Jammu, Jul 31: A house collapsed following heavy rains in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district on Sunday, leaving two children dead, officials said.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed grief over the loss of lives and directed the district administration to provide necessary assistance to the affected family.
The loss of innocent lives due to house collapse in Billawar is extremely unfortunate and tragic. My deepest condolences to the bereaved family in this hour of grief”, the LG said. (AGENCIES)

JAMMU, Jul 31: The Meteorological (MeT) department said on Sunday that partly Jammu and Kashmir will likely have cloudy sky with light rain during the next 24 hours.
Weather was inclement in the union territory during the last 24 hours.
“Partly cloudy sky with light rain is likely in J&K during the next 24 hours,” an official of the MeT department said.
Srinagar had 18.8, Pahalgam 14.4 and Gulmarg 11 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature.
Drass in Ladakh region had 13.1 and Leh 11.7 as the minimum temperature.
Jammu had 24.4, Katra 22, Batote 18.6, Banihal 18.2 and Bhaderwah 19 as the minimum temperature. (Agencies)

Technical Awareness program organized by Acharya Sri Chander Group of Institute’s (ASCGI) Ghou Manhasa Jammu at khour Akhnoor under the Chairmanship of Er. Aadil Manhas(M.D), Anirudh Manhas (Director), Shikha Bhau (Cordinator), Er. Zameer Parihar(Administrator), Vikram Kumar, Suchit Singh Langeh. The programme was organized in coordination with Local Students & their Parents. The main objective of the programme is to aware students about the importance of Technical Education in Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering & Electronics & Communication Engineering courses and ITI in Draughtsman Civil, Data Entry operator & Plumber Courses & other schemes which are being launched by the Directorate of Skill Development J&K, JKSBOTE & AICTE.
Er. Aadil Manhas & The Team Members of ASCGI input on this topic & highlighting the importance/values of Technical Education & the scholarship facilities available for the boys/girls and special consideration for the financial weaker sections provided in the institution.

Banihal July 30: A dumper mysteriously caught fire inside Nashri Chennai Tunnel in J&K’s Udhampur district on Saturday with timely action by the Fire and Emergency Services averting a major mishap.

As per officials, as soon as the mishap was reported, Fire tenders were pressed into service and they doused the fire. The timely action by the Fire and Emergency Services averted a major tragedy inside the tunnel.

 Two persons died while four others sustained injuries after a seasonal house—commonly known as ‘Kotha’– collapsed in Khanikote area of Reasi district.  Livestock was also killed in the incident.

Divulging details a police official told GNS that at about 0400 hours in the wee morning the ‘Kotha’ suddenly collapsed in Khanikote area, resulting into the onspot death of two persons and injuries to four others. Three sheep, three goats and two oxes  also got killed in the incident.

He identified the deceased as Madan Singh, 22, son of Gyan Chand and Joja Devi, 42, wife of Rattan Singh, both residents of Khanikot and at present Monimal (Kotha).

The injured have been identified as Surjeet Singh, Sunil Singh, Lacho Devi and Kako Devi, all residents of the same area. 

Meanwhile, SHO  Arnas Jeet Singh  confirmed the incident to GNS and said that the injured have been shifted to nearby hospital for treatment.

Asks Govt to ensure transparency, accountability

JAMMU, July 29: Senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister, Kavinder Gupta on Friday urged the government to stop unnecessary harassment of youth by ensuring a transparent recruitment process in the Union Territory of J&K.
He was speaking during a public grievances camp at Party Headquarters after interacting with a deputation of Library and Information Science (LIS) aspirants led by Karan Kumar. Sham Chowdhary former Minister and Munish Sharma incharge BJP all morcha also accompanied Kavinder during the camp.
Kavinder said that recent unfortunate incidents wherein scams have been exposed in the recruitment process are unacceptable and the government should come up with a failsafe mechanism to provide transparent and accountable environment especially in case recruitment process as youths have already faced hardships due to discriminatory policies of successive governments.
Scores of people visited the party office to put forth their woes pertaining to basic amenities, civic infra etc and sought intervention of the BJP leadership. Most of the people highlighted issues related to the development in their respective areas besides some personal matters.
The deputation of Library and Information Science (LIS) aspirants led by Karan Kumar and comprising Prince Pratap Singh, Anu Sharma, Mehmood Ayaz, Amit, Vivek and others took up the matter of eligibility issue with the former deputy chief minister. They also submitted a memorandum with regard to their demands.
They apprised the senior BJP leader that the Minimum Qualification required for the aforesaid post is Certificate course in Library Science but this course is outdated and obsolete as both the universities in J&K viz KU and JU have stopped these courses way back in 1985 and 1983 respectively and therefore there is no fun in making the same as criteria for recruitment.
Consequently, Kavinder contacted SSB Chairman Rajesh Shavan and placed the matter before him. Thereupon, the officer concerned assured to look into the matter at the earliest assuring that the interests of the aforesaid aspirants will remain his priority.