SRINAGAR, Dec 15: Sub-zero temperatures continued in Kashmir Valley with famous tourist resort of Pahalgam recording a low of minus 5.6°C on Thursday. There is no respite in sight also as Chillai-e-Kalan— the 40-day long chilliest part of the winter season—is all set to start from December 21 amid forecast for dry weather. It is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ and a 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’.
A meteorological department official here said Srinagar recorded a low of minus 3.2°C against the previous night’s minus 3.2°C. While the mercury was around 2.4°C below normal during this time of the year, the official said, it was two notches above the lowest temperature recorded this season on December 5 and 14.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 3.6°C against minus 3.0°C on the previous night. The temperature 2.5°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir, he said.
He said that Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 5.6°C against minus 5.3°C on previous night and it was 1.8°C below normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Kokernag recorded a low of minus 1.3°C against minus 0.3°C as on the previous night and it was 0.2°C below normal for the place, he said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 3.0°C against minus 4.0°C on the previous night, the official said. It was 1.2°C above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, the official said
In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at minus 3.2°C against minus 2.8°C on the previous night, the official said. It was 1.5°C below normal for the north Kashmir place, he said.
Jammu recorded a low of 7.1°C against 6.4°C on the previous night. It was 2.1°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said. Banihal recorded a low of 3.8°C (above normal by 2.1°C), Batote 5.2°C (1.5°C abovenormal), Katra 7.5°C (0.3°C above normal) and Bhadarwah 2.0°C (1.6°C above normal).
Ladakh, Leh recorded minus 10.6°C and Kargil minus 11.6°C, the official said. The MeT department has forecast mainly dry weather till December 21. (Agencies)

Various religious scholars reflected unique unified diversity of cultures
and religions practiced in J&K UT. An adorable bouquet of Muslims with
Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Christians, that live together here happily and amicably
as Dogras were seen in a healthy mix of all the religions. We are proving the
verdict of the last Maharaja, Hari Singh who aptly said, quote “All religions are
my religions & my religion is justice” unquote, reminded Th. Gulchain Singh
Charak, President Dogra Sadar Sabha (DSS) and former minister of J&K Govt.
For the first time J&K witnessed two Governors together on a stage proving the
dictum of ‘Kerala to Kashmir” one India.
Overwhelmed with the unity in diversity prevailing in J&K Governor
Kerala Shri Arif Mohd Khan held the audience in jam packed hall spell bound
with his very impressive talk on ancient Indian values that bound us together
as a nation. Our own Lt Governor also in his purposeful talk gave a clear
message against any divisive forces and terror mongers. “ Peace is not bought,
but established” said he, without mincing words.
The 118 years old DSS, an apolitical, secular social organisation
has once again successfully endeavoured to keep the diverse populations of
this region together in mutual respect and brotherhood. It was proved again by
bringing together national warriors, intelligentsia, religious heads and learned
well meaning prominent citizens from all trades and walks of life on one
platform.
DSS has stood firm by their message of unconditional ‘Humanity and
amicable brotherhood’ by organising what they called “Payam-e
Insaniyat/Manavta ka Sandesh/ Message of Humanity at Teachers Bhawan
Jammu.
It was a grand success in fostering and strengthening ties of equitable
and mutual love among various cross sections of Duggar Land as the Hon’ble

Governor Shri Arif Mohammad Khan and the J&K Lt Governor Shri Manoj Sinah
were seen together with the luminaries of all the four prominent religions of
the nation. It has boosted our traditional brotherhood and gave a clear cut
message to one and all when the climate is getting surcharged with elections
expected shortly in J&K UT. The opening address was given by Incharge DSS
Youth Wing Shri Gambhir Dev Singh Charak. The religious luminaries that
enlightened the audience included S/ Shri Vishwa Murti Shastri, Maulana
Shehzad Anwari Qasmi, Maulana Ghulam Hussain Rizvi, S. Ranjeet Singh Tohra,
Rev. Fr. Lawrence Tharsis & Shri Sandeep Jain. College and School students
gave very impressive presentations on the theme of ‘Message of Humanity’.
The grand event was also graced by highly decorated national warriors
like our legendry warrior Col Dr Virendra K Sahi, VrC & CI Champion Col
Rajinder Sharma KC, SC, SM. Present among them were also veteran Generals
Sh. G.S. Jamwal, Sh. R.K. Sharma, Sh. L.M. Arora, Mrs. Sunita Kapoor and
others, besides, large number of educationists, Legal luminaries, Artists,
Writers and representatives of Trade and Social organisations. Earlier Th. G.S.
Charak and Sh. Abdul Majid along with members of the reception committee
felicitated the Hon’ble Governor Sh. Arif Mohd. Khan and Hon’ble Lt. Governor
J&K by offering them Dogra Turbans and presenting Shawls.
Sabha leaders also disclosed that they will continue their efforts to spread this
message of humanity among the public of this region by organising such
conferences in different areas.
Prominent among others present during the Press Conference were, Sh. Abdul
Majid, Col K.S. Jamwal, Sh. Prem Sagar Gupta, Brig. M.S. Jamwal, Sh. G.A.
Khawaja, Sh. Gambhir Dev Singh Charak and Sh. Amanat Ali Shah.

SRINAGAR, Dec 14: National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah Wednesday said his party will not beg the Centre for assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking to reporters after a party function in Pahalgam, in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, he said the delay in the polls does not worry his party. The BJP is ”scared” and lacks the courage to conduct the polls in the Union territory, he added.
”We will see to it whenever elections take place. But I have been saying this, we will not beg for these elections,” Abdullah said.
The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said the NC would be ready whenever the Centre decides to conduct polls in the Union territory. The party is ready, but ”we will not beg for it”, he said.
”BJP members are scared, they do not have the courage to conduct the elections. Let them find the courage, plunge into the fray and then we will see where people stand,” Abdullah added.
Asserting that the party’s public meetings were not a signal to its workers that the elections were approaching, the NC vice-president said party leaders were meeting with workers in an endeavour to strengthen the organisation, identity loopholes and plug them.
On criticism over his remarks on Tuesday that the NC will revoke the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) after it forms the government in Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah asserted that he had not said anything new.
”I have been continuously saying it for the last few years. I think I said it in the 2019 parliamentary polls as well, and I stand on this. When the NC forms the government, we will remove this law from the statute,” he added.
On the government’s latest order asking all outgoing lessees to immediately handover possession of the land taken on lease, the NC leader said it was very ”unfortunate”.
”I understand the leases have expired and they (government) want to renew those leases, but those people who have kept these institutions, structures, and businesses running in very difficult times, they should get first priority.
”Let the government fix the rates, ask the lease holders to renew at such rates, and if they cannot do that, then let the government look out for others. How is it justified that you want to vacate them from there first,” he asked.
The government aims to vacate them as it wants to bring people from outside, Abdullah claimed. (Agencies)

Jammu: Army last night rescued at least thirty passengers stranded along Mughal road after a truck slipped and blocked the thoroughfare, leading to a traffic jam.

“On 13 Dec 2022, at 2030 hrs, Indian Army received a distress call from Civil administration seeking assistance for rescue of stranded passengers at KM 40 on Mughal Road as a truck had slipped & blocked the road leading to traffic jam”, reads a statement adding approximately 15 vehicles and 30 passengers were stranded in sub zero temperature conditions.

“On receipt of information, a team of the Indian Army immediately sprung into action. On reaching the site, the team quickly cleared the blockade and rescued the passengers who were brought to KM 28 and provided hot meals”, the statement reads.

“Prompt action by the Indian Army to rescue the stranded passengers with safety, which was highly appreciated by all”, the statement further read.