Religious Tourist circuits being established across J&K to promote Pilgrimage tourism
Srinagar, Feb 14 (GNS): For the first time in history of Jammu and Kashmir, record 1.88 Crore tourists visited UT in the year 2022 to enjoy the beauty of various famed tourist spots.
The enhanced tourist arrivals in the Union Territory has generated greatest employment in various regions, highlighting its overall development through a constructive approach, transformative initiatives and inevitable reforms to empower J&K for its people, culture and society.
The Government of India is also making a significant thrust to ensure better infrastructural facilities for the region’s people and entice visitors. This has resulted in a fortuitous surge in tourist activities with better law and order, promising security system, and maintenance of peace in addition to infrastructural and connectivity improvements.
J&K administration is also focused on exploring the full potential of pilgrimage tourism by developing various religious tourist circuits across the union territory. Keeping in view the increasing number of devotees coming to visit Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, facilities and infrastructure is being strengthened.
As per the official data, the construction work of Mantalai Wellness Center has been completed at a cost of Rs. 80 crore and the design of Katra Multi Modal Station has been finalized. Similarly, twork on Tawi Riverfront is going on in full swing besides Mansar and Surinsar have made their presence on the tourism map of the country. The Government is working tirelessly to open Sanasar Tulip Garden for local people and tourists this year.
Similarly, the work on conservation and renovation of 18 historical-cultural heritage sites in Jammu, Kathua, Ramban, Reasi, Samba and Udhampur will commence shortly. In April this year, Jambu Zoo shall be thrown open to the people. Home-stay Scheme has been launched with a view to foster employment generation and economic prosperity in rural areas.
Remarkably, with the launch of the new J&K Film Policy in 2021, Jammu and Kashmir has emerged as the favourite shooting destination for film industry and permission has been granted for shooting of more than 150 films and web series in less than two years.
Jammu and Kashmir as a tourist destination that is now being promoted on all possible global forums and that is the reason it witnessed highest-ever tourist footfall and air traffic in recent years.
After registering a record tourist footfall this year, mainly in leisure and adventure tourism due to sustained efforts of the Tourism Department and the stakeholders during the last two years, Jammu and Kashmir is now opening to MICE tourism.
Over the past couple of months, many corporate delegations have visited Kashmir and many more are planned for the coming seasons. Executives from travel giants visit the Valley with their clients and thus Kashmir is emerging as corporate tourist destination also.
Jammu and Kashmir has all adequate infrastructure, services and tourism package required for MICE tourism and Department is working in a holistic manner to attract tourists in all segments through a whole range of promotions, road shows, and events besides the introduction of new adventure activities and destinations to sustain the interest of visitors is also being done by the Administration on regular basis.(GNS)
As a shallow, inland earthquake of a huge magnitude flattened a vast belt straddling the border between Turkey and Syria killing thousands of people instantly, a number of Kashmiri students have joined relief and rescue teams. Khalid Bashir Gura talked to a few of them to report the state and status of a major tragedy
An aerial view of Hatay (Turkey) after the devastating twin earthquakes flattened the region. Image: Ibrahim Haskoloğlu
On February 5, Fazilah, a Kashmiri student went to Kahramanmaras, a Turkey city for a day trip. As it was snowing in Gaziantep, the message from the university group doubled the joy of tired Fazilah and her friends. “The educational institutions will be closed on Monday,” the varsity message read. Sensing an opportunity to rest and wake up late, joyful Fazilah planned to sleep late the next day without dinner.
On February 6, morning a 7.8-magnitude earthquake and a subsequent 7.5-magnitude tremor hit the area seriously impacting contiguous territories in Turkey and Syria. The shallow earthquake said to be the major inland earthquake of the world in recent years killed more than 35000 people and reduced nearly 4000 buildings to rubble as the World Health Organisation (WHO) fears the toll can go unimaginably up. As rescuers scour to find survivors amidst the rubble of flattened buildings, Kashmiri students in Turkey said not many tourists and students were in the region where most people were sleeping.
Mourning Monday
“Tired, I went to bed but little did I know what was in store after a few hours. At around 4:15 am, the building started shaking so hard and everything rattled and fell that it woke us up and we were frightened,” Fazilah said. Luckily, the horrific shaking sounds woke us up, she said. “My roommate was in complete shock and started shouting, “ye kyahorhahai, ye rukkyunahirha, hum mar jayenge.” Having an experience of earthquakes back home, I hugged her to calm her down.” Instinctively, they hid under the bed but the relentless shaking scared them enough and they started running away, leaving everything in the room.
