Dense fog again envelops Kashmir amid severe cold wave

Srinagar, Dec 26 (GNS): Dense fog engulfed Srinagar and several other parts of Kashmir for the second day in running even as night temperature plummeted at most places of the Valley on Tuesday.

A meteorological department official here told GNS that Srinagar recorded a low of minus 3.0°C against minus 2.3°C on previous night and it was 1.0°C below normal for the summer capital of J&K for this time of the year.

Most parts of the Valley including Srinagar again saw a thick blanket of fog, reducing visibility and causing inconvenience to commuters.

Qazigund recorded a minimum of minus 3.0°C against minus 2.6°C on the previous night, he said. The minimum temperature was 1.0°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir, the MeT official said.

Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 4.7°C against minus 4.3°C on the previous night and it was 0.3°C above normal for the famous resort in south Kashmir.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a minimum of minus 2.0°C against minus 1.6°C on the previous night and the temperature was above normal by 0.1°C for the place, the official said.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 3.5°C against minus 2.7°C on the previous night and it was 0.4°C below normal there, the official said.

Gulmarg, the official said, recorded a low of minus 2.6°C against minus 3.0°C on the previous night and the temperature was 3.4°C above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir.

Jammu, he said, recorded a minimum of 7.4°C against 7.3°C on previous night, and it was below normal by 0.8°C for the winter capital of J&K.

Banihal recorded a low of 1.2°C, Batote 5.1°C and Bhaderwah 2.8°C, he said.

Kashmir valley is under ‘Chillai-Kalan’, the 40-day harsh period of winter. While ‘Chillai-Kalan’ will end on January 30, it does not mean an end to the winter. It is followed by a 20-day-long period called ‘Chillai-Khurd’ that occurs between January 30 and February 19 and a 10-day-long period ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) which is from February 20 to March 1.

Weather is expected to be generally dry for now, the MeT official said.

Generally cloudy weather is expected with possibility of light snow over isolated higher reaches on December 27, he said.

“Generally dry weather is expected from December 28-31,” he said, adding, “Overall there is no significant weather activity till December ending”.

He said from January 1-3, weather is expected to be generally cloudy with “light rain/snow at scattered places.” (GNS)

Public smoking violations sees six times surge this year, says data

Srinagar, Dec 25 (KNO): Violations for smoking at public places have seen an increase by six times this year so far.

As per the data accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) over 3,000 challans were produced and Rs 4,30,000 have been recovered as fine from the violators this year.

It said that 271 violations occurred in 2020-21 with Rs 18,290 realised as a fine. It was followed by 3240 challans next year with Rs 20,250 recovered as fine. Similarly, 553 challans were produced in 2022 and Rs 25,280 was recovered as fine and this year 3,123 challans were produced and Rs 4,30,000 recovered as fine so far.

It showed that 4,231 persons were counselled and sanitised in the year 2020-21 followed by 7,7670 in the year 2021-22, 10,558 in 2022-23 and 17,457 in 2023-24 so far.

Dr Mir Mushtaq, Nodal Officer, National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) for Kashmir told KNO that anti-tobacco drives are being launched regularly in all the districts in Kashmir and COTPA violators are being fined.

He said that their motive is to limit the prevalence of smoking as tobacco is putting a huge economic burden on people and it carries health hazards.

“Tobacco is is responsible for many diseases prevalent in society, particularly various cancers, cardiac diseases and many more”, he said, while putting emphasis on coordination of all departments and public cooperation to get rid of this menace.

As per the National Health Survey figures, the prevalence of tobacco in Kashmir includes Kupwara 56%, Shopian 52%, Anantnag and Bandipora 49% each, Budgam 48 %, Pulwama 44%, Ganderbal 42%, Baramulla and Kulgam 41% each and Srinagar 38%.

Pertinently, as per GATS 2 Data, 35.2% men & 5.1% women and 20.8% of all adults smoke tobacco in J&K.

As per the data, 6.8% men & 1.5% women and 4.3% of all adults currently use smokeless tobacco, 39.7% men & 6.2 % women & 23.7% of all adults either smoke tobacco or use smokeless Tobacco.

The government has also imposed a complete ban on the sale of loose cigarettes, loose beedis and loose tobacco while all educational institutions and tourist destinations were declared as tobacco free zones.

Tobacco is said to be the leading cause of preventable deaths in the world. It kills approximately more than seven million globally and more than one million in India.

Lung cancer has been found to be the second commonest cancer. In the past few decades, the cancer catastrophe has created havoc globally with Kashmir witnessing rise in such cases.

As per the hospital-based data from Kashmir valley, males have higher incidence of lung cancer.

There is a direct relation between length of smoking and number of cigarettes smoked per day. Even if smokers quit smoking, there are chances of developing cancer but these chances decrease to a greater extent, officials said—(KNO)

Weather Update Chillia Kalan Day 06

Mostly dry weather are forecasted in most places in Jammu and Kashmir for next 24hrs.

Today the day temperature will remain in between 09-11 degree Celsius in most of the plains in Kashmir.

Jammu Div hospitals face severe staff shortage, 645 medical officer positions vacant

Srinagar, Dec 25 (KNO): Hospitals in the Jammu division are grappling with a severe shortage of medical staff, including 645 vacant medical officer positions and 157 consultant positions.

