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Mint
2 days ago
- General
- Mint
Dalai Lama visits Zanskar monastery in Kargil, devotees gather to seek blessings
Dalai Lama visits Zanskar monastery in Kargil, devotees gather to seek blessings | Photos 10 Photos . Updated: 21 Jul 2025, 02:40 PM IST Share Via Tibetan spiritual leader the 14th Dalai Lama visited Zanskar around July 20 after weather delays. He was greeted by thousands at Padum and embraced by monastic and civic leaders. During a multi-day stay, he conducted teachings, blessings, and promoted unity, harmony, and spiritual renewal 1/10Dalai Lama received a grand welcome at Zanskar monastery (Photo: Waseem Andrabi /Hindustan Times) 2/10Dalai Lama greets devotees at Zanskar monastery (Photo: Waseem Andrabi /Hindustan Times) 3/10Dalai Lama enjoys a hot cup of tea at Zanskar monastery (Photo: Waseem Andrabi /Hindustan Times) 4/10Dalai Lama greets devotees at Zanskar monastery (Photo: Waseem Andrabi /Hindustan Times) 5/10Dalai Lama attends function at Zanskar monastery (Photo: Waseem Andrabi /Hindustan Times) 6/10Devotees perform local dance for Dalai Lama at Zanskar monastery (Photo: Waseem Andrabi /Hindustan Times) 7/10Dalai Lama at Zanskar monastery (Photo: Waseem Andrabi /Hindustan Times) 8/10Dalai Lama with monks at Zanskar monastery (Photo: Waseem Andrabi /Hindustan Times) 9/10Dalai Lama meets other monastic leaders at Zanskar monastery (Photo: Waseem Andrabi /Hindustan Times)
Hindustan Times
13-07-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Dry skies bring sweet surprise with boost in stone fruit produce
Even though unusually hot and dry weather in spring and summer seasons affected life across Kashmir this year, it has proved a blessing for stone fruit farmers in the Himalayan region. A farmer fills boxes with plums harvested in an orchard in the outskirts of Srinagar on Sunday. (Waseem Andrabi /HT) The valley has recorded a bumper harvest of stone fruits, including plum, apricot, cherry and peach owing to hot and dry weather conditions in comparison to last year. The farmers across the Valley have been harvesting the crops for the past few weeks and most of them have been a satisfied lot. While the apricot and cherry harvest was almost on its tail end, the plum harvest is still going on. 'The production of plum was more this year as the weather conditions remained good for stone fruits. The plum is also of better quality this year than last,' said Mohammad Ashraf, a plum farmer from the outskirts of Srinagar city. He cited dry weather as the reason. 'Dry weather fetches good quantity and quality of fruit. Wet weather causes diseases including scab. March, April and May weather was dry and hence good for stone fruits,' he said, adding that he harvested some 20,000 (5kg) boxes this year as against 15,000 last year. 'The rates were also good at ₹220 to 250 per box,' he said. Most of the plum goes to outside markets including Azadpur Mandi in Delhi. In the central district of Budgam, Apricot farmer Bashir Ahmad Bhat was a happy man as he harvested 3,000 boxes of the fruit. 'I was blessed with good production of apricot this year, better than last year and I also got good rates,' he said. Bhat, however, said that some of the farmers received less rates as the fruit got infected by some diseases in a few pockets. 'The fruit cracked and also had small bumps. So the rates ranged from ₹150 to ₹450 per box depending on the quality,' he said. Most of the apricot is consumed locally. Horticulture development officer Azfar Nanda said the harvesting was still underway to arrive at any estimated production of stone fruits this year. However he said that there was an obvious increase in production. 'Tentatively, we can say that at least there will be a 7-10% increase in production than last year,' he said. Nanda said that the quality of the fruits was also good owing to better weather conditions suited for stone fruits. 'This summer, we had less rain which increased the production as well as quality. The colour as well as size was good,' he said. He said that the weather would cause problems for the farmers in March-April, which would be fruit-set time for the crops. 'Any rains at that time would negatively affect fruit-set. However, this year the weather remained favourable for the stone fruit crops,' he said. Kashmir valley witnessed heatwaves this summer right from May- first between May 18 to 27 and then from June 9 onwards - breaking decades old temperature records and severely affecting the life of the people not used to such high temperatures. The dry weather and scant rainfall caused water shortages and also affected fruit production like apples. Haji Bashir Ahmad, chairman of Kashmir Valley fruit growers cum dealers union said that the farmers are storing the stone fruits in controlled atmosphere stores for increase in shelf life owing to good production. 'Apricot crop is almost consumed locally but plum and cherry are mostly sent outside the valley. Some are now being stored in CA so that they don't get spoiled and fetch good rates in future as well,' he said.
