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Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Jammu and Kashmir Branch Office (JKBO) Celebrates 78th Foundation Day with Manak Carnival

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Bureau of Indian Standards

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Jammu and Kashmir Branch Office (JKBO) celebrated its 78th Foundation Day “Manak Carnival” at its JKBO Bari Brahmana, Jammu premises with great enthusiasm on 6th January 2025.

The event featured a variety of engaging activities, including nukkad natak, poster-making competitions, Manak Geet performances, and speeches, highlighting the importance of standards in daily life.

Four schools from the region- PM Shri Govt Girls Higher Secondary School Reasi, Govt. Girls Higher Secondary School Kathua, Govt Girls Higher Secondary School Sunderbani, Rajouri and Govt Girls Higher Secondary School Samba actively participated in the celebrations, contributing to the vibrant atmosphere of the event.

Students showcased their creativity and understanding of the theme through performances, such as nukkad natak, painting, and impactful speeches, all centered around the importance of standardization in enhancing quality and sustainability in daily life and the students were felicitated for their participation and exceptional contributions during the event.

As a special initiative, the participating students were also taken on industrial visits to various manufacturing units in the region to gain practical insights into the role of standards in ensuring quality and safety.

Speaking on the occasion, the Joint Director, BIS-JKBO, Sh Pankaj Atri remarked, “We are delighted to celebrate our Foundation Day with the participation of these bright young minds. This event serves as a platform to create awareness among students about the significance of standardization and its transformative impact on society.”

The event witnessed the presence of BIS JKBO officials, teachers, and students from the participating schools, fostering a collaborative and educational environment.

The Bureau of Indian Standards, Jammu and Kashmir Branch Office (BIS JKBO), is a regional office of India’s National Standards Body, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). It plays a pivotal role in promoting Standardization, Hallmarking, and Conformity Assessment activities across Jammu and Kashmir, ensuring quality and reliability in products and services.

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Srinagar Police Arrests Fraudster Impersonating Government Official, Promising Drug Peddler’s Release for Bribe

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Police Arrest Fraudster

Srinagar Police Arrests Fraudster Impersonating Government Official, Promising Drug Peddler’s Release for Bribe.

Srinagar Police has arrested a fraudster who falsely claimed to be a government officer in order to defraud an individual of substantial sum of money promising to release a drug peddler detained under drug-related crime.

On 06/01/2025, a complaint was filed by Ms. Safiya Riyaz wife of Riyaz Ahmad Channa accusing Sadiq Hassan Chaloo, a resident of Shaheedgunj, of impersonating a government officer and defrauding her of ₹2 lakh.

The accused person falsely claimed influence to facilitate the release of her husband, who had been arrested on 19/11/2024 by Police Station Rajbagh in a narcotics case.After she discovered the deception and demanded the money back, the accused person returned only a partial amount and denied the rest.

In this connection, case under Sections 318(4), 319 and 351(2) of the BNS Act has been registered and the fraudster has been arrested. The investigation is ongoing.

It is pertinent to mention here that the husband of the applicant Riyaz Ahmad Channa had been booked under PIT NDPS Act and is presently lodged in Sub Jail Baderwah.

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Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Launches Extensive Snow Clearance and Waterlogging Operations in Srinagar

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Srinagar Municipal Corporation

The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has launched extensive operations to address the pressing issues of snow clearance and waterlogging throughout the city following recent snowfall and rain.

With a dedicated workforce and advanced machinery, SMC teams have been actively clearing snow and excess water from lanes and bylanes since early morning.

To enhance efficiency, dewatering operations are being monitored through the SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system. Currently, 67 out of 100 dewatering stations are under real-time surveillance, allowing for effective management of water levels.

The SCADA Main Control Centre at Darish Kadal oversees pump operations, DG set performance, and sump water levels to ensure optimal water management.

In parallel, snow clearance activities are being managed through the SMC’s 24×7 Control Room, augmented by a Vehicle Tracking System (VTS). This technology enables better deployment and coordination of machinery across the city.

Dewatering pumps have been strategically deployed at key locations to mitigate water accumulation, and all pump stations remain fully operational. The sanitation workforce is diligently clearing roads of snow and water, providing essential relief to residents affected by the inclement weather.

The SMC Commissioner has been closely monitoring all operations to ensure timely and effective implementation. “Our teams are doing outstanding work under challenging conditions,” stated the Commissioner, reaffirming the SMC’s commitment to alleviating the hardships faced by residents due to snow and waterlogging.

