Member of Parliament and former Indian cricketer Yusuf Pathan met Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar.
The Chief Minister praised Pathan’s achievements in cricket and acknowledged his contribution to the sport at the national level.
Omar Abdullah also wished him success in his parliamentary role and for future endeavours in public life.
The nearly month-long closure of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway has disrupted the supply chain between the two divisions of the Union Territory, causing apple prices to drop sharply at the Jammu fruit mandi.
With truck consignments delayed by several days, perishable apples are arriving in poor condition, forcing traders to sell at drastically reduced rates. Growers and traders alike are now grappling with heavy financial losses, raising concerns over the future stability of the region’s apple trade amid continued transport hurdles.
The 270-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, suffered extensive damage at several places, especially between Nashri and Udhampur, in the aftermath of record rainfall on August 26 and 27, leading to its closure for vehicular movement.
The traffic on the highway was partially restored last week, but hundreds of trucks, including those carrying apples to different markets within and outside Jammu and Kashmir, remained stranded for days, causing extensive damage to the produce.
“It is a difficult period for everyone…the road has done more damage than the rain. Some of the trucks, which had left Kashmir on September 1, are reaching here today (September 16),” Sandeep Mahajan, a trader at Narwal Mandi, the main terminal market for fresh vegetables and fruit in Jammu, said.
He said this is the peak apple season and “the government needs to take corrective measures to minimise the losses”.
“What is the survival rate of the perishable goods when a truck takes a fortnight to reach Jammu market from Kashmir?” he said, claiming that 60 per cent of the produce is almost damaged, forcing them to sell the apples at throwaway prices.
He said the introduction of a freight train to carry apples from central Kashmir’s Budgam to New Delhi via Jammu cannot be an alternative, given its limited load carriage and non-coverage of all fruit-producing areas, especially south Kashmir.
Randeer Gupta, another trader, said they are staring at the total loss of their money this time.
“I do not think it will be more than five per cent of what we have invested. The boxes worth Rs 1,000 are selling at Rs 100 and Rs 200. The apple-laden trucks are taking more than 10 days to reach here,” he added.
He said the traders have invested a lot of money with the hope of overcoming past losses. “This time, the grower as well as the trader are ruined.” Manik Gupta said he has been trading in the market for five decades, but had never seen such a situation.
“We have seen ups and downs in the past, but this time, it is total destruction. Almost 60 per cent of the crop has been destroyed,” he said, adding that given the situation, the growers in Kashmir are reluctant to load their produce because they have suffered huge losses.
He said the goods reaching the Jammu market are of no value.
“After farmers, the traders who have invested a lot of money are also suffering. We have already given more than 50 per cent of payments almost six months in advance. Some people have taken loans and others invested all their earnings,” he pointed out.
He said the apple season lasts for three months and the government should ensure smooth transportation of the horticulture produce, which is the backbone of the J&K economy.
“We have heard that controlled atmosphere stores are already full in Kashmir. The government must work hard to facilitate the smooth transportation of horticulture produce from the valley,” he noted. (Agenices)
The Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) on Tuesday announced that the OMR-based written examination for the post of Junior Engineer (Electrical) in the Power Development Department has been postponed and will now be held on October 25, 2025.
In a notification issued by JKSSB, the examination was earlier scheduled for September 21 but has been deferred. “The OMR based written examination for the post of Junior Engineer (Electrical), advertised vide Notification No. 02 of 2025, dated 27.02.2025, scheduled to be held on 21.09.2025, is hereby postponed and shall now be conducted on 25.10.2025,” it said.
The JKSSB further informed that admit cards for the said examination will be available on its official website www.jkssb.nic.in from October 20, 2025
Amid chants of ‘Jai Mata Di’, the pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills resumed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district on Wednesday, after a suspension of 22 days due to a devastating landslide that claimed 34 lives and injured 20, officials said.
The Shrine Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) announced the reopening of the yatra subject to favourable weather conditions from this morning, bringing cheers on the faces of many devotees who were camping in Katra town – the base camp for the pilgrims visiting the shrine.
Hundreds of pilgrims gathered at Banganga Darshani gate, the starting point of the yatra, in the early hours of the day, expressing immense happiness and relief on the commencement of the pilgrimage.
Shrine board officials said the yatra began at 6 a.m. from both the routes leading to the hilltop shrine after a temporary suspension necessitated by inclement weather conditions and essential maintenance of the track leading to the shrine.
