News In Brief
Passengers rescued
Srinagar: In a swift rescue operation Beacon authorities rescued a strained pregnant lady and children near Sadhna Top after they got stranded near the Top while on way to Tanghdar. Sources told KNS that violating District administration directives of not traveling on Kupawara-Tangdar route on Friday, eight Sumo's drove along the route but were caught in bad weather near Sadhna Top. "Among the stranded passengers was a pregnant lady and some children and it could have been disastrous had they been left unattended," Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Mohammad Shafi Rather told KNS. He said the district administration requested the Beacon authorities to launch a rescue operation and subsequently a team headed by a Lt Col, Karnoyi Karan rescued the passengers. Meanwhile, sources in the Beacon told KNS that it was still heavily snowing at Sadhna Top. They said least 3 to 4 feet snow got accumulated along the stretch.
National Seminar
SRINAGAR: Iflaq Ahmad a student of Class 8th represented the State in National Science Seminar 2011 held in Allahabad. He was selected for the Seminar after clinching 2nd position for his model during Science Inspiration Award in 2010-2011 at district level. The Zonal Education Officer, Zaldagar has congratulated Iflaq Ahmad and concerned Teachers for their dedication and hard work.
Relief distributed
SRINAGAR: Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon distributed relief items amongst the fire victims of Daribal Mohalla near Naqshband Sahib, Khanyar. He was accompanied by Addl Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Mohammed Akbar Ganai, Tehsildar North, Bashir Ahmed, Naib Tehsildar Khanyar, Nazir Ahmed and Shazia Kawoos, from State Red Cross Society. Five houses, six shops and one band-saw gutted in a fire incident at Daribal during the intervening night of February 03 and 04. Three houses were fully damaged and two houses got partially damaged. The fully damaged houses belonging to Fayaz Ahmed Haji S/o Ali Mohammed Haji, Nazir Ahmed, Bashir Ahmed S/o Ghulam Rasool Sheikh, Mohammed Shafi S/o Abdul Rahim Guju were given Rs 10,000 each as relief and the two partially damaged houses belonging to Ghulam Mohammed Guju S/o Abdul Aziz Guju and Mohammed Sidiq S/o Lal Mohammed Guju got Rs 5,000 each from Div Com out of the Red Cross Funds. In addition to this relief material comprising of mattresses, blankets, kitchen sets and other household items from Disaster Management and State Red Cross were distributed amongst the affected families. Meanwhile, in another fire incident Red Cross distributed relief items amongst three affected families at Shala Kadal. In order to prevent the fire incidents in future, the Divisional Disaster Management Authority Kashmir issued an advisory to people requesting them to arrange 'A' type and 'ABC' type fire extinguishers and keep them in their homes.
The Disaster Management is going to organise awareness programmes so that people learn the method to use fire extinguishers, in order to put out small fires and prevent them from converting to big and unmanageable fires. In case of fires people have been advised to call toll free number 101 and give exact address of the incident so that fire tenders can easily locate it.
Anti-Tobacco drive
KUPWARA: Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Mr. Mohammed Shafi Rather has intensified the drive against smoking in public places in Kupwara district. A fine of Rs 30,350 has been imposed in Kupwara tehsil, Rs 3750 in Kralpora and Rs 1450 in Langate. The people have been warned to desist from smoking in public places. Executive Director, J&K Voluntary Health Association A.M. Mir has appreciated the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon and Deputy Commissioner Kupwara for the initiatives taken and hoped that other DCs follow suit so that their Districts can be declared smoke free as has been done for Budgam.
Two militants killed
Srinagar: Two militants of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba outfit were killed in a gunfight in south Kashmir on Saturday.
A senior police officer said troops of 55 Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operations Group of the state police jointly surrounded Adoora Litter village in south Kashmir's Pulwama district on Friday evening, following information about the presence of two LeT militants inside a house there. "Early this morning, the surrounding troops challenged the two holed up militants to surrender upon which they opened fire at the security forces triggering a gunfight which has now ended after both the militants were killed," the officer said. The two slain militants have been identified as, Ashiq Shah and Mudasir Sheikh, both locals. Two AK-47 rifles, two grenades and 120 rounds were recovered from the encounter site. The house was damaged during the gunfight.
Kashmir rocked
Srinagar: An earthquake measuring 4.7 on the Richter scale today hit the Kashmir valley, including summer capital Srinagar. The quake occurred at 0502 hrs early this morning, forcing people to rush out of their homes in panic.
Kashmir valley Disaster Management head Aamir Ali said that its epicenter was in Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan. He said there was no immediate report of loss of life or damage to property.
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