives seasons first major snowfall - In pictures "It is the paradise on earth, we had only come to see snowfall and our dream has come true. The falling snow looks like a dream sequence from a movie. We are definitely lucky to witness these beautiful visuals," said Nitesh Kumar, a tourist. The weather department has predicted weather to remain same for the next two days. Snowfall and rains are expected again in the higher reaches of the Kashmir Valley. ALSO WATCH | Jammu & Kashmir: With fresh snowfall tourist destinations like Gulmarg, Pahalgam look spectacular × "I have directly come to the paradise. This is my first time to see snowfall and I am yet to believe if it's true. Gulmarg is better than Switzerland and I would ask everyone to come to Kashmir in this season. It looks extremely dreamy and beautiful, " said Ashwini Kadam, another tourist visiting Kashmir. While the tourists enjoy the snowfall, it isn't that much of a good news to the local people of the valley. At present, all the surface roads remain cut off due to the snowfall in the north and central Kashmir. The Srinagar-Leh, Srinagar Mughal road, Srinagar-Keran, Bandipora-Gurez roads have been closed due to snowfall in the region. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Tourists cheer Kashmir's latest snowfall as 'dream sequence from a movie'

One person died and another one is missing after an avalanche hit Baltal area in Sonamarg of Central Kashmir’s district Ganderbal district. The dead body of a labourer was recovered after a rescue operation by the Indian army and local administration.&nbsp;The avalanche hit the area early morning on Thursday after which a rescue operation was launched, the operation still continues as one person is still missing in the area. 
 
The body of the labourer working with the Zojila tunnel project was recovered under snow in the Sarbal area of Sonamarg hours after the avalanche hit the area.&nbsp;

"We were earlier told that there was no one in the area when the avalanche hit, but at around 2pm (local time), we were told that two missing people are missing in the area. We started the rescue operation and recovered a body of a labourer identified as Sandeep Kumar. There is one more person missing identified as Pal Krishan. The rescue operation is on by Indian Army and administration. All other labourers are safe," said ADC Ganderbal, Jammu Kashmir government.&nbsp;

The Jammu and Kashmir government has kept medical teams on standby in the area as the search for another person still continues. Notably, two avalanches were reported in the Hangh and Sarbal areas of Ganderbal district.&nbsp;

Earlier, three army soldiers including a JCO were killed when they slipped on the snow track near LOC in Machil sector of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district.&nbsp;

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One person died and another one is missing after an avalanche hit Baltal area in Sonamarg of Central Kashmir’s district Ganderbal district. The dead body of a labourer was recovered after a rescue operation by the Indian army and local administration.

One person died and another one is missing after an avalanche hit Baltal area in Sonamarg of Central Kashmir’s district Ganderbal district. The dead body of a labourer was recovered after a rescue operation by the Indian army and local administration. The avalanche hit the area early morning on Thursday after which a rescue operation was launched, the operation still continues as one person is still missing in the area. The body of the labourer working with the Zojila tunnel project was recovered under snow in the Sarbal area of Sonamarg hours after the avalanche hit the area. "We were earlier told that there was no one in the area when the avalanche hit, but at around 2pm (local time), we were told that two missing people are missing in the area. We started the rescue operation and recovered a body of a labourer identified as Sandeep Kumar. There is one more person missing identified as Pal Krishan. The rescue operation is on by Indian Army and administration. All other labourers are safe," said ADC Ganderbal, Jammu Kashmir government. The Jammu and Kashmir government has kept medical teams on standby in the area as the search for another person still continues. Notably, two avalanches were reported in the Hangh and Sarbal areas of Ganderbal district. Earlier, three army soldiers including a JCO were killed when they slipped on the snow track near LOC in Machil sector of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

At least one dead in avalanche at Ganderbal in Kashmir, rescue operations underway

In a far-flung area in South Kashmir's Anantnag district, these villagers saw electricity for the first time since India's independence. The people of the tribal area in Tethan, Dooru of Anantnag district witnessed the lighting of electric bulbs under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Har Ghar Bijli Yojna" for the first time ever.&nbsp;

The whole village was filled with joy when the first bulb was illuminated by the Power Development Department employees. Locals started dancing and singing around the transformers placed in the villages. And there was no end to their happiness.&nbsp;

"We have seen electricity for the first time ever. It's a very happy moment for all of us. The children are happy and would be able to study at ease. It was very difficult for them to live without electricity. They used to study under the burning torch. We are thankful to the electricity department employees for the exemplary work," said Fazal Din, a resident, of Dooru, Tetha, Anantnag.&nbsp;

The village was provided electricity under the Pradhan Mantri developmental programme "Har Ghar Bijli Yojana" which targets to illuminate every village house in the country. It was launched by PM Modi in 2019. Two main transformers with around 38 HT poles and 57 LT Poles have been placed in the Tethan village.&nbsp;

"It is a very hilly village and we have managed to provide electricity for these villagers for the first time. It was due to the schemes and efforts by the government to work so hard to provide these villagers with electricity. As these areas have no road access so we had to carry the material ourselves to install in these places," said Fayaz Ahmad, who is in the electric department.&nbsp;

The efforts made by the government to provide electricity for these far-flung areas have been appreciated by everyone in the Union Territory. The Power Development Department has been working extensively to provide electricity to areas still living in darkness.&nbsp;

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In a far-flung area in South Kashmir's Anantnag district, these villagers saw electricity for the first time since India's independence. The people of the tribal area in Tethan, Dooru of Anantnag district witnessed the lighting of electric bulbs under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Har Ghar Bijli Yojna" for the first time ever.

In a far-flung area in South Kashmir's Anantnag district, these villagers saw electricity for the first time since India's independence. The people of the tribal area in Tethan, Dooru of Anantnag district witnessed the lighting of electric bulbs under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Har Ghar Bijli Yojna" for the first time ever. The whole village was filled with joy when the first bulb was illuminated by the Power Development Department employees. Locals started dancing and singing around the transformers placed in the villages. And there was no end to their happiness. "We have seen electricity for the first time ever. It's a very happy moment for all of us. The children are happy and would be able to study at ease. It was very difficult for them to live without electricity. They used to study under the burning torch. We are thankful to the electricity department employees for the exemplary work," said Fazal Din, a resident, of Dooru, Tetha, Anantnag. The village was provided electricity under the Pradhan Mantri developmental programme "Har Ghar Bijli Yojana" which targets to illuminate every village house in the country. It was launched by PM Modi in 2019. Two main transformers with around 38 HT poles and 57 LT Poles have been placed in the Tethan village. "It is a very hilly village and we have managed to provide electricity for these villagers for the first time. It was due to the schemes and efforts by the government to work so hard to provide these villagers with electricity. As these areas have no road access so we had to carry the material ourselves to install in these places," said Fayaz Ahmad, who is in the electric department. The efforts made by the government to provide electricity for these far-flung areas have been appreciated by everyone in the Union Territory. The Power Development Department has been working extensively to provide electricity to areas still living in darkness. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Kashmir village gets electricity for the first time after India’s Independence

With the onset of the winter season, India's Kashmir Valley is witnessing a huge increase in tourist arrival. And this time, it's not only the ski resort in Gulmarg which is fully packed but also other destinations like the Pahalgam and Dal lake where almost all the hotels and houseboats are booked for the entire season.&nbsp;

The ski resort Gulmarg is called the winter wonderland of India and with snow-clad mountains, thousands of tourists are thronging the resort. All the hotels and guest houses are completely booked. On new year's, a lot of tourists and locals had to return from Gulmarg as there was no space available in any hotels or cottages. However, it's not only Gulmarg but tourist resorts like Pahalgam and the world-famous Dal Lake in Srinagar where thousands of tourists are also staying.&nbsp;

"We have great expectations from the winter season. Gulmarg is packed but traditionally Gulmarg has always been a winter destination. And now we are seeing tourists heading to other destinations like Pahalgam, Doodhpathri, Yousmarg and Sonamarg. We have winter activities there as well. We are promoting winter tourism because we have people who want to experience snow. It is not only Gulmarg but many such destinations that the government has added to the list. We have winter treks in Naranag, Marjoi, for people interested in adventure travel. Lots more to explore and see in Kashmir. We are getting a lot of queries for other destinations. We have a very aggressive publicity plan, and we are showcasing Kashmir globally as well," said Deeba Khalid, who is the deputy director of tourism.&nbsp;

The houseboats on Dal Lake during the freezing temperatures used to be empty but for the first time this year, the houseboats are fully booked as well. The temperatures have touched below minus six degrees and parts of the lake have frozen, and to witness these breathtaking visuals, tourists are staying in the houseboats on Dal Lake.&nbsp;

"It's the most beautiful place, the winter is something else, the frost, the frozen Dal lake. I don't think that experience can be replaced. It's absolutely stunning. From minus 2 to we are going to minus 17 to Sonamarg. We are excited it's my first time seeing snow and I wanted it to happen in India. Everyone should come here for tourism. Kashmir has won my heart. I have seen a lot of tourists. They opened tourism in January and it's nice to know," said Monita, a tourist.&nbsp;

Kashmir has been facing harsh winter conditions and to witness extreme cold, tourists are enjoying the frozen Dal Lake.&nbsp;

"Kashmir is called heaven on earth and it's a paradise and I agree with the saying. You can never have enough of this place. I had a fascination for snowfall, and I wanted winter to come in winter. In Gulmarg and Pahalgam, it looked like a picture to me. They have done a great job while hosting tourists in the winter during freezing temperatures," said Upasna Das Gupta, another tourist.&nbsp;

The tourist stakeholders in the valley are hoping that the way all records of tourism arrival were broken in the summer, the winter will see a huge rush as well.&nbsp;

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With the onset of the winter season, India's Kashmir Valley is witnessing a huge increase in tourist arrival. And this time, it's not only the ski resort in Gulmarg which is fully packed but also other destinations like the Pahalgam and Dal lake where almost all the hotels and houseboats are booked for the entire season.

