Srinagar | Oct, 14:The Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha Wednesday congratulated Government Medical College, Srinagar for organising a conference on “Advancing Internal Medicine: From Evidence to Excellence in Clinical Practice”. In his message, the Lieutenant Governor underscored the critical role of internal medicine in delivering holistic and patient-centric healthcare.
The Lieutenant Governor said that physicians often face the challenging task of identifying complex underlying health conditions from seemingly simple sympto He noted that the strength of internal medicine lies in its ability to view the human body as an interconnected system and to understand the complete medical story of a patient through clinical knowledge, experience and careful observation.
The Lieutenant Governor also stated that observation, reason, human understanding and courage remain the defining qualities of a physician. He highlighted that physicians frequently serve as the first point of medical contact for families and, in many cases, build enduring relationships across generations, rooted in trust, compassion and scientific evidence.
The Lieutenant Governor in his message lauded Government Medical College, Srinagar for its significant contribution to medical education and healthcare, noting that generations of doctors trained by the institution continue to serve across Jammu Kashmir and the country.
The Lieutenant Governor also highlighted the emerging healthcare challenges.
“While infectious diseases remain a concern, lifestyle-related disorders such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, fatty liver disease and cardiovascular ailments are assuming epidemic proportions. We need to ensure that advances in diagnostics, therapeutics and medical technologies reach physicians and patients in rural and remote areas as effectively as they do in urban centres,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor also called upon the medical fraternity to strengthen indigenous research and generate evidence relevant to India’s diverse population. He said that the country’s demographic diversity, combined with the expertise and commitment of doctors, presents immense opportunities for scientific discovery and innovation.
“Medical science is making historic advances, and new drugs and diagnostic tools have opened up new possibilities for treatment. The greatest need Wednesday is to ensure that these innovations are not available only to physicians in large cities, but also reach doctors in villages. We must ensure that there is not even the slightest gap between urban and rural areas in access to facilities and available tools. This should be the first objective of this conference,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor also outlined a five-year roadmap and proposed six key commitments for the medical community including expanding access to advanced medical knowledge through digital health platforms and telemedicine, prioritising preventive healthcare and early detection of diseases, using technology and artificial intelligence as supportive tools while preserving clinical judgement, continuously strengthening research capacity, ensuring the wellbeing of doctors and addressing professional burnout and preserving human compassion at the centre of healthcare delivery.
The Lieutenant Governor also urged the young doctors to remain curious, embrace innovation and learn from experienced mentors. He also called upon senior physicians to generously share their clinical wisdom and guide the next generation of healthcare professionals.
“Early detection of diabetes, hypertension and liver disease is less costly and can help reduce treatment expenses. I urge all physicians and internists to lead prevention campaigns at the community level, because a doctor’s voice can have an extraordinary influence on society. I have every confidence that people will take your advice seriously when it comes to preventing lifestyle-related diseases.
We must value physicians’ hard work, service and dedication. Along with caring for patients, hospitals and institutions, it should be ensured that doctors are cared for too. Providing them with better workplaces and working conditions should be a priority,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

Srinagar | Oct, 14:The Lieutenant Governor,Manoj Sinha in his message to the valedictory session of the 13th Sustainable Mountain Development Summit underscored the critical importance of protecting the Himalayan ecosystem and called for a comprehensive, science-based and people-centric approach to sustainable mountain development.
Congratulating the Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI) and SKUAST-Kashmir for jointly organising the Summit, the Lieutenant Governor said that building a resilient Himalayan landscape is no longer merely a subject of discussion but a matter of national importance. The Lieutenant Governor stated that the Summit had provided a platform for meaningful deliberations on issues concerning water resources, forests, land, biodiversity and climate change, while amplifying the concerns of millions of people dependent on the Himalayan ecosystem.
The Lieutenant Governor in his message observed that the challenges posed by climate change, global warming, environmental degradation and unplanned development are becoming increasingly evident across the Himalayan region.
“Over the past two decades, we have witnessed numerous unprecedented challenges unfold before us. The natural disaster in various parts of the country and the world proves that the intensity of climate change impacts has increased, making these challenges even more serious,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor stressed that the Himalayas is the source of rivers, protectors of biodiversity and vital regulators of climate and any disturbance to the Himalayan ecological balance would have far-reaching consequences.
The Lieutenant Governor highlighted the need to establish a balanced relationship between development and conservation, asserting that development achieved at the cost of environmental stability cannot be regarded as true development. The Lieutenant Governor stated that the vision of a developed India can be realised only when the Himalayas remain secure, healthy and vibrant.
“We must establish an extremely important balance between development and the conservation of natural resources, because I firmly believe that development achieved at the cost of nature’s stability is not truly development. Our dream of a developed India will be meaningful only when the Himalayas remain safe, strong, and vibrant,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor also outlined four key pillars for future action. The first pillar focuses on determining science-based carrying capacity and zoning to ensure holistic planning and sustainable development. The second pillar emphasises climate-resilient infrastructure and enhanced disaster preparedness through environmentally sensitive construction and strengthened community-based early warning systems integrating modern technology with traditional local knowledge.
The third pillar calls for promoting regenerative and inclusive livelihoods, including high-value horticulture, organic farming, modern sericulture, eco-tourism and other components of the green economy. The Lieutenant Governor stressed the need to empower youth and women as entrepreneurs and job creators. The fourth pillar advocates a zero-waste and circular mountain economy through improved solid waste management, wastewater treatment and recycling systems across urban, rural and tourist destinations.
The Lieutenant Governor commended the Summit for preparing a draft policy addressing ecological security, responsible tourism, disaster management and sustainable livelihoods. He expressed the hope that the document would evolve into a robust policy and implementation framework through extensive consultations and serve as the basis for a new social contract between society and nature.
Emphasising India’s civilisational ethos of environmental stewardship, the Lieutenant Governor in his message called for harmonising tradition with technology, local wisdom with modern science, and economic development with ecological sustainability.
“Wednesday, as we build a developed India, we must strike a balance between tradition and technology, local knowledge and modern science, and economic and ecological development. I am fully confident that the right policies and the right decisions on the ground can carry all of these forward together,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

