Banihal, Sept 8: Two minors among three bodies were found lying under a culvert along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway at Chamalwas in Banihal area on Monday, officials said.

They said that the bodies were spotted under a bridge along the highway, following which police and rescue teams rushed to the spot.

An official said that bodies of two minors and a lady was recovered.

The identities of the deceased are being ascertained, and further details are awaited as investigations are underway, they added. (KNC)

JAMMU, Sep 08: Jammu and Kahsmir Government appointed Senior Officer Neraj Gupta Baskhi ( DG Local Funds Audit and Pensions J&KJ) as Inquiry Officer to inquire charges against FA/CAO rank Officer Nousheen MUshtaq.

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The restoration of a 250-meter-long stretch of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, which had been blocked for a week, has entered its final phase, officials said on Monday.

This restoration aims to reopen the only all-weather road connecting Kashmir to the rest of the country.

The highway has been closed since August 26 due to multiple blockades following torrential rain, flash floods, and landslides. However, it was reopened for traffic for a few hours on August 30. In total, the highway has been closed for 13 days.

“The work on restoring the washed-out stretch of highway in Udhampur has entered the final phase to make the highway trafficable. The Thard stretch is quite difficult as the highway had to be rebuilt here,” a National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) official stated.

Officials anticipate the highway will reopen for traffic by Monday night, as work is progressing rapidly. Crews have successfully blasted and removed six large rocks that were the main obstacles, and they have excavated three additional rocks to assist in clearing further hindrances, officials mentioned further.

“This has been a considerable challenge. However, the road is beginning to clear, and we expect the blocked highway to be opened for traffic soon,” officials noted.

Despite these efforts, intermittent rainfall hindered the NHAI’s work to restore traffic on the landslide-affected 250-meter Thard stretch on Sunday. While most landslides, mudslides, and debris in Ramban and Udhampur have been cleared, the Thard area remains buried under a hill following the washing away of parts of the highway.

The 270-kilometre-long highway has been closed for vehicular traffic for the seventh consecutive day due to ongoing clearance operations. Meanwhile, traffic on the inter-regional Mughal Road, which connects Poonch district in the Jammu region with Shopian district in Kashmir, is moving smoothly.

“The highway is still closed for vehicular movement from Jakheni (Udhampur) towards Srinagar and vice versa due to road blockages between Jakheni and Bali Nallah. No vehicular movement shall be allowed from Nagrota (Jammu) towards Reasi, Chenani, Patnitop, Doda, Ramban, Banihal, Srinagar, and vice versa,” a traffic police advisory said.

Additionally, commuters travelling to Katra and Udhampur towns are advised to carry photo ID cards to verify their identities, facilitating smoother movement.

The closure of highways and other inter-regional roads to Kashmir has resulted in over 4,000 vehicles becoming stranded across various locations, including Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Udhampur, Ramban, the Kashmir Valley, and Punjab. Many inter-district roads, including the Katra-Reasi road, remain closed.

The army and locals are providing stranded highway travellers, mostly truckers, with rations and food daily in various districts.

Meanwhile, the pilgrimage to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta Hills also remained suspended for the 14th consecutive day.

Doda, Aug 28: The political atmosphere in Doda district grew tense on Monday after the administration detained AAP MLA Mehraj Malik and Deputy Commissioner (DC) Harvinder Singh filed an FIR against him for allegedly using abusive language, officials said.

Videos circulating on social media purportedly show Malik verbally abusing the DC, prompting the administration to cite law-and-order concerns for his preventive detention at the Dak Bungalow. Officials said the move was aimed at preventing escalation of tensions in the area.

Earlier, Malik, known for his fiery speeches, accused the administration of misusing officials to enforce a strike, vowing to “come openly and with full strength.” Sources said this was not the first such incident, as similar videos of the MLA targeting officials had surfaced in recent days.

The AAP has yet to issue a formal statement, though party insiders indicated the detention and FIR may be viewed as attempts to stifle dissent.

Meanwhile, authorities have increased security in Doda to prevent protests and maintain order.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday called on the scientific community to explore possibilities of developing soil sensors using nanotechnology for the Himalayan region, as part of an early warning system to address the dangers of landslides.

“Keeping in mind the challenges of climate change, we should focus on creating nanomaterials that can reduce pollution in chemical manufacturing. We must also explore the new possibilities to develop soil sensors specifically for the Himalayan regions,” Sinha said in his address to the inaugural session of the international conference on nanotechnology for better living at the University of Kashmir here.

Sinha emphasised that these sensors would be integral to an Advanced Early Warning System, capable of alerting authorities about potential landslides based on changes in soil saturation levels.

He further noted that these projects will prove to be game changers in preventing losses from natural disasters in India’s Himalayan region in the future.

The five-day mega event, organised by the University of Kashmir in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad, brought together leading scientists and researchers to showcase recent advancements in nanotechnology and its applications for sustainable living.

The Lieutenant Governor highlighted how advancements and breakthroughs in nanotechnology are reshaping lives and work environments while ensuring a better standard of living.

“Today, evolution in nanoscience and nanotechnology is having a transformative impact across various sectors. The cutting-edge research in the future will address critical global challenges in industries, healthcare and the environment,” he said.

In his address, Sinha urged scientists and experts to establish a group dedicated to developing an Advanced Early Warning System for flash floods, focusing on creating more sensitive and accurate sensors through nanotechnology.

He also called upon nanotechnology experts to contribute significantly to the defence sector, especially in the production of lighter components for defence equipment. “Nanotechnology experts and scientists must join this effort and strengthen the self-reliance campaign in the defence sector,” he said.

The Lieutenant Governor called for devising a plan to incentivise talent in nanotechnology across academic institutions.

“Our focus should be on developing and using nanotechnology for the benefit of humanity. We simply cannot ignore the daunting challenges of climate change that confront us. Our inventions and initiatives show how quickly we are leading various areas of nanotechnology,” he added.