With the onset of the winter season, India's Kashmir Valley is witnessing a huge increase in tourist arrival. And this time, it's not only the ski resort in Gulmarg which is fully packed but also other destinations like the Pahalgam and Dal lake where almost all the hotels and houseboats are booked for the entire season. The ski resort Gulmarg is called the winter wonderland of India and with snow-clad mountains, thousands of tourists are thronging the resort. All the hotels and guest houses are completely booked. On new year's, a lot of tourists and locals had to return from Gulmarg as there was no space available in any hotels or cottages. However, it's not only Gulmarg but tourist resorts like Pahalgam and the world-famous Dal Lake in Srinagar where thousands of tourists are also staying. "We have great expectations from the winter season. Gulmarg is packed but traditionally Gulmarg has always been a winter destination. And now we are seeing tourists heading to other destinations like Pahalgam, Doodhpathri, Yousmarg and Sonamarg. We have winter activities there as well. We are promoting winter tourism because we have people who want to experience snow. It is not only Gulmarg but many such destinations that the government has added to the list. We have winter treks in Naranag, Marjoi, for people interested in adventure travel. Lots more to explore and see in Kashmir. We are getting a lot of queries for other destinations. We have a very aggressive publicity plan, and we are showcasing Kashmir globally as well," said Deeba Khalid, who is the deputy director of tourism. The houseboats on Dal Lake during the freezing temperatures used to be empty but for the first time this year, the houseboats are fully booked as well. The temperatures have touched below minus six degrees and parts of the lake have frozen, and to witness these breathtaking visuals, tourists are staying in the houseboats on Dal Lake. "It's the most beautiful place, the winter is something else, the frost, the frozen Dal lake. I don't think that experience can be replaced. It's absolutely stunning. From minus 2 to we are going to minus 17 to Sonamarg. We are excited it's my first time seeing snow and I wanted it to happen in India. Everyone should come here for tourism. Kashmir has won my heart. I have seen a lot of tourists. They opened tourism in January and it's nice to know," said Monita, a tourist. Kashmir has been facing harsh winter conditions and to witness extreme cold, tourists are enjoying the frozen Dal Lake. "Kashmir is called heaven on earth and it's a paradise and I agree with the saying. You can never have enough of this place. I had a fascination for snowfall, and I wanted winter to come in winter. In Gulmarg and Pahalgam, it looked like a picture to me. They have done a great job while hosting tourists in the winter during freezing temperatures," said Upasna Das Gupta, another tourist. The tourist stakeholders in the valley are hoping that the way all records of tourism arrival were broken in the summer, the winter will see a huge rush as well. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Kashmir tourism peaks in winter, stakeholders expect record-breaking tourist arrivals

India has blasted Pakistan over Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto's provocative comments on Kashmir. Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson of India's Ministry of External Affairs, said on Thursday (January 5), that India has several times reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir is an "inalienable and integral" part of the country. Bagchi was responding to a query on Sharif&nbsp;writing&nbsp;on his official Twitter handle that "peace" and "development" in South Asia are linked to the resolution of the "Kashmir dispute".&nbsp;

From a rise in terrorism to&nbsp;economic challenges, Pakistan is facing multiple crises currently, and instead of focusing on his nation's dire situation, the Pakistani prime minister said that India "must reverse" its actions of August 5, referring to the revocation of the special status of J&amp;K, which took place in 2019 following the removal of Article 370 and Article 35A.&nbsp;

During a press briefing, Bagchi said, "We've reiterated multiple times that J&amp;K is an inalienable and integral part of India. Article 370 is entirely a matter of India as well as our Constitution and it's a sovereign matter. We don't see what their locus is on this and so such interference does not help at all and it does not succeed."&nbsp;

Watch his address here:&nbsp;

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This is not the first time when Pakistan leadership has tried to wade into Kashmir issue, Shehbaz had also launched an anti-India tirade at the 77th session of UNGA last year when he was urging for help after the unprecedented floods in Pakistan and their disastrous impact on the residents.&nbsp;

But he then switched to Kashmir and said that "sustainable peace and stability in South Asia, however, remains contingent upon a just and lasting solution to Jammu &amp; Kashmir dispute."

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India has blasted Pakistan over Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto's provocative comments on Kashmir. Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson of India's Ministry of External Affairs, said on Thursday (January 5), that India has several times reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir is an "inalienable and integral" part of the country.

India has blasted Pakistan over Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto's provocative comments on Kashmir. Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson of India's Ministry of External Affairs, said on Thursday (January 5), that India has several times reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir is an "inalienable and integral" part of the country. Bagchi was responding to a query on Sharif writing on his official Twitter handle that "peace" and "development" in South Asia are linked to the resolution of the "Kashmir dispute". From a rise in terrorism to economic challenges, Pakistan is facing multiple crises currently, and instead of focusing on his nation's dire situation, the Pakistani prime minister said that India "must reverse" its actions of August 5, referring to the revocation of the special status of J&K, which took place in 2019 following the removal of Article 370 and Article 35A. During a press briefing, Bagchi said, "We've reiterated multiple times that J&K is an inalienable and integral part of India. Article 370 is entirely a matter of India as well as our Constitution and it's a sovereign matter. We don't see what their locus is on this and so such interference does not help at all and it does not succeed." Watch his address here: × This is not the first time when Pakistan leadership has tried to wade into Kashmir issue, Shehbaz had also launched an anti-India tirade at the 77th session of UNGA last year when he was urging for help after the unprecedented floods in Pakistan and their disastrous impact on the residents. But he then switched to Kashmir and said that "sustainable peace and stability in South Asia, however, remains contingent upon a just and lasting solution to Jammu & Kashmir dispute." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

WATCH: India slams Pakistan over PM Shehbaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto's remarks on Kashmir

The union territory of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed multiple terror attacks at the beginning of the new year. Six civilians were killed and ten injured in the twin attacks at the Dangri Village of Rajouri district. In an IED blast earlier today, two children were killed while four more were injured at the same location where the terrorists attacked yesterday.

WION Dispatch | Jammu: Two child killed, several injured in blast in Rajouri region

The mountains on the Line of Control (LOC) in north Kashmir are completely covered in 5-12 feet of snow with wind speeds reaching around 80kmph. In these harsh conditions, the high morale of BSF soldiers to serve the nation keep them ready to face any difficulty.

Indian BSF stand guard at LOC under harsh weather conditions

Jammu and Kashmir is expanding itself in terms of setting up start-ups. The start-ups are focusing to deliver across Jammu and Kashmir and even reaches to the far-off places. Watch further to know more.

Jammu and Kashmir witness an increase in start-ups

The union territory of Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a huge increase in the number of start-ups by the youth of the Kashmir Valley.

WION Pulse: Rise in number of start-ups in the Kashmir valley

Kashmir region is facing harsh winter conditions as the mercury across the Valley has plummeted in the&nbsp;minus degrees range. The world-famous Dal Lake froze after Srinagar recorded the season's coldest night at minus 5.5&nbsp;degree&nbsp;Celsius. The coldest area in the Kashmir region was in South Kashmir’s Awantipora at minus 7.8&nbsp;degree&nbsp;Celsius.&nbsp;

Chilla-I-Kalan, the coldest period of the season, starts on December 21 and lasts for 40 days. And on the second day of the Chillai Kalan, Valley witnessed the lowest temperature of the season. The famous tourist resort Pahalgam recorded a temperature at minus 6.8&nbsp;degree&nbsp; Celsius. While the famous Ski Resort Gulmarg recorded a temperature of minus 5.1 degree&nbsp; Celsius.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ima-advises-people-to-mask-up-go-back-tp-practicing-other-covid-protocols-545449">IMA advises people to mask up, go back to practicing other Covid protocols</a>

The temperatures at places like Qazigund in South Kashmir was recorded at minus 4.4 degree&nbsp;Celsius. The Kokernag area recorded the temperature at minus 3.3 degree&nbsp;Celsius. The Met Department said that Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded the temperature at minus 5.1 degree Celsius. &nbsp;

Ladakh region is also witnessing the harshest cold period. The temperature at Leh was recorded at minus 12.0 degree&nbsp;Celsius. While Kargil was at minus 12.8 degree&nbsp;Celsius. The lowest temperature in Ladakh was at Drass with a temperature recorded at minus 18.4 degree&nbsp;Celsius. The coldest of the season so far.&nbsp;

Also watch | WION Climate Tracker: Animals dying in droves due to drought in Kenya

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The Met Department has predicted the temperatures to drop further in the coming days as the weather is said to remain dry till the end of this month.&nbsp;

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Kashmir region is facing harsh winter conditions as the mercury across the Valley has plummeted in the minus degrees range. The world-famous Dal Lake froze after Srinagar recorded the season's coldest night at minus 5.

