SRINAGAR: After days of being stranded on the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri (SSG) road, over 11,000 vehicles have finally made their way towards Kargil as officials worked to clear the path through the Zojila pass.
An official said that the vehicles, both private and commercial transports, had been stuck due to heavy snowfall and landslides in the region.
According to reports, the stranded drivers and commuters were advised to check traffic updates and follow traffic advisories before setting out on their journey.
SSP Traffic Rural, Ravinder Paul Singh, said that more than 1,100 vehicles had crossed through the pass in the last two days alone.
The clearing of the pass by officials has brought a sense of relief to the stranded commuters who had been facing difficulties due to the unavailability of food and basic amenities. (KNO)
Jeddah: In a tragic road mishap, five persons including two from Hyderabad lost their lives on way to perform Umrah in the wee hours of Thursday.
Riyadh-based families of Ahmed Abdul Rasheed (27) and Mohammed Shahid Khatri (24) who were neigbours in Suwaidi area in Riyadh were traveling together to perform Umrah when their vehicle was hit by another car from opposite direction around 3:00 am on Thursday, according to primary information that revealed by relatives of deceased.
Ahmed Abdul Rasheed who is a native of Hyderabad along with his pregnant wife Khansa, his three-years-old daughter Mariam, accompanied by Mohammed Shahid Khatri, who was a native of Sikar district in Rajasthan, and his wife Sumayya and their four-year-old son Ammar Ahmed were traveling in a car to Makkah when their car met with a fatal accident.
Ahmed Abdul Rasheed received severe injuries and currently battling for his life in a hospital. His wife and daughter were killed on the spot. In the accident, Shahid Khatri and his four-year-old son were killed on the spot while his wife Sumayya succumbed later in the evening at the hospital.
The required legal formalities were completed by the family friends and the bodies are expected to be laid to rest in Riyadh on Friday.
At the beginning of Ramzan, 21 expatriates living in the Khamis Mushait area were killed in a bus accident on the way to perform Umrah.
Islamabad: In a major development for Pakistan-China trade relations, Khunjerab Pass, one of the pivotal trade routes between the two countries, has reopened after being shut down for almost three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
However, the route has been reopened as authorities from both sides have directed relevant quarters to complete all necessary measures to contain Covid-19 before the arrival of goods from Pakistan.
Official sources confirmed that the Chinese authorities have shared a letter with Pakistani authorities regarding the reopening of the pass for trade while port authorities have put in place, all pre-testing and precautionary measures to check all shipments from Pakistan.
On the other hand, Pakistani authorities have also been instructed to take all measures regarding Covid-19 and to ensure the containment of the disease.
As per routine procedures, the Khunjerab Pass normally opens from April 1 to November 30 every year and remains closed from December 1 to March 31 primarily due to the cold weather and lack of oxygen in the high altitude.
However, in view of the urgent needs and other supplies, as well as smooth custom clearance of Pakistan’s supplies, the port was temporarily opened twice this year.
“Despite difficulties including extremely cold weather, heavy snow, and lack of oxygen, the local customs have worked round the clock to ensure transportation of cargo,” said an official source.
“The two temporary openings lasted for 12 days between January 30 and February 10, while the first port opening was between January 19-20. The two temporary openings facilitated 128 cross-border personnel visits, 328 transportation vehicles’ passes, and more than 6,000 tonnes of goods exported.”
The reopening of the Khunjerab Pass trade route is being seen as a major boost to the economic activities between Pakistan and China.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his delight over the reopening of the border, calling it a major pillar of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
“Reopening of Khunjerab Pass is critical to accelerating trade between Pakistan and China. The government is determined to unpack the full potential of CPEC by making it the centerpiece of our economic diplomacy for the region. Trade and connectivity are the building blocks of prosperity, he maintained.
“CPEC was a gift of progress and prosperity given by former Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif and the Chinese leadership for the region and the people.”
The Khunjerab Pass at 4,693-meter-high (15,397 ft), is the highest paved international border crossing in the world and the highest point on the Karakoram Highway.
It is located in a strategic position on the northern border of Pakistan (Gilgit-Baltistan Hunza and Nagar districts) and on the southwest border of China (Xinjiang).
SRINAGAR: Kiran Patel, an alleged conman facing a new case of fraud in Ahmedabad, is being transported by a police team from the city’s crime branch. They departed from Srinagar by road and are expected to arrive in Ahmedabad by Monday evening.
“The police team has left for Ahmedabad from Srinagar on Sunday morning after completing the procedure. He is being brought via road and will reach in 36 hours,” reported The Indian Express, quoting Chaitanya Mandlik, the deputy commissioner of police city crime branch.
