Srinagar, July 16: In a significant administrative reshuffle, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has ordered the transfer and posting of 14 officers in the Forest Department to streamline functioning and enhance field-level efficiency.

According to an order issued by the Commissioner Secretary to the Government, Forest Department, a copy of which lies with news agency JKNS, the following transfers and postings have been made in the interest of administration with immediate effect

Dr. M. K. Kumar, IFS (AGMUT:2006), Chief Conservator of Forest, Jammu, has been assigned the additional charge of Regional Director, Social Forestry, Jammu. Mr. Irfan Rasool Wani, IFS (AGMUT:2006), Chief Conservator of Forest, Kashmir, shall also hold the charge of Regional Director, Social Forestry, Kashmir. Mr. Satyendra Maurya, IFS (AGMUT:2020), DFO Baramulla Forest Division, is transferred and posted as DFO Udhampur. Mr. Shahbazul Rahman, IFS (AGMUT:2022), DFO Mahore, is posted as DFO Doda. Mr. Bishan Dass, DCF, presently I/c General Manager P&P Jammu, is transferred and posted as DFO Ramban, replacing Mr. Ankit Sinha, IFS (AGMUT:2022), who will await further posting at PCCF/HOFF, J&K.

Mr. Zahid Aslam Moghal, DCF, previously under orders for Ecology, Environment & Remote Sensing, Jammu, is now posted as DFO Baramulla. Mr. Owais Farooq Mir, DCF, I/c Project Coordinator, WUCMA, is posted as DFO Kamraj.Mr. Vijay Kumar Verma, DCF, DFO Kishtwar, is transferred to DFO Mahore. Mr. Mahesh Kumar, ACF, I/c DFO Doda, will now look after DFO Kishtwar. Mr. Mohammad Ashraf Kattoo, ACF, I/c DFO Kulgam, is posted as DFO Anantnag.

Mr. Himayun Kabir Qadri, ACF, I/c DFO Agrostology Kashmir, is now in charge of DFO Lidder.Mr. Qamar Rashid Khan, ACF, earlier attached to Nowshera, will now look after DFO Shopian.Mr. Mushtaq Hussain Choudhary, ACF, I/c Social Forestry Poonch, is posted as DFO Poonch. Mr. Naveed Iqbal, ACF, I/c DFO Poonch, is now posted as DFO Rajouri, reads the order. (JKNS)

Health & Education pillars of J&K’s progress, prosperity: CM Omar

Inaugurates 120-bed additional block at B&J Hospital, Sgr

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Tuesday inaugurated a 120-bedded state-of-the-art additional block at the Bone & Joint Hospital, Srinagar, reaffirming his government’s firm commitment to strengthening the two foundational pillars of development—health and education.

Post inauguration, the Chief Minister also took a round of the operation theatres, staircase, ramp and wards, and interacted with the hospital staff and faculty members.

Addressing a large gathering on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that no amount of infrastructure development—be it roads, power projects, or commercial complexes—can substitute for quality healthcare and education. “Without robust schools, colleges, universities and hospitals, our progress as a society will remain incomplete,” he stated.

Recalling the rich legacy of the Bone & Joint Hospital, CM Omar said that the institution has faced extraordinary challenges over the past 30–35 years. “From natural disasters to tragic accidents, this hospital has stood as a symbol of resilience and commitment,” he said.

He reminisced about the 2014 floods, when floodwaters first breached the Bone & Joint Hospital. “I vividly remember standing under this bridge, trying to protect the hospital from being overrun. Despite the devastation, this hospital never turned its back on people—it continued to provide treatment,” he said.

The Chief Minister also referred to the 2022 fire that destroyed major sections of the hospital, including four operation theatres, referral rooms, teaching areas, and multiple wards. “Even without a roof for six months, our doctors and administrators resumed surgeries within days. Their dedication is commendable,” he added.

Highlighting the vision of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, who had inaugurated the hospital in May 1982, the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed pride in carrying that vision forward. “Today, we are opening a new chapter in the hospital’s journey—one that will serve not just Srinagar, but patients from every corner of the Valley, and even from Chenab, Pir Panjal, and Kargil,” he said.

Sharing a personal anecdote, CM Omar revealed that he, too, had been a patient at the hospital following a cycling accident five years after its inauguration. “Thanks to the skill of the surgeons here, I can still run 10–12 kilometers at the age of 55. That’s the quality of care this hospital provides,” he remarked.