For assistance, residents are encouraged to reach out to the SMC’s 24×7 Control Room helpline at 0194-2470465, 0194-2474499, or the Toll-Free Number 1800-180-7038.

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Tarun Chugh Highlights Modi Government’s Transformative Impact on Jammu & Kashmir

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Tarun Chugh

The Modi government has transformed Jammu & Kashmir into a region of opportunity and growth, fulfilling the aspirations of its people.

Highlighting the government’s commitment to multi-faceted development, Tarun Chugh emphasized that the establishment of a new railway division and the expansion of the rail network up to Baramulla will revolutionize commuting, freight movement, business opportunities, and job creation in the Union Territory.

Tarun Chugh, National General Secretary, BJP & Prabhari, J&K BJP, said, “Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi has ushered in an era of development in Jammu & Kashmir by strengthening its road and rail infrastructure, which has directly bolstered tourism. His visionary approach has transformed J&K from a terrorism capital to a tourism capital, supported by liberal funding and strategic planning.”

He noted that the inauguration of the new railway division would generate significant employment opportunities for local youth and provide a much-needed boost to trade and the regional economy.

“The development of road and rail networks has not only enhanced the commuting experience but also improved freight movement between destinations, reducing costs and transportation time,” Sh. Tarun Chugh said. He added that efficient transportation of perishable goods, such as fruits and vegetables, will curb hoarding and black marketing while stabilizing the prices of essential goods across various cities, especially during challenging times.

Highlighting the project’s economic potential, Sh. Tarun Chugh stated, “The rail network, with an estimated investment of ₹40,000 crore, will catalyze the development of Jammu and Srinagar as twin economic hubs, opening new avenues for businesses and accelerating existing ventures. Additionally, multiple small business hubs will emerge at various train halts, further stimulating the region’s economy.”

The Modi government’s unwavering commitment to Jammu & Kashmir’s holistic development continues to bring tangible benefits to the region, setting it on the path of unprecedented growth and prosperity.

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Global Central Banks Continue Gold Buying Trend in November 2024,India Becomes Second Largest Buyer of Gold After Poland in 2024: World Gold Council

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Global Central Banks

Global central banks remained active in the gold market in November 2024, collectively adding 53 tonnes of the precious metal to their reserves, according to the World Gold Council.

This sustained buying trend reflects the growing preference for gold as a stable and secure asset amidst global economic uncertainties.

India’s year-to-date purchased 73 tonnes of gold with total gold reserves of 876 tonnes as on November end, making it the second-largest buyer of 2024 after Poland, the WGC said.

The National Bank of Poland (NBP) emerged as the largest buyer of gold in November, increasing its reserves by 21 tonnes to reach a total of 448 tonnes.

Gold accounts for nearly 18 per cent of Poland’s total reserves, just shy of its 20 per cent target. With year-to-date purchases of 90 tonnes, NBP has maintained its position as the top gold buyer of 2024.

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan also made significant additions, increasing its reserves by 9 tonnes after a hiatus since July.

This brings its year-to-date net purchases to 11 tonnes, with total holdings now at 382 tonnes. Similarly, the Reserve Bank of India continued its gold acquisition streak, adding 8 tonnes in November.

Other notable buyers included the National Bank of Kazakhstan, which added 5 tonnes, reversing its status to a net purchaser for the year, with total reserves now at 295 tonnes.

The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) resumed gold buying after a six-month pause, adding 5 tonnes and bringing its total holdings to 2,264 tonnes, representing 5 per cent of its reserves.

The Central Bank of Jordan increased its holdings by 4 tonnes in November, marking its first addition since July and lifting its total reserves to 73 tonnes.

The Central Bank of Turkey added 3 tonnes and continued its liquidity management efforts through gold-for-lira swap agreements with domestic banks.

Meanwhile, the Czech National Bank extended its buying streak to 21 consecutive months, purchasing nearly 2 tonnes and increasing its total holdings to just over 50 tonnes. The Bank of Ghana, as part of its domestic gold purchase program, added 1 tonne in November, bringing its total reserves to 29 tonnes.

However, some central banks reduced their gold holdings during the month. The Monetary Authority of Singapore was the largest seller, reducing its reserves by 5 tonnes to a total of 223 tonnes, with year-to-date net sales reaching 7 tonnes.

