Kargil, Sept 19: A medium-intensity earthquake struck Ladakh on Monday. According to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), the earthquake occurred at around 9:30 am. The quake was measured at 4.3 on the Richter Scale. The epicenter of the earthquake was at 64 km WNW of Kargil, while the depth of the earthquake was 10 km below the ground.

Srinagar, Sep 19: The Meteorological (MeT) department on Monday forecast dry weather in Jammu and Kashmir during the last 24 hours.

“Weather is likely to remain dry in J&K during the next 24 hours”, an official of the MeT office said.

Meanwhile, Srinagar registered 12.6 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam 8 degrees and Gulmarg also 8 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature this morning.

Drass in Ladakh region recorded 3.4 degrees, Kargil 9.6 and Leh 5.8, while Jammu clocked 22.7 degrees, Katra 21.2, Batote 14, Banihal 9.8 and Bhaderwah 12.6 degrees.

SRINAGAR: Three people died in a mud house collapse in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district, officials said on Sunday. Manzoor Gorsi (40), Hajira (55), and Asif Gorsi (16) were in the temporary structure built in the Mather Patheri Daksum area of the district on Saturday night when it suddenly collapsed, they said.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed condolences to the bereaved families, and directed the district administration to ensure immediate assistance.
“Deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to a house collapse in Larnoo, Anantnag. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. Directed district administration to ensure best possible treatment to the injured & immediate assistance to the affected families,” Sinha said in a tweet. Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, Basharat Qayoom issued ex gratia relief of Rs 50,000 each to the families of the victims, the officials said.
In addition, other necessary items, including blankets and utensils, were also provided to the families, they said. The officials said the relief was issued within 24 hours of the incident coming to light.
The deputy commissioner said soon after the report regarding the incident was received, a team of revenue and police officials was sent to the spot. (Agencies)

New Delhi, Sep 19: With 4,858 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, India’s tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 4,45,39,046, while the active cases increased to 48,027, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday.
The death toll has climbed to 5,28,355 with 18 fatalities, which includes eight deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.
The active cases comprise 0.11 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has increased to 98.71 per cent, the health ministry said.
An increase of 105 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours, it said.
The daily positivity rate was recorded at 2.76 per cent, while the weekly positivity rate was at 1.78 per cent, according to the health ministry.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,39,62,664, while the case fatality rate was 1.19 per cent.
According to the ministry, 216.70 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 this year. (Agencies)

SRINAGAR, Sept 17: A huge cache of arms was recovered in a joint operation by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police, said officials on Saturday.
The searches were made based on a specific intelligence input by agencies regarding the presence of a cache of arms/ ammunition in the area of Hathlanga, Uri.
“Joint parties of Baramulla Police and Army 3 Rajput today launched a search operation in wee hours near Hathlanga area of Uri sector including Hathlanga nallah which led to the recovery of arms/ ammunition,” said a statement by Jammu and Kashmir Police.
The officials recovered 1 AK -47 Rifle, 1 AK Magazine and 28 rounds of AK 47 Ammunition.
A case under the Indian Arms Act has been registered in the Uri Police Station.
Further investigations are underway.
Earlier the Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested a hybrid terrorist, who was in touch with Pakistani handlers, from Reasi and recovered arms and ammunition from his possession on September 15.
Police received information that a person namely Zaffer Iqbal, a resident of Angralla tehsil under Mahore police station in Reasi district was in touch with terrorist handlers in Pakistan.
According to Police, Zaffer’s brother namely Mohd Ishaq was a terrorist of outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and got killed in an encounter with security forces in Rajouri and reportedly one of his relatives namely Abdul Rashid, a resident of Reasi is in Pakistan and is also working with terror groups.
On this information, Jammu and Kashmir Police registered a case under sections 120-B, 121, 121-A, 122, 123, 124 IPC and teams of Reasi Police raided and arrested Zaffar Iqbal from Plaasu Nallah and put him under sustained interrogation. During interrogation, Zaffar confessed his intimacy with terror organizations and about the commission of the offence.
On this, a joint operation of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Indian Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was launched in Angrala forest and arms, ammunitions, as well as explosives, were recovered from a hideout in the area.
Forces recovered two pistols, four magazines, 22 9 mm live rounds and a grenade.
During further disclosure, terror fund Rs 1.81 lakh which was to be used for terror-related activities was also recovered.
Terming the arrest and recovery a big success, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Reasi Amit Gupta said that Zaffar was in touch with Terror groups and a major terror strike has been averted with his arrest.
SSP further added that Pakistani handlers are in constant effort for the revival of terrorism in the upper reaches of district Reasi and people like Zaffar are working for them. He appealed that peace-loving citizens of Reasi disowned terrorism in past also and no such attempt will be successful in this area. (Agencies)

J&K Prisons Department , in collaboration with Akhil Bhartiya Terapanth Yuvak Parishad , organised blood donations camps at 13 prisons of J&K, on 17th September 2022 , on the Birthday of Hon’ble Prime Minister, to support the Country Wide Mega Blood Donation Drive ,to raise awareness about humanitarian issue of donation of blood .