Kashmir region is facing harsh winter conditions as the mercury across the Valley has plummeted in the minus degrees range. The world-famous Dal Lake froze after Srinagar recorded the season's coldest night at minus 5.5 degree Celsius. The coldest area in the Kashmir region was in South Kashmir’s Awantipora at minus 7.8 degree Celsius. Chilla-I-Kalan, the coldest period of the season, starts on December 21 and lasts for 40 days. And on the second day of the Chillai Kalan, Valley witnessed the lowest temperature of the season. The famous tourist resort Pahalgam recorded a temperature at minus 6.8 degree Celsius. While the famous Ski Resort Gulmarg recorded a temperature of minus 5.1 degree Celsius. Also read | IMA advises people to mask up, go back to practicing other Covid protocols The temperatures at places like Qazigund in South Kashmir was recorded at minus 4.4 degree Celsius. The Kokernag area recorded the temperature at minus 3.3 degree Celsius. The Met Department said that Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded the temperature at minus 5.1 degree Celsius. Ladakh region is also witnessing the harshest cold period. The temperature at Leh was recorded at minus 12.0 degree Celsius. While Kargil was at minus 12.8 degree Celsius. The lowest temperature in Ladakh was at Drass with a temperature recorded at minus 18.4 degree Celsius. The coldest of the season so far. Also watch | WION Climate Tracker: Animals dying in droves due to drought in Kenya The Met Department has predicted the temperatures to drop further in the coming days as the weather is said to remain dry till the end of this month. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Kashmir: Temperature hits new low of the season at minus 5.5°C; Dal Lake freezes

The Jammu and Kashmir Police have claimed to have solved all target killings in the Valley. All the terrorists involved in the target killings of civilians have been killed in various encounters, said DG Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbagh Singh. He further added that Infiltration from across the border has been brought down to zero with a tight vigil on the LoC and International Border.

The Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh was on a visit to South Kashmir's Pulwama district. While talking about the target killings in Kashmir, DG Police said that '' Almost all the cases related to target killings have been solved. Target killing is a big conspiracy from across the border, The ISI of Pakistan is involved in it. They don't&nbsp;wish for peace in the Valley. Kashmiri people stand with peace. Almost all cases are solved and only one or two are left we have identified&nbsp;the people involved and will be solved very soon.&nbsp;

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On the cross-border Infiltration, Police DG said that all arrangements have been put in place to foil any attempts of infiltration. '' The border security is effective, and we have managed to bring down infiltration to a large extent. There were some incidents in between where infiltrators were killed on the border only and some incidents where they managed to infiltrate and most of these terrorists were neutralized as well. Some may be alive and soon will be killed too. security grid has been tightened for the winter period, '' said Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh.&nbsp;

Jammu and Kashmir Police also are focussing on the Narco Terror in the valley. There have many huge drug consignments recovered in various operations in the Valley. ''A huge number of cases have been registered against drug peddlers and more than 2000 persons have been arrested in different drug-related cases. Most of them have been slapped with PSA and strict action against them will be taken. Earlier people were killed with bullets but now people are being killed with drugs here as whosoever uses it once searches for it again and again. There are attempts of dropping narcotics with the help of drones in the Jammu region from across the border. We are making every effort to curb the menace,'' said Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh.&nbsp;

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The Jammu and Kashmir Police have claimed to have solved all target killings in the Valley. All the terrorists involved in the target killings of civilians have been killed in various encounters, said DG Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbagh Singh.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police have claimed to have solved all target killings in the Valley. All the terrorists involved in the target killings of civilians have been killed in various encounters, said DG Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbagh Singh. He further added that Infiltration from across the border has been brought down to zero with a tight vigil on the LoC and International Border. The Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh was on a visit to South Kashmir's Pulwama district. While talking about the target killings in Kashmir, DG Police said that '' Almost all the cases related to target killings have been solved. Target killing is a big conspiracy from across the border, The ISI of Pakistan is involved in it. They don't wish for peace in the Valley. Kashmiri people stand with peace. Almost all cases are solved and only one or two are left we have identified the people involved and will be solved very soon. Also read | Russia to continue improving combat readiness of nuclear forces, says Putin On the cross-border Infiltration, Police DG said that all arrangements have been put in place to foil any attempts of infiltration. '' The border security is effective, and we have managed to bring down infiltration to a large extent. There were some incidents in between where infiltrators were killed on the border only and some incidents where they managed to infiltrate and most of these terrorists were neutralized as well. Some may be alive and soon will be killed too. security grid has been tightened for the winter period, '' said Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh. Jammu and Kashmir Police also are focussing on the Narco Terror in the valley. There have many huge drug consignments recovered in various operations in the Valley. ''A huge number of cases have been registered against drug peddlers and more than 2000 persons have been arrested in different drug-related cases. Most of them have been slapped with PSA and strict action against them will be taken. Earlier people were killed with bullets but now people are being killed with drugs here as whosoever uses it once searches for it again and again. There are attempts of dropping narcotics with the help of drones in the Jammu region from across the border. We are making every effort to curb the menace,'' said Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh.

DG Police says all target killing cases solved in Kashmir

The union territory of Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a huge increase in the number of start-ups by the youth of the Kashmir Valley. The Jammu and Kashmir government says over 400 start-ups have been registered in the union territory in the last two years. e-commerce, horticulture, agriculture, the food industry&nbsp;and crafts are some of the Major sectors in which these start-ups have been started.&nbsp;

Unemployment remains one of the major concerns for the government of Jammu and Kashmir and various government departments in the Valley are pushing for the setting up of new start-ups by the local youth. The government calls it a success as hundreds of start-ups has been established in Kashmir not only promoting local business but also generating employment for hundreds of youngsters.

One of the most successful start-ups in the Kashmir region is Fast Beetle, a door-to-door delivery start-up with a motive to help the local artisans and craftsmen of the valley and connect them with the global audiences. Fast Beetle was founded by Abid Rashid and Sami Ullah in 2019 and since then it has risen exponentially. The company has around 110 employees working with them creating employment opportunities for many.&nbsp;

''Kashmir is a virgin valley, there is a scope for many start-ups to come up here. Having a virgin market means an opportunity. There are people who are trying to change the dynamics in Jammu and Kashmir. Start-ups are the main builders of any country or state, so having so many start-ups would generate employment and push us for growth. Our journey was tough, we bootstrapped it, but we saw there are people across the country who are willing to invest in start-ups in Jammu and Kashmir. We needed money for the growth, and we got that easily, '' said Abid Rashid, co-Founder Fast-Beetle.&nbsp;

Abid also added that the government needs to open a single window for entrepreneurs who are wanting to start a new venture. And the youth also need not only to depend on the government but also look for private investors as well. &nbsp;''I think a start-up is building a company and it needs to grow at 10x speed. A start-up needs to have finances within the first four to five months so that it can grow. The process with the government is delayed and it takes time. I would request and suggest that there should be a single window or committee which can process it faster so that it won't grow. I think youth need to look at the government for finances, but they have to also explore private investors. Getting private funding is easier and they should rely on both so that they can grow faster, '' said Abid Rashid, Co-Founder Fast-Beetle.&nbsp;

Another startup called Tiffin Aaw meaning '' Meal is here' with a motive of serving home-cooked food to offices, colleges and hospitals was set up in 2019. It became extremely popular when the start-up started delivering free food to hospitals during covid. The covid patients, attendants and doctors were sent home-cooked food free of cost by Tiffin Aaw. The start-up later crowd-funded and generated huge support from people across the globe for their work. The founder Rayees Ahmad says the start-ups tackle the major Unemployment issue of Jammu and Kashmir in a big way. &nbsp;Tiffin Aaw has a dozen employees working with them.&nbsp;

''Kashmir has a lot of unemployment and to tackle the problem of unemployment, It's very important to have many start-ups being started here. you don't really need a lot of money to start a business. I started from my home kitchen and used to deliver myself. It's a slow process and it grows with time. We eventually reach a stage where we provide employment to youngsters. Government has a lot of schemes for the youth, but it's very time-consuming so I couldn't really stop working and spending so much time with the government. There are many start-ups that need funding after 3-4 years also. The process takes 6 months to one year. That's why we didn't take any funding from the government, but if we had funding, I would have opened a bigger unit. The start-ups do tackle the problem of employment, I have around 12 youth working with me, '' said Rayees Ahmad, Founder, Tiffin Aaw.&nbsp;

The government of Jammu and Kashmir has been pushing for youngsters to start their own ventures in various sectors. According to the government, more than 400 start-ups have been registered with them and many of these have been extremely successful.&nbsp;

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''The start-ups are not only growing in JK but across the globe, there are more than 400 start-ups that have registered with JK start up and Start up India, but the major portion of these start-ups come from Horticulture or e-commerce, wherein they provide support to the artisans where they connect them with the global audiences. Today you also see a large number of people working in Multinational companies coming back and starting their own start-ups and providing employment to at least 50-100 youth in each start-up. There have been many successful cases in JK, '' said Irtif Lone, an expert on start-ups, J&amp;K Government.&nbsp;

The Government has started over a dozen incubation centres across the Union Territory for the youth. The handholding of these youngsters is done through training as well as providing them with a one-time grant by the government.&nbsp;

''There are lots of interventions that the government has done, major of them are setting up incubation centres, there are around a dozen incubation centres across the Union Territory. There is a grant of 12 lac rupees which is provided to the start-ups. There is also a need for private players to intervene. As much as the government can do, &nbsp;it also lies upon these private players. Alternate funding needs to be explored as well,'' said Irtif Lone, Expert Start-ups, J&amp;K Government.&nbsp;

While there is a growth in the number of startups in the Union Territory, there are very few private investment firms in Jammu and Kashmir. Last year Kashmir Angel Network was set up which has more than a dozen investors in its network. These investors are financing the start-ups in the region. Earlier these start-ups were reaching out to investors in metro cities like Delhi and Mumbai but now they have options available at a local level with them.&nbsp;

''Kashmir Angel Network is the first of its kind company in the region, It was incorporated in July 2021, with the idea of fostering a platform. where the experts would meet investors and investors would meet the start-ups. The core idea is to give a business environment and enabling environment to start-ups. The raw and budding ideas of the businessmen particularly of the youth who could not find a platform where they could meet the experts, and funders, and get the business ideas. This kind of platform was required in this part of the country where no such platform existed, We have funded 8 start-ups and 12 are in the pipeline. We give mentorship and incubation facilities and valuation too. We even stay with them till they break even'' said Shabir Handoo, Chairman, Kashmir Angel Network.&nbsp;

These start-ups are not only helping promote the local craft and products but also providing employment opportunities to the thousands of unemployed youths in the region.