While running Fazilah’s roommate fell and broke her chin. “Coming out of the room looked like a long journey. At one point, I believed we will not make it and will get buried in the building,” she said. “The wall plaster was falling off and in the din of shrieks and cries, we somehow managed to move out.” It was too cold and snowing and they had no protection against it.
Shivering and watching the destruction around, Fazilah watch another major earthquake that widened the cracks in buildings. As it thawed, they quickly ran into the room and retrieved their shoes, jackets and cell phones.
“In frigid cold air students, and families huddled and left for a safer place called Olipmichavuz (Olympic pool). Panicked people had to leave the apartments and take refuge at safer locations. Later, authorities were providing food and necessary items but it wasn’t enough for all the people there,” she said, insisting though the place was warm, it lacked space and was jam-packed.
As the news broke back home, there was a barrage of distressed calls and messages.
Much later, as they walked to their dormitory, they felt deserted streets, silent roads and quiet apartments as if life ceased to exist. Every time the people felt safe in a building, the fierce aftershocks ensured they ran out.
“I left the devastated city and now I am in Ankara, with Kashmiri students studying here,” Fazilah said, insisting the memories of miraculous survival and aftershocks have triggered trauma and she has a huge sleep deficit.
Volunteers and Response
Unlike, Fazilah, Zeenish, a Kashmiri student in Film and TV at Bahcesehir University was deep in sleep when the earthquake struck. She lives in Istanbul, more than 1000 km away from the epicentre. She did not feel tremors either. After the details of the devastation emerged, she joined the three Kashmiri students to volunteer for work.
Teams from around the world dispatched rescue workers, equipment and aid to deal with the disaster. So far 97 countries have offered assistance as the earthquake affected more than 13 million people across 10 Turkish provinces. Three different teams from India are part of the rescue efforts in Turkey. These include a 101-member NDRF team and an army medical corps detachment. This is in addition to a huge relief that has flown to Syria and Turkey. Turkey has arranged thousands of translators to bridge the communication gap between the rescue teams and the local people.
An aerial view of the devastation by the February 2023 earthquake in Hatay, Turkey.
“We started volunteering on the second day after the earthquake after our university pages posted advertisements to volunteer or contribute relief material for the victims,” said Zeenish. Outside the campus, various e-commerce sites are offering relief delivery free.
According to her, they saw the advertisement and went with whatever relief material we could offer and help in packing and dispatching. “We collect the relief material, pack it in boxes and then load them in trucks to deliver it to the affected site. We know about the authentic sites here and therefore choose to contribute carefully,” she said.
The tragedy has united the Turkish people. “Food is being cooked by volunteers overnight even in Istanbul, which is more than a thousand km from that place, and then taken to the Gaziantep and nearby areas. People are donating blood, food, clothes, blankets, and essential supplies. Many of the rich property owners provided living facilities for the people who are homeless after the quake.”
Relief and Rescue
To address connectivity, social media is being used by companies and relief workers in fundraising, relief gathering and relief delivery.
There are two types of responses right now according to Wahid Bashir, a Kashmiri scholar in Istanbul. Firstly, according to him, the government institutions like AFAD, a disaster management system in the home ministry, are leading all the rescue, relief and rehabilitation activities. There are other government institutions and organisations as well.
“There are non-governmental or semi-governmental groups that are into rescue, relief and rehabilitation activities. But all these institutions are doing activities in the areas they have a speciality in. Some are doing only rescue, some only relief and some may start rehabilitating the people as well,” he said. He said Turks as a nation are so much a responsible society that they are responding to this disaster collectively. “They try to do things in collaboration with government agencies in a controlled manner and not in haphazard ways.”
Kamran Ashraf Bhat, another Kashmiri, a Media and Cinema researcher at Bahcesehir University, has volunteered for rescue and relief operations. A resident of Kupwara, he had received panic calls and messages when he was sleeping. Bhat was a class seven student when on October 8, 2005, an earthquake measuring 7.6 rattled Kashmir. However, at home, his distressed parents, and friends heaved a sigh of relief when he said: ‘hello’ on phone.