The information, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), was obtained through a Right to Information Act (RTI) application filed by social activist MM Shuja

According to the RTI, the authorities at Directorate of Health Services Jammu revealed that the vacancies are causing strain on healthcare facilities, and have resulted in increased workloads for existing staff and delays in patient care.

They said the shortage has become even more critical amid the global health challenges faced by the healthcare workforce.

Authorities revealed that steps have been taken to address the shortage by initiating the recruitment process and referring the vacancies to the recruiting agency. However, the overall scenario is challenging, with around 4,000 gazetted and non-gazetted posts lying vacant in the health department in the Jammu division, which is impacting healthcare services.

These issues have become a top priority for health authorities, who are now exploring strategies to attract and retain skilled healthcare professionals, they said—(KNO)

TRAFFIC POLICE HEADQUARTERS, J&K, JAMMU/SRINAGAR
1. From 24-12-2023, 1700 hrs. to 25-12-2023, 1700 hrs., there was slow movement observed on NH-44 due to breakdown of 03 HMVs and poor surface condition of road at Dalwas and single lane traffic at Cafeteria-Mehad, Magerkote, Nachlana and Hingani between Nashri and NAVYUG Tunnel.
2. Passengers/LMVs operators are advised to prefer journey on Jammu-Srinagar NHW during the day. Please avoid journey during night hours as apprehension of shooting stones between Ramban and Banihal.
3. HMVs Operators/Owners are requested to desist from overloading and carry sufficient fuel during the journey on Jammu-Srinagar NHW. It is further requested that vehicle owners must double-check the fitness of their vehicles and carry sufficient fuel before undertaking the journey on Jammu-Srinagar NHW.
4. HMVs with only 06 and 10 tyres shall be allowed to ply through Dhar road.

TRAFFIC PLAN & ADVISORY FOR 26-12-2023:
Subject to fair weather and good road condition, LMVs Passenger/Private Cars/HMVs/Load Carriers shall be allowed from both sides on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) viz Jammu towards Srinagar and vice-versa. Commuters are advised to follow lane discipline.

SFs Convoy Movement:
Subject to fair weather and good road condition, Security Forces vehicles shall be allowed from both sides on Jammu-Srinagar NHW (NH-44) viz Jammu towards Srinagar and vice-versa.

SSG ROAD
Subject to fair weather and good road condition, vehicular movement on Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumari road shall be allowed from both sides viz Srinagar towards Kargil and vice-versa. LMVs followed by HMVs shall be allowed from Minamarg towards Srinagar between 0830 hrs. to 1100 hrs. Similarly, LMVs followed by HMVs shall be allowed from Sonamarg towards Kargil between 1230 hrs to 1530 hrs. No vehicle shall be allowed after cut off timings.
SFs Convoy, plying from Srinagar to Kargil, shall leave Srinagar at 0800 hrs. SFs Convoy plying from Drass to Srinagar shall plan their movement in such a manner so that Civil Traffic doesn’t get disturbed.

Mughal Road:
Tomorrow subject to fair weather and good road condition, vehicular movement on Mughal road shall be allowed from both sides viz. Poonch towards Shopian and vice versa. These vehicles shall be allowed from Behramgalla (Buffliaz) and Herpora (Shopian) between 1000 hrs to 1500 hrs. after a green signal from road agencies.

ADVISORY:
People are advised to undertake a journey on NH-44 only after confirming the status of the road from Traffic control units as under:
• Jammu (0191-2459048, 0191- 2740550, 9419147732, 103)
• Srinagar (0194-2450022, 2485396, 18001807091, 103)
• Ramban (9419993745)
• Udhampur (8491928625)
• PCR Kishtwar (9906154100) for the status of Sinthan Road.

Man Arrested For Cheating, Extortion Of Money In Anantnag: Police

Srinagar, December 25(GNS): Police on Monday said that it have arrested a person for cheating and extracting money from people illegally in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

In a handout to GNS, the police said that taking cognizance of social media reports and on the basis of complaint received that an individual named Saqib Bashir Ganai resident of Rakh Moman Bijbehara, District Anantnag has been cheating and intimidating people in order to illegally extort money from them, legal action has been initiated against the said person and case FIR No. 294/2023 under relevant sections of law has been registered in Police Station Bijbehera. The person has been identified and arrested in the said case.

Citizens are requested to exercise appropriate caution while using internet and social media apps and in case of any grievance to approach police directly for appropriate legal action rather than taking recourse to social media, reads the statement.(GNS)

JKSSB Released Results, Answer Key, selection lists, and other notifications

Result/Scoresheet of Written Examination for the post of Panchayat Secretary – regarding.

Provisional Answer Key Notice regarding Written Examination for the Post of Chemist, held on 24-12-2023.

Accountant & Office staff Jobs at FM GROUP, Salary 20000

Provisional Answer key Notice regarding Written Examination for the posts of Driver(s) and Truck Cleaner held on 24-12-2023.

Final Answer Key Notice regarding Written Examination for the post of Panchayat Secretary, Rural Development Department, held on 10-12-2023.

Notice regarding Document Verification of candidates falling under consideration zone for the post of Field Inspector – Supplementary Document Verification thereof.

Notice regarding Document Verification of candidates falling under consideration zone for the post of Field Assistant – Supplementary Document Verification thereof.

Notice regarding Document Verification of candidates falling under consideration zone for the post of Sub Inspector, Home Department – Supplementary Document Verification thereof.

Official Notification here