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The union territory of Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a huge increase in the number of start-ups by the youth of the Kashmir Valley. The Jammu and Kashmir government says over 400 start-ups have been registered in the union territory in the last two years.

The union territory of Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a huge increase in the number of start-ups by the youth of the Kashmir Valley. The Jammu and Kashmir government says over 400 start-ups have been registered in the union territory in the last two years. e-commerce, horticulture, agriculture, the food industry and crafts are some of the Major sectors in which these start-ups have been started. Unemployment remains one of the major concerns for the government of Jammu and Kashmir and various government departments in the Valley are pushing for the setting up of new start-ups by the local youth. The government calls it a success as hundreds of start-ups has been established in Kashmir not only promoting local business but also generating employment for hundreds of youngsters. One of the most successful start-ups in the Kashmir region is Fast Beetle, a door-to-door delivery start-up with a motive to help the local artisans and craftsmen of the valley and connect them with the global audiences. Fast Beetle was founded by Abid Rashid and Sami Ullah in 2019 and since then it has risen exponentially. The company has around 110 employees working with them creating employment opportunities for many. ''Kashmir is a virgin valley, there is a scope for many start-ups to come up here. Having a virgin market means an opportunity. There are people who are trying to change the dynamics in Jammu and Kashmir. Start-ups are the main builders of any country or state, so having so many start-ups would generate employment and push us for growth. Our journey was tough, we bootstrapped it, but we saw there are people across the country who are willing to invest in start-ups in Jammu and Kashmir. We needed money for the growth, and we got that easily, '' said Abid Rashid, co-Founder Fast-Beetle. Abid also added that the government needs to open a single window for entrepreneurs who are wanting to start a new venture. And the youth also need not only to depend on the government but also look for private investors as well. ''I think a start-up is building a company and it needs to grow at 10x speed. A start-up needs to have finances within the first four to five months so that it can grow. The process with the government is delayed and it takes time. I would request and suggest that there should be a single window or committee which can process it faster so that it won't grow. I think youth need to look at the government for finances, but they have to also explore private investors. Getting private funding is easier and they should rely on both so that they can grow faster, '' said Abid Rashid, Co-Founder Fast-Beetle. Another startup called Tiffin Aaw meaning '' Meal is here' with a motive of serving home-cooked food to offices, colleges and hospitals was set up in 2019. It became extremely popular when the start-up started delivering free food to hospitals during covid. The covid patients, attendants and doctors were sent home-cooked food free of cost by Tiffin Aaw. The start-up later crowd-funded and generated huge support from people across the globe for their work. The founder Rayees Ahmad says the start-ups tackle the major Unemployment issue of Jammu and Kashmir in a big way. Tiffin Aaw has a dozen employees working with them. ''Kashmir has a lot of unemployment and to tackle the problem of unemployment, It's very important to have many start-ups being started here. you don't really need a lot of money to start a business. I started from my home kitchen and used to deliver myself. It's a slow process and it grows with time. We eventually reach a stage where we provide employment to youngsters. Government has a lot of schemes for the youth, but it's very time-consuming so I couldn't really stop working and spending so much time with the government. There are many start-ups that need funding after 3-4 years also. The process takes 6 months to one year. That's why we didn't take any funding from the government, but if we had funding, I would have opened a bigger unit. The start-ups do tackle the problem of employment, I have around 12 youth working with me, '' said Rayees Ahmad, Founder, Tiffin Aaw. The government of Jammu and Kashmir has been pushing for youngsters to start their own ventures in various sectors. According to the government, more than 400 start-ups have been registered with them and many of these have been extremely successful. Also read | Zelensky leaves for US, will meet Biden at White House, address Congress ''The start-ups are not only growing in JK but across the globe, there are more than 400 start-ups that have registered with JK start up and Start up India, but the major portion of these start-ups come from Horticulture or e-commerce, wherein they provide support to the artisans where they connect them with the global audiences. Today you also see a large number of people working in Multinational companies coming back and starting their own start-ups and providing employment to at least 50-100 youth in each start-up. There have been many successful cases in JK, '' said Irtif Lone, an expert on start-ups, J&K Government. The Government has started over a dozen incubation centres across the Union Territory for the youth. The handholding of these youngsters is done through training as well as providing them with a one-time grant by the government. ''There are lots of interventions that the government has done, major of them are setting up incubation centres, there are around a dozen incubation centres across the Union Territory. There is a grant of 12 lac rupees which is provided to the start-ups. There is also a need for private players to intervene. As much as the government can do, it also lies upon these private players. Alternate funding needs to be explored as well,'' said Irtif Lone, Expert Start-ups, J&K Government. While there is a growth in the number of startups in the Union Territory, there are very few private investment firms in Jammu and Kashmir. Last year Kashmir Angel Network was set up which has more than a dozen investors in its network. These investors are financing the start-ups in the region. Earlier these start-ups were reaching out to investors in metro cities like Delhi and Mumbai but now they have options available at a local level with them. ''Kashmir Angel Network is the first of its kind company in the region, It was incorporated in July 2021, with the idea of fostering a platform. where the experts would meet investors and investors would meet the start-ups. The core idea is to give a business environment and enabling environment to start-ups. The raw and budding ideas of the businessmen particularly of the youth who could not find a platform where they could meet the experts, and funders, and get the business ideas. This kind of platform was required in this part of the country where no such platform existed, We have funded 8 start-ups and 12 are in the pipeline. We give mentorship and incubation facilities and valuation too. We even stay with them till they break even'' said Shabir Handoo, Chairman, Kashmir Angel Network. These start-ups are not only helping promote the local craft and products but also providing employment opportunities to the thousands of unemployed youths in the region.

Kashmir witnesses rise in start ups with over 400 registered with government

Drones have become farmer's friends as India's Jammu & Kashmir is all set to introduce drones in the agriculture sector. Watch this report for all the details.

WION Climate Tracker | India: Jammu & Kashmir set to introduce drones in the agriculture sector

Kashmir Valley is slowly becoming India's drug hub. A recent study done by the Government Medical College’s Psychiatry department has revealed that Kashmir has surpassed Punjab in drug abuse cases and is currently at the number two position among the top drug abuser states in the country. With Northeast in India topping&nbsp;the drug abuse list, Kashmir is not far behind.&nbsp;

Over 33 thousand syringes are used to inject heroin by drug abusers in the Valley on a daily basis. Heroin is among the most common drugs used by these abusers. The study shows 90 percent of drug abusers are using heroin while the rest are using cocaine, brown sugar, and marijuana.&nbsp;

''The survey was conducted by the Department of Mental Health and Neurosciences in collaboration with the Health Services Department and It was financed by the Social Welfare Department. We conducted this study in all ten districts of Kashmir and we found some alarming statuses as far as the substance use scenario is concerned, it has been a dramatic change from the last couple of&nbsp;years. For the first time we are seeing Injection Heroin as the main substance user, previously we used to see painkiller and cannabis users, and in this study, we found 67 thousand substance users overall. Mainly using Heroin. '' said Dr. Fazal Ul Rab, co-Author of the Research, Psychiatric Hospital.&nbsp;

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The survey has also revealed that most of the drug abusers are in the age group of 17-33 years. Unemployed youth are one of the main consumers of these drugs. And the number of drug abusers in the valley has crossed 67000, while 33000 are injected heroin using syringes.&nbsp;

All India Institute of Medical Sciences has done a study recently where they said that Punjab has 1.2 percent of Opiate users while the study done in Kashmir has shown the percentage at 2.5 percent. The study showed that crores of rupees are being spent on these drugs in the valley every day. A single drug abuser is spending over 88 thousand Indian rupees every month.&nbsp;

''Most of the users are daily users, usually, a heroin user uses around 1 gm of heroin. It costs around 3-4 thousand Indian rupees, and we found that almost as far as monthly consumption is concerned, there were around 88 thousand Indian rupees spent on heroin by only one user. These abusers use Cannabis or others which are a little cheaper, so around 10 thousand is spent on that as well,'' said Dr. Fazal Ul Rab, co-author of the Research, Psychiatric Hospital.&nbsp;

The Drug Abusers who are being treated at these drug de-addiction centers in Srinagar say that Drugs are easily available across the Valley and once they get addicted to these substances, they go to any extent to get them. The abusers in the valley have also become the dealers of these drugs.&nbsp;

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''The abusers use heroin very openly now. We use heroin through injection and via foil.&nbsp; But mostly it's the Injection that is being used frequently. It is available everywhere in every district of Kashmir Valley. I started with cigarettes and went to use Cannabis, and then heroin. My nerves were blocked as I had become a hardcore abuser. I used to pay around 4000 rupees to get a gram of heroin, we can buy less than a gram also. Most of the abusers have become dealers now. The government has to make a policy about the availability of drugs in the Valley. '' said a Drug Abuser.&nbsp;

Jammu and Kashmir Police is carrying out a major crackdown on drug peddling in the Kashmir Valley. Tons of drugs have been recovered by the Police from various districts&nbsp;of the Valley. Most of these consignments have been recovered from the bordering areas in North Kashmir in Valley while as International Border in the Jammu region. Police say most of the drug is supplied from across the border. Police recovered&nbsp;drugs from areas close to the Line of Control, like Kupwara and Uri. Also, a lot of these&nbsp;drug&nbsp;consignments were dropped via drones from across the International borders in different&nbsp;parts of Jammu. &nbsp;

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Kashmir Valley is slowly becoming India's drug hub. A recent study done by the Government Medical College’s Psychiatry department has revealed that Kashmir has surpassed Punjab in drug abuse cases and is currently at the number two position among the top drug abuser states in the country.

