New Delhi, Jan 4: A dense layer of fog has engulfed Indo-Gangetic plains and is likely to persist for the next 2-3 days and gradually reduce thereafter, as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
As a result of the prevailing foggy conditions, trains have been running late owing to the dense fog and visibility level.
The fog has reduced visibility all over North India.
“Visibility (<=200m) recorded at 0530 hours IST of today, 04.01.23: Punjab: Amritsar-25, Patiala-50; northwest Rajasthan: Ganganagar & Churu-25 each; Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi: Chandigarh-25, Ambala & Palam-200 each; West Uttar Pradesh: Bareilly-25, Jhansi-50; northwest Madhya Pradesh: Gwalior-50; Chhattisgarh: Ambikapur-50; Jharkhand: Ranchi-50; East Uttar Pradesh: Bahraich-200; East Madhya Pradesh: Sagar & Jabalpur-200 each; Bihar: Bhagalpur & Purnea-200 each,” Indian Meteorological Department said.
Many trains are also running late due to the prevailing fog.
“Darbanga-New Delhi special, Puri-New Delhi Purushottam exp, Banaras-New Delhi Special, Sultanpur- Anand vihar exp, Ayodhya Cantt- Delhi Jn. Exp.,” as per the Indian Railways among others are running late.
Earlier on Jan 2, the Indian Meteorological Department said that dense to very dense fog and cold wave conditions are very likely to prevail over the plains of northwest India during the next five days.
“Dense to very dense fog and cold wave conditions very likely to continue over plains of northwest India including Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar during next 5 days,” India Meteorological Department said.
Earlier on Sunday, the forecast department said that minimum and maximum temperatures in January 2023 are most likely to be below normal over many parts of central India and adjoining areas of peninsular, east and northwest India.
As per IMD, above-normal to normal minimum temperatures are most likely over southern parts of the south Peninsula, many parts of northeast India and some parts of northwest India.
It also said, “Above normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of northeast India and some parts of northwest, east and east central India.”
IMD also predicted monthly rainfall for January 2023 over Northwest India consisting of seven meteorological subdivisions (East Uttar Pradesh, West Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh) is most likely to be below normal (78 per cent of Long Period Average (LPA)), said IMD on Sunday.
The rainfall over Northwest India consists of seven meteorological subdivisions- East Uttar Pradesh, West Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh which are most likely to be below normal (86 per cent of Long Period Average (LPA)), said IMD.
The IMD said below-normal rainfall is most likely over most parts of the country except many parts of south peninsular India and some pockets of central India where above-normal to normal rainfall is expected. (Agencies)
Dense fog engulfs Indo-Gangetic plains, to persist over 2-3 days
Pahalgam shivers at -9.4°C, Srinagar records -5.2°C
Srinagar, Jan 4: Intense cold conditions continued unabated in Kashmir Valley as minimum temperature dropped to minus 9.4°C in Pahalgam on Wednesday.
Quoting a meteorological department official, GNS reported that Srinagar recorded a low of minus 5.2°C against last night’s minus 4.4°C. Today’s minimum temperature was 3.1°C below normal for the summer capital, the official said. Srinagar has so far seen the coldest temperature this season on December 25 when mercury plummeted to minus 5.8°C.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 5.2°C against minus 5.0°C on the previous night. The temperature was 2.1°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir, he said.
Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of minus 9.4°C against minus 7.2°C on the previous night.
The coldest night recorded this season in the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district was on January 2 when mercury plunged to minus 9.6°C, he said. Today’s minimum temperature was 2.8°C below normal for the place, he said.
Kokernag recorded a low of minus 3.8°C against minus 4.1°C on the previous night, he said. It was 0.3°C below normal for the place, he said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 8.4°C against minus 9.2°C on the previous night, the official said. It was 1.4°C below normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district which recorded its coldest night on January 2 when minimum temperature plummeted to minus 10.0°C, the official said.
In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at minus 6.0°C against minus 4.1°C on the previous night in the north Kashmir area, he said. The official said that the temperature was 3.5°C below normal.
Jammu recorded a low of 4.5°C against 3.6°C on the previous night. It was 2.8°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said.
Banihal recorded a low of 2.4°C (above normal by 0.2°C), Batote 2.0°C (normal), Katra 4.9°C (1.4°C below normal) and Bhadarwah Minus 1.2°C (0.7°C below normal).
In Ladakh, Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 15.4°C and minus 18.7°C respectively, the official said.Regarding the forecast, the MeT official said mainly clear weather was expected till January 6. “Expect further fall in minimum temperature across J&K,” he said, adding, “On January 7, weather is expected to be cloudy and from January 8-10, weather is expected to be cloudy with possibility of snowfall and rain (in plains of Jammu) at many places of J&K (70% chance).”
