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*Srinagar Boat Tragedy: Minor boy's body retrieved near Old Zero bridge after 11 days*

Rehan Qayoom Mir

Srinagar, Apr 26 (KNO): The body of a minor boy, who drowned after a boat capsized in river Jhelum in Gandabal area of Srinagar 11 days ago, was retrieved from the river on Friday afternoon near Raj Bagh, officials said.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the body of the boy was retrieved near Old Zero bridge near Rajbagh area of Srinagar.

Six people died, while three were missing after a boat capsized near Gandbal area on April 16.

The official said that the body has been shifted to SMHS Srinagar for medico-legal formalities—(KNO)
*Jammu Lok Sabha Segment Clocks Impressive 69.01% Turnout*

Srinagar, Apr 26: The polling in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections in Jammu Constituency ended on a high note with the overall voter turnout recorded as 69 percent.

The voting process went underway in 2416 polling stations at 7 AM and culminated at 7 PM.

Across various assembly segments of the parliamentary constituency, voters, especially youth and first time voters, were seen standing in queues much ahead of the scheduled time for polling.

The Election Commission had put in place all necessary arrangements to ensure a fair and transparent electoral process.

As per the final official data available with GNS, the constituency witnessed an overall polling percentage of 69.01.

Akhnoor (SC) recorded 74.03%, Bahu 62.34%, Bishnah (SC) 71.33%, Chhamb 71.06%, Gulabgarh (ST) 71.47%, Jammu East 66.11%, Jammu North 67.29%, Jammu West 62.82%, Kalakote Sunderbani 66.40%, Marh (SC) 73.00%, Nagrota 71.39%, RS Pura Jammu South 68.11%, Ramgarh (SC) 69.76%, Reasi 71.65%, Samba 69.23% Shri Mata Vaishno Devi 74.65%, Suchetgarh (SC) 63.49 and Vijaypur 75.67% on the culmination of the voting process.(GNS)
*Ramban Road Sinking: 50 houses damaged, families being shifted to safer places, says DC*

Umaisar Gull Ganie

Srinagar, Apr 26 (KNO): At least 50 houses got damaged after a road caved in at Pernote area of Ramban district last evening, officials said on Friday.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ramban, Baseer-ul-Haq told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that 30 residential houses got damaged in the initial stage and 20 more got affected.

“We are shifting the affected families to safer places and the administration is making arrangements for food and other related stuff for the affected families,” he said.

He further stated that the work on the restoration of essential services will be ensured soon and that losses are being assessed. DC Ramban also said that a team of geologists will assess the situation and the measures to prevent huge losses will be taken accordingly.

Sources told KNO that four towers of a 400 KV transmission line, one receiving station, and a 33 KV transmission line also got damaged.

"Alternate road via Sumber-Digdoal has been made operational for connectivity and essential services supply. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) team is likely to visit the site within a couple of days to ascertain the facts that led to sinking in the area," they said.

Deep Kumar, Tehsildar of Ramban, told KNO that the land has been identified and “we have set up a rehabilitation camp with a capacity of 200-300 people where free medical aid, food, and other necessities are being provided through the district administration.”

He said NDRF, district administration, among others, are on the spot and continuously monitoring the situation. He further said sinking has occurred due to heavy rains—(KNO)
Traffic update at 0800 hrs
Traffic plying from both sides on NH-44, weather rainy. SSG road red as per BEACON
*Unemployment, development attract first-time voters to cast ballots in Jammu PC*

*Excited to vote, youngsters reach polling stations even before 7AM*

Yogesh

Jammu, Apr 26 (KNO): The first time voters of Jammu parliamentary segment, which has registered over 71 per cent turnout on Friday, saw brimming with excitement and optimism for a better future.

From city to rural belts, the first time voters are among the most excited lot, who have been in the queues outside the polling stations since morning to cast their ballots.

Accompanied by elders of the family or friends, the first voters curiously inquired about the formalities from the officials and then followed the process of voting.

According to official figures out of 86.9 lakh electorate, a total of 3.4 lakh are first-time voters in Jammu and Kashmir.

Interacting with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Shruti Arora, who exercised her franchise for the first time at Gandhi Nagar, said that she has voted today to elect the representative, who can work on real issues like high inflation, unemployment, infrastructure development and environmental conservation instead of distracting voters with emotional slogans.

Among the first-time voters is Marcus, who said, “I am very excited from the day BLO delivered my voting slip at home. I am among the first few voters, who arrived even before 7.00 am to cast my vote.”

“My first vote is for a representative, who stands by the youth. We suffered a lot due to paper leak scams and growing unemployment. We missed our representative on such occasions but this time, we hoped that the representative we choose, stand by us and raise such issues at appropriate platforms.”

Mana Khokher, another first time voter said the vote is a chance to shape the future of youth. “The pressing issues are unemployment, lack of infrastructure, and the ever-present specter of violence. I hope my vote could contribute to the resolution of these issues,” she said.

Ridhima Jain from Kacchi Chowani, said, “I would be experiencing something new, but I also had a responsibility to choose the best candidate. Everyone in the society should cast vote as it’s the time to express.”

Karan, a young voter from Samba said, “During election season, leaders entice voters with false promises, but they seldom pay attention to voter complaints after the election. I want to support the candidate, who is approachable and sympathetic to our situation”.

