Author: thestateline

Srinagar: For the second consecutive day, the vital Srinagar-Jammu national highway has been shut down due to landslides caused by heavy rains in the Ramban district. Traffic department officials have confirmed multiple landslides, prompting ongoing efforts to clear the road for passage. Authorities advise travelers against embarking on their journey without prior consultation with control rooms in Srinagar and Jammu. Notably, this highway serves as a crucial lifeline for transporting essential supplies into the landlocked Valley. In addition to the Srinagar-Jammu highway closure, several other routes, including Srinagar-Leh, Mughal Road, Sinthan-Kishtwar road, Bandipora-Gurez, and Kupwara-Tangdhar road, remain inaccessible due to heavy snowfall, further complicating transportation i...

New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has kickstarted its campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections by unveiling its initial list of candidates. In a media briefing led by BJP leader Vinod Tawde, 195 candidates were officially announced to contest the 2024 Parliamentary elections. The most prominent name on the list is that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will be seeking re-election from the Varanasi constituency in Uttar Pradesh, a seat he has held since 2014. Among the 195 nominees, the list includes two former chief ministers and the Lok Sabha Speaker. Additionally, 34 Union Ministers and Ministers of States are set to be fielded once again in the Lok Sabha polls. The candidates were finalized during a meeting of the BJP’s Central Election Committee (CEC) chaired...

Bengaluru: The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a scathing attack on the Congress government in Karnataka following the blast at Bengaluru's Rameshwaram cafe. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's statement suggesting the probe into potential business rivalry angles has drawn sharp criticism from the state BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra. He warned that if Shivakumar's conduct persists, he will be deemed among the "list of anti-nationals." Addressing reporters in Kunigal of Tumakuru district, Shivakumar reassured the public, stating that investigations into the blast are underway and there's no need for panic. He mentioned that authorities are scrutinizing CCTV footage to trace movements in the vicinity of the blast. In response, BJP leader Vijayendra condemned...

Bengaluru: Basavaraj Bommai, the former chief minister of Karnataka, has strongly condemned the decision of the Congress-led government in the state to accept the caste census report. He expressed concerns that this move has exacerbated social tensions and accused the government of playing a dangerous game. Speaking to reporters, Bommai asserted that the decision to embrace the caste census report by the Congress government has caused social unrest, stating, "The government is all set to play with fire." He criticized the Congress, particularly as the general election approaches, accusing the party of shifting its focus from secularism to caste politics and making false promises to garner support. While Bommai acknowledged the importance of recognizing castes and addressing their ...

Srinagar: Persistent rainfall triggered multiple landslides along the strategic Srinagar-Jammu national highway on Saturday, leading to its closure. Officials reported that incessant rains in the Banihal and Ramban sectors caused several landslides, effectively blocking the highway. As a result, authorities have announced the suspension of all traffic on the highway for Saturday. Operations to clear the landslides will commence once the rainfall subsides in the affected areas, according to officials. Furthermore, due to deteriorating road conditions in certain sections, only one-way traffic had been permitted on the highway over the past week. Meanwhile, heavy snowfall continues to impede travel on several other key routes, including the Srinagar-Leh, Mughal Road, Sinthan-Kisht...