State

Bollywood big banners in Kashmir to explore locations for upcoming film projects

Srinagar, Jan 28: The big banners of Bollywood are on a 4-day visit to Kashmir to explore scenic backdrops for their future film projects.

The top names which have arrived here include Ajay Devgun Films, Sanjay Dutt Productions, Reliance Entertainment, Rohit Shetty Films, Zee Studios, Adhikari Brothers & SAB (Marathi), Endemol, Rajkumar Hirani, Excel Entertainment, etc besides representatives from Producers Guild, Mumbai.

Soon after their arrival here yesterday, the 24-member delegation of top notch banners and other artists visited Gulmarg today. The team will stay in Srinagar on 29th January and also have interactive sessions with media, travel trade associations and Valley’s film and line producers. They will also be exploring the favourite backdrop locations at Pahalgam on 30th January before departing back to Mumbai.

Director, Tourism, Kashmir, Dr. G N Itoo said the top production houses are here and have visited various locations. “Kashmir has been receiving good response from the Bollywood filmmakers since opening of the tourism here in addition to the country’s regional entertainment houses for shooting song sequences and commercial ads,” said Dr. Itoo.

Dr Itoo said Kashmir is a natural backdrop for the filmmakers and the department has been making it easy for them to get permissions for shooting.

Kashmir has witnessed a steady increase in tourist footfall due to continuous snowfall since the onset of winter.

Celebrities who recently visited Kashmir include Singers Jubin Nautiyal, Guru Randhawa, Salman Ali, former Indian actress and model Sana Khan, Music Composer Salim Merchant, TV Host and Anchor Aditya Narayan, business tycoon Anil Ambani and most of whom visited Gulmarg. The ski resort also received 100 percent booking as most of the hotels are booked till February end owing to the huge tourist rush.

The Producers Guild praised the pristine beauty of the Gulmarg and expressed keen desire to shoot for their upcoming film projects at Various locations in Kashmir.

Kashmir has been traditionally a favourite spot for the Bollywood who have shot scores of movies here at Dal Lake, Srinagar’s Mughal Gardens, Gulmarg and Pahalgam.

State

J&K reports 41 fresh COVID-19 deaths since last night, toll climbs to 2,953

(Asian News Hub) – The union territory of Jammu and Kashmir has reported 41 fresh Covid-19 deaths since the last night, taking the total number of deaths related to the deadly virus to 2,953.

An official told that the patients who died include 92-year-old man from Batipora, 45-year-old man from Hawal, 75-year-old female from Nishat, 60-year-old man from Rajouri Kadal, 75-year-old man from Shivpora, 70-year-old man from Sekidafar, 45-year-old woman from Batamaloo, 60-year-old woman from Bemina, 54-year-old woman from Harnag Anantnag, 50-year-old man from Nagibal, 55-year-old woman from Kangan Ganderbal, 45-year-old woman from Pampore, 70-year-old woman from Natipora, 60-year-old man from Zainakadal, 68-year-old woman from Sadribal, 70-year-old man from Rainawari, 62-year-old man from Yaripora Kulgam, one each from Sopore and Bandipora and 22 fatalities from Jammu division.

He said that five deaths were reported at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Soura, 2 at JLNM Hospital Rainawari, while one death was reported at Chest Disease Hospital Dalgate since the last night.

The official said that two deaths were reported each from JVC Bemina and SDH Sopore, one from GMC Anantnag, while six from SMHS Hospital Srinagar since the last night.

He said that 22 COVID-19 related deaths were reported from Jammu division since the last night.

With 41 fresh deaths, the death toll related to Covid-19 in Jammu and Kashmir has climbed to 2,953, which includes 1,319 from Jammu division and 1,634 from Kashmir division.

KNO

State

Shawwal moon sighted, Eid-ul-Fitr on Thursday: Grand Mufti Nisar ul Islam

(Asian News Hub) – Kashmir’s Grand Mufti, Nasir ul Islam on Wednesday said that Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated across Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, saying that the Shawwal moon has been sighted late Thursday evening.

Talking to the news agency—KNO, Grand Mufti said that the Shawwal moon has been sighted.

He said that Eid-ul-Fitr to be celebrated across J&K on Thursday. He also extended Eid greetings to the Muslim Ummah and prayed for peace and prosperity of people of Jammu and Kashmir.

State

Eid-ul-Fitr: Kashmiri Bakers suffer Rs 40 cr loss amid Covid restrictions

(Asian News Hub) – As the lockdown continued across Jammu and Kashmir, the Kashmiri bakers on Wednesday said that it has suffered a loss of approximately Rs 40 crore ahead of Muslim festival, Eid-ul-Fitr.

Talking to the news agency—KNO, President of Kashmir Bakers and Confectionery Federation, Umar Mukhtar said that the government had no proper plans and programmes for the people ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr.

“Unlike previous years, we had made just 20 per cent of the bakery this year. However, the improper mechanism and programmes by the government this year has led to the loss of a whooping amount of Rs 30-Rs 40 Crores to the bakers,” he said.

Blaming the administration, Umar said that it is because of the people at the helm of the affairs that the bakers have suffered huge losses ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr.

He added that the bakers in Southern districts of Kashmir have suffered much loss as compared to other districts as they were not able to sell the bakery ahead of the Eid.

Sofi Mohi-ud-din, South City Bakers Association President echoed similar views and said that unlike previous year, the administration especially in Srinagar had no proper plans and programmes for them. “The relaxation was firstly announced and later we were being asked to get curfew passes in the middle of the night. How was it possible for us to get the passes in the middle of the midnight?” he said.

He added that the administration has totally failed on the ground and has left the people especially bakers to lurch at large. He said each Bakery house has at least 15 to 20 employees who are being given proper salaries but huge losses have affected the salary paying as well.

KNO