Kashmir Valley is slowly becoming India's drug hub. A recent study done by the Government Medical College’s Psychiatry department has revealed that Kashmir has surpassed Punjab in drug abuse cases and is currently at the number two position among the top drug abuser states in the country. With Northeast in India topping the drug abuse list, Kashmir is not far behind. Over 33 thousand syringes are used to inject heroin by drug abusers in the Valley on a daily basis. Heroin is among the most common drugs used by these abusers. The study shows 90 percent of drug abusers are using heroin while the rest are using cocaine, brown sugar, and marijuana. ''The survey was conducted by the Department of Mental Health and Neurosciences in collaboration with the Health Services Department and It was financed by the Social Welfare Department. We conducted this study in all ten districts of Kashmir and we found some alarming statuses as far as the substance use scenario is concerned, it has been a dramatic change from the last couple of years. For the first time we are seeing Injection Heroin as the main substance user, previously we used to see painkiller and cannabis users, and in this study, we found 67 thousand substance users overall. Mainly using Heroin. '' said Dr. Fazal Ul Rab, co-Author of the Research, Psychiatric Hospital. Also read | After India's intervention shunned PLA, Beijing calls situation 'stable' The survey has also revealed that most of the drug abusers are in the age group of 17-33 years. Unemployed youth are one of the main consumers of these drugs. And the number of drug abusers in the valley has crossed 67000, while 33000 are injected heroin using syringes. All India Institute of Medical Sciences has done a study recently where they said that Punjab has 1.2 percent of Opiate users while the study done in Kashmir has shown the percentage at 2.5 percent. The study showed that crores of rupees are being spent on these drugs in the valley every day. A single drug abuser is spending over 88 thousand Indian rupees every month. ''Most of the users are daily users, usually, a heroin user uses around 1 gm of heroin. It costs around 3-4 thousand Indian rupees, and we found that almost as far as monthly consumption is concerned, there were around 88 thousand Indian rupees spent on heroin by only one user. These abusers use Cannabis or others which are a little cheaper, so around 10 thousand is spent on that as well,'' said Dr. Fazal Ul Rab, co-author of the Research, Psychiatric Hospital. The Drug Abusers who are being treated at these drug de-addiction centers in Srinagar say that Drugs are easily available across the Valley and once they get addicted to these substances, they go to any extent to get them. The abusers in the valley have also become the dealers of these drugs. Also read | Ukraine needs more than $800 million in energy sector aid, says Zelensky ''The abusers use heroin very openly now. We use heroin through injection and via foil. But mostly it's the Injection that is being used frequently. It is available everywhere in every district of Kashmir Valley. I started with cigarettes and went to use Cannabis, and then heroin. My nerves were blocked as I had become a hardcore abuser. I used to pay around 4000 rupees to get a gram of heroin, we can buy less than a gram also. Most of the abusers have become dealers now. The government has to make a policy about the availability of drugs in the Valley. '' said a Drug Abuser. Jammu and Kashmir Police is carrying out a major crackdown on drug peddling in the Kashmir Valley. Tons of drugs have been recovered by the Police from various districts of the Valley. Most of these consignments have been recovered from the bordering areas in North Kashmir in Valley while as International Border in the Jammu region. Police say most of the drug is supplied from across the border. Police recovered drugs from 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.

Kashmir becoming a drug hub, among top 2 places of drug abusers in India

While Kashmir witnessed a huge tourist arrival in summers this year, the government of Jammu and Kashmir along with Tourism department is leaving no stone unturned to make the winter season as attractive for the tourists to visit Kashmir Valley.&nbsp; Tourism department of Jammu and Kashmir is planning a huge set of events for the coming weeks and one of the events ''Houseboat Winter Festival' was held at the World-famous Dal Lake.&nbsp;

Glittering Shikaras over the Dal Lake with Zabarwan Hills in the background amid minus-degree temperatures is a view that can only be witnessed in the Kashmir Valley.&nbsp; Houseboats which are generally fully booked during the winter are for the first time preparing to host guests during the winter season. Dal Lake freezes during the winter and to give a unique experience to the tourists, these shikaras and houseboats are being kept ready to host the tourists.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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''The main purpose of the houseboat festival is to project a winter that is warm, the winter that is vibrant, the winter that is welcoming to all. The purpose is not to just show the houseboats but the whole of Kashmir for the coming winter season. We are starting ski courses in Gulmarg, we are also starting ski courses to Yusmarg and Doodhpathri. Apart from that Pahalgam is going to remain open. We have enough rooms with all the facilities available to host tourists in winters,'' said Fazal Ul Haseeb, Director Tourism.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kashmir has always seen huge tourist rush for Ski resort Gulmarg in the winters but this year the government is pushing other destinations like Sonmarg, Pahalgam, Doodhpathri, and Yusmarg. All the arrangements to host the tourists have been made.&nbsp;&nbsp;

''The houseboat festival is so beautiful, the houseboat people are here, Shikara Walas are here to welcome the tourists in winter. We are all geared up for winter and we are hoping a lot of tourists will come to the Valley in winters. The winter experience here is unparalleled. All winter destinations like Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg will be open. The Ski will start at Sonamarg this year. At Doodhpathri, we would organise cross country skiing. The visitors will have many options to visit. The houseboats would be open during the winters for tourists to enjoy the lake during winters, '' said Sarmad Hafeez, Secretary Tourism.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Kashmir is called the winter wonderland. The tourist stakeholders in the valley are hopeful for a great winter tourist arrival. And all the preparations have been put in place.&nbsp;&nbsp;

''Branding is a must to promote anything. These events were not held earlier especially with regard to houseboats, this year it's the second festival and I am sure we will benefit due to it. The festival&nbsp;will be watched across the world, and we are expecting more tourist arrivals this year. The houseboats will be open for tourists in the winter months to enjoy the cold, '' said Manzoor Pakhtoon of Houseboat Association.&nbsp;&nbsp;

With the MeT department predicting snowfall across Kashmir region from today, the tourist stakeholders have been getting queries and bookings for the coming few weeks. It has been always witnessed that the more Kashmir witnesses snow, the more tourist arrivals will happen.&nbsp;

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While Kashmir witnessed a huge tourist arrival in summers this year, the government of Jammu and Kashmir along with Tourism department is leaving no stone unturned to make the winter season as attractive for the tourists to visit Kashmir Valley.

While Kashmir witnessed a huge tourist arrival in summers this year, the government of Jammu and Kashmir along with Tourism department is leaving no stone unturned to make the winter season as attractive for the tourists to visit Kashmir Valley. Tourism department of Jammu and Kashmir is planning a huge set of events for the coming weeks and one of the events ''Houseboat Winter Festival' was held at the World-famous Dal Lake. Glittering Shikaras over the Dal Lake with Zabarwan Hills in the background amid minus-degree temperatures is a view that can only be witnessed in the Kashmir Valley. Houseboats which are generally fully booked during the winter are for the first time preparing to host guests during the winter season. Dal Lake freezes during the winter and to give a unique experience to the tourists, these shikaras and houseboats are being kept ready to host the tourists. Also read | BJP inching towards over three-fourth majority on PM Modi’s home turf Gujarat ''The main purpose of the houseboat festival is to project a winter that is warm, the winter that is vibrant, the winter that is welcoming to all. The purpose is not to just show the houseboats but the whole of Kashmir for the coming winter season. We are starting ski courses in Gulmarg, we are also starting ski courses to Yusmarg and Doodhpathri. Apart from that Pahalgam is going to remain open. We have enough rooms with all the facilities available to host tourists in winters,'' said Fazal Ul Haseeb, Director Tourism. Kashmir has always seen huge tourist rush for Ski resort Gulmarg in the winters but this year the government is pushing other destinations like Sonmarg, Pahalgam, Doodhpathri, and Yusmarg. All the arrangements to host the tourists have been made. ''The houseboat festival is so beautiful, the houseboat people are here, Shikara Walas are here to welcome the tourists in winter. We are all geared up for winter and we are hoping a lot of tourists will come to the Valley in winters. The winter experience here is unparalleled. All winter destinations like Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg will be open. The Ski will start at Sonamarg this year. At Doodhpathri, we would organise cross country skiing. The visitors will have many options to visit. The houseboats would be open during the winters for tourists to enjoy the lake during winters, '' said Sarmad Hafeez, Secretary Tourism. Also read | Taliban carry out first public execution since regaining power in Afghanistan Kashmir is called the winter wonderland. The tourist stakeholders in the valley are hopeful for a great winter tourist arrival. And all the preparations have been put in place. ''Branding is a must to promote anything. These events were not held earlier especially with regard to houseboats, this year it's the second festival and I am sure we will benefit due to it. The festival will be watched across the world, and we are expecting more tourist arrivals this year. The houseboats will be open for tourists in the winter months to enjoy the cold, '' said Manzoor Pakhtoon of Houseboat Association. With the MeT department predicting snowfall across Kashmir region from today, the tourist stakeholders have been getting queries and bookings for the coming few weeks. It has been always witnessed that the more Kashmir witnesses snow, the more tourist arrivals will happen.