After being investigated for allegedly posing as a Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) official and enjoying related privileges, Patel was in judicial custody in Jammu & Kashmir until March 31. The Gujarat police applied for a transfer warrant, as reported, to continue his prosecution in Ahmedabad.
Last month, Jagdish Chavda, brother of former BJP minister Jawahar Chavda, filed an FIR at the detection of crime branch police station in Ahmedabad. The FIR names Kiran Patel and his wife Malini for allegedly defrauding Jagdish of approximately Rs 15 crore in 2022, under the pretext of renovating his residential property in the Shilaj area of Ahmedabad.
IPC sections 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 170 (personating a public servant), and 120B (criminal conspiracy) were used to book both Patel and Malini.
On two sides of the Pir Panchal mountains in Budgam live a community that shares ethos, language and heritage. For centuries, they have been marrying their wards and reaching each other by foot using the same route that traders and conquerors used in early medieval Kashmir. Now, they want a 10-km road that will end their centuries of crisis, reports Abul Aala Bukhari
Dumdum The lost watchtower of Tosamaidan. Till last century several such watch towers were seen and most of them are either in ruins or disappeared.
Raja Begum was born in Loran’s Barichaid belt, which is nestled in the Poonch peaks in the Pir Panchal range. Now in her old age, she is settled and married in Budgam’s Drung area for many decades. Interestingly, her son and daughter are both married in Loran.
The two villages inhabit the foothills of the same mountain range on two sides and the residents trek the distance within hours. Throughout history, they have been together in every crisis, a relationship that they have retained even today.
= The erstwhile Poonch principality, now a district, is a huge mountain territory. It literally surrounds most of Kashmir and is accessible from Uri, Tangmarg Budgam and Shopian.
Writing in 1897, De Bourbel detailed various treks that people could use in reaching Kashmir from Poonch. One was Poonch Baramulla through the 9135-ft Gajjan Pass, which was challenging and passed through Bitarh and Sakarala valleys and camps at Kahuta, Palan, Hillun, Gujan, Gaggerhil, and Bhunniar.
From Poonch, Gulmarg is accessible through Nilkant Pass, which almost takes the same trek but moves away from Hillun towards Dangar Allan, Pharpat Marg and then to Gulmarg.
Parallel to this trek, runs another route that connects Srinagar with Ferozpur Pass. It takes off from Mandi (Koondah) , moves to Gurgi Upper, reaches Banabali Nag, and then to Magam via Gerozpur pass. From Gurgi Lower, another route takes off for Srinagar that touches Shinamani, Dunwas, Aripanthan, Soibug and Srinagar.
The closest to Srinagar continues to be the Tosa Maidan access. This trek used to take off from Mandi in Poonch, cross Sultan Patri and land in Tosa Maidan. Running parallel to it is another trek that passes through Doodh Pathri.
There are two formal roads between the two areas – one through Uri, which is defunct because Haji Pir pass is inaccessible to the two sides, and the Mughal Road, which is operational for many years now. Laid in the early forties, the 46 km road connecting Uri with Poonch through the strategic 9000-feet Haji Pir Pass was operational till late 1947 and later for a few months after the 1965 war as well. After India wrested the strategic Haji Pir Pass from Pakistan in 1965, the road was used by Mrs Indira Gandhi and convoys would use it from Uri to Poonch. But Tashkent restored the status quo ante and the road was closed again.
Besides, Poonch is easily accessible from Tangmarg and Tosa Maidan. This accessibility has helped the people living on either side to have relations with each other. Begum is only one of the many hundred women who are settled in Kashmir.
All these tracks were always guarded for any entry or exit. These were the border checkposts. These were called Dumdums in medieval Kashmir and in certain cases were multistory towers. Though most of them have crumbled and disappeared, the ruins of a few are slightly intact. Trekker and mountaineer Mehmood Shah, who is also a brilliant photographer, has captured at least two such Dumdums -one in Hirpora (Shopan) and another at Danwas (Tangmarg). The Danwas watchtower was undone by time but the one at Hirpora had still a perfect base.
Ruins of a watch tower at Danwas, Upper Tangmarg. Pic Mahmood Ahmad
There are scores of women from Poonch who are married in Drung and other adjoining Kashmir areas and vice versa. The familial relations connecting many villages in north and central Kashmir with Pir Panchal’s villages comes even when the proposals of successive governments to revive traditional routes could see the light of day.
