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RAMBAN, JULY 08: Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Gool Imtiaz today chaired a Sub-Division Level Disaster Management and Coordination Meeting to review disaster preparedness, strengthen inter-departmental coordination and ensure effective relief measures for natural hazards such as floods, landslides and cloudbursts in the sub-division.

The meeting was attended by Tehsildar Harjeet Singh, SDPO Kuldeep Raj, Naib Tehsildar Inktikhab Ahmed, Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer (SDAO) Sanjay Sharma, AEE Jal Shakti Rakesh Soni, AEE PMGSY Naveed Aslam Khan, AEE PWD Tanveer Ahmed and representatives from 23 RR Gool, Beacon Mahore and Batote. Officers from Health, PDD, FCS&CA, SDRF, Police and other line departments were also present.

During the meeting, a detailed review was taken on the existing disaster management plan, availability of men and machinery, stock of essential commodities, functioning of control rooms and communication systems in the sub-division. The SDM directed all line departments to remain on high alert in view of the monsoon season and to ensure round-the-clock monitoring of vulnerable areas prone to landslides and flash floods.

The SDM emphasized the need for proactive measures and seamless coordination among all departments to deal with any emergency situation. He directed the Jal Shakti, PWD and PMGSY departments to identify vulnerable spots and keep restoration teams and machinery ready for immediate response. The Health department was instructed to ensure availability of medicines, ambulances and medical staff at CHC Gool and PHCs. The FCS&CA department was directed to maintain buffer stock of ration, while PDD was asked to ensure backup arrangements for power supply.

The SDM further directed Tehsildars and Naib Tehsildars to conduct regular visits to vulnerable areas, maintain updated lists of disaster-prone pockets and generate public awareness regarding safety measures. He stressed on the importance of community involvement and urged the locals to disseminate information regarding dos and don’ts during disasters.

The police and 23 RR were asked to extend support for rescue and evacuation operations, while Beacon representatives were directed to ensure early restoration of roads in case of blockades.

The SDM reiterated that the safety of lives and property is the top priority of the administration. He said that effective coordination, timely response and public cooperation are key to minimizing the impact of disasters. He assured that the administration is fully prepared to tackle any situation arising out of natural calamities.

The Delhi High Court on Friday upheld the Centre’s move to temporarily restrict access to the Telegram messaging app ahead of the June 21 NEET-UG re-exam, holding the order was “not disproportionate”.
While pronouncing the judgement, a vacation bench of Justice Tejas Karia said the Centre’s order was “least restrictive” and the government was empowered to direct blocking of access to Telegram.
A detailed order is awaited.
Telegram’s counsel had questioned the legality of the government order blocking the platform. He had said that over 150 million users had been affected by the Centre’s action.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) had on May 12 cancelled the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate), or NEET-UG, held on May 3 for medical admissions amid allegations of paper leak.
The CBI is investigating the matter and a re-test is scheduled on June 21.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), acting on recommendations of the NTA, had issued a direction on June 16 under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, restricting access to the Telegram platform in India till June 22, covering the day of the NEET (UG) 2026 re-exam and its immediate aftermath.
A separate direction had also asked Telegram to disable in India the message-editing feature for already-posted messages till June 30, 2026, addressing the specific structural feature through which the platform has been used to fabricate after-the-event “paper leak” evidence in respect of national examinations. (Agencies)

Students and government job aspirants assembled here on Friday for a protest led by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke over alleged examination irregularities, with demonstrators pressing for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Candidates preparing for teaching, medical, revenue, administrative, and other government recruitment examinations were among the protesters who gathered at the Eco Garden here since morning.

The demonstration is part of a nationwide campaign launched by the CJP, which had earlier held demonstrations in Delhi and Pune.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Babloo Kumar told PTI that the permission for the programme was granted after an application was submitted by an individual and not by any organisation.

“The application was submitted by a teacher, Vivek Kumar, late Thursday evening. After completing the required procedure, permission was granted,” he said.

The officer said reports claiming police had denied permission for the protest were misleading, as no application regarding the demonstration had been received till Thursday evening.

According to police, the permission is valid from 10 am to 4 pm, and around 1,000 people are expected to participate.

Earlier, Dipke had said the protest would be conducted in a peaceful and constitutional manner to raise concerns over alleged examination irregularities. “We have held peaceful protests in Delhi and Pune. We are not doing anything wrong. We only want to put forward our views in a democracy,” he had said.

The CJP plans to hold further demonstrations in Amritsar and Bengaluru before returning to Delhi’s Jantar Mantar for a larger protest on June 20. (Agencies)

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced on Monday that the southwest monsoon is likely to enter North Bengal in the next three to four days, covering sub-Himalayan districts such as Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Jalpaiguri. This development comes after northern districts have already begun experiencing pre-monsoon showers.