Additionally, the Bank of Finland announced a significant reduction in December, selling about 10 per cent of its gold holdings. This brought its reserves to 44 tonnes, the lowest level since 1984, as part of a strategy to manage exchange rate risks. (ANI)

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Devyani Rana Daughter of Devender Rana Appointed J&K BJP youth wing vice-president

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Bharatiya Janta Party has appointed Devyani Rana, daughter of late Devender Singh Rana, as its youth wing vice-president for Jammu and Kashmir unit.

Bharatiya Janta Party has appointed Devyani Rana, daughter of late Devender Singh Rana, as its youth wing vice-president for Jammu and Kashmir unit.

According to a communique, the nomination has been made by BJYM J&K president Arun Prabhat in consultation with party’s J&K president Sat Sharma and general secretary (Org) Ashok Kaul.

Devyani Rana is the daughter of former legislator from Nagrota late Devender Rana. Rana, a four-time legislator. Rana passed away on October 31 last year.

Sources told KNO that she is likely to be BJP’s candidate for Nagrota assembly seat which was represented by her father—(KNO)

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LG Manoj Sinha Encourages IAS Trainees to Uphold Integrity and Dedication

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IAS Trainees

A group of IAS Trainees of the 2024 Batch, called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhawan, today.

During the interaction, the Lieutenant Governor extended his best wishes to the Officer Trainees. He advised them to work with sensitivity, honesty, and dedication and make their valuable contribution to achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat.

“Civil Servants are backbone of the administration. You must follow the values of integrity and merit for nation building process. Your aim should be to reach out to the last man in the queue and focus on people-centric inclusive development. Your professional and personal conduct must reflect the core values and high morals of this prestigious service,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Officer Trainees also shared the experience from their visit to Jammu Kashmir, as a part of the Winter Study Tour programme.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi Inaugurates New Jammu Railway Division,Bijbehara-Pahalgam (78km) and Awantipora-Shopian (28kms) Rail Lines Under Servey

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indian Railway

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the new Jammu Railway Division, through virtual mode.

On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed gratitude to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for dedicating the new Jammu Railway Division.

“This new division is very important from strategic point of view. It will also stimulate economic growth, employment generation, infrastructure development and creation of new tourist circuits” he said.

Speaking on the remarkable progress achieved in developing a comprehensive railway-network in the UT, the Lieutenant Governor said the Indian Railways stands at the forefront of our journey toward a developed and self-reliant J&K.

“For Jammu and Kashmir, Indian Railways is spearheading a new era of development and integration. Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) will seamlessly connect Kashmir to Kanyakumari, boosting tourism, trade, and employment opportunities in the region,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
He said, by connecting Kashmir to the national railway network, Indian Railways has laid the foundation for a prosperous and integrated future for Jammu and Kashmir.

The Lieutenant Governor observed that, under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the infrastructure development across the sectors has set new benchmarks in the UT of J&K.

“With a strong emphasis on infrastructure, sustainability, and innovation, we are laying the foundation for a future where economic growth and improved livelihoods go hand in hand and everyone is empowered to make this vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 a reality,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
He said, the enhanced connectivity is already unlocking the potential of Jammu and Kashmir. Improved transportation efficiency is stimulating trade, encouraging industrialization, and enabling the movement of raw materials and finished goods.

The Lieutenant Governor highlighted that with better access to markets, the socio-economic upliftment of the region is being realized, and tourism is receiving a much-needed boost.
The Lieutenant Governor also spoke on several transformative railway projects in the pipeline for Jammu and Kashmir, demonstrating Indian Railways’ unwavering commitment to improving regional connectivity and fostering socio-economic development.

Surveys are ongoing for the Anantnag-Bijbehara-Pahalgam (78km) and Awantipora-Shopian (28kms) rail lines. DPR is under examination for new line between Baramulla-Uri (46kms), Baramulla-Kupwara (39kms), Jammu-Poonch via Akhnoor, Rajouri (223kms), Manwal-Talra via Ramkote, Billawar and Dunera (117kms), Sopore-Kupwara (37kms), Pathankot-Leh (664kms), Bilaspur-Manali-Leh (489kms) and doubling of Baramulla-Banihal line, he said.

By linking key towns and regions, these projects promise to unlock the region’s untapped potential and boost local economies, the Lieutenant Governor further added.

In view of the rapid industrialization taking place in J&K and emergence of Jammu, Samba and Kathua as industrial hubs, the Lieutenant Governor emphasized that Indian Railways should explore possibilities for establishment of Railways’ Private Freight Terminal to facilitate the transportation of goods and products of traders and industries of these areas.
The Lieutenant Governor lauded the efforts of every stakeholder and also recalled the contribution of Late Shri Devender Singh Rana for a new Jammu Railway Division.