US House fails to pick Speaker on first ballot for first time in a century
Among the voters, 10 voted for right-wing Representative-elect Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.): Biggs himself, Dan Bishop of North Carolina, Andrew Clyde of Georgia, Eli Crane of Arizona, Matt Gaetz of Florida, Bob Good of Virginia, Paul Gosar of Arizona, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania and Matt Rosendale of Montana, according to The New York Post.
Meanwhile, six other members, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Mike Cloud of Texas, Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, Mary Miller of Illinois, Andy Ogles of Tennessee and Keith Self of Texas, voted for Representative-elect Jim Jordan (R-Ohio).
Representative-elect Josh Breechen of Oklahoma supported Jim Banks of Indiana and Andy Harris of Maryland-backed New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin. Representative-elect Chip Roy of Texas cast his vote for colleague Byron Donalds of Florida.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was elected with 216 votes in 2021.
All 212 Democrats in the chamber supported Brooklyn and Queens Representative Hakeem Jeffries, the first black leader of either party in the House, The New York Post reported.
McCarthy himself got 203 votes, and his supporters signalled a willingness to go through multiple ballots to ensure he got the gavel.
McCarthy does not technically need 218 votes to become a Speaker. A majority of those present and voting is required to get the speakership, which is usually 218 lawmakers.
After the result, Representative Kevin McCarthy told reporters that he was not surprised by the first ballot and criticized his opponents. “What we’re doing here right now is we got a number of members who are trying to fight for their own personal items instead of fighting for the country,” McCarthy said, alluding to efforts to secure concessions from him, The Washington Post reported.
A second vote for Speaker began immediately, and the House will continue through possibly multiple ballots until a Speaker is elected.
Workshop on Industrial Automation Concluded at SMVDU
Skill Development Workshop on Industrial Automation organized by student managed Automation and Emerging Technologies (AET) Club at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University concluded with a great learning experience among the participants.In the five-day workshop, students got hands on training on PLC, HMI,.and SCADA. Dr Balbir Singh, Club Faculty Advisor, briefed the session and presented a token of thanks to workshop resource person, Dr Himanshu Kumar, Director, Indwell Automation. On the occasion, Prof. Eswarmoorthy Muthusamy, Head, School of Mechanical Engineering, motivated the students
to pursue the emerging field of automation for future. Dr Mir Irfan Ul Haq (Faculty Mentor, of the Club) also shared his knowledge with the students and emphasized a need for conducting more such workshops. Dr Ankush Raina, Assistant Professor, Mr BK Bhatia, Training and Placement Officer and Dr R K Mishra, Associate Professor also spoke on the occasion and thanked Mr Himanshu for conducting the workshop.The President AET Club, SMVDU, Mr. Agam Balotra, was also appreciated by the faculty advisors. The workshop
concluded with a group photograph and all the participants had a great learning experience. The organizers thanked the SMVDU administration for their support.
Baaghi expressed concern over unbridled rising prices of essential commodities
AAP Leader & Social Activist Gurmeet Singh Baaghi criticized central government for rising of prices of essentials commodities continuously. The Government has giving new year gift to the people of country by hiking commercial cooking gas of Rs. 25. The prices of all the essential commodities have skyrocketed. The prices of essential commodities are increasing with every passing day as the Government are failed to control it. Price hike of Commodities of daily use is very unfortunate for people belonging to lower and middle class. The uncontrolled hike in the prices of the essential commodities has added a heavy burden to the common people. Country never seen this type of situation ever before. Inflation is one of the major problems of the common man with the prices of commodities of the daily use soaring high. Inflation had made the common man very difficult and the worst thing is when the food items get dearer, one is compelled to stretch oneself beyond one’s capacity to the necessities to one’s family. In such circumstances the poor continue in their state of poverty but the repercussions on the middle class are high in the form of their meagre saving or even incurring debts. The worst hit is the fixed income groups like salaried people, labour class, traders, small business owners, pensioners etc. For them even the commodities of basic necessities like wheat, pulses, grains, vegetables etc are getting out of reach. Every increase in price disturbs their budgets. Inflation of food prices directly impacts the quality of nutrition available and hence the health of the human resource of the nation with a major chunk of the family income, being used up to run the kitchen. There is a severe cut down on the fund available for other important functions like the education of the children. The government has on several occasions pointed to the international rates of crude oil when questioned about the fuel & Gas price hike. Now the international rates have dropped then why the rates have not been slashed ?.
Baaghi said that this is the Government responsibility to ensure availability of essential commodities at cheaper rates and the government should make arrangement for supply of these items. This increase in price is causing anxiety amongst the people of India. Prices of everything are sky-rocketing, even of the essential commodities like gas, pulses, sugar, edible oil, tea, food grains, petrol etc. Price rise affects different people differently. Poor people who are unable to purchase even essential commodities due to the sky rocketing rise of prices. The government failed to control the inflation and the Government did not take any concrete action to control inflation. People from all walks of society are unhappy with the performance of the Government. The Central Government must present a roadmap for tackling price of essential commodities.
