#SRINAGAR: Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Kumar Choudhary, along with Advisor to Chief Minister, Nasir Aslam Wani, on the instructions of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, today met Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, to express their deepest condolences on the death of Maharashtra civilians in Pahalgam terrorist attack.

The J&K Dy CM also raised the concern regarding safety of Kashmiri people residing in Maharashtra with Eknath Shinde.

Shinde assured full support from his government, assuring committed towards taking care of J&K residents in Maharashtra. He assured establishment of a dedicated helpline number with a Nodal Officer to assist those in need.

Surinder Choudhary said that the brutal targeting of innocent civilians in this cowardly attack is highly reprehensible. He added that targeting innocent tourists, is extremely condemnable and painful.

Condemning the cowardly terrorist attack, the Dy CM also expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased.

Advisor to CM Nasir Aslam Wani, while expressing his condolences, said that the entire nation is united in fighting the scourge of terrorism. He added that these dastardly targeted attacks are a blot on humanity.

#JAMMU: Launch of a Special Train from SMVD #Katra to #NewDelhi to assist the stranded passengers and accommodate the extra rush, a special train service has been launched. The tickets shall be available over the counter from Katra, Udhampur and Jammu stations.

Train Number: #04612

Departure Station: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi (#SMVD) Katra

Departure Time: 2120 Hrs

Halt at Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan Station Udhampur: 2148-2150 Hrs

Halt at #Jammu #Tawi railway Station, Jammu: 2300-2305 Hrs

This special train will play a crucial role in clearing the additional passenger load and ensuring a safe and comfortable journey to New Delhi. The Train shall reach New Delhi at 0930 Am. Also, the National Highway at Ramban is made functional on one-way basis. The passengers stranded at Kashmir and Jammu can use this special train.

The administration remains committed to the well-being of all tourists and urges everyone to cooperate and follow the necessary guidelines.

#SAMBA: Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Sharma today conducted an on-site inspection of the new bus stand at #ThandiKhui today.

The inspection revealed that construction work is progressing rapidly and nearing completion.

The strategically located bus stand is designed to accommodate a large volume of passengers and will significantly enhance connectivity and ease of movement in the region.

During the inspection, the DC was accompanied by Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Vijaypur, Sandeep Dubey and Tehsildar Sudesh among other officers.

“This new facility represents an important infrastructure development for our district,” said DC Sharma. “Once operational, it will improve transportation services for residents and visitors alike, while supporting our broader goals for regional development.”

The officials thoroughly reviewed the ongoing construction activities and expressed satisfaction with the progress made thus far. The bus stand is expected to be fully operational in the coming months.

The Thandi Khui Bus Stand project is part of the district administration’s efforts to modernize transportation infrastructure and improve public services. The facility will feature amenities designed to enhance passenger comfort and safety.

NEW DELHI: #Petrol and #diesel prices in India are set to rise as the government has hiked #excise #duty on both #fuels by Rs 2 per litre.

The move comes at a time when global crude oil prices are actually on a downward trend, driven by fears of a global trade war sparked by the US administration’s reciprocal tariffs.

This hike is expected to impact consumers already dealing with inflationary pressures.

#petroldiesel #petrolprices

Four security personnel including a DySP and a para commando sustained injuries

#KATHUA: In Jammu and Kashmir, three terrorists were killed while an equal number of security forces personnel too lost their lives in an ongoing encounter in Sufain forest area of #Juthana in #Kathua district on Thursday.

Four security personnel including a DySP of J&K Police and one para commando sustained injuries. SDPO Border, DySP Dheeraj Katoch had sustained minor injuries yet other three security personnel were under treatment for critical injuries.

The security personnel killed in the operation included SPOs of DySP Katoch. They were identified as SgCT Tariq Ahmed of Reasi; SgCT Jaswant Singh of Hiranagar and SgCT Balwinder Singh of Nank Chak, Kathua.

The fresh encounter began on Thrusday morning after the security forces, engaged in intensive search operation, re-established contact with a group of terrorists in Sufain forest stretch of Juthana area under the jurisdiction of Rajbagh Police Station of Kathua district. During the gunfight, three security personnel laid down their lives while three other security personnel including one Para SF commando, sustained serious injuries during the operation.

They were immediately evacuated to the hospital where they were undergoing treatment. One of the seriously injured cop was referred to GMC Jammu while one is under treatment at GMC Kathua while the Para commando was airlifted to Military hospital Pathankot. In the intensive gunfire three terrorists were neutralized and their bodies have yet to be retrieved as the operation is still going on.

Contact with the terrorists was re-established in Juthana area of Kathua after the input about their presence on Thursday morning. Heavy reinforcement was rushed to the area. During the search operation, the security personnel came under heavy fire from the hiding terrorists thus ensuing the operation.

The present encounter site is around 30 kms away from the forest area around Sanyal village along the International Border (IB) in Hiranagar sector where a group of five terrorists was first sighted on March 23 evening by a village couple. During the Cordon and Search Operation launched thereafter, the security forces and terrorists had exchanged heavy gunfire briefly in Sanyal village on Sunday evening.

However, the terrorists managed to escape, breaking the cordon. Since then, a multi-layer combing operation had been going on, in and around the area. DGP Nalin Prabhat, assisted by the IGP, Jammu, Bhim Sen Tuti, CRPF IG besides other senior officers of Police and Army, was monitoring the operation. More details are awaited. .

#JAMMU: Flight service from Ghaziabad’s Hindon #Airport to #Jammu has started today as the first flight from Hindon airport to Jammu took off at 9.30 AM.