The blood donation camps were open for volunteers from amongst the staff and citizens and a large number of volunteers donated blood. All prescribed/proper protocol was followed to ensure all round safety.
Certificate and refreshment were provided to the donors , as a mark of our gratitude .

Director General Prisons, J&K- Sh. H.K. Lohia, IPS also donated blood at Central Jail Srinagar. Speaking on the occasion, he said that donating blood is one of the most precious gift , for humanity, and it strengthens the virtue of donation and inculcates , the concept of One Universe One Human Race as anyone can give to another person – “the gift of life” . Blood donation is noble virtue , which not only saves precious lives but also benefits the donor. Shri Lohia complimented and thanked the donors and medical/para-medical staff from Health and Medical Education Department as well as all Supporting Staff , Media and Countrymen , for supporting the drive. He added today is Vishwakarma Diwas also , and the Giant Strides , Mega Projects , will receive Blessings , befittingly.

Union Health Ministry has launched a massive blood donation campaign called ”Raktdaan Amrit Mahotsav” Pakhwara (fortnight) from 17th September – 1st October 2022. This initiative urges individuals to donate blood and support the Prime Minister’s Vision for Mankind.

Jammu: A statement by Dr Karan Singh that his relations with his party are “almost zero” has actually endorsed former J&K Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad’s claims in his resignation letter with regard to functioning of Congress party. This was stated by former MLA Thakur Balwan Singh reacting over Dr Karan Sing’s statement adding that the way people throng Azad’s public rallies indicates that they are determined to be part of the realistic politics in Jammu and Kashmir under the dynamic leadership of Ghulam Nabi Azad. Balwan Singh asserted that former J&K Chief Minister’s new party will not let down the people of J&K as the party, unlike the conventional political parties, has set achievable goals to ensure a better future for the people, especially the youth.He said Azad’s policy and goals are unambiguous and attainable. We want sustained peace here so that people could reap its benefits in terms of their political and economic empowerment. A peaceful atmosphere in J&K will fetch us everything that matters to the people.

Cautioning people against attempts to polarise the situation in the region ahead of assembly elections, Balwan Singh said politics is meant to bring people closer to each other but “there are some parties who are out to divide people on the name of religion, region, caste and creed.We cannot afford internal fighting. If we have to move forward, we have to stand united and not fall to mischievous propaganda,” Singh said, adding “we have to bring down the walls of hatred and become one for our nation and its progress and prosperity.” He said Azad Sahib never played politics on the basis of region or religion. “We will continue to work for the betterment of the people, their prosperity and ensure no discrimination.

He said, “Our struggle is based on justice as our state was snatched along with our rights over land and jobs.” “We have never imagined that the largest Dogra state will be downgraded. This has happened for the first time in our country and no other government can think of such a flawed decision, he said, adding “I regret the thought which led to the suffering of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.” We need a change which is possible when you support us. You have seen the rule of National Conference, PDP and BJP and now it is easy for you to decide whom to vote for,” he said, appealing to the people to reject the parties dividing them. We need a change which is possible when you support us.

Singh said that to bring a transformation in their socio-economic lives, people of J&K must afford one chance to Azad Sahib with a decisive mandate, as his credentials as a development-oriented personality are well established. Former MLA said that Ghulam Nabi Azad being a selfless leader believes in peace and prosperity and there exists no example which can be cited from the history of state politics where such multiple contributions have been made by anyone in this shortest duration. He reiterated that Azad’s unrelenting efforts and visionary policies resulted in empowerment of common masses which is the reason that people are now comparing the era of Azad with the tenure of other leaders and they reach to a prudent conclusion that no past example exists in this behalf.

Singh further said our new party will focus on the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, protection of land and jobs for its residents and the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits, he said. He said Azad Sahib has clear and practical agenda and asked people to support him in achieving the target to take Jammu and Kashmir to new heights of development and prosperity. He said restoration of full statehood, right to land and employment to native domiciles, creating employment and return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits are top priorities of Azad Sahib.

Singh further said people of J&K should support Azad Sahib to ensure honour, dignity, respect and integrity of the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir and start confidence-building together. Expressing concerns over growing unemployment, Singh said, “former CM has a plan for the creation of job opportunities. Singh claimed that under leadership of Azad Sahib, people of J&K are ready to support him to fight to ensure justice to the people of Jammu and Kashmir as his vast political experience will definitely bring down the “walls of hatred” for prosperity and development.

Ladakh, Sep 17 : Congress has retained the Timisgam constituency by winning the crucial Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh by-poll for the seat.

Officials said that Indian National Congress (INC) candidate Tashi Tundup won the by-election for 22- Timisgam constituency of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh by a margin of 273 votes defeating the BJP candidate.

Tundup secured 861 votes while his rival BJP candidate got 588 votes. A total of 14 NOTA were also cast.

Notably, out of total 26 seats, BJP had won 15 in 2020 elections, Congress nine and two were independents. Timisgam seat was won by Congress but due to the death of councillor Sonam Dorjey, by-polls were held on September 13.