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Vlogger from Ganderbal on a mission to attract tourists to Sonamarg

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‘Will, dedication and hard work can fetch you success’ has been proved by a youth hailing from the Sonamarg area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.

Abdul Rouf Raina has attracted more than 4.5 lakh people across the world to his Vlogs related to the scenic beauty of the famous tourist resort Sonamarg on Instagram.

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Raina after completing his studies opted for photography as a profession, “keeping in view the tourist potential of the Sonamarg”. He began earning livelihood by providing service to tourists across during their visit to the resort.

“I had a dream to explore the unseen beauty of my homeland and share it with the rest of the world. This dream was realised when some tourists advised me to use social media,” Rouf told the news agency—KNO.

Initially, he created a page on YouTube and Facebook and started posting the content. Sensing the poor response, Rouf switched over to Instagram and continued to post short videos related to the scenic beauty of Sonmarg.

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“This was the breakthrough where the Instagram page received overwhelming response across the world and right now it has more than 4.5 lakh followers which are expanding with each passing day,” he said. “I feel I have achieved what I desired and now I am receiving messages from my followers all over the world who wish to visit Sonamarg after watching the reels posted on Instagram.”

Also Read: Ramadan 2023: Kashmir consumes over 800 truckloads of sheep

Sonamarg is the only tourist destination that remains closed for several months during winter due to heavy snowfall and avalanche threats along the road leading to the resort.

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The closure does not only affect the economy of the people affiliated with tourism but a huge population living in some villages around the resort and the population has to migrate to other areas in the district. Amid this disturbance, Rouf has gained popularity with his dedication and hard work.

Rouf is happy with the government initiatives to make Sonamarg an all-weather destination this year as, according to him; it will improve the economy of the people affiliated with tourism and provide a sigh of relief to the population living in villages.

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Raja Syed Rather is Ganderbal based journalist, currently correspondent at News Agency Kashmir News Observer-KNO

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As smart meters shine, darkness persists: People seek answers to ongoing electricity woes

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Despite the augmentation of power infrastructure and the installation of much-hyped smart meters, the electricity woes continue to torment the valley residents ahead of the winter as since past one week, consumers are facing pesky power cuts across the Valley.

The situation is equivalent in towns, cities and villages as the consumers have accused the concerned Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) of supplying inadequate electricity to them.

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“Despite the installation of smart meters, which were aimed to ensure better power supply, we are getting nearly 4-5 hours of electricity supply on a regular basis, which has added to the misery of consumers here,” said Jahangir Ahmad, a local from the Natipora area.

“Crores of rupees have been spent on the power infrastructure augmentations in the last couple of years, which were giving a hope of round-the-clock electricity to the people, but all in vein as seemingly the winter power schedule has been started in the valley during the Autumn season, thus pushing the people to the wall,” the residents said.

Such unscheduled power cuts are being witnessed everywhere nowadays as the complaints are being received from several other areas also.

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Also Read: Man dies in Anantnag as tractor skids off road

The consumers said that the electricity is being snatched for hours together and is being supplied for only a few hours in a day.

“The electricity supply was snatched multiple times today, which began from 6am to 8:30 am in the morning, 1 am to 2:30 pm in the afternoon and then 6pm to 8:30 pm in the evening,” one of the residents from Pampore said.

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The frequent electricity cuts have irked the people, who demand authorities to take immediate steps to ensure adequate power supply to them.

Pertinently, Kashmir’s power generation has got badly affected as according to the KPDCL Chief Engineer, Javed Yousuf Dar, the reduction in water level in river Jhelum, Chenab has lessened the power generation at the power houses of Kashmir.

“We are presently looking for an option to get the additional electricity to ensure adequate power supply to the people. We are on it and hopefully, the issue will be resolved in next few days,” Chief Engineer, KPDCL had said. KNO

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Man dies in Anantnag as tractor skids off road

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A 65-year-old man died in a road mishap in Aishmuqam area of South Kashmir Anantnag district on Saturday evening.

Also Read: Infiltration bid foiled in Kupwara, two terrorists killed: Police

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An official told that a 65-year-old man was critically injured after a tractor in which he was traveling skidded off the road in the Hapatnard area of Aishmuqam.

He was immediately taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Meanwhile, police took cognizance of this road mishap and identified the deceased as Manzoor Ahmad Lone. KS

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Infiltration bid foiled in Kupwara, two terrorists killed: Police

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In a joint operation by Kupwara Police and Army an infiltration bid was successfully foiled in Kumkadi area of Machil Sector in Kupwara district. In this swift and coordinated operation, two (02) terrorists were neutralized, police said.

A police spokesman in a statement to Asian News Hub (ANH) said that based on an intelligence input generated by Kupwara Police, a joint alert party of police & Army launched a search operation in Kumkadi area along the Line of Control in Machil Sector. The joint team observed movement of terrorists, employing meticulous tactics, the terrorists were intercepted who fired indiscriminately upon the joint team. The fire was retaliated, leading to the elimination of two (02) heavily armed unidentified terrorists.

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He said, identification and affiliation of the killed terrorists is being ascertained. Arms & ammunition including 02 AK Series Rifles, 4 AK Magazines, 90 rounds, 01 Pistol (Pak origin), 01 Pouch, cash Rs 2100 (Pak currency) & other incriminating materials have been recovered from the site of encounter.

The neutralized terrorists were found to be heavily armed, equipped with sophisticated weaponry which indicates their malicious intent to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in the valley. However, due to the timely and effective response by Police & Army, their plans were foiled and a significant threat to peace and stability in the area was neutralized, he said.

In this regard, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and further investigation is in progress. Extensive search of the area is being carried out and further details if any will be shared accordingly, the spokesman added.

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