Srinagar, May 2: Traffic movement on the Doda–Kishtwar road has been suspended following a major landslide at Gatsoo near Pul Doda, officials said on Saturday.
A traffic police official said, the landslide occurred early morning, leading to complete blockage of the road and halting vehicular movement on the vital stretch.
Official said that men and machinery have been pressed into service and efforts are underway to clear the debris. However, restoration of traffic is likely to take some time due to the magnitude of the landslide.
Commuters have been advised to avoid travel on the Doda-Kishtwar road until it is fully cleared and traffic movement is restored.
Authorities said further updates will be issued as the situation develops. (JKNS)
Doda-Kishtwar Road Blocked After Major Landslide At Gatsoo; Traffic Movement Suspended
Overground Worker Of Terrorists Arrested In J&K’s Pulwama
SRINAGAR, May 2: Security forces on Saturday arrested an overground worker (OGW) of terrorists in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.
The OGW was identified as Umar Malik, a resident of the Kachipora area of the south Kashmir district, they said.
According to the officials, a star pistol, two rounds of ammunition, a magazine, a Chinese grenade, a Pakistani grenade, and a mobile phone were recovered from Malik.
Further details are awaited.
Bridge Collapse In Jammu: 3 Bodies, 1 Injured Pulled Out From Rubble; Probe Ordered
Jammu, May 2: Rescue workers pulled out three bodies and an injured person from the debris of a partially collapsed old bridge during a 12-hour search operation on the outskirts of Jammu, officials said on Saturday.
One injured worker was rescued on Friday, shortly after a portion of the bridge collapsed in the Thuther area of Bantalab.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary rushed to the spot at midnight and ordered the suspension of two engineers. The government has also constituted a committee to probe the incident.
According to the officials, labourers were carrying out retaining wall and foundation-laying work on the bridge, which was damaged in flash floods last year, when a portion of it gave way, trapping four of them.
Police, Army, National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, and fire and emergency department immediately launched a rescue operation. The rescue teams first pulled out a labourer, who was identified as Tarsem Lal, the officials said.
“The search and rescue operation concluded this morning. Three bodies have been recovered from the spot. Two others have been rescued in injured condition,” a senior officer told PTI.
The bodies were recovered during the 12-hour search operation, which went on through the night under floodlights, the officials said.
Among the two injured was Divisional Fire Officer, Fire and Emergency Services Department, Mohammad Jaffar, who was hit by a boulder during the rescue operation. The injured have been hospitalised.
Deputy Chief Minister Choudhary was briefed about the incident after he reached the spot at midnight.
“I have ordered the suspension of the assistant executive engineer and the junior engineer. I have also issued directions to the engineer-in-chief for attachment of the executive engineer,” he told reporters at the spot.
Choudhary ordered a probe into the incident and directed the authorities to complete it in five days.
Following his order, Assistant Executive Engineer Sahil Verma and Junior Engineer Sajad Mir were placed under suspension, pending inquiry into their conduct, the officials said.
The government has also constituted a three-member inquiry committee headed by Purshotam Kumar, Secretary Technical (Engineer-in-Chief), Public Works (R&B) Department, they said.
Superintendent Engineer, Public Works (R&B), Circle Jammu South, Arit Gupta, and Executive Engineer, Public Works (R&B) Satwari division, Rajan Mengi are members of the panel, they said. (Agencies)
Mega Padyatra On May 3 To Boost Drug-Free Campaign In J&K: LG Manoj Sinha
JAMMU, May 2: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday called upon people across Jammu and Kashmir to join a major public movement aimed at building a drug-free society, announcing a Mega Padyatra scheduled to be held on May 3 at the TRC Football Stadium Srinagar.
In a public message, the LG said he is witnessing a strong and inspiring momentum across the Union Territory towards eliminating the menace of drug abuse. He urged citizens from all walks of life, especially youth, to participate in the padyatra and collectively take a stand against narcotics.
“Let us unite and work together to create a safer and healthier Jammu and Kashmir for future generations,” he said, emphasizing that community participation is key to the success of the anti-drug campaign.
The initiative is part of ongoing efforts by the administration to strengthen awareness and intensify action against drug abuse, with authorities encouraging widespread public involvement to make the campaign impactful and sustainable.(KNC)
15 Illegal Structures Demolished In Anantnag As Crackdown Intensifies Under 100-Day Nasha Mukt J&K Campaign
ANANTNAG, May 2: The District Administration Anantnag has intensified its crackdown on drug peddlers and violators of the NDPS Act by demolishing 15 illegal structures during a major enforcement drive at Waghama in Bijbehara on Saturday.
