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Will review measures taken post-2014 floods to see what has changed: CM Omar

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said he will personally review the measures taken post-2014 floods in Kashmir.

Talking to the reporters here the Chief Minister, as per KNO said that the situation was quite grim after two days of rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir. “In case there would have been more rain for two more days, we could have faced a difficult situation in both Jammu ascwell as in Kashmir. Back in 2014, the flood situation emerged after six days of rainfall but today, only two days of rain led to the flood-like situation,” he said.

He added that with the grace of the Almighty, the situation has improved and water has receded and the flood threat at present is over. “But, we need to understand what changed after the 2014 floods. I will sit back with the officers after some days and review the measures taken after the deluge a decade ago. We will send what happened to the carrying capacity of flood channels and river Jhelum besides other measures meant to prevent the flood situation here,” he said.

“We need to rectify the errors as we cannot afford to live under a constant threat every year,” the Chief Minister added.

Pertinently, the intermittent heavy rainfall and cloudbursts led to the flood like situation across Jammu and Kashmir as the water level in all the major rivers and streams crossed the alarm and danger mark. (KNO)

Mobile connectivity expected to be restored fully in next few hours: Div Com

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Srinagar: Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Anshul Garg on Thursday said that full mobile connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir is expected to be restored within the next few hours.

“We are witnessing extensive damage in Jammu due to recent weather patterns, which affected mobile networks. BSNL and Airtel teams have been working round the clock since the first day and both the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister are updated on the situation,” Divisional Commissioner Garg said, according to KNO.

He added that he personally spoke to the in-charge teams of BSNL and Airtel, who confirmed that restoration work is ongoing. “We are hopeful that full mobile connectivity will be restored in the next few hours,” the Div Com said.

Pertinently, the networks of Airtel, BSNL, and Jio experienced a snag on Tuesday, which was restored the following day, and now BSNL and Airtel have again developed technical issues. (KNO)

J&K floods: Assembly suspends committee meetings until September 5

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly secretariat has cancelled all meetings of the House Committees till September 5 in view of floods in the Union Territory.

Citing flood-like situation in Jammu & Kashmir, the Legislative Assembly secretariat has ordered postponement/ cancellation of all scheduled meetings of the House Committees.

“In view of prevailing inclement weather conditions in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and the consequent flood-like situation reported in various areas, besides as the administration is fully engaged in dealing with the emergent situation arising out of the adverse weather conditions, it has been decided that all scheduled meetings of the House Committees, the Financial Committees, as well as other Committees of the Legislative Assembly, stands postponed/cancelled till the 5th of September, 2025,” reads a notification issued by Legislative Assembly secretariat, a copy of which is in possession of KNO. (KNO)

Next 15 days crucial, follow weather advisories: Div Com

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Srinagar: Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Anshul Garg Thursday praised the people of Kashmir for their courage and cooperation in handling the recent flood situation. He also said that the next 10-15 days are crucial and appealed people to follow weather advisories in letter and spirit.

He said the water level in river Jehlum has receded and appealed to residents to follow advisories while noting that teams remain on “high alert.”

“I would like to congratulate the people for managing the situation with calm and resilience. All teams were monitoring closely, but it is the citizens’ awareness and courage that have made a difference,” Garg said while addressing a press conference at his office chamber, according to KNO.

He stressed that the coming 10–15 days are crucial, urging residents to follow weather advisories and remain vigilant near the Jehlum and its tributaries. “The next 40 days are important as the monsoon continues. With public support, our teams can handle any challenge,” he added.

Meanwhile, Garg also appreciated the coordinated efforts of the Army, police, SDRF, NDRF, and the Irrigation & Flood Control Department, noting that over 150 vulnerable spots were closely monitored, with no breaches reported in the last 48 hours.

He said water levels at Ram Munshi Bagh and Sangam have receded, reflecting both effective departmental work and community awareness.

He also urged citizens to share suggestions for long-term flood preparedness.

The Divisional Commissioner reassured residents that the situation is under control and expressed confidence that continued cooperation will keep Kashmir safe during the monsoon season. (KNO)

Highway closure leaves hundreds stranded at Qazigund

Srinagar: Hundreds of vehicles remained stranded on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway for the second consecutive day as the vital road link continues to be closed due to extensive damage at multiple locations. The closure has been caused by landslides and washouts triggered by continuous rainfall, leaving travellers and transporters stranded.

Eyewitnesses told KNO that the highway, which serves as the lifeline connecting the Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country, has been witnessing long queues of stranded trucks, passenger vehicles, and private cars.

Drivers stranded at Qazigund said they have been stuck for three days, facing a lack of shelter and other hardships. They urged the authorities to speed up restoration work and clear the debris so that traffic movement can resume at the earliest.

Meanwhile, in a post on X, traffic officials said, “Traffic is plying on Mughal road/SSG road as per advisory. Commuters are advised to follow lane discipline; overtaking will cause congestion.”

However, the Jammu-Srinagar NHW is closed due to damage at several places between Jakheni and Chenani. People are advised not to undertake journeys on the Jammu-Srinagar NHW till the restoration work is completed and the surface is traffic-worthy. Sinthan road is also closed. (KNO)

Man killed in hit-and-run incident in Srinagar

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Srinagar: A man died after sustaining severe head injuries in a hit-and-run incident near the old bus stand in the Batamaloo area of central Kashmir’s Srinagar, officials said on Thursday.

An official told KNO that the man was riding a motorcycle bearing registration number JK01AD-7021 when he was struck by an unidentified vehicle, which fled the scene.