Kashmir prepares for winter season tourism, houseboat festival held on Dal Lake

Kashmiri female athletes train hard for water sports championships to bring laurels home. Molly Gambhir gets you a special report by Idrees Lone on this week's #SouthAsiaDiary

South Asia Diary: Kashmiri female athletes eye water sports championships

The government of Jammu and Kashmir is working hard to restore the beauty and water quality of the world-famous Dal Lake in Srinagar. After decades, the government is opening 20 navigation channels in the Dal Lake, which will help to improve the quality of water and free movement of locals and tourists into the interiors of the lake. The government is also laying a sewage system for the houseboats to dispose of the waste in the treatment plant.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Dal Lake is considered the Jewel in the Crown of the Kashmir Region, but the Lake has been dying a slow death due to Pollution and Illegal Encroachments over the years. And now finally, the government and Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) are working on the restoration of the Lake to its pristine water quality and opening of the navigation channels which have been closed for decades. Around 20 navigation channels are being opened and restored in Dal Lake. This will help the people to navigate freely in the lake while also improving the quality of the water.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
''We are working on 20 navigation channels at the moment, work on seven of the channels has been completed and work is going on for 13 more. We are hoping that the work will be completed by the end of this year. Navigation channels are very important for the inhabitants living on the lake, It helps them to move easily. The tourists get to see the interiors of the lake and moreover have an in-depth look into the lake. The water quality also improves due to the opening of these navigation channels, these channels help water to circulate. Dal Lake has a lot of aquatic life, the more these channels would be opened the more the aquatic life would spread. The work on these channels has been started after around two decades,'' said Tanvir Ayub, AEE, Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA).&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-army-and-police-bust-militant-terrorist-hideout-in-jks-kishtwar-540001">Indian Army and police bust militant terrorist hideout in J&amp;K’s Kishtwar</a> 
&nbsp; 
Opening these Navigation channels around the Dal Lake will not only help the local inhabitants of the lake but also the tourists coming to Srinagar. Dal Lake is among the most frequently visited places by tourists in the Kashmir region and by opening these channels, tourists can get to see the interiors of the lake.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
''It helps the lake as well as the inhabitants of the lake. Their manoeuvring, they can navigate easily plus the tourists can see the inner side of Dal Lake, the water circulation would be better, and the quality of water will improve as well. Almost all the channels were blocked. We are opening them and widening them as well. We are getting support from locals in helping us to beautify the lake,'' said Masood Ahmad Khan, Official LCMA.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
The locals living on the lake say this will help them further in taking tourists to the interiors of various areas of the city via Dal Lake.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
''It will help us a lot to move around the lake. Tourists can also visit the interiors of the lake after opening of these channels. It will beautify the lake and its great work being carried out by the authorities. Due to the opening of these channels, we will be able to move around easily on the lake,'' said Suhail Ahmad, Local. 
&nbsp; 
One of the Major pollutants for the Lake has been the sewage coming from the houseboats on the Lake. With more than 600 houseboats on the lake, there has not been a proper sewage system in place for these houseboats. Most of the waste coming from these houseboats has been dumped in the lake. &nbsp;And now the government is laying a sewerage network for these houseboats. Floating pipes have been laid from where all the waste would be collected at a chamber and later shifted to the closest treatment plant. This will help clean the lake and to nurture the aquatic life in the lake.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-police-bust-extortion-racket-in-south-kashmir-five-arrested-539466">India: J&amp;K Police bust extortion racket in South Kashmir, nab five; toy guns &amp; pistols seized</a> 
&nbsp; 
''There are around 600 houseboats on Dal Lake, they have been divided into eleven clusters and initially we are taking the sewerage network of the houseboats for cluster number two in which we have around 70 houseboats to check the inflow of sewage into the lake. We have laid 200 mm HD Pipes, the network will be all floating, finally the sewage generated by the houseboats will be collected in a chamber from where it will be lifted to the nearest sewer line where it will be treated. The sewage generated by the houseboats used to go into the lake, and now with these steps the water quality will improve. The houseboat owners have to understand that it has to be a joint effort between people and the government. The waste has to be disposed of properly, '' said Tanvir Ayub, AEE, Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA).&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
The houseboat community living on the lake is extremely excited about the step taken by the government. They say that it will keep the lake alive for generations to come.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
''This was extremely important, and it will add to the charm of the Lake. It will be like the old days. The Dal Lake is famous, and our tourists always used to ask about the drainage system of these houseboats and now with these sewage pipes and system in place, it will be a cleaner lake. It's a great step for all of us. It's great for the new generations as well. Dal lake is the pride, and we need to do everything to save the lake, '' Farooq Ahmad Dar, Local.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Srinagar has been named among the top places to visit in 2023 and Dal Lake has been called the most exquisite sight to visit.&nbsp;

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The government of Jammu and Kashmir is working hard to restore the beauty and water quality of the world-famous Dal Lake in Srinagar. After decades, the government is opening 20 navigation channels in the Dal Lake, which will help to improve the quality of water and free movement of locals and tourists into the interiors of the lake.

The government of Jammu and Kashmir is working hard to restore the beauty and water quality of the world-famous Dal Lake in Srinagar. After decades, the government is opening 20 navigation channels in the Dal Lake, which will help to improve the quality of water and free movement of locals and tourists into the interiors of the lake. The government is also laying a sewage system for the houseboats to dispose of the waste in the treatment plant. Dal Lake is considered the Jewel in the Crown of the Kashmir Region, but the Lake has been dying a slow death due to Pollution and Illegal Encroachments over the years. And now finally, the government and Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) are working on the restoration of the Lake to its pristine water quality and opening of the navigation channels which have been closed for decades. Around 20 navigation channels are being opened and restored in Dal Lake. This will help the people to navigate freely in the lake while also improving the quality of the water. ''We are working on 20 navigation channels at the moment, work on seven of the channels has been completed and work is going on for 13 more. We are hoping that the work will be completed by the end of this year. Navigation channels are very important for the inhabitants living on the lake, It helps them to move easily. The tourists get to see the interiors of the lake and moreover have an in-depth look into the lake. The water quality also improves due to the opening of these navigation channels, these channels help water to circulate. Dal Lake has a lot of aquatic life, the more these channels would be opened the more the aquatic life would spread. The work on these channels has been started after around two decades,'' said Tanvir Ayub, AEE, Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA). Also read | Indian Army and police bust militant terrorist hideout in J&K’s Kishtwar Opening these Navigation channels around the Dal Lake will not only help the local inhabitants of the lake but also the tourists coming to Srinagar. Dal Lake is among the most frequently visited places by tourists in the Kashmir region and by opening these channels, tourists can get to see the interiors of the lake. ''It helps the lake as well as the inhabitants of the lake. Their manoeuvring, they can navigate easily plus the tourists can see the inner side of Dal Lake, the water circulation would be better, and the quality of water will improve as well. Almost all the channels were blocked. We are opening them and widening them as well. We are getting support from locals in helping us to beautify the lake,'' said Masood Ahmad Khan, Official LCMA. The locals living on the lake say this will help them further in taking tourists to the interiors of various areas of the city via Dal Lake. ''It will help us a lot to move around the lake. Tourists can also visit the interiors of the lake after opening of these channels. It will beautify the lake and its great work being carried out by the authorities. Due to the opening of these channels, we will be able to move around easily on the lake,'' said Suhail Ahmad, Local. One of the Major pollutants for the Lake has been the sewage coming from the houseboats on the Lake. With more than 600 houseboats on the lake, there has not been a proper sewage system in place for these houseboats. Most of the waste coming from these houseboats has been dumped in the lake. And now the government is laying a sewerage network for these houseboats. Floating pipes have been laid from where all the waste would be collected at a chamber and later shifted to the closest treatment plant. This will help clean the lake and to nurture the aquatic life in the lake. Also read | India: J&K Police bust extortion racket in South Kashmir, nab five; toy guns & pistols seized ''There are around 600 houseboats on Dal Lake, they have been divided into eleven clusters and initially we are taking the sewerage network of the houseboats for cluster number two in which we have around 70 houseboats to check the inflow of sewage into the lake. We have laid 200 mm HD Pipes, the network will be all floating, finally the sewage generated by the houseboats will be collected in a chamber from where it will be lifted to the nearest sewer line where it will be treated. The sewage generated by the houseboats used to go into the lake, and now with these steps the water quality will improve. The houseboat owners have to understand that it has to be a joint effort between people and the government. The waste has to be disposed of properly, '' said Tanvir Ayub, AEE, Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA). The houseboat community living on the lake is extremely excited about the step taken by the government. They say that it will keep the lake alive for generations to come. ''This was extremely important, and it will add to the charm of the Lake. It will be like the old days. The Dal Lake is famous, and our tourists always used to ask about the drainage system of these houseboats and now with these sewage pipes and system in place, it will be a cleaner lake. It's a great step for all of us. It's great for the new generations as well. Dal lake is the pride, and we need to do everything to save the lake, '' Farooq Ahmad Dar, Local. Srinagar has been named among the top places to visit in 2023 and Dal Lake has been called the most exquisite sight to visit. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Dal Lake: 20 navigation channels opened after decades, sewage pipes laid for houseboat waste disposal

Female athletes from the Kashmir Valley have proven their&nbsp;mettle in various sports across the world. And now for the first time, Over 200 female athletes are being trained at the water sports center in the middle of the world-Famous Dal Lake to&nbsp;participate in tournaments across India and the world.&nbsp;

While the temperatures in Srinagar were recorded at minus 2.2 degrees, these female water sports athletes are not stopping their training. With freezing temperatures across the region, these girls are training for hours every day on the Dal Lake. From rowing to Canoeing, these Kashmiri girls want to bring laurels for the country.&nbsp;

