Day: March 19, 2025

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LIAQAT ALI KHATANA 

RAJOURI MAR 19:-BJP team, led by senior leader Radhish Sharma visited GMC Rajouri, where they raised serious allegations against the GMC administration and highlighted the lack of essential facilities.

BJP Unit Rajouri unit has raised serious concerns over the state healthcare services at Government Medical College (GMC) and its associated hospital, pointing out multiple shortcomings and demanding urgent corrective measures.

A party delegation visited the hospital on Wednesday, interacting with patients and their attendants before voicing dissatisfaction over the facility’s condition.

“Healthcare institutions have challenges everywhere, but certain lapses directly impact patient care. It is shocking to learn that even basic urine test strips have been unavailable for several days,” BJP leaders stated.

Accusing the administration of failing to ensure essential medical supplies, the BJP leaders criticized what they termed as “hollow claims” of quality healthcare services, asserting that the reality on the ground tells a different story.

The party has urged authorities to take immediate action to address these shortcomings and improve patient care at the hospital.

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RAJOURI MAR 19:- A deputation from the Jammu and Kashmir ReT Teachers Forum (JKRETTF), led by District President Aftab Tantray, met with Mr. Iqbal Hussain Chowdhury, the newly appointed Chief Education Officer (CEO) of Rajouri, to extend a formal welcome and discuss key issues concerning teachers in the district.

During the meeting, the delegation raised several pressing concerns, including the long-pending conversion of Teacher Grade III to Teacher Grade II, which has faced repeated delays due to prolonged processing in the CEO and Directorate of School Education Jammu (DSEJ) offices. They highlighted the issue of expired CID verifications, which require affected teachers to undergo verification every six months, causing unnecessary administrative hurdles.

The discussion also covered critical matters such as the need for updating the HRM portal, as several teachers—some with over two decades of service—are still listed as temporary employees, particularly in Zone Lower Hathal. Additionally, the need for subject-specific teachers and the implementation of rationalization in line with the Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) as per the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 were emphasized.

Aftab Tantray commended Mr. Chowdhury for his exemplary service and deep-rooted understanding of Rajouri’s educational landscape. As a local resident, CEO Chowdhury is well-acquainted with the district’s challenges, positioning him as an effective leader in addressing long-standing issues in the education sector.

The delegation expressed optimism that under Mr. Chowdhury’s leadership, their concerns would be addressed with efficiency and fairness. They pledged their support for his initiatives aimed at enhancing educational standards across the district.

Accompanying Aftab Tantray were several prominent members of JKRETTF, including General Secretary Jahangir Alam Khan, State Executive Ahmed Khan, Provincial President Arshad Chowdhury, District Chief Adviser Tariq Chowdhury, Chief Organiser Liquet Chowan, District Finance Secretary Brinder Bardwar, and senior members Shakeel Bhat, Nater Singh, Mushtaq Chaychi, and Ashraf Chowdhury. Zonal Presidents Safeer Mir, Sharief Qureshi, and Syed Zia Shah were also present.

The meeting concluded on a note of mutual cooperation, with all stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to improving the quality of education in Rajouri under the new CEO’s leadership.

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RAJOURI, MAR 19:– On the directions of Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, Abhishek Sharma, the Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) Rajouri, Rajesh Gupta, conducted an intensive road-checking drive at multiple locations in Rajouri town, including Panja Chowk, Bela Colony, Abdula Bridge, GMC Rajouri, Dhrali Bridge, Old Bus Stand, New Bus Stand and Salani.

During the drive, strict enforcement of the Motor Vehicles Act and the rules framed thereunder was ensured. A total of 220 e-autos and 70 other vehicles were checked. As a result, 30 vehicles were e-challaned, with an expected fine amount of Rs. 67,000. Additionally, seven vehicles were seized, including five e-autos without driving licenses and two bikes without valid documents, which were handed over to Police Station Rajouri for further action.

The ARTO emphasized that such enforcement drives will continue to ensure road safety and compliance with traffic regulations. Vehicle owners and drivers are urged to adhere to the rules to avoid penalties and ensure smooth traffic movement in the town.

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RAJOURI, MAR 19:– Government PG College Rajouri commenced the much-anticipated Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament 2025 today, a two-day intellectual conclave on the theme “One Nation, One Election: Paving the Way for Viksit Bharat.”

The event was organized under the aegis of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and aims to foster meaningful discourse on electoral reforms among the youth.

The inaugural session was presided over by Principal of the College, Prof. Zamir Ahmed Mirza, who emphasized the critical role of synchronized elections in enhancing governance efficiency and accelerating national development. He underscored how electoral streamlining could align governance priorities with the Viksit Bharat agenda, ensuring sustainable growth and participatory democracy.

A ceremonial presentation was held to honor the esteemed jury panel, which included Prof. Abdul Rashid Choudhary (Renowned Academician & Retd. Principal), Dr. Shakeel Ahmed Raina (Renowned Academician & Retd. Principal), Abdul Rahim (District Social Welfare Officer), Vikrant Sharma (Social Activist) and Prof. Murtaza Ahmed (Assistant Professor, Political Science). Their diverse expertise added depth to the adjudication process, enriching the deliberations.