“According to him, there are not many Kashmiris in the devastated area as there are no major educational institutions and only two Kashmiris were located and they are safe. The area is far off from the capital. However, the gloom is all over Turkey,” Bhat said, insisting there are systems in vogue that encourage people to contribute their bit without physical involvement. “Each individual, the organisation has been given a specific area to tackle as the priority is to save lives and reduce the death toll by pulling people out of the rubble. Many NGOs have also chipped in,” he said.
Modern Aids
Turkish engineers have developed technologies to aid earthquake victims. Apps like Debris Listening App, serve to hear the voices of those under the debris without the need for the internet. The system can record frequencies between 350 – 5000 Hz. There are other Apps like Collective Platform for Earthquake Victims, Disaster Information, Map for Safe Zones, Earthquake Help, Earthquake Call (A Twitter stream application for people under the debris.), Be My Guest (People not in the earthquake zone can give victims the run of their homes.).
There are set psychological intervention formats too. Off late, the Turkish government is being criticised for its failure in curbing disinformation and ensuring smooth rescue and relief operations.
Other than the AFAD, Yaqeen Sikander, a Kashmiri psychotherapist and clinical psychologist based in Istanbul said there are many organizations on the ground like IHH and India operation Dost.
The 1999 Marmara earthquake, however, marked a turning point in the area of disaster management and coordination. This devastating disaster clearly demonstrated the need to reform disaster management and compelled the country to establish a single government institution to single-handedly coordinate and exercise legal authority in cases of disaster and emergencies.
Off late, a clinical psychologist is coordinating a project in which there will be specific instructions for adults, children, psychologists and first responders who are on the ground. “It includes tips to reduce anxiety, and phone numbers one can call. It will be a one-pager psychological first aid.”
Besides providing safety, food and shelter we have to ensure psychosocial education. Besides, there will be a psychological assessment to assess trauma and this involves listening to them mostly,” Sikander, who is a PhD candidate at IbnHaldun University, said. He is doing this project for his University as the University’s first group has left for fieldwork.
“There are children who need explanation and people whose family members died. How do you send this message to them? Generally, a psychologist is sent to deliver this news, while following the protocol,” he said.
Srinagar, Feb 14: A semi-adult leopard was captured by a Wildlife Department team in Gopalpora area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Tuesday morning.
Reports reaching GNS said that the beast was spotted by locals in Gopalpora, near grid station, following which they informed Wildlife Department authorities at Achabal Control room.
On the directions of Wildlife Warden South Division Bijbehera, headed by Range officer Bringi Valley & incharge Control room Achabal along with rescue team tranquilized the leopard from Gopalpora near the grid station.
Confirming it, an official told GNS that it is semi-adult leopard. “We will release it in its natural habitat”, the official said.
SRINAGAR: On the fourth anniversary of Pulwama attack, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Kashmir Zone, Vijay Kumar on Tuesday said that out of 19 militants involved in the attack, 8 have been killed, 7 arrested and 4 including 3 Pakistanis are still alive.
Talking to the media persons after paying tributes to the CRPF men, who were killed on this day in 2019, ADGP Kumar said the security forces are after Jaish-e-Muhammad and almost all their top commanders have been neutralized.
“At present JeM has only 7-8 locals and 5-6 active Pakistanis including Mossa Solaimani,” he said, adding that police are after them and they will be neutralized soon.
He said they are busting militant modules, especially they are after narco-terrorism and terror funding. “We have been able to recover Rs 41 lakh and recently in Baramulla, Rs 26 lakh have been recovered,” he said while replying to a query.
He also said the cases registered against OGWs involved in such activities are being disposed of at a rapid pace. “The number of such cases have reduced from 1600 in October last year to 950 at present and 13 convictions have also been made so far.”
He further said that a total of 37 local militants are presently active and that only two among them including Farooq Nalli and Riyaz Chatri are old while rest have joined recently.
Meanwhile, Inspector General Operations Sector CRPF, M S Bhatia said the situation has improved on the ground since Pulwama attack and such attacks will never happen given the measures taken by the security forces.
“There is remarkable progress after the attack in 2019, militant modules are being busted, their ecosystem is being busted, we are sure that this kind of attack will not happen again,” he said.
He further said the attacks on minority communities are acts of cowardice and those behind such attacks have been killed while measures have been taken to prevent such attacks.
“We are determined to protect minorities and in this regard several modules involved have been neutralized. The CRPF and Police and other security forces have been ensuring protection to the minority community and we will ensure proper security to them,” he said.