Bharat Jodo Yatra: Farooq walks with Gandhis in UP
New Delhi: The Congress’ Bharat Jodo Yatra on Tuesday entered Uttar Pradesh after resuming its second leg of the journey from the national capital following a nine-day year-end break.
Former J&K chief Minister and President Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) joined the Yatra, and walked along with Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi. Priyanka Gandhi join the Yatra from the Loni border.
Senior J&K politician Farooq joined Bharat Jodo Yatra near Ghaziabad.
The Yatra has been receiving a great response from the public and the likeminded political leadership of the country.
Party workers lined up on both sides of the road at the Loni border in Ghaziabad and welcomed Rahul Gandhi and other ‘yatris’ as the march entered the state.
The Yatra flag was handed over between the leaders of both states at a specially made stage.
AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, Delhi Congress chief Anil Kumar Chaudhary, and Congress leaders of Uttar Pradesh, including CLP leader Aradhna Mishra, were among those present.
Led by former party chief Rahul Gandhi, the yatra had started from the Hanuman Mandir at Kashmiri Gate in the morning as it made its way through the busy Outer Ring Road.
As the Yatra moved forward in Delhi, a huge police force was deployed to ensure there was no untoward incident. However, traffic in several parts of the city on the Ring Road was thrown out of gear.
AICC in-charge for Delhi affairs of the party Shaktisinh Gohil said he saw a great turnout in Delhi and leaders of various opposition parties will join the Yatra.
Starting from Kanyakumari on September 7, the Yatra has so far travelled over 3,000 kms. It will conclude on January 30 in Srinagar with the hoisting of the national flag by Rahul Gandhi.
Tearful adieu to 6 killed in Rajouri twin terror attacks
RAJOURI/JAMMU: The mortal remains of six people including two minor cousins who were killed in twin terrorist incidents in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district were given a tearful and emotional farewell as they were cremated at their native place on Tuesday.
Hundreds of sobbing mourners – relatives, friends and neighbours – queued up with flowers and wreaths to pay their last respects to the mortal remains at the government higher second school, where the bodies were kept for the night.
Amid slogans by people who took out processions, the bodies of the six victims of the terror attacks at Dhangri village, were brought to the cremation ground for last rites.
The bodies of four-year-old Vihan Sharma, 16-year-old Samiksha Sharma, Satish Kumar (45), Deepak Kumar (23), Pritam Lal (57) and Shishu Pal (32) were cremated in six pyres lined up at Dhangri cremation ground.
The cremation took place amid tight security arrangements. Security has been beefed up in and around Rajouri city and adjoining areas, officials said.
Cordon and search operations are on to track down terrorists involved in the killings, they said.
Police has announced Rs 10 lakh award to anyone who share specific information regarding the terrorists involved in the gruesome attacks.
Meanwhile, a team of NIA led by senior officer visited Dhangri village this afternoon to conduct initial investigation into the twin terror incidents that also left 11 injured on Sunday and Monday.
Director General of Police Dilbag Singh, BJP Jammu and Kashmir chief Ravinder Raina, ADGP Mukesh Singh and divisional commissioner (Jammu) Ramesh Kumar took part in the cremation besides army officers and district administration officials. They laid wreath at the mortal remains and paid rich tributes to the departed persons.
The two cousins were killed when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off on Monday. On Sunday evening, terrorists opened fire on three houses in the area in Rajouri district killing four civilians and injuring six.
In Kishtwar district, a bandh was observed on Tuesday in protest against the attacks.
Shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was partially off the roads in the town.
“Sanatan Dharam Sabha gave a bandh call to protest against the killings. It was aimed to sensitise the government about the security and safety of the people,” a leader of the organisation said.
“BJP can’t escape from elections forever”: Rajesh Gupta
The National Democratic Party Indian (NDPI) has accused the BJP of avoiding assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and perpetuating direct Central rule. Addressing party workers in a meeting held here on Tuesday NDPI Chief Rajesh Gupta Lashing out at central government for abandoning democratic rights of people in J&K to make them unrepresented at every forum, the BJP is denying democratic rights to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. For how long will they deny assembly elections and restoration of statehood?” said Gupta. He has
demanded holding of early assembly elections in J&K followed by restoration of Statehood. He further added, “they (the BJP) cannot escape from elections forever. If not today or tomorrow, one day they have to hold elections in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said. Gupta said NDPI shall continue to fight for constitutional guarantees, protection of land and jobs and will not compromise on the rights of people rather fight vigorously to ensure justice to them (people), besides exposing the political exploitation on the part of BJP. Gupta has accused the BJP of avoiding assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and perpetuating direct Central rule. NDPI president said, “After revocation of the special status and statehood of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019, the Centre promised to hold elections in the newly-formed Union Territory after the delimitation exercise to redraw 90 assembly seats. The BJP, in collaboration with the Election Commission, is denying democratic rights to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP doesn’t want elections here because its support base has shrunk,” said Gupta. NDPI believes grant of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir as also holding elections so that people are able to elect their representatives instead of a rule by Delhi, is the only way forward to guarantee full democratic right.” Gupta added. Gupta said, “Now it’s for the prime minister and the BJP to decide whether to hold a meeting or to accept the demands of the National Democratic Party Indian, in the interest of the constitution and the people of the state.”