Local residents shifted the injured man to a nearby hospital, where he was declared brought dead by doctors.

The deceased has been identified as Farooq Ahmed Bhat, son of Sunaullah Bhat, a resident of Khawaja Pora area of Nowgam, Srinagar.

Meanwhile, police have initiated an investigation into the incident. The driver of the vehicle involved remains unidentified, and further inquiry is underway, the official said. (KNO)

Special train arranged for stranded passengers from Jammu to Delhi

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Srinagar: Railway authorities have arranged a special train to facilitate the movement of stranded passengers from Jammu to Delhi, following disruption caused by flash floods and cloudbursts in parts of the Jammu division, officials said here on Thursday.

The officials told KNO that the train will depart from Jammu Railway Station at 11:30 AM today. The decision, they said, was taken after heavy rainfall and cloudbursts led to flash floods, damaging road infrastructure and affecting connectivity.

“Movement of vehicles on several routes, including key highways, has been impacted due to waterlogging, landslides, and damage to roads,” the officials said, adding that efforts are ongoing to restore traffic, and weather conditions are showing signs of improvement.

Priority boarding on the special train will be given to stranded tourists and families, the officials added. (KNO)

Army, BSF personnel die in separate incidents in J&K

Srinagar: An Army soldier and a Border Security Force (BSF) personnel lost their lives in the line of duty at two separate locations in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Thursday

“Chinar Corps honours the supreme sacrifice of braveheart Havildar Ikbal Ali, who was performing operational duty in Kupwara district. His courage and dedication will forever inspire us,” the Army’s Srinagar-based Chinar Corps said on X, as per KNO.

The Army said the Chinar Warriors salute the valour and sacrifice of the soldier. “We stand in solidarity with the bereaved family and are committed to their well-being,” it added.

Meanwhile, the BSF paid heartfelt tribute to Constable (General Duty) Rajib Nunia, who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty on August 27, 2025, during an operational deployment along the International Boundary in the Akhnoor area of Jammu district.

” He attained martyrdom with unwavering courage, commitment, and dedication. His sacrifice will always be remembered and honoured. The DG BSF and all ranks express their deepest condolences to his family,” the BSF said in a post on X. (KNO)

Two terrorists killed as Army foils infiltration bid in north Kashmir’s Bandipora

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Srinagar: Two terrorists attempting to infiltrate across the Line of Control (LoC) in the Gurez sector of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district were killed by alert security forces on Thursday, Army said.

An official told KNO that the operation took place near Naushehra Naar, where alert troops engaged a group of infiltrators attempting to cross into Indian territory. Two terrorists were killed in the exchange of fire, he said.

The Army’s Chinar corps in a post on X, said that based on intelligence provided by JKP regarding likely infiltration attempt, a joint operation was launched by Indian Army and @JmuKmrPolice in Gurez Sector.

“Alert troops spotted suspicious activity and challenged, which resulted in terrorists opening indiscriminate fire.

Troops responded with effective fire, neutralising two terrorists,” it said, adding that operation is in progress. (KNO)

Possible flood threat over, water level stabilizes at Ram Munshi Bagh, other locations

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Srinagar: Officials on late Wednesday night said that the water level at Ram Munshi Bagh has stabilized and they would be gradual decline in the coming hours.

“The possible flood threat across Kashmir has diminished, though water levels are expected to decrease further during night,” an official told KNO.

According to the latest data from the Data Collection Subdivision, Srinagar, accessed by KNO, river gauges at key locations recorded the following levels at 11:00 PM on Sangam: 22.63 ft (Danger Level: 25 ft) – Below danger mark; Ram Munshi Bagh: 21.09 ft (Danger Level: 21 ft) – Stable; Asham: 12.22 ft (Danger Level: 16.5 ft) – Safe; Pampore: 6.06 m (Danger Level: 5 m) – Slightly above normal and Khudwani: 7.12 m (Danger Level: 8.5 m) – Safe.

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg told reporters this afternoon that adverse weather conditions are prevailing. “The situation is being closely monitored. Irrigation and flood control teams are continuously observing from South Kashmir to North Kashmir. Our water gauge levels are being monitored closely at Sangam, Anantnag, and Ram Munshi Bagh. All our DCs of South and Central Kashmir are on site. We had closed schools, colleges, and universities last night as a precautionary measure,” he said.

In view of the inclement weather across the division, Div Com Garg convened an urgent meeting to assess the readiness of departments and district administrations to respond to potential floods in low-lying areas. The meeting included Deputy Commissioners, Commissioner SMC, CEO ERA, and senior officials from departments including ULB, FCS&CA, Education, IMD, Radio Kashmir, Doordarshan, I&FC, KPDCL, MED, UEED, R\&B, BSNL, SDRF, NDRF, SRTC, PHE, and BEACON.

While officials stated that there is currently no immediate flood threat, independent weather analyst Faizan Arif Keng said water levels in the city is expected to decrease in the coming hours. “The situation remains under control. Water levels are likely to decrease in Srinagar but may increase in northern parts of the valley. But there is no flood threat for North Kashmir as well,” he said.

He added that completely dry weather is expected across Jammu and Kashmir tonight as the weather system has left the region. “Night temperatures will remain slightly below normal, and no harsh weather is expected in the coming days,” Faizan said.

Meanwhile, authorities have urged residents in low-lying areas to remain vigilant and follow advisories issued by the UT-level Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) for any assistance. (KNO)