Hindustan Times
07-07-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Rains bring much needed relief from intense heat in Kashmir
Torrential rains drenched Kashmir valley on Monday bringing some momentary relief in the hot weather conditions prevailing in the Himalayan region for the past more than a month. People in Srinagar after rainfall lashed Srinagar on Monday. (Waseem Andrabi/HT) The rains started in the afternoon in parts of Pahalgam in South Kashmir, Srinagar in Central Kashmir and Handwara in North Kashmir. However, by late evening heavy rains lashed most parts of the valley, including northern Baramulla district and majority of the city. 'The rains have brought a welcome relief from the intense hot weather in Kashmir. At many places people came out to drench in the rains even though the intensity of the rains was so severe,' said Arif Ahmad, a resident of Srinagar. There were hailstorms and gusty winds in various parts of the city. 'Strong winds uprooted a tree between Batwara and Pandrethan, which crashed onto an e-rickshaw causing damage while the road continues to remain blocked,' said Faizan Arif, a weather spotter. Many low lying areas of Srinagar were inundated with rain water. 'On Nallamar road and Khankah Moula, the storm water is overflowing the roads and has entered into shops causing damage to the goods and merchandise,' said a resident of Old City. Less snow, precipitation: Why Kashmir is sizzling in 2025 Kashmir is experiencing multiple bouts of heatwave this summer with temperatures breaking records of the past 70 years, prompting the experts to delve into the reasons for such unusually hot weather. The heatwave has not only deteriorated the quality of life but also affected vegetable crops and fruit orchards besides drying up water bodies, including river Jhelum, due to extended dry weather conditions. The experts say that the heatwave is not just because of the immediate dry weather this summer but also because of less precipitation right from the beginning of winter. 'We had very little snowfall this winter with no major snow cover over the mountains. In fact the Amarnath Yatris this year are also surprised to find negligible snow on the tracks leading up to cave shrine at a height of 3,880 metres deep in the Himalayas,' said Farooq Ahmad Bhat, senior meteorologist at IMD's Srinagar centre. He said that a heavy snow cover would help immediate rains in summer after just a few days of hot weather. 'In normal days, the hot weather would cause evaporation leading to rains after a few days. But this year, the very little snowfall we had has already melted in March and there is nothing to melt over mountains to go into rivers for evaporation and cause rains. Hence, more the dry weather, there is more increase in temperatures,' he said. Kashmir valley witnessed heatwaves this summer right from May- first between May 18 to 27 and then from June 9 onwards - breaking decades old temperature records and severely affecting the life of the people not used to such high temperatures. Kashmir's summer capital Srinagar on Saturday recorded the hottest day in 72 years at 37.4°C , the third highest maximum temperature in history in the city. 'The second highest temperature in Srinagar has been 37.7°C which was recorded on 5 July 1953 while the all -time highest temperature of 38.3°C over Srinagar had been observed on July 10, 1946,' said MeT director Mukhtar Ahmad. In Pahalgam tourist resort, the all times highest temperature of 31.6°C was recorded on Saturday, up from previous highest of 31.5°C on July 21 last year. Bhat said that Kashmir valley this year was hotter than the Jammu division which used to sizzle in normal circumstances. 'The Jammu division has been receiving monsoon rains regularly, while the Kashmir division has been hotter due to absence of moisture currents which only reach Reasi, Katra and Pir Panjal (mountain) region,' he said. Not only this month so far, the Jammu and Kashmir summer capital Srinagar has also recorded the hottest June month since 1978, and second hottest since 1892, the MeT has said. The average maximum mean temperature for the month of June 2025 stood at 31°C just below 32.9°C which was recorded in June 1978. Director MeT Mukhtar Ahmad said that the shifting global weather patterns like increase in temperatures due to climate change are also contributing factors. 'Our main sources of precipitation are western disturbances rather than monsoon rains. This year western disturbances didn't bring much snowfall while monsoon rains, already very less in Kashmir, are also shying away,' he said. Western disturbances are moisture laden winds from the Mediterranean which account for three-forth of the Valley's precipitation. He said that another factor was hot nights which would aggravate the day temperatures. 'There has been this trend of cloud cover during nights which would keep nights hot and humid and then the day temperatures would break further records,' he said. He, however, hopes for some relief as monsoon brought some rains on Monday. 'Currently there are some showers in Pahalgam and Kokernag in south Kashmir, Srinagar's Nishat areas and northern Handwara area but these are localised. Monsoons are not like western disturbances which cover the whole region,' he said.
