Leh, Oct 19: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 on the Richter scale hit Ladakh on Wednesday, the National Centre for Seismology said.
The epicentre of the tremor, recorded at 8.07 am, was 135 km north-east of Leh belt of the union territory, it said.
The officials said there were no reports of any damage.
The quake hit at a latitude of 34.92 degrees north and longitude of 78.72 degrees east at a depth of 10 km, they said.
The Himalayan region is prone to earthquakes. (Agencies)
Earthquake of 4.2 magnitude hits Ladakh
JKSSB releases selection list of 3422 class IV posts
JAMMU, Oct 19: The Jammu and Kashmir Service Selection Board has released a list of selection-cum- cadre allocation list of 3423 class IV . It has also cleared withheld cases of 94 after necessary clarifications.
The J&K Services Selection Board has forwarded the Selection List-cum-Allocation of Cadres/Departments for 3422 Class-IV Posts, to the General Administration Department. 94 withheld cases also cleared after necessary clarifications, tweets JKSSB Official
Mainly clear sky with light rain likely in J&K: MeT
JAMMU, Oct 19: The higher reaches of Jammu & Kashmir received light snowfall during the last 24 hours, causing a dip in the day temperature.
The Meteorological (MeT) office on Wednesday said that mainly clear sky with chances of light rain was expected in the next 24 hours.
“Light snowfall occurred in the higher reaches of J&K during the last 24 hours. Mainly clear sky with chances of light rain are likely during the next 24 hours,” an official of the MeT department said.
Jammu had 16.8, Katra 14.2, Batote 6.5, Banihal 4.6 and Bhaderwah 4.9 as the minimum temperature.
Srinagar had 5, Pahalgam 0.6 and Gulmarg minus 0.4 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature.
Drass town in Ladakh region had minus 3.4 and Kargil 0.4 as the minimum temperature. (AGENCIES)
JJSF ends its 3 days’ fast for Martyrs after performing Havana and purna Ahuti
Jammu, 18th October 2022: Today Jammu Joint Students’ Federation (JJSF) founder members, office bearers, Students, Staff and other prominent dignitaries paid tributes to the student martyrs of 1966, who had sacrificed their lives for the Jammu cause and performed Havana for the peace of the departed souls. A number of JJSF volunteers, led by Pushvinder Singh Manhas (State President JJSF) and Atul Sudan, State Vice President JJSF paid floral tributes to the student martyrs of 1966 and then performed Havana at Shaheedi Sthal, GGM Science College. JJSF volunteers also distributed Halwa Prasad on the occasion.
Meanwhile Bechan Lal Vice Chancellor Cluster University Jammu, Prof Rajesh Gupta Principal GGM Science College, Mrs Twinkle Suri Dean Cluster University Jammu, Prof Dr Karan Singh, Dr Vinod Bakshi along with Ex Minister Harsh Dev Singh and other dignitaries offered juice to Abhishek Sharma, Raghu Nandan, Kanav Sharma and Rahul Sharma who were fasting from 16th October in memory of 1966 student martyrs.
Addressing the gathering Pushvinder Singh Manhas said that JJSF is having a long history for fighting against the discrimination with Jammu. He said he feels proud to be the part of the occasion where he gets the opportunity to pay tributes to the martyrs. While addressing the media persons Pushvinder said that in 1966, the then government tried to shift the Agriculture College from Jammu to Kashmir (Sopore) and the students of GGM Science College started the agitation against this move of the government.
Anshu Sharma, JJSF President Jammu University Speaking on occasion said that the student martyrs of 1966 are the inspiration for them as they laid down their lives while fighting for the rights of the people of Jammu region. He said that it is due to their martyrdom that today Jammu has separate SKUAST-J and Government Medical College. He said that the young generation of the Dogra region, especially the student community, is required to learn about their sacrifice and should get inspiration from their martyrdom. He further appealed the student community to follow the path shown by these great martyrs and pledge to continue the fight which was started by these martyrs against the discrimination with Dogra region.
Atul Sudan Vice President JJSF said it is the indebted sacrifice of Martyr Students that we all are studying in different colleges and universities of Jammu and we must recognize their contribution. He demanded that colleges under Cluster University Jammu should be renamed in the name of student martyrs. Further he demanded an immediate renovation of Shaheedi Sthal.
Others present during the occasion are Partap Singh Jamwal, Sunil Chauhan (Provincial President JJSF), Sourav Choudhary, Anshul Choudhary, Vinkal, Abhishek Verma, Gurjinder Goldy, Sagar Sudan, Yuvraj singh, Keshav Malhotra, Divyansh Verma, Vasu Dev Singh, Anirudh, Abhishek Manhas, Aman Slathia, Aryan Dev Singh, Vikas Sharma, Yuvraj Manhas, Sourav, Amit Manhas, Abhay Slathia, Opinder Sharma and various NCC Cadets etc.