It has become easier to go to Mata Vaishno Devi temple from #NCR as now passengers will not need to go to Delhi Airport to go to Jammu. Rather they will have another option of air travel from the NCR.

The number of people going to Vaishno Devi temple will increase during Navratri. The first flight service of Air India Express started from Hindon to Jammu at 9.30 AM.

The flight from Jammu to Hindon will be at 1 PM which will reach Hindon at 2:30 PM. Air India Express will operate flights between Hindon in Ghaziabad and Jammu six days a week (except Saturdays) for the ease of journey and relatively economic fare, particularly for those travelling to and from between Jammu and the southern parts of NCR Delhi like Noida etc.

The flight will arrive at Jammu 11:30 AM and depart from Jammu for Hindon 1:00 PM. The civil aviation authorities had agreed to begin a Jammu-Srinagar morning flight from April 1 to cater especially to government officers and businessmen.

#KATHUA: In Jammu and #Kashmir an encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists at forward village of Sanyal, just about four kilometers from the International Border, in #Hiranagar sector of Kathua district late last evening after three civilians including a woman observed movement of the infiltrators near a dhok in sprawling Nursery.

Special Operations Group, Army and Paramilitary Forces have surrounded the entire area including the Nursery where the terrorists were spotted to ensure that they don’t manage to escape taking cover of darkness.

A woman along with her husband and brother-in-law first spotted the terrorists while collecting woods in the Nursery described their numbers as five though generally the ultras infiltrate in the group of three. The terrorists, as per the woman, were equipped with weapons and were five in numbers.

Police and SOG immediately launched the operation leading to a brief gunfight near the Nursery. The hiding terrorists opened a heavy volume of fire on observing the police party which retaliated.

However, there was no report of casualty in the initial exchange of intense firing which continued for nearly half-an-hour. Reinforcements from police, Army and Paramilitary Forces were rushed to the area to neutralize the terrorists.

The terrorists are believed to have infiltrated on Saturday via either the ravine route or through a newly created tunnel. Director General of Police, Nalin Prabhat along with IGP Jammu Zone Bhim Sen Tuti and DIG Jammu-Kathua range Shiv Kumar Sharma are camping at the spot supervising the operation to eliminate the terrorists.

The terrorists are believed to have infiltrated from across the border during the previous night and had taken shelter inside the sprawling area for further movement towards the forests but were trapped by police. More details are awaited.

#JAMMU: Deputy Chief Minister, #SurinderChoudary, today said that 14956 Kanal and 15 Marla land in Jammu division and 6745 Kanal and 19 Marla land in #Kashmir division has been #transferred for establishment of Industrial Estates in #Jammu and #Kashmir.

The Minister was replying to a question raised by Ali Mohammad Dar.

He informed the House that the intends have also been placed for 9661.05 kanal of land and 5000.13 kanal for establishment of Industrial Estates in Jammu and Kashmir respectively.

He said that among others, Education and Skill Development, figures in the Focus Sector List of J&K Industrial policy 2021-30 which is also part of Service Sector Positive List of New Central Sector Scheme (NCSS) 2021, issued by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.

He added that 596 applicants have been registered under the Jammu and Kashmir Start-Up Policy notified vide Government Order No. 29- JK(IND) of 2024 dated 23.02.2024,, of which, 436 applicants have been recognized as Startups. Besides, 26 of these applicants are in the Skill Development and Education Sector.

The Minister asserted that the Industrial Estates have been designated as Sector Specific Industrial Estates in sectors like Education and Skill Development, Health and Medical education in Jammu division and H&ME, Technical Education and Information Technology and Information Technology in Service (IT/ITeS) sectors comprising more than 3628 kanal of land in both the divisions.

#JAMMU: Minister for Jal Shakti, Javed Ahmad Rana, said that J&K has an estimated hydro power potential of 18,000 MegaWatt (#MW), of which, 14867 MW has been identified.

The Minister was replying on behalf of the Chief Minister to a question raised by Mubarak Gul.

The Minister informed the House that the identified potential comprises 11283 MW in Chenab basin, 3084 MW in Jhelum basin and 500 MW in Ravi basin. He said that out of the identified potential, 3540.15 MW (23.81%) has been harnessed till date including 1197.4 MW in UT sector (JKSPDC), 2250 MW in Central sector (NHPC) and 92.75 MW in IPP mode under 31 projects.

Regarding the Solar Power Projects, the Minister said that solar power plants with capacity of 41367 and 34300 have been installed in a total of 4648 government buildings and 5463 residential households respectively.

The Minister said that UT of J&K has an estimated solar potential of 111 GW, most of which is restricted to the UT of Ladakh. He added that the mega size solar power projects have not been developed in J&K till date as identification of feasible land banks (500 acres for 100 MW solar park) at a single location for its development is difficult because of the topography of the UT.

The Minister informed that, however, a cumulative capacity of 75 MW of Rooftop Solar Power Plants has been installed in the UT of J&K across all sectors under various schemes and projects mostly sponsored by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), GoI.

He added that, presently, the Rooftop Solar Power plants are being installed on residential households by DISCOMS under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojna in which 1 kWp Rs 55,000 with subsidy of Rs 36,000, 2 kWp Rs 1,10,000 with subsidy of Rs 72,000 and 3 kWp Rs 1,59,500 with subsidy of Rs 94,800 have been finalized.

The Minister also informed that Purchase of electric/utility poles, HT/LT wires and transformers is being made through the Procurement wing.

MY Tarigami, Balwant Singh Mankotia, Nizam-ud-Din Bhat, Tanveer Sadiq, Shakti Raj Parihar and Mehraj Malik raised the supplementaries.