Hindustan Times
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Third year in a row, 8th Muharram procession held from traditional route in Srinagar
Thousands of people from the Shia community peacefully participated in the 8th Muharram procession from its traditional route in Srinagar on Friday, third year in a row, after the authorities decided to continue the religious event after 34 years, in 2023. People from Shia community during 8th Muharram processions in Srinagar on Friday. (Waseem Andrabi/HT) The month of Muharram is remembered for the sacrifice of Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions in a seventh-century battle in Karbala, present day Iraq. The marchers chanted Islamic slogans, commemorating the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (peace be upon him), and marched early morning from Guru Bazar through MA Road culminating the march at Dalgate, the traditional path of the event. 'For 35 years we have attempted to take out this procession from this route and we don't want any mistake on our part which again stops this. We make all the effort to make this smooth and thank you for the cooperation,' Masroor Abbas Ansari, a Shia leader, told police officials during the procession. The government allowed the event for the third year in a row giving the community the time slot of 5 am to 8 am. The procession was banned during militancy from the early 1990s owing to law and order issues. However in 2023, after 34 years, the government allowed the event which is being organised peacefully since the last three years. Volunteers of the community, police as well as the administration had arranged for drinking water, sanitation, sprinkling and other facilities for the ease of the marchers. The traffic department had diverted the traffic movement to other routes. Kashmir divisional commissioner Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, Srinagar deputy commissioner Akshay Labroo and Srinagar senior superintendent of police G V Sundeep served water to people at the iconic Lal Chowk in Srinagar on Friday as a mark of respect for the tradition of Muharram. Bidhuri said that all necessary arrangements had been made by the police to ensure the safe and secure conduct of the event, as thousands of devotees participated in the 8th Muharram procession. 'This is the third consecutive year that Muharram is being observed. The district administration has made all necessary arrangements for the 'azadaars(mourner)',' Bidhuri said. 'Police arrangements have been made with safety and security as the top priority.' He requested people to keep the procession limited to its religious significance. 'One mistake by a single person can taint the whole event. The procession should continue like this peacefully,' he said. Director general of police, coordination PHQ, SJM Gilllani and IGP Kashmir Zone, Vidhi Kumar Birdi, took stock of the security of the religious event and also distributed drinks to the participants of the religious procession. 'This is Muharram-8 and a lot of arrangements have been made for the participants for a smooth procession. Besides, the security arrangements are complete,' the IGP said. He said that the administration, including police, was in touch with the organisers for the 10th Muharram processions in all districts. 'This is being done for smooth movement of participants and the religious processions,' he said. For the smooth movement of the procession, the Srinagar traffic police had issued a detailed traffic advisory to regulate vehicular movement in the city. To ensure smooth traffic flow and public safety, the authorities had made several diversions with complete halt on traffic movement from Karan Nagar towards Jehangir Chowk via Shaheed Gunj and Tankipora from 5 am to 8 am. In addition, traffic was not permitted from Jahangir Chowk towards the MA Road stretch leading up to Dalgate and Badyari Chowk from 5 am until the culmination of the religious procession. To accommodate the large number of participants, parking facilities had been arranged at three key locations — SP College ground, Gindun Park, and the Batmaloo bus stand.