Replying to a query, he said the module is being busted before it carries out any major damage. “We are always taking action in the beginning and neutralizing the module when it takes birth. You have seen several encounters have taken place last year, we are trying to deny that space to militants to execute any major damage,” he said.
Srinagar, Feb 14: On the fourth anniversary of Pulwama attack, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Kashmir Zone, Vijay Kumar on Tuesday said that out of 19 militants involved in the attack, 8 have been killed, 7 arrested and 4 including 3 Pakistanis are still alive.
Talking to the media persons after paying tributes to the CRPF men, who were killed on this day in 2019, ADGP Kumar, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said the security forces are after Jaish-e-Muhammad and almost all their top commanders have been neutralized.
“At present JeM has only 7-8 locals and 5-6 active Pakistanis including Mossa Solaimani,” he said, adding that police are after them and they will be neutralized soon.
He said they are busting militant modules, especially they are after narco-terrorism and terror funding. “We have been able to recover Rs 41 lakh and recently in Baramulla, Rs 26 lakh have been recovered,” he said while replying to a query.
He also said the cases registered against OGWs involved in such activities are being disposed of at a rapid pace. “The number of such cases have reduced from 1600 in October last year to 950 at present and 13 convictions have also been made so far.”
He further said that a total of 37 local militants are presently active and that only two among them including Farooq Nalli and Riyaz Chatri are old while rest have joined recently.
Meanwhile, Inspector General Operations Sector CRPF, M S Bhatia said the situation has improved on the ground since Pulwama attack and such attacks will never happen given the measures taken by the security forces.
“There is remarkable progress after the attack in 2019, militant modules are being busted, their ecosystem is being busted, we are sure that this kind of attack will not happen again,” he said.
He further said the attacks on minority communities are acts of cowardice and those behind such attacks have been killed while measures have been taken to prevent such attacks.
“We are determined to protect minorities and in this regard several modules involved have been neutralized. The CRPF and Police and other security forces have been ensuring protection to the minority community and we will ensure proper security to them,” he said.
Replying to a query, he said the module is being busted before it carries out any major damage. “We are always taking action in the beginning and neutralizing the module when it takes birth. You have seen several encounters have taken place last year, we are trying to deny that space to militants to execute any major damage,” he said—(KNO)
SRINAGAR: Two persons, including a migrant worker, were found dead in mysterious circumstances in Bemina and Batmaloo areas of Srinagar city on Tuesday, reports said.
Quoting an official, news agency KDC reported that Babu Ali (65), son of Hussain, a resident of Jalalpur in Uttar Pradesh, was found dead at his rented accommodation at SD colony in Bemina.
In a separate incident, Naseer Ahmad Lone, son of Habibullah, a resident of Baramulla, was found dead in his vehicle (Tata mobile) bearing registration no JK13G-0150 near Tengpora in Batmaloo by CRPF jawans of 73 BN this morning.
Police have taken cognizance of both the incidents and further investigations are on, it said.
SRINAGAR: One-way traffic movement was restored on Jammu-Srinagar Highway, the only surface link connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, after remaining closed during the night and several hours on Tuesday morning.
Quoting a traffic police official, news agency GNS reported that the single-way traffic was restored after clearance of the debris. “Firstly stranded vehicles will be cleared,” he said and urged commuters to “travel with caution.”
Intermittent shooting stones at Mehar-Cafeteria area in Ramban on highway led to closure of the highway last night, he said.
Mohita Sharma, SSP Traffic Highway, said that the authorities were clearing stranded vehicles on priority as the thoroughfare remained blocked for the entire night due to shooting stones. “LMVs from Qazigund and Udhampur to follow soon,” she said.
SRINAGAR: Mayor Srinagar, Junaid Azim Mattu on Monday held a detailed meeting with the residents and community elders of various localities and colonies on the stretch of Aloochi Bagh to Chattabal Doodhganda Rejuvenation and Restoration Project and assured the residents that no colonies will be displaced, nor any houses demolished – including the downtrodden colonies and slum settlements on this stretch. The meeting was also attended by Commissioner SMC and CEO Srinagar Smart City, Athar Aamir Khan, SE City Drainage in addition to senior officials and engineers.
The Mayor assured the local residents that the Doodhganga Canal Restoration and Rejuvenation Project was a vital flood mitigation project that would first and foremost benefit the residents and colonies in Aloochi Bagh, Haft Chinar, Batamaloo and Chattabal. The Mayor, while condemning traditional mischief mongers and agent provocateurs who were provoking the people and spreading misinformation, assured the residents that not a single residential colony, including slum structures, would be disturbed or affected by this project.
