Day: February 7, 2025

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Press Association Rajouri Stands in Solidarity with Journalist Imran Khan in His Time of Grief

RAJOURI FEB 07:-With profound & sorrow, we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of the father of our esteemed media colleague, Imran Khan, associated with Daily Excelsior in Thannamandi & Brother in law of Sr Journalist Shahbaz Khan.The loss of a parent is an irreplaceable void, and our thoughts and prayers are with Imran Khan and his family during this time of immense grief.

The entire team of Press Association Rajouri,extend deepest sympathies and unwavering support. The association recognize Imran Khan’s invaluable contributions to journalism and stand by him and his family in this difficult time.

Brother-in-Law, Vice President Shabaz Khan, the journalist fraternity, also expresses heartfelt condolences and prays for the departed soul’s eternal rest. May the outpouring of love and support bring comfort to the grieving family.

May the Almighty grant the departed soul eternal peace and elevate his place in Jannat-ul-Firdous. We also pray for strength and patience for the bereaved family to endure this profound loss.

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RAJOURI FEB 07:-The Director of Rural Development Department (RDD) Jammu, Mumtaz Ali today chaired a comprehensive review meeting to assess the progress of various developmental schemes across all blocks of the district. The meeting focused on key initiatives, including MGNREGA, CD&PYT, CAPEX, and other schemes aimed at strengthening rural infrastructure and improving livelihoods.

A major point of discussion was the survey and registration process for the left-out eligible households under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G). The Director emphasized the need for expediting the door-to-door survey to ensure that no eligible household is overlooked. He directed all concerned officials to complete the registration process in strict compliance with PMAY-G guidelines and set March 31, 2025, as the deadline for achieving 100% coverage.

During the meeting, the Block Development Officers (BDOs) were instructed to intensify efforts in implementing PMAY-G and other rural development schemes. The Director underscored the importance of interdepartmental coordination to overcome bottlenecks and ensure seamless execution of projects.

Reaffirming the department’s commitment to rural development, the Director urged officials to work proactively to achieve set targets within the stipulated timeframe. He stressed that the benefits of government schemes must reach every eligible beneficiary, ensuring inclusive growth and sustainable rural progress.

The meeting was attended by key officials, including Sheraz Ahmad Chouhan ACP, Vijay Kumar ACD,Zaheer Ahmad EXEN REW, Mohammad Nawaz DPO, along with BDOs, Panchayat Secretaries, PAAs, and JEs from Rajouri and Dhangri Blocks.

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RAJOURI, FEB 07:Deputy Commissioner Rajouri Abhishek Sharma today visited the lodgement centres established at Boys Higher Secondary School (BHSS) Rajouri and Nursing College to enquire about the safety and well being of the families shifted from Badhaal village.

During the visit, the Deputy Commissioner interacted with the families and enquired about their well-being. He assessed any additional assistance required for their comfort. The families expressed gratitude for the arrangements made by the district administration, acknowledging the timely support provided to them in the hour of need.

DC Rajouri inspected all the arrangements and directed the designated nodal officers to ensure that all necessary facilities are provided at the lodgement centres. He reaffirmed that the safety and well-being of the relocated families are of foremost importance and that all departments are working in coordination to resolve the issue effectively.

Furthermore, the Deputy Commissioner assured the families that once the ongoing investigation was complete, they will be shifted back to their village. He also expressed appreciation for the people’s cooperation with the administration during this period.

In a significant move to support the affected families, DC Rajouri directed all departments to ensure the saturation of welfare schemes so that eligible persons can avail the benefits of government initiatives.

Accompanying the Deputy Commissioner during the visit were ADDC Rajouri, Dr. Raj Kumar Thapa, DSEO Sandeep Kumar, and other district and sectoral officers.

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RAJOURI FEB 07: In a significant step towards improving transport related services in border areas, Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Kumar Choudhary, today inaugurated the Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) Camp Office at Nowshera.

The initiative aims to provide doorstep services to the people of Nowshera and Sunderbani, who previously had to travel over 80 km to Rajouri for essential transport services.

To ensure efficient service delivery, the newly established camp office will conduct vehicle inspections on every Monday besides Driving trial tests on every Saturday.

This move is expected to greatly benefit the residents, particularly those living near the Line of Control (LoC), by saving time, effort and travel expenses. The public has widely appreciated this initiative, hailing it as a landmark decision by the government to enhance accessibility to transport services in remote areas.