He further informed that the Z-morh tunnel will be inaugurated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister soon.
The creation of the Jammu Railway Division, with 742.1 KM comprising Pathankot – Jammu – Udhampur – Srinagar – Baramulla, Bhogpur Sirwal – Pathankot, Batala – Pathankot and Pathankot to Joginder Nagar sections, will significantly benefit Jammu and Kashmir and surrounding regions, fulfilling the long pending aspiration of the people and improving connectivity to other parts of India.

It will create employment opportunities, infrastructure development, promote tourism and lead to overall socio-economic development of the region.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences (Independent Charge), MoS PMO, DoPT Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy, Space, Dr Jitendra Singh; Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah; Member of Parliament, Shri Jugal Kishore Sharma; Members of Legislative Assembly Shri Sunil Sharma and Shri Vikram Randhawa; Chief Secretary, Shri Atal Dulloo; General Manager Northern Railways, Shri Ashok Kumar Verma; senior officials, political leaders and prominent citizens from all walks of life were present during the UT level function at Railway Station Jammu.

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Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Confirms Two Cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in Karnataka

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Human Metapneumovirus

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has confirmed the detection of two cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in Karnataka, identified through routine surveillance for respiratory viral pathogens.

Ministry of Health in a release has stated that these cases were detected as part of ICMR’s ongoing efforts to monitor and control respiratory illnesses across the country.

HMPV is a respiratory virus that is already circulating globally, including in India. It has been associated with respiratory illnesses in various countries, although there has been no unusual surge in cases in India.

The ICMR emphasized that despite the detection of these two cases, there has been no significant increase in Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases in the country.

One of the affected individuals is a 3-month-old female infant, who was diagnosed with HMPV after being admitted to Baptist Hospital in Bengaluru. She had a history of bronchopneumonia and was discharged after receiving treatment.

The second case involves an 8-month-old male infant, who tested positive for HMPV on January 3, 2025, following his admission to Baptist Hospital in Bengaluru, also with a history of bronchopneumonia.

This infant is currently recovering and is in stable condition. Neither of the infants had any history of international travel, suggesting that the cases are local and not connected to outbreaks outside the country.

The Union Health Ministry continues to monitor the situation through all available surveillance channels. Additionally, the ICMR will keep track of HMPV circulation trends throughout the year. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been providing regular updates on the situation in China to inform public health measures.

Meanwhile, Following the recent reports of an outbreak of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China, Kerala Health Minister Veena George on advised the elderly and pregnant women to wear masks, adding there is no need to panic as of now.

“We should all pay attention to some things in the context of the news that there is a major outbreak of viral fever and pneumonia in China. There are no reports of any viruses that are likely to become a pandemic or spread very quickly to other areas in China at this time,” George said.

She further said that since Malayalis are in all parts of the world, and expatriates from many parts of the world, including China, are coming to our country, we should be “cautious.”

“According to the available information, three types of viruses can be the cause of the frightening respiratory infections in China. They are Human Metanpneumovirus (HMPV), some variants of Covid 19, and Influenza A virus infections. There are no reports of any of these having genetic mutations that could lead to a pandemic. However, as mentioned earlier, we should be cautious,” she added.

The Health Minister said that infections, including human metapneumonia virus, are more likely to affect children and the elderly, so they, as well as those with other serious illnesses and people receiving palliative care, should be more cautious.

“Children should not be sent to school during illness. Those with respiratory symptoms should definitely use masks. There is currently no cause for concern.

We are monitoring the situation in China,” she said. Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a common respiratory virus that causes an upper respiratory infection. (ANI)

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Stray Dogs Attack in Budgam Leaves 15 injured, One Person in Critical Condition Shifted to SMHS Srinagar

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Dogs Attack in Budgam

At least 15 people were injured by stray dogs in Central Kashmir’s old Budgam town on Monday morning, causing panic among the locals.Eyewitnesses told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that the dogs appeared suddenly and went on a rampage, attacking several individuals in the old town.

They said all the injured were immediately shifted to Budgam District Hospital for medical treatment, while one person, in critical condition, was referred to SMHS Hospital in Srinagar for advanced care.

A medico at the Budgam hospital confirmed that one person with severe injuries has been shifted to Srinagar Hospital.After the incident, locals called for immediate action to address the issue of stray dogs in the district. [KNT]

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