“The Public Notice that has been issued concerns encumbrances, obstacles and physical encroachments within and on top of the canal and does not pertain to residential colonies, houses or structures. Not a single house will be demolished by this project. It is my assurance to the residents that this wont be allowed. Contrary to what is being wrongly peddled by vested interests, this restoration project will resolve the longstanding issue of localised urban flooding and water-logging in these areas — benefiting the locals of these areas”, the Mayor said while interacting with the residents.
The Mayor also made it very clear that attempts to connect SMC with the ongoing land eviction and retrieval of State land drive were misleading and a larger deliberate ploy to spread misinformation and canards by a particular political party. “SMC is not involved in the ongoing drive in any way, shape or form – neither at the policy level nor at the execution level. A recent statement issued by a particular political party and its motley crew of corrupt former legislators is a shameful attempt to derive political dividends by misleading the downtrodden sections of the society. The administration’s ongoing drive does not involve the Srinagar Municipal Corporation and as the Mayor of Srinagar, I have formally urged the administration to put in place a humane and sympathetic policy of regularisation, especially for the poor and downtrodden sections of our society – keeping in view the fragile and sensitive economy of J&K”, the Mayor added.
“SMC’s enforcement jurisdiction and activities as mandated under a statutory duty under law constitute a routine process that is based on the Master Plan and its by-laws. Besides this normal, routine function that SMC performs in adherence to the law, not a single slum or structure will be demolished for any drive or any project by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation. SMC will abide by the judgements of the Hon’ble Supreme Court on the matter and work towards proposing the provision of dignity and rights to all slum dwellers. Those trying to hide their own greed and decades of misrule and misappropriation of public resources behind this misinformation campaign should introspect and understand the human costs and consequences of their provocations and instigations over the past three decades. Their penchant to provoke and instigate the poor, common-man on the street has filled our graveyards in Srinagar with our youth while they have given their own children very contrasting lives. We need no lectures from the murderers and tormentors of the children of Srinagar,” the Mayor said while speaking after the meeting.
“Those out playing conscience keepers and sympathisers of economically impoverished urban slum dwellers in Srinagar should be asked why they failed to rehabilitate the slum dwellers in Srinagar since four decades – giving them a life of dignity and respect – despite being elected as legislators multiple times. These economically disadvantaged fellow citizens and residents of Srinagar are like my own family and I will not allow any harm to come upon them at any cost. In my humble capacity as the Mayor, I – along with fellow Corporators and officers —have ensured multiple steps were taken to improve their day to day lives and extended basic facilities to these areas after they were deprived of these basic rights for decades by the same shameless people pretending to be sympathisers today,” the Mayor further said.
The Mayor said he has passed strict directions to ensure that no scope is left for misinterpretation of steps being taken for public and community welfare, such as the Doodhganga Rejuvenation and Restoration Project.
Srinagar, Feb 14 (GNS): A man who was injured yesterday after hit by train while making a “suicide attempt” in Sadura area in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district succumbed to the injuries at a hospital here, officials said on Tuesday.
They said that the man ‘jumped in front’ of train, on the way from Banihal to Baramulla, near Sadura, as a result of which he lost both limbs on Monday. He was later shifted to nearby hospital from where the doctors there referred him to SKIMS Soura, they said. However, he succumbed to the injuries at SKIMS Soura, they added.
A police official confirming the death of the person told GNS that police have taken cognizance of the incident and further proceedings are underway. (GNS)
SRINAGAR: An elderly man who lost both legs yesterday after allegedly attempting suicide by jumping in front of a moving train in South Kashmir’s Anantnag, succumbed to his injuries at SKIMS Soura on Tuesday morning.
Quoting an official the news agency KNO reported that the man from Mattan allegedly tried to commit suicide when he jumped in front of a moving train at Sadora area and lost both legs.
He said he was shifted to GMC Anantnag in a critical condition where from he was referred to SKIMS Soura for specialised treatment, however, today morning he succumbed.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Railway Police have issued an advisory, asking people not to use the railway tracks for walking and also warned of action against trespassers.
“We appeal to the general public against walking, sitting on railway tracks and grazing livestock. If any person is found involved in such activities, strict legal action will be taken against him. He shall be personally responsible,” reads the advisory.
