Kashmir Reader

Rebel Trinamool leader Ritabrata claims dissident camp is ‘real TMC’, rules out merger with Congress KOLKATA: As Mamata Banerjee's meetings with the Congress leadership fuelled fresh speculation about the future of her embattled faction, rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee on Wednesday claimed ownership of the Trinamool Congress itself, declaring that the dissident camp was the "real TMC" and had no pl...

Sakina Itoo slams Mehbooba M***i, Darakhshan Andrabi over AIIMS visit Kulgam: Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakina Itoo, on Wednesday criticised PDP chief Mehbooba M***i and Waqf Board chairperson Darakhshan Andrabi for their recent visits to AIIMS, questioning the authority under which they conducted meetings and reviews. Speaking to re...

of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said on Wednesday.

He said they are waiting for the Centre to fulfil its promise.

“Prime Minister has recently told Omar that he will fulfil his promise (on restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir),” Abdullah told reporters in Anantnag district.

Drass/ Minimarg: The Rs 6,800-crore Zojila tunnel, Asia’s longest tunnel connecting the Kashmir Valley to Ladakh, on Tuesday achieved a significant breakthrough with a blast breaking through the last 2.5 metres of the 13-km high-altitude infrastructure project that cuts through the Himalayas.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari performed the breakthrough blasting of the main tunnel being constructed at an altitude of 11,578 feet above sea level, around 24 km from Sonamarg and 103 km from Srinagar.
Addressing the media, the minister said the project is a lifeline for the people of Leh, Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir. It is at a height of 3,000 metres and workers have given their contribution by working in temperatures as low as minus four degrees.
He said 80 per cent of the workforce belongs to the region, and added that the project will provide all-weather connectivity to people of Ladakh region to Srinagar.
The breakthrough blasting of the main tunnel was conducted at an equidistant of 6.5 km, providing access to East Portal (east side) to West Portal (west side).
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah were also present on the occasion.
Officials of the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) said the breakthrough is six months ahead of schedule.
As of now, about 85 per cent of the total work has been completed, Authority Engineer for the project, Yousef Es’haghpour Rahimabadi, told PTI here.
The tunnel is likely to be thrown open to the public in February 2028, the officials said, adding that after the breakthrough, the civil works will take another seven to eight months before the electrical works will begin.
The tunnel, 9.5 metre wide, 7.57 metre high and 13.153 km long, is a horseshoe-shaped single-tube, a two-lane road tunnel built at the height of around 11,578 feet above sea level.
Abdullah appreciated the ministry for the Zojila tunnel project.
“People of Ladakh region saw this dream long ago. It (connectivity) has been their dream for long.

PM has promised to keep word on statehood restoration: Farooq Abdullah SRINAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has told Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah that he would fulfil his promise of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said on Wednesday. He said they are waiting for the Centre to fulfil its promise. "Prime Mi...

Black bears captured in Kulgam village, one released into wild Kulgam: The Wildlife Department on Wednesday said it captured two black bears from Nagam village in the Damhal Hanjipora area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, officials said. An official said that both bears were trapped from the same location in Nagam village following reports of their movemen...

Modi’s tenure distinguished by advancements in governance, economic resilience: Prez NEW DELHI: President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the unique honour of serving as the longest continuously elected PM of the country and said the landmark occasion stands as a testament to the enduring trust and confidence reposed by people in his leaders...

US Senator greets Modi on becoming India’s longest-serving elected PM WASHINGTON: US Senator John Cornyn, the co-chair of the Senate India Caucus, has greeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for becoming the longest-serving elected prime minister and said his tenure has been "nothing short of transformational". On Wednesday, Narendra Modi became India's longest-serving p...

Police Disengages SPO for Involvement in NDPS Case In Baramulla Srinagar: Police on Wednesday said that it has disengaged SPO Khalid Nazir Khan (3098/SPO), resident of Katipora, Tangmarg, from the SPO cadre with immediate effect following his involvement in an NDPS case. In a handout, the police said that On 23.04.2026, during a naka checking at Wussan Crossing....