4 tourists killed as vehicle skids on snow clad road at Khardungla Pass
LEH: Four people were killed after their vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a 100-metre deep gorge here on Tuesday, police said.
The deceased have been identified as Mohd Firoz, Reyaz Ahmad and Azam Khan, all residents of Delhi, and Zeeshan Ahmd of Uttar Pradesh. they said.
Superintendent of Police, Leh, P D Nitya said the accident occurred at Khardungla top owing to snowfall which made the conditions slippery.
She said police teams along with Disaster Response Force rushed to the spot and started the rescue operation.
The teams managed to rescue three injured people while the fourth person had already breathed his last, the SSP said.
The three injured, however, succumbed to injuries on way to a hospital, the official said.
Khardungla Pass, Changla Pass and other upper reaches of Ladakh besides Leh town received snowfall during the day.
In another incident, two tourists from Karnataka were injured when their vehicle fell down from the road at Singayla in Lingshed area, the officer said.
She said the injured were rescued and shifted to block hospital at Khalsi where their condition was stated to be stable.
The police has asked people, especially the tourists, to avoid travelling towards Nubra, Pangong and other high altitude areas in view of the inclement weather.
“The citizens are once again requested not to venture out during the inclement weather period till the high passes get road traffic worthy,” it said.
UN chief Antonio Guterres arrives in India on a three-day official visit
Guterres will be on an official visit to India from October 18-20, 2022. This will be UNSG’s first visit to India, since he commenced his second term in office in January 2022. He had earlier visited India (in his first term) from 01- 04 October 2018.” “Warm welcome to the UNSG @antonioguterres as he arrives in Mumbai for his official visit to India from 18-20 October 2022,” tweeted Arindam Bagchi, Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs.
Guterres will commence his visit to India, by paying tributes to the victims of the 26/11 terror attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai. UNSG will also deliver a public address at IIT Mumbai on the subject – “India @75: UN-India Partnership: Strengthening South-South Cooperation,” read the MEA press release.
On 20 October 2022 in Gujarat (Ekta Nagar, Kevadiya), he will join Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the launch of the Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) booklet, logo and tagline
It may be recollected that the concept of LiFE was introduced by PM Modi during COP26 at Glasgow in November 2021. PM Modi had then urged the global community of individuals and institutions to drive LiFE as an international mass movement towards “mindful and deliberate utilisation, instead of mindless and destructive consumption” to protect and preserve the environment.
Mission LiFE will be India’s signature initiative at the United Nations and other international platforms for showcasing climate action and early achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Its central idea reflects India’s ethos of respect for Mother Nature and aims at piloting a focussed program that will mobilise 1 billion Indians to become pro-planet people (3P), who would practice simple environment and climate friendly behaviour/actions in their daily lives to promote a shared commitment to protect our planet.
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar would hold bilateral discussions with the UN chief on issues of global concern, steps to deepen India’s engagement with the UN, including through India’s upcoming Presidency of the G20 and reformed multilateralism, added the release.
In Kevadiya, Guterres is expected to pay floral tributes at the Statue of Unity. He will also be visiting India’s first solar-powered village in Modhera (Gujarat) and other development projects in the area. UNSG will also be visiting the Sun Temple in Modhera, before departing for his onward destination.
Cong releases first list of 46 names for upcoming Assembly elections
Congress played safe as it cleared the tested and tried names in the first list for 46 seats for the 68 Assembly constituencies for the upcoming Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly polls on Monday, except for seven seats where new faces have been fielded.
The list included 19 sitting MLAs while there are just three women so far.
The new faces included former state president Kuldeep Singh Rathore from Theog, state general secretary Rajneesh Kimta from Chopal, Vivek Kumar from Jhanduta, Yashwant Singh Khanna from Churah, former BJP state president Khimi Ram from Banjar, Dayal Pyari from Pachhad, and former minister GS Bali’s son RS Bali from Nagrota.
No announcement has been made from Kangra and Nalagarh as the party’s sitting MLAs-Pawan Kajal and Lakhwinder Rana- have already defected to the BJP. From Kinnaur (ST) seat, sitting MLA Jagat Singh Negi’s name is yet to be cleared as he is facing opposition from Youth Congress leader Nigam Bhandari.
The prominent names in the first list included CLP leader Mukesh Agnihotri from Haroli, Asha Kumari from Dalhousie, Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu from Nadaun and Kaul Singh Thakur from Darang.
Former CM Virbhadra Singh’s son Vikramditya Singh will contest for the second time from Shimla Rural.
Chet Ram Thakur has again pitted against Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur.