The action was carried out under the ongoing 100-Day intensified Nasha Mukt J&K Campaign, with authorities reiterating their commitment to dismantling narcotics networks and eliminating illegal assets linked to drug trafficking.
Officials said that in a joint operation, revenue authorities, supported by the police department, demolished structures including 15 shops that had been illegally constructed on State and Kahcharai land falling under Khasra Nos. 2494 (min) and 2495 (min) in Estate Waghama. The structures were reportedly linked to individuals involved in cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
The operation also led to the retrieval of encroached State and Kahcharai land, marking a significant step in reclaiming public property from illegal occupation.
Reaffirming a zero-tolerance stance, the District Administration stated that strict and sustained action against drug peddlers, narcotics networks, and unlawful encroachments will continue throughout the campaign. Officials emphasized that dismantling illegal properties associated with the drug trade is a key strategy to break the supply chain of narcotics in the district.
The administration has also issued a stern warning that anyone found involved in drug-related activities or illegal encroachments will face stringent legal consequences in the coming days.(KNC)
West Bengal: Voting Begins At 15 Booths Of Two Assembly Seats After EC Orders Repoll
KOLKATA, May 2: Voting began on Saturday at 15 booths in two assembly constituencies in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district, where the Election Commission ordered repolls a day ago, following reports of electoral malpractices, an official said.
The repolls were ordered in 11 polling stations of Magrahat Paschim assembly constituency and four in Diamond Harbour.
Voting began at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm, the official said.
Polling in these two assembly constituencies was held in the second phase of the state elections on April 29.
The repoll order was based on reports received from returning officers and observers of the two constituencies and “material circumstances”, the Election Commission official said.
The BJP had alleged rampant electoral malpractices in certain polling stations of both the assembly seats under the Dimanod Harbour Lok Sabha constituency, which is represented by TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
The EC had deputed its special observer, Subrata Gupta, to fact-check the allegations from the ground.
Meanwhile, the EC will decide on repolling in the Falta assembly constituency on Saturday.
The West Bengal assembly elections were held in two phases – April 23 and April 29, amid unprecedented security arrangements.
Counting of votes will take place on May 4. (Agencies)
Wave Mall celebrates 12th anniversary with enthusiasm
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 1: Wave Mall proudly celebrated today its 12th anniversary, marking over a decade of delivering exceptional experiences in shopping, dining, gaming and cinema under one roof.
The celebration was graced by the esteemed presence of CEO Bipul Rastogi, vice pesident Madan Mohan Rana, along with Bharat Bhandari and the entire Wave Mall team.
The day began on a spiritual note with a traditional path ceremony, seeking blessings for continued success and prosperity.
This was followed by a grand cake-cutting ceremony, symbolizing the journey and achievements of the mall over the past 12 years.
Over the years, Wave Mall has established itself as a premier lifestyle destination, offering a vibrant mix of retail brands, fine dining options, engaging gaming zones and a world-class cinema experience.
The 12th anniversary stands as a testament to its commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction.
Wave Mall Jammu looks forward to continuing its journey of innovation, entertainment and memorable experiences for its patrons in the years to come.
Fast evolving realms of governance call for rapid adaptiveness: Dr Jitendra
IIPA Convocation
Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, May 1 : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that fast evolving realm of governance calls for rapid adaptiveness , and the ability to continuously learn for effective public administration, as knowledge acquired today can quickly lose relevance in the face of technological advancements. He said, this transformation is crucial for achieving India’s vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
Dr. Jitendra Singh was addressing the Convocation Ceremony of the 51st Advanced Professional Programme in Public Administration (APPPA) at the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA). The programme, instituted in 1975, is a flagship capacity-building initiative of IIPA leading to a Master’s degree in Public Administration and Public Policy in collaboration with Panjab University, Chandigarh.
The event was attended by Director General, IIPA Dr. Pargade, Professor Surbhi Pandey, Dr. Sachin Chaudhary, Professor Ravi Saklani and senior officers from All India and Central Services, including participants from the armed forces and other sectors.