Govt puts in place people-friendly facility to update Aadhaar
The government has put in place a resident-friendly facility to help people update addresses in their Aadhaar online with the consent of the Head of the Family (HoF).
The HoF-based online address update in Aadhaar will be of great help to the relative(s) of a resident, like children, spouse, parents, etc, who don’t have supporting documents in their own name to update their address in their Aadhaar, according to the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
It can be done by submitting proof of relationship documents like a ration card, mark sheet, marriage certificate, passport, etc. mentioning the name of both the applicant and HOF and the relationship between them and OTP-based authentication by the HOF. In case even the proof of relationship document is not available, the UIDAI provides the resident to submit a self-declaration by the HOF in the UIDAI-prescribed format.
With people moving cities and towns due to various reasons within the country, such a facility will be beneficial for millions of people. This choice would be in addition to the existing address update facility using any valid proof of address document prescribed by UIDAI. Any resident above the age of 18 can be a HOF for this purpose and can share his/her address with his/her relatives through this process.
In the ‘My Aadhaar’ portal, a resident can choose this option while seeking to update their address online. Following this, the resident will be allowed to enter the Aadhaar number of the HOF, which will only be validated. No other information on the HOF’s Aadhaar will be displayed on the screen to maintain adequate privacy of HOF.
Post successful validation of the Aadhaar number of HOF, the resident will be required to upload the proof of relationship document.
A resident has to pay a fee of Rs. 50/- for the service. On successful payment, a service request number (SRN) would be shared with the resident, and an SMS would be sent to the HOF about the address request. The HOF has to approve the request and give his/her consent by logging into the My Aadhaar portal within 30 days from the date of receiving the notification and the request will be processed.
If the HOF rejects to share her/his address or does not accept or decline within the stipulated 30 days of SRN creation, the request would be closed. The resident, seeking an address update through this option, will be informed about the closure of the request via an SMS. In case the request is closed or rejected due to non-acceptance of the HOF or rejected during the process, the amount shall not be refunded to the applicant.
NIA to visit Upper Dhangri village in J-K’s Rajouri where five killed in terror attacks since Sunday
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is likely to visit Upper Dangri village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district where five people, including a child, were killed and many more were injured in two separate terrorist attacks since Sunday evening, sources said.
Highly placed sources indicated that a team led by a senior NIA official may visit the spot any time today or tomorrow following a new modus operandi adopted by the agency to visit places where such terror incidents happen. The team will be sent from NIA’s Jammu branch, which will note down details of the incidents along with the sleuths of Jammu and Kashmir police in order to keep a tab on the methods of killings of civilians in two terror attacks– first occurred on Sunday evening and the second one that took place on Monday– in the same village, Dhangri, of Rajouri district.
In the latest terror attack, a child was killed and five others injured after a suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast that took place in Rajouri’s Upper Dangri village on Monday morning, the police said.
ADGP Mukesh Singh cautioned people as another suspected IED was spotted in the area near Upper Dhangri village, which is about eight kilometres from Rajouri town.
Officials said that the explosion took place near the house where four civilians were killed and many more injured by terrorists in a shooting incident on Sunday evening.
Nearly a dozen people were reportedly injured in the two terror attacks by the terrorists since Sunday evening. The injured are being treated in Jammu hospital.
Two armed terrorists barged into three homes separated by a distance of around 50 metres from each other on last evening and opened indiscriminate fire. The attack led to the killing of four civilians and injuries to six others.
These separate attacks are the third such incident of civilian killings in the Rajouri district in the past two weeks, after two people were killed outside an Army camp on December 16.
The attack has sparked panic in the district. Several organisations have called for a strike today to protest against the incident and demand swift action.
Army and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have launched a massive search operation to nab the two “armed men” behind the attack at Upper Dhangri village.
The office of Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh and a government job to the kin of those killed in the firing incident.
“An ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh and a government job would be given to the next of kin of each of those civilians martyred in the dastardly attack. Seriously injured would be given Rs.1 lakh. Officials have been directed to ensure best treatment to injured,” the Office of LG J-K said in a statement. (ANI)