The Chief Minister emphasized the urgent need for staffing in the newly inaugurated facility and directed concerned departments to expedite the creation of required posts. “We didn’t cut this ribbon for a photo opportunity. It will only be meaningful when these beds are occupied, OTs are functional, and our faculty is teaching future doctors,” he asserted.

As Minister for Housing & Urban Development, Omar Abdullah also announced a special survey to identify water-logging hotspots in Srinagar. He said a comprehensive project will be framed to address the issue, drain by drain, to make Srinagar a true smart city.

He further assured that two to three major infrastructure projects will soon be launched to ease traffic congestion in the city.

The Chief Minister extended his congratulations to the Principal of Government Medical College Srinagar, faculty members, doctors, staff, and administration of Bone and Joint Hospital. “This hospital is not just a building—it’s a beacon of hope and healing. Together, we will ensure it continues to serve generations to come,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary reaffirmed that the mission and vision laid down by Sher-e-Kashmir will continue with renewed focus and energy under the able leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

Minister for Health & Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, in her address, said that following the formation of the present government under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the Bone & Joint Hospital project has witnessed significant progress and was successfully completed.

She further emphasized that medical care facilities across Jammu and Kashmir are being continuously upgraded. “From MRI facilities to Cath Labs and other advanced diagnostic and treatment services, our aim is to provide world-class healthcare through our Government Medical Colleges and associated hospitals,” she said.

Advisor to the Chief Minister, Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA Lal Chowk Sheikh Ahsan Pardesi, and Secretary Health & Medical Education, Dr. Syed Abid Rashid Shah also addressed the gathering, lauding the efforts of the administration and healthcare workers involved in the project.

The event was attended by several legislators from across Kashmir, Principal GMC Srinagar Dr. Iffat Hassan, Medical Superintendent Bone & Joint Hospital, senior faculty members, doctors and a large number of citizens—(KNO)

CS for making cyber security audit of websites a time-bound process

Deptt assures all websites to go live within next 2 months

Srinagar, Jul 15: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a crucial meeting to thoroughly review cyber security measures safeguarding government websites and critical infrastructure across Jammu and Kashmir.

The meeting besides the Secretary IT was attended by all Administrative Secretaries of various departments, and key officers from NIC, JaKeGA, and the IT Department.

In this meeting the Chief Secretary underscored the urgent need for fixing clear timelines for completing website security audits, stressing that prolonged website downtime causes significant inconvenience to the public. He emphasized that all exercises must be time-bound, with a focus on reviving all important websites at the earliest.

Furthermore, he directed the immediate decommissioning of all redundant and unused websites, stating they serve no purpose and pose unnecessary security risks.

To bolster internal capabilities, the Chief Secretary advocated for capacity building of all departmental Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and Information Security Officers (ISOs). This initiative aims to empower them to conduct future website audits independently, thereby mitigating potential security compromises.

He also mandated the installation of necessary security software on all devices used for official work and strictly directed the discontinuation of private email IDs for official communications, citing the inherent security risks to official data and devices.

Addressing infrastructure needs, the Chief Secretary took note of the requirement for augmenting the State Data Centre (SDC) in Jammu. He directed the IT Department to promptly initiate the process using available funds, assuring that additional requisite funding would be provided as the work progresses.

During the meeting, Administrative Secretaries also contributed valuable suggestions to enhance the overall security of IT assets and prevent data breaches.

The Secretary, IT, Dr. Piyush Singla took this occasion to provide a comprehensive presentation detailing the safety and security precautionary measures undertaken by the department to ensure the cyber security of all government websites and assets. He informed the meeting that an audit agency has been engaged to conduct security audits of websites/portals hosted at the J&K SDC.

Dr. Singla highlighted the current status of websites hosted at the J&K SDC. He gave out that of a total of 239 websites, 140 are live. Of the 99 non-live websites, 70 are currently under audit by a Third-Party Auditor (TPA), 11 are under departmental audit, 10 are yet to be audited but are covered under the audit plan, 6 more have been allocated for auditing but their staging is not ready, and 2 websites have been decommissioned till date.

He further informed that to expedite the security audit process, the TPA has been requested to engage four additional resources, with the audit of all pending websites expected to be completed within the next two months. Regular follow-ups with CISOs/ISOs is done by the Department and detailed reports are being shared with all Administrative Secretaries for their appraisal.

Regarding other departmental measures, it was reported that Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) deployment is underway at the Civil Secretariat in Jammu and Srinagar, with 4011 EDR and 1789 UEM installations completed. VPN access has been restricted to users with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), and all routers have been configured to accept requests only from India. Furthermore, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been mandated for opening IP/Ports via firewalls only.