In summer, Begum said she goes to her parent’s home via China Mar Gali in Tosamaidan, an access that takes barely five hours on foot. In winter, however, if she requires going, it takes her a long time to use the Mughal Road and if it is closed, it requires three days to reach Poonch via Jammu.
Begum said the marriages are solemnised across the villages on both sides as people of the same castes live on both sides. “Due to our social norms, we don’t marry outside our community and that is why we marry among our people across the mountains,” she said.
These marriages have been taking place in a vast belt on either side. Brides from Poonch can be seen in Khag, Zubjan, Brass, Satrun, Beerwah, Arizal, Raithan, and various Khan Sahab areas. Girls from these villages also settle on the other side of the mountain range. These relations have made the administrative division unimportant. Poonch falls in the Jammu division and Budgam is a Kashmir region district.
“My father was a contractor and was working in Poonch where he married my mother in Sonpha,” Maqbool Ahmad, Raja Begum’s son said. “Later he came with his wife and settled in Kashmir; Now I am married in Poonch and so is my sister.” He said marriages take place because people share the same caste and the same culture. “They also speak the Kashmiri language.”
For Maqbool and many others, the preference is the Poonch side bride rather than Kashmir. “There are only two factors responsible for this,” Farooq said, “one is our shared cultural heritage and another is simple marriage.” He said the marriages are taking place from both sides. “It is not a one-way affair and it is not linked to resources,” he added.
= Athamsham Butt said that three areas of Poonch – Loran, Sawjikm, and Mandi – have more than half of the population having Kashmir origins. Their elders migrated to Poonch for trade and business and settled there. All these areas speak Kashmiri.
Ethnic Kashmiris marry in Kashmir. In their weddings, they have almost everything that happens in Kashmir but these marriage ceremonies are less expensive, simple and devoid of mouth-watering Wazwaan.
Most of the weddings, however, avoid moving on foot. These baraats choose Mughal Road instead. For most of their life later, they usually move on foot because it is cheap and a huge time-saving.
Still perfect watch tower on Mughal Road near Hirpora Shopian Image Mehmood Ahmad
Off late, the people living on the two sides of the mountain range have been seeking s road link that would connect Loran and Budgam via Tosamaidan.
In 2015, the Mufti Sayeed-led BJPDP government started work on a road in the Tangmarg area of Baramulla which would connect with Loran in Poonch. However, the work on the road couldn’t be completed. The responsibility of constructing this road was given to the Border Road Organisation (BRO). The work was started with much fanfare but to date, only 12 kilometres were completed out of a total of 38 kms.
Shah Mohammad Tantray, a former PDP lawmaker from the area said that in 2018 he enquired about the progress of the project which led to his “disappointment” when he was informed that the work has been stopped.
“The men and machinery of the construction company also fled away.”
Tantray alleged that post August 5, the union government has stopped construction works undertaken by the previous coalition government across Jammu and Kashmir.
The previous government, Tantray said, had conducted an aerial survey for a cable car project aimed to connect Loran with Tosamaidan. “The Tosamaidan and Loran are just 2.5 kilometres away as per the aerial survey. It just takes five hours to walk on foot. It is just a mountain separating Loran from Tangmarg.”
Poonch resident, Ahtesham Butt said that the work on Loran to Tangmarg road and adjacent areas of Tosamaidan was started but was suddenly stopped due to reasons unknown.
“Locals thought that this road would provide employment opportunities to young educated people along with boosting tourism,” Butt said. “If this road comes up, people wouldn’t opt for the Mughal Road.”
In its vicinity lies the alpine meadow of Tosa Maidan.
Shabir Ahmad, a local resident of Sutran Budgam said a road from Tosamaidan to Loran is shorter than the one being laid to connect Loran via Tangmarg. “This road is barely 10 kms from Tosamaidan to Loran and its stations in between are Damdam, Kadlabal, Habas, Gartar, Damsar, Bandarsar, and Sultanpathari areas,” Ahmad said.
There has not been any spade work on the link connecting Budgam with Loran. In September 2007, when the Mughal Road was being implemented, the then Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said there is a much shorter road that must be taken up. Talking to a huge gathering in Poonch’s Loran, Azad said he has asked his Roads and Buildings department to go for a quick survey of the 42-km Loran (Poonch) Arizal (Budgam). “It is the shortest road link between Kashmir and Poonch,” he said.
Returning Home: Tosa Maidan pasture is visited mostly by locals from Beerwah, Khag and some adjoining areas of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district. People from these villages spend nine months in a year in meadow rearing their cattle, apart from getting firewood.