Speaking on the occasion, the Dy CM emphasized the government’s commitment towards decentralizing essential services for welfare of the people. He highlighted that the ARTO Camp Office at Nowshera is a step towards ensuring ease of access to transport-related facilities, reducing hardships faced by the local population.

Local residents and representatives expressed their gratitude to the administration for this much-needed facility, which will streamline licensing and vehicle registration services while enhancing road safety compliance in the region.

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NOWSHERA,FEB 07: Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary, today joined the devotees and followers in celebrating the 108th birth anniversary of Swami Guru Giri Ji Maharaj at Nowshera.

The event was marked by spiritual fervor, prayers and discourses highlighting the teachings and contributions of the revered saint.

On the occasion, the Deputy Chief Minister paid rich tributes to Swami Guru Giri Ji Maharaj, emphasising his role in spreading the message of peace, harmony and selfless services. “Swami Guru Giri Ji Maharaj dedicated his life to the welfare of society, promoting spiritual enlightenment and humanitarian values. His teachings continue to inspire generations,” he said.

The celebration witnessed the participation of religious scholars, devotees, and local dignitaries. Bhajans and kirtans were performed and special prayers were offered for communal harmony and prosperity.

The Deputy Chief Minister also lauded the contributions of the saint in fostering social unity and urged the people to follow his path of righteousness and service to humanity.

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SHYAM SOOD

**Decision for their return only after final reports from forensic labs and SIT: DC.

**For their return administration have to follow the existing protocol: DC

RAJOURI FEB 06:-Residents of Panchayat-B of Badhal area who wete shifted to isolation facilities at Boys Model Govt Higher Secondary School (BMGHSS) held a protest in the campus on Thursday morning (February 6) demanding to return to their homes.
Following 17 deaths in Badhal village due to unidentified illness, including 13 children, and more than 35 treated in various hospitals at Rajouri, Jammu and Chandigarh, district administration Rajouri had shifted the close contacts of affected families to observation centers at Rajouri.
They raised slogans against their isolation and against district administration for keeping them in observation centers even though they are healthy and none among them fell sick due to unidentified illness that had claimed 17 lives of three families, including 13 children.
They alleged that their stay in observation centers in Rajouri has badly upset their routine domestic life, studies of their children, their unattended livestock and household belongings etc.
“We have lost 17 people to suspicious illness, our livestock suffering due to water & food and now we have been forced to abandon our homes” said Badhal residents.
In the wake of regular deaths and similar symptoms to many others, including about 13 still under observation in different hospitals, higher authorities decided to move affected families, their close contacts/ neighbours to observation centers at Nursing College, BMGHSS and isolation wards in GMC Rajouri.
After 23 January 384 individuals from 87 families were shifted to these centers by the administration as a precautionary measure after a report of a Lucknow based laboratory that the tragedy happened due to suspicions of a toxin contaminating the local food chain.
On getting information about the protest, senior officers rushed to the spot and assured the affected villagers to resolve the crises while maintaining containment protocols in the area.
It is pertinent to mention here that after the deaths of 17 people several central teams of experts, including from AIIMS New Delhi; PGIMER Chandigarh, Inter-Ministerial team constituted by the Home Minister, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) etc have visited Badhal area and collected samples to identify the cause of illness.
But to date, the authorities are not clear about the cause/source of toxin that caused deaths and unidentified illness as the final report from the Forensic laboratory is still awaited.
Even the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has ruled out infectious agents as the cause, shifting the focus of the investigation to potential toxins.
The district authorities under the supervision of DC Rajouri, Abhishek Shrma have made necessary arrangements in the Badhal area to look after the livestock and homes of those who have been shifted to observation centers.
The authorities have also constituted SIT to investigate the Badhal deaths to explore another angle and SIT report is also awaited.
Deputy Commissioner Rajouri Abhishek Sharma said that under existing protocol, as the Badhal area has been declared a containment zone, it will take a few more days to shift these peoples to their homes from Rajouri.
“The administration is aware about their home sickness, their concern about livestock and abandoned homes. But our priority is the safety of their lives, to ensure better preventive care and close monitoring of their health,” said the DC.
“The final decision for the return of these people will be taken only after the final report about the poisonous substance is received from forensic laboratories. Moreover, the decision also depends on the report of police investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT),” he added.
The long delay of the final report from forensic laboratories, and the reports prepared by the central teams who visited the Badhal area in December & January and lack of regular briefing by the administration has caused fear among the residents of Badhal.