Hindustan Times
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Op Sindoor: Poonch digs in, wants bunkers on priority
Nestled amid lush mountains along the Line of Control, the picturesque town of Poonch that bore the brunt of the worst cross-border shelling from Pakistan in five decades during Operation Sindoor between May 7 and 10, is slowly healing as residents pick up pieces of their shattered lives. A resident shows the damaged portion of Gurdawara in Poonch. (Waseem Andrabi /Hindustan Times) Of the 16 civilians killed in the Pakistani shelling in Jammu and Kashmir, 13 were from Poonch. They included four children. Almost two months on, 90% of families that had fled the town are back home but fear lurks as damaged houses bear mute testimony to the shelling. With the ceasefire holding, the residents want the administration to focus on buttressing bunkers on priority over other projects. 'Jaan hai to jehan hai (If there's life, there's the world),' says Abdul Jabbar, a septuagenarian who has lived in Poonch town all his life but has never seen such heavy shelling as he did in May. 'We didn't have any shelter or underground bunker. Now everybody wants it on priority as hundreds of shells landed in our town. We have seen the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971 besides the Kargil conflict, but this time was entirely different. We helplessly witnessed death and destruction at close quarters.' The first community bunker is being constructed in the premises of the deputy commissioner's (DC) office in the heart of Poonch. Land is being identified for building more such community bunkers in the town. 'The work has already started on one and the other bunkers will also be constructed at a fast pace,' said an officer privy to details. Workers constructing a community bunker at Poonch. (Waseem Andrabi /Hindustan Times) Inadequate compensation The hustle and bustle may have returned to the border town, but most houses damaged in the shelling tell a different story as repair work is yet to start. On its part, the government has disbursed relief cheques worth ₹ 16 lakh to the families who lost members in the cross-border shelling, besides giving government jobs and financial aid to rebuild damaged houses. However, most families say the compensation is insufficient as even the maximum amount of ₹ 1.3 lakh is not enough to carry out repairs. 'Shells landed in the courtyard of my house. I have got the damaged window panes replaced and that itself cost more than ₹ 2 lakh. It's a miracle we left in time,' said Rayaz Naz, a District Development Council (DDC) member from Loran Mandi who lives in the town's Radio Colony. Showing the damaged walls of his drawing room, he said, 'I can afford to repair my house but there are many, particularly in upper villages, for whom the compensation amount is inadequate. The relief should be enhanced for villagers in the hills.' Naz said that he had voluntarily provided land to the administration to build a community bunker. 'I was approached by the government and work on building bunkers across the town will start soon,' he added. Bunkers on priority Families who lost their loved ones in the shelling are still struggling to come to terms. Amarjit Singh, 50, an ex-serviceman was in his house when a shrapnel hit him and his older brother, Surjan Singh. Both brothers walked to the district hospital that is barely 100 metres from their house. While Surjan survived the head injuries, Amarjit succumbed to a deep wound in chest. 'I was in the hospital helping the injured and had returned home to take rest in the morning when a shell landed in my room,' said Surjan, a social worker who lives in the town's Ward Number 4. 'Our only request to the government now is to build community bunkers, otherwise residents will be forced to live in fear,' he added. Amarjit's wife Harpreet Kaur said she had received ₹ 16 lakh as compensation besides a government job in the education department. 'Now my priority is to provide quality education to my school-going children Aman and Gursharnagat,' she said. The family agreed that the compensation for house repair is inadequate. 