JAMMU, Nov 17: The India Meteorological Department on Thursday forecast dry weather with mainly clear to partly cloudy sky in Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours.
“Weather is likely to remain dry in J&K with mainly clear to partly cloudy sky in J&K during the next 24 hours”, an official said.
Meanwhile, Srinagar recorded 1.2 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam minus 3.4 and Gulmarg minus 3.6 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature this morning.
Drass town in Ladakh region had minus 12.2 and Leh minus 9, while Jammu registered 10.7 degrees, Katra 10.6, Batote 4, Banihal 4.8 and Bhaderwah 1.6 degrees. (Agencies)

SRINAGAR, Nov 17: With the onset of winter, migratory birds have started arriving in the Kashmir valley and at this time these birds are seen dancing at the wetlands of the valley.
Keeping their centuries-old relationship with Kashmir, these birds visit Kashmir every year and enjoy the temperate climate here.
According to experts, from the month of October, these birds migrate from Siberia, China, Philippines, Eastern Europe and Japan to the valley and stay here for about five months.
These birds include Tufted Duck, Gudwal, Brahminy Duck, Gargantuan, Greyleg Goose, Mallard, Common Merganser, Northern Pintail, Common Pochard, Ferruginous Pochard, Red Crested Pochard, Ruddy Shelduck, Northern Shoveler, Common Teal and Eurasian Wagtail.
The experts say that these migratory birds “help a lot in maintaining the ecosystem.” They maintain the balance of the earth. It is noteworthy that the discipline of these water birds entering Kashmir is a sight to behold. When they fly, they walk in a long line and their movement creates a black line on the horizon.
According to a report by Eurasia Rewarblers, these birds are generally more attracted to northern regions, but sometimes they change their decision as needed.
According to the report, these birds use a natural skill called “aviation” in modern aviation to make long journeys comfortable. This skill is a type of their sixth sense in which birds have been found to be more intelligent and intelligent than humans.
The presence of these different types and colourful migratory birds in the water bodies of Kashmir Valley, their chirping and sweet dialects create a distinct sweetness in the air. With the arrival of these birds, wildlife enthusiasts traditionally visit the famous wetlands of Kashmir including Hokarsar, Wolar Lake, Hegam, Shala Bug and other water bodies to witness them.
The growing trend of illegal hunting of these birds has been a cause of concern for the concerned department for the past years, but according to the authorities, it has been controlled to a great extent.
“Hunting of these migratory birds that enter Kashmir during winter has been stopped to a large extent. The department is gearing up to protect these birds,” officials said.
He further said that in order to provide a peaceful environment to these visitors, the department has taken several steps to maintain the proper water levels in all water shelters of Kashmir. (Agencies)

Jammu, November 17

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has launched the Jammu and Kashmir Remote Sensing Information System (JKRIS), a spatial data infrastructure initiative, and g-SAM (Gram Panchayat Spatial Assets Mapper) mobile app.

The Geographic Information System technology ecosystem is offering new communication tools to different sectors and making greater impact in areas like weather forecast, urban and transport planning, security and biodiversity protection, he said.

He also released on Wednesday reports on the assessment of inherent vulnerability of climate change and internal monitoring of the Wular Lake and its catchment area.

Highlighting the significance of the GIS technology in addressing new challenges and exploring new opportunities, Sinha said the encouragement to spatial thinking, development of new GIS tools, real world applications are accelerating the growth in business, government and society.

On the GIS technology and its revolutionary use across the country over the past eight years, the Lt Governor said, “Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, GIS has now become the mainstay of development planning and is being widely used in the planning and monitoring of development works.”     

About 1,000 GIS applications are being used every day by professionals, researchers, common citizens in more than 50 sectors to address various challenges and opportunities, he noted. 

The issue regarding when to close schools for winter vacations this year should not be made a point of prestige.

The authorities must be keeping the schools open in the interest of students, but the increasing cold due to changing weather conditions must also be taken into consideration.

More particularly when the schools do not have any heating arrangements in the classrooms.

The authorities say that they want to keep the schools open for more time, as long as the weather conditions permit. If they want to do so they will have to make necessary arrangements in the schools for that.

First and foremost thing is providing heating arrangements. Such arrangements need to be done on priority and not in a phased manner as is being said. If the authorities would do it in a phased manner, then those children without this facility would continue to suffer.