In the last two years over 70 medals in various tournaments have been won by these female athletes.&nbsp;

''If we talk about the last two or three years, there has been a huge increase in the number&nbsp;of female participations in water sports. There have been around&nbsp;110 medals won by water sports athletes and over 50 percent of these medals are taken by female athletes. Earlier, everyone used to say that water sports are not for women, It was a challenging role for me also when I started. There is a revolution&nbsp;in women participation in Kashmir and soon we will see these girls' winning&nbsp;medals in national and international tournaments,'' said Bilquis Mir, Director of Water Sports.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/musk-says-apple-has-threatened-to-block-twitter-from-app-store-538352">Musk says Apple has threatened to block Twitter from App Store</a>

Bilquis is among the topmost water sports athletes from the valley herself. She was also a judge on the panel both at the Olympics as well as Asian games. She has represented Kashmir at Various international tournaments and won dozens of medals. And now she not only trains but inspires Kashmiri girls to pick up water sports as their&nbsp;career. She says Kashmiri girls have a lot of natural strength and can-do wonders in the water sports. She is not only looking&nbsp;at the city but rural areas searching for the talent to be part of the sports.&nbsp;

''It's winter and minus temperatures and despite that these girls are training for hours every day on the lake. I have trained over 200 female athletes, and I think there is so much talent especially in the rural areas in the Kashmir region. There is natural strength&nbsp;in the girls of the valley. We have a world class facility available in Kashmir. We are blessed with natural water resources both wild and still. Government has taken huge steps with regard to water sports,'' said Bilquis Mir, Director Water Sports.&nbsp;

The training continues everyday despite the harsh weather conditions. Girls from every district of the Kashmir region are being trained at this facility. These girls only hope to represent India at the International championships and win laurels for the country.&nbsp;

''My first national tournament was in 2014 and we were able to win a gold in that championship. And that was when I decided that sports is going to be my priority.&nbsp; I have played a lot of National&nbsp;tournaments so far and now I am focussed on International championships. I urge all the girls that sports are great for us. We can make a career&nbsp;out of it so that we are not dependent on anyone. I am sure Kashmiri girls will soon represent India at International level. We have the best equipment and due to that we are able to practice nicely,'' said Sumaira Bashir, Athlete.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-willing-to-build-closer-partnership-with-russia-on-energy-issues-says-xi-jinping-538497">China willing to build closer partnership with Russia on energy, says Xi</a>

And with such an increase in the number of female sportswomen in water sports, more and more girls are getting interested in joining the sport. And nothing is stopping these girls from training as the national tournaments are approaching. Some of these athletes have also been provided jobs under the sports category and adjusted in the water sports department.&nbsp;

''I started my sports journey in 2014, since I live on the lake, I saw Bilquis Mam training here. She once asked me to join the sports and I said yes. I was sitting at home, and I decided to join and I am glad I did. My dream is to play at international level, and we are practising very hard. It's extremely cold and temperatures are below zero but despite that we are training. We can't stop training as nationals are approaching. Girls are everywhere, and I ask young girls to join the water sports and I am also getting a job due to this, '' said Peer Mehak, Athlete.&nbsp;

The water sports department is now using natural water bodies across various districts of Kashmir region to train the athletes. Lakes like Wular, Manasbal, Ranjeet Sagar and Dal Lake are being utilised for training the young water sports athletes.&nbsp;

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Female athletes from the Kashmir Valley have proven their mettle in various sports across the world. And now for the first time, Over 200 female athletes are being trained at the water sports center in the middle of the world-Famous Dal Lake to participate in tournaments across India and the world.

Female athletes from the Kashmir Valley have proven their mettle in various sports across the world. And now for the first time, Over 200 female athletes are being trained at the water sports center in the middle of the world-Famous Dal Lake to participate in tournaments across India and the world. While the temperatures in Srinagar were recorded at minus 2.2 degrees, these female water sports athletes are not stopping their training. With freezing temperatures across the region, these girls are training for hours every day on the Dal Lake. From rowing to Canoeing, these Kashmiri girls want to bring laurels for the country. In the last two years over 70 medals in various tournaments have been won by these female athletes. ''If we talk about the last two or three years, there has been a huge increase in the number of female participations in water sports. There have been around 110 medals won by water sports athletes and over 50 percent of these medals are taken by female athletes. Earlier, everyone used to say that water sports are not for women, It was a challenging role for me also when I started. There is a revolution in women participation in Kashmir and soon we will see these girls' winning medals in national and international tournaments,'' said Bilquis Mir, Director of Water Sports. Also read | Musk says Apple has threatened to block Twitter from App Store Bilquis is among the topmost water sports athletes from the valley herself. She was also a judge on the panel both at the Olympics as well as Asian games. She has represented Kashmir at Various international tournaments and won dozens of medals. And now she not only trains but inspires Kashmiri girls to pick up water sports as their career. She says Kashmiri girls have a lot of natural strength and can-do wonders in the water sports. She is not only looking at the city but rural areas searching for the talent to be part of the sports. ''It's winter and minus temperatures and despite that these girls are training for hours every day on the lake. I have trained over 200 female athletes, and I think there is so much talent especially in the rural areas in the Kashmir region. There is natural strength in the girls of the valley. We have a world class facility available in Kashmir. We are blessed with natural water resources both wild and still. Government has taken huge steps with regard to water sports,'' said Bilquis Mir, Director Water Sports. The training continues everyday despite the harsh weather conditions. Girls from every district of the Kashmir region are being trained at this facility. These girls only hope to represent India at the International championships and win laurels for the country. ''My first national tournament was in 2014 and we were able to win a gold in that championship. And that was when I decided that sports is going to be my priority. I have played a lot of National tournaments so far and now I am focussed on International championships. I urge all the girls that sports are great for us. We can make a career out of it so that we are not dependent on anyone. I am sure Kashmiri girls will soon represent India at International level. We have the best equipment and due to that we are able to practice nicely,'' said Sumaira Bashir, Athlete. Also read | China willing to build closer partnership with Russia on energy, says Xi And with such an increase in the number of female sportswomen in water sports, more and more girls are getting interested in joining the sport. And nothing is stopping these girls from training as the national tournaments are approaching. Some of these athletes have also been provided jobs under the sports category and adjusted in the water sports department. ''I started my sports journey in 2014, since I live on the lake, I saw Bilquis Mam training here. She once asked me to join the sports and I said yes. I was sitting at home, and I decided to join and I am glad I did. My dream is to play at international level, and we are practising very hard. It's extremely cold and temperatures are below zero but despite that we are training. We can't stop training as nationals are approaching. Girls are everywhere, and I ask young girls to join the water sports and I am also getting a job due to this, '' said Peer Mehak, Athlete. The water sports department is now using natural water bodies across various districts of Kashmir region to train the athletes. Lakes like Wular, Manasbal, Ranjeet Sagar and Dal Lake are being utilised for training the young water sports athletes.

Over 200 female athletes trained in water sports with a goal to represent India

As the winter approaches and temperatures go below zero degrees, the Kashmiri people have their own traditional ways of beating the cold. Like every year, the kitchens have once again started smelling like harrisa every morning. A centuries-old delicacy that feels like a warm hug during harsh winters. Mariam Wardak gets you a special report by Idrees Lone on this week's South Asia Diary.

South Asia Diary | The taste of winter

The bumper harvest of apples this year in the valley brought cheer to the apple farmers in Kashmir valley&nbsp;but now they are considering it one of their worst years in terms of profitability. With the prices plummeting by over 50 per cent and no place to store the crop, the apple farmers of the valley are worried sick.

The apple farmers are getting 50-60 per cent lower prices than what they managed last year. The farmers say the demand for Kashmiri apples in the market has come down which has become a worry for the majority of apple growers in the Kashmir valley.

“We face a lot of problems like cold storage. Main cold storage facilities get booked in advance and due to the bumper crop, the growers were left with no option of storing their crop. It’s still lying outside and farmers don't know what to do with it. There was an issue with the national highway as well. And when all this crop reached the 'mandi' (market), there was a dip in prices," said Shahid Chaudhary, general secretary, New Kashmir Fruit Association.

"In a 'Mandi' which gets 50-100 trucks daily, over 150 trucks arrived and that eventually lead to dip in rates. We have been asking the government for more cold storage units. We have very less cold storage, we have requested the government time and again. There should be mini cold storages in small villages too," added Chaudhary. &nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-tourists-arriving-in-thousands-to-witness-the-fall-in-kashmir-valley-530922">Read more:&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bumper-saffron-harvest-in-kashmir-region-farmers-happy-about-crop-production-529431">India: Tourists arriving in thousands to witness the fall in Kashmir valley</a>

One of the reasons for the dip in the rates of Kashmiri apples has also been the apples from Iran. The import&nbsp;of Iranian apples to India has affected the market of all the apple-producing states in the North of India, including Kashmir.&nbsp;

The apple growers and associations have requested the central government to stop the import of Iranian apples so that the market of home-grown apples is not affected.