This road that the people are so keen to have properly laid and developed is not a new route between Poonch and Kashmir. It is actually one of the oldest that conquerors and traders used for centuries. This route was used by Mehmood Gaznavi more than once to capture Kashmir. He failed every time.
During the Shah Miri rule, Sultan Fathe Shah ran for life to Poonch using this route. Later in the 15th century, Yousef Shah Check returned home from Delhi using this trek.
It was a trade route too. It was a formal entry point into Kashmir. Till the1960s Salt was transported into Kashmir from this route. Some people still know this trek as the Nun Wath, the Salt Road.
Javid Ahmad Farash, a resident of Lassipora Drung said that there is a structure erected at Tosa Maidan whose ruins can still be found there. That, he said, was the custom post having a seven-story building. All the entries and exits used to be recorded there and taxes were also paid, he said.
In 1964, the Tosa Maidan meadow was leased to the Army on a 50-year lease for use as an artillery firing range. Before the lease came up for renewal on April 18, 2014, the lease was terminated, and the Tosa Maidan meadow is open to visitors since May 30, 2016. Now, it is a busy picnic spot for most of the summer.
SRINAGAR: The electrification of the Broad Gauge (BG) route in Jammu & Kashmir’s Ferozpur Division marks a significant milestone in railway electrification for Indian Railways. This accomplishment is expected to enhance rail connectivity and increase train speeds in the Union Territory.
According to an official, Indian Railways has electrified 85% of route kilometres, making significant progress towards achieving Mission 100% Electrification and becoming the world’s largest green railway network. The official stated, “Under Indian Railways’ mission of 100% electrification, total electrification of 298 RKM of Broad Gauge (BG) route in Jammu & Kashmir UT has been completed. This will improve rail connectivity and the speed of trains in the region. Indian Railways is rapidly progressing to accomplish Mission 100% Electrification and become the largest green railway network in the world.”
According to the official, achieving 100% electrification in Jammu & Kashmir’s Ferozpur Division has ensured eco-friendly railway transportation, resulting in a reduced dependence on imported crude oil and saving valuable foreign exchange for the nation.
He stated that switching to electric traction has offered numerous benefits, including an environmentally friendly mode of transport, reduced reliance on imported diesel fuel, lower carbon footprints, reduced operating costs, increased haulage capacity of electric locomotives, higher throughput, and increased sectional capacity by eliminating detention on account of traction change.
The official further explained, “It also saves specific energy consumption and enables the haulage of heavier freight trains and longer passenger trains.” (KNO)
Jammu, Mar 25: Indian Railways achieved a significant milestone in railway electrification with the completion of the electrification of the Broad Gauge (BG) route in Jammu & Kashmir of Ferozpur Division. This will improve rail connectivity and the speed of trains in the Union Territory.
An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that with 85% of route kilometres electrified, Indian Railways is rapidly progressing to accomplish Mission 100% Electrification and become the largest green railway network in the world.
“Under Indian Railways’ mission of 100% electrification, total electrification of 298 RKM of Broad Gauge (BG) route in Jammu & Kashmir UT has been completed,” he said, adding, “This will improve rail connectivity and the speed of trains in the region. Indian Railways is rapidly progressing to accomplish Mission 100% Electrification and become the largest green railway network in the world.”
By achieving 100% electrification in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir of Ferozpur Division, the eco-friendly mode of railway transportation has been ensured, thus reducing dependence on imported crude oil which in turn has resulted in saving of precious foreign exchange for the nation, the official said.
He said switching to electric traction has provided the following benefits included environmental-friendly mode of transport, reduced dependence on imported diesel fuel, thereby saving precious foreign currency and reduced carbon footprints. “It also reduced operating cost, haulage of heavier freight trains and longer passenger trains with high haulage capacity of electric locomotives leading to increased throughput, increased sectional capacity by eliminating detention on account of traction change and saving of specific energy consumption,” he said—(KNO) Railways achieve 85% electrification of route in JK
‘Reducing dependence on imported crude oil, carbon footprints’
Yogesh
Jammu, Mar 25 (KNO): Indian Railways achieved a significant milestone in railway electrification with the completion of the electrification of the Broad Gauge (BG) route in Jammu & Kashmir of Ferozpur Division. This will improve rail connectivity and the speed of trains in the Union Territory.
An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that with 85% of route kilometres electrified, Indian Railways is rapidly progressing to accomplish Mission 100% Electrification and become the largest green railway network in the world.