Srinagar|Oct, 14: Security forces have intensified surveillance along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir following the killing of four suspected infiltrators in a landmine explosion in Poonch’s Krishna Ghati sector, even as a joint operation by the Army and police led to the busting of a suspected terror hideout in the district.
The hideout was detected in the Satharban forest area of Surankote on Tuesday following reports of suspicious movement. Security forces recovered an AK-47 rifle, a magazine, 30 rounds of ammunition, six hand grenades and medical supplies from the site.
Police have launched an investigation to establish the origin of the recovered material and determine how the supplies reached the forested area. Investigators are also examining the possible role of overground workers (OGWs) in facilitating the movement of supplies to terrorists operating in remote areas.
The recovery comes amid stepped-up counter-infiltration measures along the LoC in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri and heightened alert along the International Border in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts.
Meanwhile, security forces have launched search operations in the higher reaches of Udhampur and Kathua following intelligence inputs about the possible presence of armed terrorists. Personnel from the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are participating in the operations.
Officials said surveillance along vulnerable stretches of the LoC had been intensified to prevent infiltration attempts. The Border Security Force (BSF) has also heightened vigilance along the International Border.
Security agencies are particularly alert to possible attempts to use lower-altitude routes for infiltration as snowfall begins to restrict movement through higher mountain passes, officials said.
In a related security exercise, Samba Police and the BSF conducted a joint road march in the Ghagwal area on Tuesday to assess preparedness and strengthen security arrangements in the border belt.
Officials said the exercise was aimed at improving surveillance along sensitive stretches and reviewing the deployment of personnel on the ground.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Samba, Anuj Kumar, said coordinated exercises help improve operational coordination and communication among security agencies and enable a swift response to emerging threats.
He said Samba Police was working in close coordination with other security forces to strengthen security in the border areas and safeguard public safety.
Security agencies continue to maintain heightened vigilance across vulnerable border stretches amid concerns over possible infiltration attempts and the movement of terrorists through forested and mountainous terrain.

Baramulla| Oct, 14: Restoration work on a centuries-old Shivling at Kalibagh in Baramulla has begun following the sanctioning of around Rs 3 lakh for the project, after sustained efforts by local residents and community members to preserve the religious site.
The Shivling is believed to be around 400–500 years old, according to Pandit Shivanand Rohit Ji, who said the shrine had remained neglected for years despite repeated appeals to the authorities.
Talking to reporters, Pandit Shivanand said efforts to revive the site had been underway for more than a year, with residents submitting representations to the Lieutenant Governor and repeatedly raising the issue with the district administration.
He appreciated Deputy Commissioner Baramulla S. F. Hamid for personally visiting the site on Tuesday despite the difficult approach through thorny bushes and uneven ground.
“The DC Sahab assessed the condition of the ancient Shivling and issued on-the-spot directions for its revival, restoration and preservation. His personal intervention has helped move the process forward,” he said.
Pandit Shivanand said the Bhoomi Pujan for the proposed construction was performed on Wednesday in accordance with religious rituals, and work had commenced at the site.
He said the Deputy Commissioner’s visit to the difficult-to-access location reflected the importance of preserving the region’s historical, cultural and spiritual heritage.
Stressing the need for sustained efforts to protect the shrine, Pandit Shivanand said the time had come to ensure that the historic site was properly preserved and maintained.
“Preserving such places is essential to safeguarding our cultural and religious heritage. The shrine’s historical significance and cultural legacy must be protected and passed on to future generations,” he said.
Local residents and members of the community have expressed concern over the shrine’s condition and called for concrete steps to ensure its long-term preservation. The local committee, which has been pursuing the matter, has maintained that sustained administrative attention is necessary to protect the site from further neglect.
Reema Raina Koul, a resident who frequently visits her ancestral village in Palhallan, told Kashmir Horizon that the temple had remained neglected for years and required urgent intervention from the authorities.
She called for the official demarcation of the land to protect the shrine from possible disputes or encroachment and urged the administration to facilitate its reconstruction to preserve the community’s religious and cultural heritage.
Residents said the restoration was important not only to safeguard the structure but also to preserve the area’s historical and cultural legacy. They expressed hope that the sanctioned funds would help revive the site and that the administration would ensure its continued maintenance.
They also stressed that formal land demarcation and regular administrative oversight would be essential to prevent future disputes, encroachment and neglect, ensuring that the shrine remains protected for generations to come.