"The Irani apples have ruined our market. We have asked central government to ban Iranian apples as it has affected our market. One of the reasons for dip in the rates of the Kashmiri apple is due to the Iranian apples," said Chaudhary.&nbsp;

Kashmir region has around 700,000 families associated with horticulture. And Apple is one of the major contributors towards the GDP of Jammu and Kashmir. With 3.5 million people associated with the apple industry, its contribution to the union territory's GDP is nearly eight per cent. According to data, there has been a 15-20 per cent increase in production this season.&nbsp;

"We had a bumper crop this year but there was a dip in the rates of the apples this year. The expenditure on boxes, fertilisers and pesticides has been more this year but rates have gone down. We are getting 300-400 rupees less this year per box as compared to last year. Iranian apples have impacted our market a lot, not only Kashmiri apples but also all other states in India. We have time and again asked the government for stopping the import of Iranian apples," said Bashir Ahmad, an apple agriculturist.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/bumper-saffron-harvest-cheers-up-farmers-in-kashmir-region-530680">WATCH |&nbsp;Bumper saffron harvest cheers up farmers in Kashmir region&nbsp;</a>

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Kashmir produced around 2.3 million metric tonnes of apples last year. This year, it has increased by 15-20 per cent. Around 2,500 to 3,000 apple trucks would leave from the valley during the peak season. Buyers from across India are also facing losses due to the dip in rates.

“The rates have come down drastically as compared to last year. It could be due to the over production, we are buying at lesser price and selling at lesser too. Last year, we would buy for 800 rupees per box and sell it for 1000, but this year we are buying at 450-500 and selling at 600 which is leading to a lot of losses. Iranian apples also affected the Kashmiri apples," said Dinesh Yadav, a buyer.

All the apple growers across the Kashmir region have requested the central government to save Kashmir's biggest industry by banning the Iranian apple as well as by constructing more cold storage space in the valley.&nbsp;

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The bumper harvest of apples this year in the valley brought cheer to the apple farmers in Kashmir valley but now they are considering it one of their worst years in terms of profitability.

The bumper harvest of apples this year in the valley brought cheer to the apple farmers in Kashmir valley but now they are considering it one of their worst years in terms of profitability. With the prices plummeting by over 50 per cent and no place to store the crop, the apple farmers of the valley are worried sick. The apple farmers are getting 50-60 per cent lower prices than what they managed last year. The farmers say the demand for Kashmiri apples in the market has come down which has become a worry for the majority of apple growers in the Kashmir valley. “We face a lot of problems like cold storage. Main cold storage facilities get booked in advance and due to the bumper crop, the growers were left with no option of storing their crop. It’s still lying outside and farmers don't know what to do with it. There was an issue with the national highway as well. And when all this crop reached the 'mandi' (market), there was a dip in prices," said Shahid Chaudhary, general secretary, New Kashmir Fruit Association. "In a 'Mandi' which gets 50-100 trucks daily, over 150 trucks arrived and that eventually lead to dip in rates. We have been asking the government for more cold storage units. We have very less cold storage, we have requested the government time and again. There should be mini cold storages in small villages too," added Chaudhary. Read more: India: Tourists arriving in thousands to witness the fall in Kashmir valley One of the reasons for the dip in the rates of Kashmiri apples has also been the apples from Iran. The import of Iranian apples to India has affected the market of all the apple-producing states in the North of India, including Kashmir. The apple growers and associations have requested the central government to stop the import of Iranian apples so that the market of home-grown apples is not affected. "The Irani apples have ruined our market. We have asked central government to ban Iranian apples as it has affected our market. One of the reasons for dip in the rates of the Kashmiri apple is due to the Iranian apples," said Chaudhary. Kashmir region has around 700,000 families associated with horticulture. And Apple is one of the major contributors towards the GDP of Jammu and Kashmir. With 3.5 million people associated with the apple industry, its contribution to the union territory's GDP is nearly eight per cent. According to data, there has been a 15-20 per cent increase in production this season. "We had a bumper crop this year but there was a dip in the rates of the apples this year. The expenditure on boxes, fertilisers and pesticides has been more this year but rates have gone down. We are getting 300-400 rupees less this year per box as compared to last year. Iranian apples have impacted our market a lot, not only Kashmiri apples but also all other states in India. We have time and again asked the government for stopping the import of Iranian apples," said Bashir Ahmad, an apple agriculturist. WATCH | Bumper saffron harvest cheers up farmers in Kashmir region × Kashmir produced around 2.3 million metric tonnes of apples last year. This year, it has increased by 15-20 per cent. Around 2,500 to 3,000 apple trucks would leave from the valley during the peak season. Buyers from across India are also facing losses due to the dip in rates. “The rates have come down drastically as compared to last year. It could be due to the over production, we are buying at lesser price and selling at lesser too. Last year, we would buy for 800 rupees per box and sell it for 1000, but this year we are buying at 450-500 and selling at 600 which is leading to a lot of losses. Iranian apples also affected the Kashmiri apples," said Dinesh Yadav, a buyer. All the apple growers across the Kashmir region have requested the central government to save Kashmir's biggest industry by banning the Iranian apple as well as by constructing more cold storage space in the valley. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Apple farmers in Kashmir panic as bumper crop, lack of cold storage drive the price down

Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi today launched a mega recruitment drive, the 'Rozgar Mela' via video conferencing across 45 locations all over India. During this 2nd phase of the drive, around 71000 appointment letters (OOAs) including 7045 candidates of BSF were distributed across 45 locations all over India, including BSF headquarters in Kashmir.

Dr. Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad, Union MoS, Finance presided over the function organized at BSF Campus Humhama.''&nbsp;The Rozgar Mela will continue for next 16 months during which 10 lakh youth will be provided jobs. '' said Dr. Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad, Union MoS, Finance. While talking about the News of possible global recession and lay off by top Multinational companies, the Union Minister said that the government is working towards the direction that no global recession affects the Indian economy.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesian-president-announces-compensation-for-quake-victims-as-search-for-survivors-continues-536364">Indonesia quake toll rises to 252, president announces compensation for families of victims</a>

During the programme, the Prime Minister launched Mission Karmayogi Prarambh Module with a short film. This module is an online orientation course for all new appointees in various Government departments. It will include code of conduct for Government servants, workplace ethics &amp; integrity, human resource policies and other benefits and allowances that will help them to get acclimatized to the policies and transition smoothly into the new roles.&nbsp;

''The Rozgar Mela is a step towards fulfilment of the commitment of the Prime Minister to accord highest priority to employment generation. The Rozgar Mela is expected to act as a catalyst in further employment generation and provide meaningful opportunities to the youth for their empowerment and participation in nation building,'' said Dr. Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad, Union MoS, Finance.&nbsp;

More than 700 candidates have been appointed in the Kashmir region by the CAPFs including BSF, CISF and SSB. Out of these, 110 Appointees were present in person to receive the appointment letters from union Minister Dr Karad. The ‘Rozgar Mela’ culminated with a plantation&nbsp;drive&nbsp;by the minister signifying the divine duty towards Mother Nature.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/36-dead-in-factory-fire-at-chinese-city-of-anyang-536253">Toll in China factory fire rises to 38; workers reportedly violated safety measures</a>

The local candidates from across Jammu and Kashmir welcomed the step taken by the government for providing employment at a time when the world is heading towards recession.&nbsp;

''I was preparing for the exams for the last three years and worked hard to get into CISF. I am extremely happy that I have got a job, I am thankful to the Prime Minister for providing us jobs under this scheme. '' said Shahid Samoon, Gurez, North Kashmir.&nbsp;

Functions were held in 45 locations all over India and were presided over by senior dignitaries who handed over appointment letters to some of the new recruits at these centres.

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Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi today launched a mega recruitment drive, the 'Rozgar Mela' via video conferencing across 45 locations all over India. During this 2nd phase of the drive, around 71000 appointment letters (OOAs) including 7045 candidates of BSF were distributed across 45 locations all over India, including BSF headquarters in Kashmir.

Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi today launched a mega recruitment drive, the 'Rozgar Mela' via video conferencing across 45 locations all over India. During this 2nd phase of the drive, around 71000 appointment letters (OOAs) including 7045 candidates of BSF were distributed across 45 locations all over India, including BSF headquarters in Kashmir. Dr. Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad, Union MoS, Finance presided over the function organized at BSF Campus Humhama.'' The Rozgar Mela will continue for next 16 months during which 10 lakh youth will be provided jobs. '' said Dr. Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad, Union MoS, Finance. While talking about the News of possible global recession and lay off by top Multinational companies, the Union Minister said that the government is working towards the direction that no global recession affects the Indian economy. Also read | Indonesia quake toll rises to 252, president announces compensation for families of victims During the programme, the Prime Minister launched Mission Karmayogi Prarambh Module with a short film. This module is an online orientation course for all new appointees in various Government departments. It will include code of conduct for Government servants, workplace ethics & integrity, human resource policies and other benefits and allowances that will help them to get acclimatized to the policies and transition smoothly into the new roles. ''The Rozgar Mela is a step towards fulfilment of the commitment of the Prime Minister to accord highest priority to employment generation. The Rozgar Mela is expected to act as a catalyst in further employment generation and provide meaningful opportunities to the youth for their empowerment and participation in nation building,'' said Dr. Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad, Union MoS, Finance. More than 700 candidates have been appointed in the Kashmir region by the CAPFs including BSF, CISF and SSB. Out of these, 110 Appointees were present in person to receive the appointment letters from union Minister Dr Karad. The ‘Rozgar Mela’ culminated with a plantation drive by the minister signifying the divine duty towards Mother Nature. Also read | Toll in China factory fire rises to 38; workers reportedly violated safety measures The local candidates from across Jammu and Kashmir welcomed the step taken by the government for providing employment at a time when the world is heading towards recession. ''I was preparing for the exams for the last three years and worked hard to get into CISF. I am extremely happy that I have got a job, I am thankful to the Prime Minister for providing us jobs under this scheme. '' said Shahid Samoon, Gurez, North Kashmir. Functions were held in 45 locations all over India and were presided over by senior dignitaries who handed over appointment letters to some of the new recruits at these centres.

Union Minister for Finance presides over mega recruitment drive function in Kashmir

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