'We got ₹ 1.3 lakh, but it is insufficient to rebuild our house,' said Amarjit's relative Sukhpal Singh. At a nearby locality where the town's biggest seminary, Zai ul Uloom, is located, 300 students had a narrow escape, while their head teacher, Qari Mohammad Iqbal, affiliated with the institution for 22 years, was killed in the May shelling. 'He was inside a room when a shell landed in the backyard, killing him on the spot. It was a miracle that 300 students in the seminary survived,' said Jameel Ahmad, whose family has been running the seminary for the past five decades along with three other schools. 'Qari sahib's family got compensation and his wife Shahnaz was given a job in the post office,' he said. Barely 500 metres ahead in Ward Number 15, the family of ragi Amreek Singh reopened their grocery shop after almost two months on June 26. Amreek's elder brother Harjit Singh said: 'Splinters had left the general store damaged. We got it repaired and renovated though we are awaiting the compensation. Amreek's wife Jasmeet Kour has been given a job in the agriculture department,' he said. The shop is now named after Amreek and his picture adorns a wall. Nothing can fill void Ranjit Singh, who lived in the same lane, lost his life in the shelling. 'No amount of compensation can fill the void. My brother was single so the government gave me a job and compensation to support our aged parents,' said Balbir Singh. Four km away in Dongus locality, Mohammad Akram and his daughter Afreen, 17, got hit by a shrapnel inside their house. While Akram died on the spot, Afreen is recuperating. Afreen is still in shock and doesn't want to recall the fateful day. Akram's wife Fareeda Bi said though she has got a job in the horticulture department, it's a Herculean task to make ends meet as she has four daughters and two minor sons to bring up single-handedly. Besides the seminary, a temple and gurdwara were damaged in the shelling. Though the assessment was carried out, the management committees are yet to receive the compensation. 'A shell landed in the courtyard, damaging the temple. A tree bore the impact and no one was injured,' said Amarnath Sharma, the pradhan of the Hanuman Mandir at Baghei, Poonch. 'We are awaiting the aid and if it doesn't come, we will go seek donations to carry out the repair,' he added. Surinder Singh Bajaj, the vice-president of the Poonch District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, said renovation of Gurdwara Singh Sabha is yet to begin. 'The shell hit a corner of the gurdwara minutes after the prayers had culminated. Usually, dozens attend, but that day there was no visitor,' he said. In the firing line Despite the devastation, no local resident talked of moving out of Poonch. A local politician has even put up the pictures of Colonel Sofia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, the women defence personnel who addressed the initial press briefings during Operation Sindoor, on the front door of his house. 'We are in the firing line of Pakistan and their pickets are visible from here. Earlier, villages near the Line of Control were hit, but this time Pakistan targeted the town, 20km from the LoC. We don't know what lies ahead, but we are definitely not leaving our homes. It's the government's job to ensure our security,' said Bagh Hussain Rathore, the district president of the ruling National Conference. As for the migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, who had fled when the shelling began in May, it's back to business. Manawar Hassan, who runs a small hotel near the general bus stand in Poonch, said: 'I had left for Jammu along with my family. Though we belong to Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, we decided to wait it out till things settled down here. We returned a fortnight ago. Business is back to normal now.' Damaged portion of a wall in Poonch as inhabitants yet to begin renovation work. (Waseem Andrabi /Hindustan Times) Life is limping back to normalcy largely because of the confidence residents have in the security forces, including J&K Police, the BSF and the army that have been on high alert. Two main bridges connecting Poonch town have got additional security with personnel keeping a close eye on visitors. After all, Operation Sindoor is in strategic pause, not over.