Emphasising the changing nature of governance, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that administration today is increasingly technology-driven, while citizen expectations are on the rise. He said public administration must respond not only through structural reforms but also through a continuous reorientation of mindset among officers to deal with unpredictable and dynamic challenges.
Referring to the evolving governance paradigm, the Minister said the focus has shifted from “Government” to “Governance” and further towards “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance”, with greater emphasis on transparency, accountability and citizen-centric service delivery.
Highlighting the role of capacity building, the Minister said the APPPA programme has, over the decades, contributed significantly in equipping senior officers with both domain knowledge and practical skills required for policy implementation. He said the programme aligns with Mission Karmayogi, which seeks to build competencies among civil servants for responsive and future-ready governance in the Amrit Kaal.
Dr. Jitendra Singh stressed that training programmes must evolve in line with emerging needs and suggested greater use of interactive and feedback-driven approaches, including anonymous feedback mechanisms, to better align course design with the expectations of participating officers.
The Minister also pointed to the growing importance of effective communication, in present times, as a key administrative skill, noting that modern governance requires officers to engage effectively with citizens, media and multiple stakeholders in an increasingly connected environment.
Referring to governance innovations such as the Aspirational Districts Programme, he said the competitive, data-driven model has demonstrated measurable improvements across sectors and is now moving towards a more technology-integrated next phase, further strengthening outcome-based governance.
Monalisa hosts ‘Laughter Loot Show’
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 1: Aimed at blending shopping with fun and excitement for customers, Monalisa today hosted a lively in-store entertainment segment titled “Laughter Loot Show”.
The unique initiative drew attention for its creative approach to customer engagement, offering visitors a chance to enjoy moments of joy while also winning exciting rewards.
Described as a special in-store event, the “Laughter Loot Show” has been designed to bring smiles and create a cheerful atmosphere within the store premises. Customers visiting the outlet are encouraged to take part in a fun-filled laughter challenge, turning an ordinary shopping trip into an entertaining experience.
Click here to watch video
Speaking about the initiative, Amit Raina, Store Manager at Monalisa, Channi Himmat, said, “Laughter, they say, is the best medicine, but at Monalisa, it is also the ticket to winning. Through this campaign, we aim to create a joyful shopping environment while rewarding our customers for their participation.”
He further added that the campaign is being organized across all Monalisa stores in Jammu as well in Ludhiana, ensuring that customers throughout Jammu can take part in the celebration.
“We are welcoming our customers with new stock and a wide variety of fresh collections across all our stores. This initiative is our way of connecting with the community in a more engaging and entertaining manner,” he said.
The show, which commenced on May 1, will continue for the next two days.
During this period, shoppers can not only explore the latest arrivals and attractive offers but also participate in the laughter challenge to win coupons, redeemable across Monalisa stores.
Established in 1969, Monalisa stores have been a trusted name in fashion retail and Jammu’s most iconic shipping destination for generations.
NTPC honours K M Prashanth and J P Sharma with top IPSE awards
Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, May 1: NTPC – INDIA’s largest Public Sector Enterprise in Communications and Public Relations in the Power & Renewable Energy domains today honoured, K M Prashanth, former GM (Corporate Communications) with the prestigious “Indian Public Sector Enterprise (IPSE) Doyen of the Decade (Public Sector)” Award for his Yeomen Contribution.
The prestigious Award was given by Anil Razdan, former Secretary (Power) Govt of India, in gracious presence of Sandeep Gupta, former CMD, GAIL and A K Singh, former CMD, NHPC at SCOPE Convention Centre, New Delhi
K M Prashanth is a seasoned professional with extensive expertise in corporate communication, human resources and corporate affairs.
With a deep understanding of these areas, he has successfully navigated various roles and responsibilities throughout his more than three decades of career with NTPC.
Prashanth’s experience in leading teams and implementing effective communication strategies made him a valuable asset to NTPC where he contributed significantly to the organisation’s success.
During the same event, Razdan also presented the IPSE Life Time Achievement Award for Excellence to J P Sharma, former Deputy General Manager (Corporate Communications), for his immense lifelong contributions to the field of Corporate Communications.
The IPSE Awards are instituted by PSE Journal in association with the ENERTIA Foundation.
The awards aim to recognize excellence within India’s Public Sector Enterprises across core economy sectors and their vital contribution to the Nation’s GDP, covering both Central and State PSEs as well as individual leadership.
Program was anchored and Coordinated by Prof A G Iyer.