With over 60 students from higher education institutions across the Rajouri-Poonch region participating, the Youth Parliament became a platform for civic engagement, policy critique, and structured debate.

The event was coordinated by Prof. Khaleeq Qazi, Nodal Officer for Youth Parliament initiatives, followed a structured format of parliamentary debate, plenary discussions, and policy analysis.

Coordinator, Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), Dr. Riaz Mirza highlighted the pedagogical significance of the initiative, stressing its role in developing rhetorical proficiency, evidence-based argumentation, and constitutional literacy among students.

The first plenary session was led by Dipti Karsayal (Government Degree College, Rajouri), while Adnan Mushtaq (Government Degree College, Poonch) chaired the subsequent session as the Speaker. The day concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof. Latif Ahmed Mir, acknowledging the efforts of the dedicated organizing committee members which include Dr. Zakir Hussain Kalis, Prof. Ayaz Ahmed Chowdhary, Dr. Ahsan Ur Rehman Rizvi, Prof. Joginder Singh, Prof. Ajaz Nazir, Prof. Randeep Kumar, Prof. Mohd Shoket, Prof. Altaf Ahmed, Prof. Rabia Koser, Dr. Ajaz Hussain Shah, Prof. Antima Gupta and Dr. Flourance Chaand.

The event will continue tomorrow with further deliberations, promising another day of thought-provoking discussions and insightful policy dialogues.

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SHYAM SOOD

No loss of life or injury reported; loss to hospital property.

*Hospital staff, doctors and attendants acted swiftly to evacuate patients.

*DC Abhishek Sharma personally supervised the entire operation.

*GMC Principal initiated inquiry into alleged flaws in AH GMC’s Fire Safety System.

RAJOURI, MAR 18:-A fire broke out at the Government Medical College (GMC) Associated Hospital (AH GMC) in Rajouri on Tuesday, leading to the evacuation of several patients. The incident occurred around 9:30 AM in the basement of the OPD block due to unknown reasons. The fire was brought under control within an hour, and fortunately, no casualties were reported.
Fire engines were deployed to extinguish the blaze. Upon receiving news of the fire, DC Rajouri, Abhishek Sharma (IAS), personally reached the spot and supervised the entire operation.
According to the DC, an investigation will be conducted to determine the exact cause of the fire and whether it was accidental or intentional.
Abhishek Sharma stated that he assessed the situation by visiting the hospital with his team, with a priority to restore normal functioning, including OPD services, as quickly as possible.
He praised the hospital staff and volunteers who worked swiftly to contain the fire. Firefighters successfully limited the fire to the basement area before it could spread to other wards.
The news of the fire created panic within the hospital. Patients and their attendants were distressed, running in all directions. People who heard about the fire from outside also rushed to the hospital.
“Patients admitted to the emergency or other wards were evacuated because smoke was spreading, which could cause breathing problems for some patients. To ensure their safety, the patients were moved outside but were continuously monitored by doctors. As the smoke subsided, the patients were gradually shifted back into the hospital,” said Abhishek Sharma.
Those evacuated from the hospital reported feeling terrified by the incident, expressing that if they had not been evacuated quickly, the smoke itself could have been fatal.

The fire incident at AH GMC Rajouri revealed serious flaws in the hospital’s internal fire safety system. During the incident, no fire alarms were triggered, no fire sensors responded, and the special water pipeline installed for fire safety did not work effectively, except for the functioning of water sprinklers.
Prof. (Dr.) A.S. Bhatia noted that the failure of the hospital’s internal fire safety system has been taken seriously, and an investigation will be conducted. “After the incident, a thorough inspection of the entire hospital was conducted to identify areas vulnerable to fire hazards. The fire safety system will be strengthened in such areas, and the overall internal fire safety system of GMC Rajouri will be improved,” he said.
Meanwhile, through an order (No. GMCR/2024-25/4524-29), Principal GMC Prof. (Dr.) A.S. Bhatia has constituted an inquiry committee with MS AH GMC, Dr. Shamim Choudhary as Member Secretary, including members Dr. Javed Iqbal (HoD Paediatrics), Dr. Jameel-Ul-Hassan (General Medicine), Dr. Shuja Qadri (HoD Community Medicine), and AEE (Mechanical Division Rajouri).
DC Rajouri Abhishek Sharma also stated that an investigation would be conducted to determine why the hospital’s internal fire safety system failed to operate.
Prof. (Dr.) A.S. Bhatia stated that the basement of the OPD, where the fire broke out, is used to store dead stock meant for auction, and it is an area with minimal traffic.
“There is no chance of a short circuit as the material dumped in the basement is in an isolated area. The fire might have been caused by a partially burnt bidi or cigarette being thrown in the area, even though smoking is strictly prohibited in the hospital,” he added. However, this is only speculation, and the exact cause is yet to be confirmed.
Prof. Bhatia also stated that staff members will be given special training to operate the fire safety system effectively, ensuring that they can prevent major incidents in the future.