The IMD’s bulletin confirmed that conditions are now favorable for the advancement of the monsoon, even as its usual entry date of June 6 approaches. The weather pattern has already led to a humid atmosphere in southern Bengal, despite intermittent rainfall.

According to the forecast, heavy rainfall is on the cards for the next two days across the sub-Himalayan regions, which include Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, and Cooch Behar. Furthermore, light to moderate rain is anticipated for southern districts during this period.

The IMD reported that Alipurduar, which borders Assam, recorded the highest rainfall in the state in the last 24 hours, receiving an impressive 133 mm by 8:30 AM on Monday. Other regions noted precipitation as follows: Jalpaiguri with 53 mm, Cooch Behar at 18 mm, Darjeeling with 7.8 mm, and Kalimpong measuring 19 mm.

Experts indicate that the delayed arrival of the monsoon could have various implications, including a potential impact on agriculture and water supply. Farmers in the region eagerly await the rains to support the cropping season, particularly for rice and paddy.

This year, the monsoon’s lateness may cause fluctuations in agricultural productivity, leading to increased scrutiny of weather patterns and forecasts heading into the farming season.

The IMD encourages residents of North Bengal to prepare for potential inundation and urges caution during heavy rainfall periods, reminding everyone to stay updated through official channels.

The results of JEE Advanced 2026 have been announced, with Subham Kumar from the IIT Delhi zone securing All India Rank (AIR) 1. He topped the examination with 330 marks out of a total of 360.
Arohi Deshpande of the IIT Delhi zone was the top-ranked woman candidate, obtaining 280 out of the 360 marks. She got the 77th rank in the Common Rank List (CRL).

According to an official release, Kabir Chhillar secured second place with 329 marks, and Jatin Chahar secured third place with 319 marks. The top three belonged to the IIT Delhi zone, marking a clear dominance of the zone in the exam results.

A total of 1,87,389 registered in JEE (Advanced) 2026, and out of which 1,79,694 candidates appeared in both papers 1 and 2 in JEE (Advanced), held on May 17. In this exam, 56,880 candidates have qualified. Of the total qualified candidates, 10,107 are female candidates.

Prof Kamal Kishore Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, extended congratulations to all the qualified candidates and encouraged them to participate in the counselling and seat-allocation process.

“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all candidates who have qualified JEE (Advanced) 2026. This achievement is a testament to their dedication, perseverance, and academic excellence. All qualified candidates are encouraged to participate in the JoSAA 2026 counselling and seat-allocation process, irrespective of their Class XII (or equivalent) marks,” he said.

“However, the final admission shall remain subject to the fulfilment of the percentage-related eligibility requirements and other applicable conditions prescribed in the JEE (Advanced) 2026 Information Brochure,” he added.
To access the JEE Advanced 2026 result, candidates must log in using their Roll Number, Date of Birth, and Registered Mobile Number. The scorecard includes important details such as the candidate’s name, qualification status, All India Rank (AIR), subject-wise scores, total marks obtained, category-wise rank, and cutoff information. (Agenciese)

Two persons were killed after a truck veered off the road, plunged into a deep gorge and caught fire near Gangroo in the Ramsoo area of Ramban district along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) on Saturday.
Officials said the truck reportedly went out of the driver’s control while travelling on the highway and skidded off the road before falling into the gorge. Soon after the accident, the vehicle was engulfed in flames, creating panic in the area.

Police, rescue teams and local volunteers immediately rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation. After the fire was brought under control, two charred bodies were recovered from the burnt wreckage of the truck.
The deceased are believed to be the occupants of the vehicle. However, their identities had not been established till the filing of this report.
Police have taken cognisance of the incident and initiated an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the accident.
The tragic mishap has once again highlighted safety concerns on the mountainous stretch of NH-44 in Ramban district, where accidents are frequently reported due to challenging terrain and road conditions.(KNC)

The Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh has postponed the holiday on account of Eid-Ul-Azha (Bakrid) from May 27 to May 28, 2026.
According to an order issued by the General Administration Department, the holiday will now be observed on Thursday, May 28, instead of Wednesday, May 27, in partial modification of the earlier government order issued in November 2025.

“For months, I had been warning of an impending economic storm. But Modi Ji, true to form, was busy with elections at the time and the moment the elections ended, he hiked the prices of petrol and diesel by Rs 8,” the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said.
And, this upward trend will only continue, he added. “‘Mehangai manav’ Modi has just one job: promises during elections, and attacking people’s pockets at other times,” Gandhi said. With the latest revision, cumulative increases in petrol and diesel prices have nearly touched Rs 7.5 per litre since fuel price revisions resumed on May 15 after a prolonged freeze, stoking concerns over inflationary pressures and higher transportation costs across the economy.