Even parents and others have been making such a demand, and it is a genuine demand. Some parents do not also favour what they call unnecessary continuation of schools in increasing cold. But senior officials in the school education department say that keeping schools open this time for more time has become imperative.

According to them the classwork in schools is for remedial teachings as the students had developed learning gaps over the last two years. The gaps had developed because of the prolonged closure of schools due to COVID-19, they said.

Since the academic session in was shifted this year, the closure of schools for winter vacations became a tricky question. The annual examination of the students will be held in March-April next year instead of October-November this year because of the change in session.

Various stakeholders had opposed the change in session for various reasons.

But the government went ahead with its plan and changed the session. It said that this was done to streamline the academic calendar in schools with the rest of the country and go for a union academic calendar.

Change in the session gave enough time to school education department to go for remedial classes and they want to continue with it for some more time. It is to be seen how long weather conditions will permit them to do so.

Early winter conditions have already set in Kashmir with snowfall in upper reaches and rains in plain areas a number of times this season. This has led to decrease in day and night temperatures and early arrival of cold.

Under these conditions taking a decision on winter vacations should not be made a point of prestige. A decision should be taken and school children not made to suffer.

KARGIL, Nov : A massive fire broke out at a prominent mosque in Ladakh’s Kargil district , damaging most of the structure.
In visuals, the fire appears to have engulfed the entire compound and the building at the Jamia Masjid in Kargil’s Drass.
People tweeted that the police, residents and firefighters are trying to put out the fire.

By King RJ

Kishtwar- Driver among 8 killed when a vehicle they were travelling in skidded off the road and fell into deep gorge near Marwah area of Kishtwar district on Wednesday evening.

SSP Kishtwar Shafqat Hussain Batt informed that at about 6 PM, an information was recieved that accident of a vehicle(Tata Sumo) occurred at Alasyar road towards Tatapani Marwah. Police party rushed on spot as per initial reports 8 casualties reported in which 4 are Male and 4 are Females.

While confirming the incident, DC Kishtwar Devansh Yadav said that 8 persons died on the spot after a Tata Sumo fell into gorge in Marwah area.

He said that bodies have been recovered from the site and shifted to nearby CHC. The search operation is still going on.

The deceased have been identified as Mohd Amin s/o Ghulam Mustafa Sheikh R/o Chanjer Marwah, Driver Umer Gani s/o Abdul Gani Shah R/o Nowapachi Marwah, Mohd. Irfan s/0. Mohd Ramzan Hajam R/qaderna Marwah, Afaq Ahmed s/0 Bashir Ahmed Hajam Ro. Thachna Dachhan, Asia Banoo D/o. Mohd Younis R/o Yourdoo Marwah, Safoora Banoo D’O Ghulam Rasool R/o Anjer Marwah, Muzamila Banoo D/o zahoor Ahmed Malik R/O Yourdoo Marwah and Mohsina D/o Gulam Rasool R/o Anjer Marwah.

Meanwhile MoS in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh expressed heartfelt Condolences on the loss of precious lives in tragic accident in Marwah area of Kishtwar.

Dr Jitendra Singh tweeted, “Just now spoke to DC Kishtwar Dr Devansh Yadav after receiving the news of an unfortunate Tata Sumo road accident in Marwah area. 8 persons have died on the spot, rescue operations in progress to recover other persons. All possible assistance being provided, further help as needed would also be made available. My sincere condolences to bereaved families”.

“Anguished to learn about the loss of lives in a road accident in Kishtwar. My deepest condolences to bereaved families. Directed district administration to provide all necessary assistance.,” LG Manoj Sinha on official Twitter handle.

Ghulam Nabi Azad also said on Twitter that, "I am shocked and saddened to hear about the road accident at Alasyar road, Marwah, Kishtwar district, J&K, in which 8 people (including 4 women) lost their lives.May the departed souls rest in peace . My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families." 

Former Minister Sunil Sharma also write about the incident on his Twitter handle, “Deeply saddened to know about the news of an unfortunate Tata Sumo road accident in Marwah area of Kishtwar District. Eight persons have died on the spot, rescue operations in progress to recover other persons. My sincere condolences to the bereaved family members.”