Pilgrims are advised to carry valid identification, follow designated pathways and cooperate with on-ground staff, the officials said, adding Radio Frequency Identity Card (RFID)-based tracking remains mandatory for transparency and traceability.
The shrine board expressed its gratitude to all devotees for their patience and understanding during the temporary suspension.
“The resumption of the Yatra marks a reaffirmation of our collective faith and resilience, and the board remains committed to upholding the sanctity, safety and dignity of this revered pilgrimage,” an official said.
“We are extremely happy that the yatra has resumed. We reached the base camp from Pune two days ago and it was a difficult wait, but we were sure that we are going to have a ‘darshan’ before returning to our hometown,” said a woman pilgrim, part of a group from Maharashtra.
The pilgrims termed the resumption of the yatra as a very special day and said, “visiting the shrine is a blessing, and we thank the officials for making this possible.”
The shrine board urged all pilgrims to strictly follow safety guidelines and remain updated through official communication channels.
With the path now declared safe, the pilgrimage is expected to see a large number of devotees in the coming days, especially during the upcoming Navratri scheduled to start from September 22 till October 1.
The pilgrimage was suspended on August 26, hours before a major landslide hit the route leading to the shrine that resulted in the human loss
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday extended warm greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 75th birthday.
The Office of LG J&K in a post on X, conveyed “Heartfelt birthday wishes to Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi Ji. I pray for your long & healthy life. Under your visionary leadership, the nation is achieving unprecedented progress in every sphere. Your commitment & dedication to people’s welfare continue to inspire us all.”
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in his message, posted on X, “Wishing the Hon PM @narendramodi Sb a very happy 75th birthday. May he be blessed with good health & a long life in the service of our nation & all its citizens.” (KNC)
Former Chairman of the Health & Sanitation Committee of Jammu Municipal Corporation and General Secretary of the Jammu & Kashmir Congress Committee, Satish Sharma, has warned that with the changing season, the threat of mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya is increasing rapidly. He urged the Health Department and Jammu Municipal Corporation to strengthen their teams and immediately launch a special sanitation and fumigation drive across the city to prevent any outbreak of epidemic.
Sharma pointed out that the recent spell of continuous rains and floods severely affected several parts of Jammu city. Streets and drains were submerged, causing immense difficulties for people. Now that the water has receded, filth and sludge have accumulated in many areas. This filth and waterlogging, he said, are the prime breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
He added that the spread of diseases like dengue and chikungunya is usually higher during the monsoon and transition of seasons. In such conditions, the administration must remain alert and prepared. If proper sanitation and spraying of medicines are not carried out in time, there could be a sudden spike in dengue and chikungunya cases in the coming days.
The former Chairman made it clear that municipal teams should not restrict their activities only to main roads and marketplaces but must reach lanes, colonies, and residential localities to conduct cleaning and fumigation. He also called upon the Health Department to run awareness campaigns about preventive measures and educate people to ensure that no stagnant water is left around their homes and neighborhoods.
Sharma further appealed to citizens not to rely solely on the administration but to take personal responsibility for maintaining hygiene. He emphasized that people must keep their rooftops, courtyards, and surroundings clean. “The most effective way to fight dengue is to eliminate the breeding grounds of mosquitoes altogether,” he stressed.
Expressing confidence, Sharma said that if the Municipal Corporation, Health Department, and common citizens work together, dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases can be controlled in time.
While the cleanliness and sanitation drive post-floods is in full swing, fogging has also been intensified in all municipal and non-municipal areas as threat of dengue and malaria loom in the affected areas of Jammu.
The Jammu Municipal Corporation and State Malarialogist Office of Jammu Health Department have jointly initiated the exercise of fogging and spraying in the flood-affected areas to control the rise in the water-borne and vector-borne diseases.
Dhruv Ji Raina, Malariologist, Jammu Health department said, “Compared to the last year, dengue cases in Jammu are fewer, but to prevent its rise, several measures are being taken by various departments.”
Sharing details, the officer said that up to September 14 this year, 437 cumulative cases were reported from across the Jammu and Kashmir with highest 147 in Jammu district.
In 2024, he said that the cases up to this period were 677 and Jammu remained the hotspot with highest 377 cases.