“Under Indian Railways’ mission of 100% electrification, total electrification of 298 RKM of Broad Gauge (BG) route in Jammu & Kashmir UT has been completed,” he said, adding, “This will improve rail connectivity and the speed of trains in the region. Indian Railways is rapidly progressing to accomplish Mission 100% Electrification and become the largest green railway network in the world.”
By achieving 100% electrification in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir of Ferozpur Division, the eco-friendly mode of railway transportation has been ensured, thus reducing dependence on imported crude oil which in turn has resulted in saving of precious foreign exchange for the nation, the official said.
He said switching to electric traction has provided the following benefits included environmental-friendly mode of transport, reduced dependence on imported diesel fuel, thereby saving precious foreign currency and reduced carbon footprints. “It also reduced operating cost, haulage of heavier freight trains and longer passenger trains with high haulage capacity of electric locomotives leading to increased throughput, increased sectional capacity by eliminating detention on account of traction change and saving of specific energy consumption,” he said—(KNO)
A car in former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s escort was involved in an accident on his way to Islamabad for the hearing into the Toshakhana case.
The hearing in Imran Khan’s Toshakhana case is slated to resume. Despite Pakistan government’s efforts, the former prime minister has escaped arrest thus far.
Ahead of the hearing, Imran Khan tweeted, “It is now clear that, despite my having gotten bail in all my cases, the PDM govt intends to arrest me. Despite knowing their malafide intentions, I am proceeding to Islamabad & the court bec I believe in rule of law. But ill intent of this cabal of crooks shd be clear to all.”
“It is also obvious now that the entire siege of Lahore was not about ensuring I appear before the court in a case but was intended to take me away to prison so that I am unable to lead our election campaign,” he said in another tweet.
Jerusalem: The first direct flight route between Israel and Ireland was launched on Thursday, Israel’s Ministry of Transport and Road Safety said in a statement.
Israel’s flagship airline El Al inaugurated the route with a flight from Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport outside Tel Aviv to Dublin International Airport, Xinhua news agency reported.
Before takeoff, a ceremony was held at the Israeli airport with the participation of Israel’s Transport Minister Miri Regev, Irish Ambassador to Israel Kyle O’Sullivan, and other senior officials.
“The direct flights will contribute to strengthening the economic, cultural, tourism, and academic ties between the two nations, and to improving the relationship between the governments,” Regev said.
“Every new direct route connecting Israel to destinations around the world shortens flight times, saves fuel and carbon emissions, and contributes to competition between airlines,” she added.
O’Sullivan said that “the relationship between the two countries is very important. Many Israelis work in Ireland, and thanks to the new route, tourism will flourish.”
The new route, which includes three weekly flights, will shorten the travel time between Tel Aviv and Dublin from at least 8 hours with a stopover, to less than 5.5 hours.
SRINAGAR: After remaining closed for more than two months due to heavy Snowfall in Gurez valley, Bandipora-Gurez road was thrown open for traffic on Thursday.
Lt. General Rajeev Choudhary, VSM DGBR formally opened the road by flagging-off the first caravan of vehicles. Major General Girish Kalia, VSM GOC 28 Inf Div, Brigadier Pranav Kumar Cdr 109 Inf Bde, Lt. Col. Abhishek Kumar, OC 56 RCC Beacon. ADDC Bandipora Ali Afsar Khan, SDM Gurez Dr Mudasir, DDC member Tulail Raja Aijaz, DDC member Gurez Tasleem and other senior officers of the district were present on the occasion.
The officers invited two female siblings Maryam Mudasir and Fatima Mudasir to formally throw open the road for traffic.
Officials said the traffic on the 85 kilometer road stretch will be allowed in a controlled manner and the decision came as Border Roads Organisation (BRO) completed the Snow clearance operation in a record time this year.
He said the road remained closed for about 58 days at a stretch due to heavy accumulation of Snow in the Gurez valley, especially at Razdan top. Officials said Snow clearance started soon after the weather improved and was completed in record time.
Officials said that the first convoy of vehicles was allowed as a trial run towards their destination with proper precautionary measures, including the use of chains at certain places.
ADDC said traffic will be allowed in a restricted and regulated manner and for restricted hours till the weather improves fully and the road is not slippery.
The road remains closed owing to heavy snowfall in Gurez Valley. “The road usually opens in April but this year, the road was opened early.”
ADDC Ali Afsar Khan lauded the efforts of BRO and MED for overtime to ensure early opening of the road.
Earlier, during road closure the District Administration put in helicopter services to different locations of Gurez to ensure evacuation of patients and other emergency situations including airlifting students who had to appear in different exams besides airlifting employees. (KDC)