Interestingly, Kaul Singh Thakur’s daughter Champa Thakur would contest again from Mandi Sadar. Last time, she had lost to Sukh Ram’s son Anil Sharma.
Maximum names in the first list are loyalists of Virbhadra Singh.
For remaining seats, there are multiple contenders and still deliberations are underway.
The prominent among these included Shimla, Bharmour, Indora, Dehra, Jaisinghpur, Sullah, Kangra, Manali, Anni, Karsog, Nachan, Jogindernagar, Dharampur, Sarkaghat, Hamirpur, Chintpurni, Gagret, Kutlehar, Bilaspur, Nalagarh, and Paonta Sahib.
COVID-19: India reports 1,946 new infections
New Delhi, Oct 19: India saw a single day rise of 1,946 infections, taking the tally of COVID-19 cases to 4,46,34,376, while the active cases declined to 25,968, according to government data updated on Wednesday.
The death toll climbed to 5,28,923 with 10 fatalities, which include six deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data updated by the the Union health ministry at 8 am stated.
The active cases comprise 0.06 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has increased to 98.76 per cent, it said.
There has been a decrease of 481 cases in the active caseload in 24 hours.
The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.75 per cent, while the weekly positivity rate was 1.01 per cent, the health ministry said.
The number of recoveries climbed to 4,40,79,485, while the case fatality rate was 1.19 per cent.
According to the ministry, 219.41 crore doses of vaccines have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive.
India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.
India crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4, three crore on June 23 last year and four crore on January 25. (Agencies)
U-23 World Wrestling C’ship: Sajan Bhanwala bags India’s 1st Greco Roman medal in 77kg
Pontevedra [Spain], October 19: India’s truncated squad at the U-23 World Wrestling Championship saw glory after India’s Greco-Roman wrestler Sajan Bhanwala bagged a historic Bronze in the 77kg division on Tuesday.
Sajan won India’s first Greco-Roman medal in U-23 Wrestling World Championship.The wrestler got the better of Ukraine’s Dmytro Vasetskyi in the repechage round to win the historic medal.
The Indian secured a 10-10 victory by points over his Ukrainian counterpart.
After securing a 3-0 win in the first round against Lithuanian Aistis Liaugminas, the athlete lost to Moldova’s Alexandrin Gutu in the pre-quarters 0-8.
However, Sajan got shy at the bronze medal via the repechage system after Gutu made it into the finals of the 77 kg round.
The ace athlete grabbed the opportunity with both hands to create history for India.
India suffered a major blow in the U-23 World Wrestling Championships after 21 members of the 30-member squad were denied visas to Spain by the Spanish embassy.
According to reports in the media, the reason for the denial of the visa is due to the intentions of the players to leave the territory before the expiry of the visa.
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) had picked a 30-member squad for the World Championship but only nine were granted after the embassy of Spain denied visas to 21 of the wrestlers.
Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chairman Brijbhushan Sharan Singh termed the denial of visas to 21 members of the 30-strong Indian squad for the U-23 World Wrestling Championships by the Spanish Embassy as highly unfortunate.
“This has happened for the very first time. When a tournament is assigned to a country, there is a condition that they would not stop players from any country from coming, not even players from countries with which they have strained relations,” told the chairman to ANI.
“It is highly unfortunate that it has happened. Asian Championships happened two years back and back then we had highly tensed relations with Pakistan. Despite that, we gave visas, hotel and security to Pakistan players and dropped them safely at the Wagah border after the tournament,” he added.
Brijbhushan pointed out that nine out of 30 players have got their visas and the ones who have been denied a visa have supporting documents from the government and the organisers of the championships. (Agencies)
J&K | LeT ‘Hybrid Terrorist’ Involved In Killing Of Labourers Dies In Anti-terror Operation
Srinagar, Oct 19: A Lashkar-e-Taiba “hybrid terrorist”, who was arrested following the death of two labourers in a grenade blast in Shopian, has been killed in an anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Wednesday.
“Based on disclosure of arrested hybrid terrorist and in continuous raids by police and security forces, another contact has been established between terrorists and SFs at Nowgam, Shopian, in which hybrid terrorist Imran Bashir Ganaie (was) killed by firing of another terrorist,” Kashmir Zone police said in a tweet on Wednesday.
It said incriminating material, including arms and ammunition, were seized from the encounter site.
“The search operation is still going on,” police said.
Two labourers from Kannauj area of Uttar Pradesh were killed in a grenade attack early Tuesday at Harmain in Shopian. Police arrested two people, including Ganaie, for their involvement in the incident.
“Hybrid terrorists” are unlisted radicalised people who carry out terror strikes and slip back into their routine lives often without leaving any trace. (Agencies)