“We are making efforts along with the JMC to ascertain the cause of dengue and other water-borne and vector-borne diseases and also following all the guidelines and measures to prevent its spread particularly in the flood-affected areas,” said Dr Raina.
Sharing the district-wise break-up up to September 14 this year, he said that Jammu reported highest 147 cases followed by 130 in Kathua, 51 in Samba, 47 in Udhampur, 27 in Rajouri, nine in Reasi, eight each in Ramban and Kashmir, six in Doda and lowest four in Poonch.
He stated that community participation and awareness were also mandatory to prevent the spread of the disease in the flood-hit areas by controlling the water stagnation, by avoiding dumping of plastic items, and by cleaning water containers.
Dr Raina further said that the JMC and the Health Department have also issued a schedule for fogging and spraying.
This year, dengue has claimed the life of an adult male from Rehari locality of Jammu, who succumbed on June 29 while being shifted from a private hospital to the neighbouring state.
More than 9,000 dengue tests have been carried out across Jammu and Kashmir this year and in the same period in 2024, 539 cases had been confirmed out of 8,500 tests done.
The Malarialogist further added that the Health Department and the Jammu Municipal Corporation have launched an aggressive fogging in the city area, adding, “two rounds have been completed, the first in June-July and the second between September 2 and 12.”
The third round, he said, has started from September 13 and will cover both residential and commercial belts.
Amid post-flood challenges, Commissioner Municipal Corporation Jammu Dr Devansh Yadav has appealed to the people of Jammu to remain cautious and adopt preventive measures as several areas continue to recover from the aftermath of recent floods.
He emphasized that flood-hit regions are highly vulnerable to outbreaks of waterborne and vector-borne diseases, and immediate action is necessary to protect public health.
“The ongoing season poses an increased risk of mosquito-borne diseases including dengue and chikungunya, which are more likely to spread in areas with accumulated stagnant water,” he said, instructing all residents to ensure the safety of their drinking water.
Residents are also urged to maintain their surroundings by removing stagnant water from rooftops, courtyards and nearby drains as such areas provide ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes, he added.
He said to facilitate public health services and immediate assistance, the Health Department has activated the 104 helpline number that will provide guidance and address any health-related queries from residents.
He said the Jammu Municipal Corporation has intensified its efforts to conduct fogging and spraying activities across all civic wards to control mosquito breeding and minimize the risk of vector-borne diseases. (Agencies)
The Jammu and Kashmir Government has deputed an official delegation led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds the Tourism portfolio, to participate in the IFTM Top Resa tourism event in Paris from September 23 to 25.
The team includes Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani and Director Tourism Jammu Vikas Gupta.
As per an order, the expenditure for the visit will be met by the Tourism Department.
Chatroo, September 16:
Senior Congress Leader and Former Minister, G. M. Saroori, today met Sub-District Magistrate (SDM) Chatroo, Naeem-ur-Rehman Mughal, and raised pressing public issues concerning Chatroo and Mugalmaidan tehsils.
Saroori highlighted that the recent floods and heavy rains have caused widespread damage to government assets and created hardships for the local population. He urged the administration to:
Provide immediate relief to affected families.
Ensure early release of SDRF compensation.
Expedite the construction of Degree College Chatroo.
He also emphasized the need for preparing and forwarding detailed proposals to higher authorities for the repair and reconstruction of damaged government infrastructure, including schools and Tourist Reception Centres (TRCs) in Chatroo and Mugalmaidan.
Saroori reiterated that timely government intervention is critical to restore normalcy and provide much-needed relief to the public.
Chatroo, September 16:
Senior Congress Leader and Former Minister, G. M. Saroori, today met Sub-District Magistrate (SDM) Chatroo, Naeem-ur-Rehman Mughal, and raised pressing public issues concerning Chatroo and Mugalmaidan tehsils.
Saroori highlighted that the recent floods and heavy rains have caused widespread damage to government assets and created hardships for the local population. He urged the administration to:
Provide immediate relief to affected families.
Ensure early release of SDRF compensation.
Expedite the construction of Degree College Chatroo.
He also emphasized the need for preparing and forwarding detailed proposals to higher authorities for the repair and reconstruction of damaged government infrastructure, including schools and Tourist Reception Centres (TRCs) in Chatroo and Mugalmaidan.
Saroori reiterated that timely government intervention is critical to restore normalcy and provide much-needed relief to the public.