J&K Diary: 2024 driest year in 50 years

The year 2024 showed an extreme rainfall deficit in the Jammu and Kashmir region which is the lowest rainfall recorded in the region in the previous five decades.

The data indicates the Union Territory reported 870.9 mm rainfall in 2024 against the normal annual rainfall of 1,232.3 mm leaving the Union Territory with 29 per cent deficit rainfall. The temperature maintained an unbroken series of below-normal rainfall for the fifth straight year in J&K which was really an alarming situation. “About rainfall, the UT recorded 1146.6 mm in 2023 which was a 7% deficit Similarly the year 2022 saw 1040.4 that was a 16%deficit 2021 was at 892.5mm was a 28% deficit and 2020 recorded 982.2 mm was 20% deficit,” data showed.

Jeweller-held police solve fake gold racket

In Srinagar, police have arrested a jeweller involved in selling fake gold ornaments in a fake gold scam. A police official also said that they became aware of the case on 1st January when the complainants said they bought gold ornaments from one Mehraj Din Qazi which they found to be fake as before. 

The police initiated an investigation and arrested the accused and recovered imitation jewellery. In the course of the grilling, the accused confessed that they had cheated customers and copied fake hallmarks on ornaments which resembled gold they sold in the market, the police said, adding that the accused used to deliver counterfeit products to different localities in Srinagar.

Smart city projects in Srinagar in ACB lens

The much heralded developmental programme, the Srinagar Smart City Project, has been in the eye of the storm as the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered corruption cases against two officials for embezzlement and use of substandard material. Srinagar smart city project Chief Financial Officer Sajid Yousef Bhat and Executive Engineer Zahoor Ahmad Dar have been arrested in disproportionate assets cases. The two officials are living a royal lifestyle having many assets which are estimates in crores. It has become evident from the ACB probe that both officers had acquired a lot of assets than they could afford through lawful means.