The meeting was also informed that compliance with CERT-In and OWASP top 10 guidelines is being strictly enforced for all websites and web applications. To ensure public convenience and data security, the audit of critical applications such as Land Records, NGDRS, and CVS Portal has been initiated, and reports have been shared with respective departments for mitigation actions and necessary source code patching as required under the cyber security framework—(KNO)

Will make Srinagar ‘actual’ Smart City, says CM Omar

Says hour-long rains highlight road conditions; questions fund utilisation; calls for staffing new facility

Srinagar, Jul 15 (KNO): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said waterlogging issues are being thoroughly studied to develop a comprehensive project to transform Srinagar into an “actual” Smart City.

Addressing a gathering at Bone & Joint Hospital during the inauguration of its new 120-bed building, CM Omar, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that recent hour-long rains have exposed the poor state of roads in the city. “I wonder where the funds allocated in recent years have gone. As head of the Housing and Urban Development Department, I have directed a detailed study on waterlogging to devise a plan that will truly make Srinagar a Smart City,” he said.

“We, too, are responsible for the current situation by not strictly adhering to guidelines and failing to maintain proper road conditions,” Omar added.

The Chief Minister said that no amount of infrastructure development, whether roads, power projects, or commercial complexes, can replace the need for quality healthcare and education. “Without strong schools, colleges, universities, and hospitals, our societal progress remains incomplete,” he said.

Recalling the legacy of the Bone & Joint Hospital, Abdullah paid tribute to its resilience over the past 30–35 years. “From natural disasters to tragic accidents, this hospital has stood as a symbol of dedication and strength,” he said.

He recalled the 2014 floods when floodwaters threatened to overrun the hospital. “I vividly remember standing under this bridge, trying to protect the hospital from being inundated. Despite the destruction, the hospital never turned away those in need; it continued to serve the people,” he said.

The CM also mentioned the fire in 2022 that destroyed key sections of the hospital, including four operation theatres, referral rooms, teaching areas, and wards. “Even without a roof for six months, our doctors and administrators resumed surgeries within days. Their dedication is commendable,” he praised.

Referring to the vision of ‘Sher-e-Kashmir’ Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, who inaugurated the hospital in May 1982, Omar expressed pride in continuing that legacy. “Today, we open a new chapter. This hospital will serve not just Srinagar, but patients from across the valley, including Chenab, Pir Panjal, and Kargil,” he said.

Sharing a personal anecdote, the Chief Minister revealed that he was once a patient at the same hospital after a cycling accident five years post-inauguration. “Thanks to the skill of our surgeons, I can still run 10 to 12 kilometres at age 55. That speaks volumes about the quality of care here,” he added.

Abdullah called for staffing the new facility effectively. “We didn’t open this hospital just for a photo opportunity. Its success depends on having beds occupied, operation theatres functional, and faculty teaching future doctors,” he said—(KNO)

3 dead, 8 injured in 3 road accidents along Sgr-Jmu NH

Srinagar, Jul 15 (KNO): At least three people lost their lives, while eight others including three Amarnath pilgrims were injured in three separate road accidents that occurred along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, from Ramban to Pulwama district, on Tuesday.

Two persons were killed and two others, including a woman, were critically injured after an Alto car collided with a truck near Dangerpora Padgampora area of Awantipora on Tuesday evening.

The victims, all residents of Kulgam district, were travelling in the Alto when the accident occurred.

Rouf Gull, son of Gull Mohammad Lone from Dardgund, died on the spot. Abdul Rashid Sheikh, son of Ghulam Hassan Sheikh from Devsar, was declared dead on arrival at SMHS Hospital in Srinagar.

The injured have been identified as Showkat Ahmad Lone from Dardgund, who is undergoing treatment, and Firdousa, wife of Aijaz Ahmad Lone from Devsar, who remains in critical condition at SMHS Hospital.

In Banihal, one person died and three others were injured when a car collided with a crane, hydra working inside the Navyug Tunnel.

Officials said the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital, where one critically injured person succumbed to his injuries.

The deceased was identified as Tariq Ahmad, son of Abdul Aziz Wani of Banihal, an employee of the Health Department.

The remaining two injured persons are undergoing treatment at GMC Anantnag.

In Ramban, three Amarnath yatris were injured after a bus, part of the Baltal down convoy, met with an accident inside Tunnel T-1 at Kela Morh in Ramban district.

The incident occurred as the convoy was passing through the tunnel. The injured were immediately taken to District Hospital Ramban for treatment.

Meanwhile, police have taken cognizance of all the three accidents—(KNO)