Tania Raina, a passionate advocate for environmental conservation, preparing to vote for the first time says she has seen firsthand the devastating effects of climate change on the region and was determined to elect leaders, who would prioritize sustainability and conservation efforts—(KNO)
*Srinagar Boat Tragedy: Body of missing minor boy fished out from Jehlum after 11 days; toll mounts to 7*

*Family members have last glimpse of little Haziq; Hundreds attend funeral at Gandbal amid tears, sobs; father-son duo continue to remain missing*

Rehan Qayoom Mir

Srinagar, Apr 26 (KNO): Finally, prayers of Kashmiri people got answered on Friday after the body of 11-year-old boy Haziq Ahmed Sheikh of Gandbal, Srinagar was retrieved from river Jehlum after a gap of 11-days on Friday.

With the recovery of Haziq’s body, the death toll in the Gandbal boat capsize has reached to seven while as the father-son duo continue to remain missing.

Locals of Gandbal area of Srinagar told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the body of Haziq was seen at Zero-bridge and was retrieved as well without any delay. Later, the body was identified as Haziq Ahmed Sheikh, 11, of Gandbal, who had drowned along with six others in river Jehlum and was missing since April 16. Since then, religious scholars of different school of thoughts visited Gandbal to share the pain and grief of bereaved families. They also prayed for the recovery of untraced bodies. Emotional duas were made by the religious preachers for the recovery of those untraced. Locals at Gandbal said they are hopeful that the bodies of father-son duo will also float and they would have their last glimpse as well.

A pall of gloom descended over the entire Gandbal area of Srinagar yet again as the news of recovery of Haziq’s body reached the area.

An eyewitness told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that as the body of Haziq reached his native area Gandbal, people irrespective of age and colour flooded the little boy’s residence amid shrieks and cries while as women were seen wailing. The Gandbal locality of city has been in a state of mourning since past 11 days, owing to the tragic boat capsize incident that claimed seven lives including little Haziq. The father-son duo continue to remain missing under waters.

Regarding the retrieval of Haziq's body, a local, who was part of the sand extraction team at Zero Bridge, Rajbagh, said that they saw the body on the top of the water floating near Rajbagh area on Friday afternoon. “Soon, I along with other men rushed towards the body and handed it to the police, who then took it to the hospital, where medical formalities were done after which the body was handed over to the boy’s family,” he said.

The two bodies of father-son duo Showkat Ahmed and Farhan Parray continue to remain untraced. Meanwhile, hundreds of people attended the funeral of Haziq at Gandbal and bid his last goodbye. The family members of Haziq including his grandmother, father and mother also had last glimpse of little Haziq before his burial bath. People from various parts of Srinagar had reached Gandbal to participate in the funeral of little boy—(KNO)
*Power wretchedness: ‘Is KPDCL making concocted promises or is unable to cater expected services to consumers’*

*We are getting a total power of 1200 MWs against a requirement of 1600 MWs. The matter will be settled in weeks’ time: CE KPDCL*

Riyaz Bhat

Srinagar, Apr 26 (KNO): The Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) is either ‘making concocted promises or are unable to cater the expected services to the consumers of the region’.

The news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) received many calls from the electricity consumers of many areas of valley—complaining of frequent power outages, long durational curtailments and distress cuts.

One of the consumers from south Kashmir’s Pulwama district Rashid Jehangir said, “KPDCL has not met its promises to supply round the clock power to its smart metered areas. We pay monthly tariff ranging from 3000-4000, yet we get electricity for few hours.”

Authorities in the previous fiscal undertook power reforms in Kashmir including installing smart meters and insulated power cables to prevent pilferages of electricity and reduce AT&C losses. “But the department has resorted to unscheduled power cuts with metered areas worst affected.”

Many consumers in central Kashmir’s Budgam district and Srinagar areas narrated the same ordeal.

One of the electricity consumers in Karan Nagar Farooq Ahmad said, “On Thursday evening, electricity was snapped after two hours of scheduled curtailment at 10 Pm and was restored at around 3Am—reflecting the fake promises made by the Power Development Department.”

“I think KPDCL is making concocted promises to its consumers or they are not able to cater the expected services to its consumers in Kashmir which could be the possible reason for the long durational power and distress cuts,” Ahmad said.

When contacted KPDCL Chief Engineer (Distribution), Sandeep Seth told KNO that the low power availability was the only reason for long durational power curtailments.

“We are getting nearly a total power of 1200 Megawatts (MWs) against the requirement of 1600 MWs. This will be settled in a weeks’ time,” he said.

Seth said that in metered areas KPDCL have curtailed power by only two hours while the non-metered areas are currently facing curtailment of over 10 hours.

On asking about the promise of ‘24 hours power supply’ made by the KPDCL to the smart metered areas, the Chief Engineer said, “We stand with our promise but when it comes to crisis, every consumer needs to be very patient till the issue is resolved.”

“In the month of Ramadan we had enough power availability. During that month, we were distributing nearly 1900 MWs of power,” he said.

Pertinently, on April-22, KPDCL said, “Due to limited power availability, there has been an unavoidable increase in power curtailment. These restrictions will be eased once power availability improves. Please bear with us & ensure judicious use of power, especially during peak hours. Avoid exceeding sanctioned load/hooking.” (SIC)—(KNO)
Srinagar Boat Tragedy: Aother minor boy's body retrieved near Noorbagh Srinagar, after 12 days

'Toll mounts to 8, one person continues to remain missing'

Rehan Qayoom Mir

Srinagar, Apr 27 (KNO): The body of second missing minor boy, who drowned after a boat capsized in river Jhelum in Gandabal area of Srinagar on April 16, was retrieved from the river on Saturday morning, at Noorbagh Srinagar after 12 days, officials said.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the body of the boy was retrieved near Noorbagh Srinagar, this morning.

Lastly, six people died, while three were missing after a boat capsized near Gandbal area on April 16.

The official said that the body has been shifted to SMHS Srinagar for medico—legal formalities—(KNO)