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India Gazette
22-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Uttarakhand: All arrangements have been made for Hemkund Sahib yatra, CM Dhami welcomes devotees
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], May 22 (ANI): After the first batch of pilgrims departed for Hemkund Sahib on Thursday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami welcomed the devotees from across the country and world for the pilgrimage to the revered Sikh shrine near Joshimath in Chamoli district. The portals of Hemkund Sahib, situated at a height of over 15,000 feet above sea level, will open on May 25. The shrine is visited by lakhs of devotees every summer. While speaking with media personnel as the first batch departed for the pilgrimage, CM Dhami said, 'The doors of Shri Hemkund Sahib will open on May 25. All the arrangements have been made for the devotees.' 'I thank PM Modi as the Government of India has approved the ropeway for Kedarnath and Shri Hemkund Sahib... The difficult journey will become very easy in the coming time... We welcome all the devotees coming from across the country and the world...,' the chief minister added. Uttarakhand Governor, Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd), also welcomed the devotees and expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister and other administration for preparing the arrangements. 'We see it as 'Atithi Devo Bhava'. I thank the Chief Minister, the administration, and the Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee for working so hard to make every devotee's visit successful...,' the Governor said. Singh also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for prioritising the Hemkund Sahib and Kedarnath ropeway projects. Earlier today, CM Dhami urged the people to offer respect and salute Army personnel while on their way to the Char Dham Yatra and Hemkund Sahib. He highlighted that over 11 lakh devotees have participated in the Char Dham Yatra so far. He shared this during the flag-off ceremony of the first group of pilgrims embarking on the Hemkund Sahib Yatra from Rishikesh. Speaking on the occasion, Dhami said, 'So far, more than 11 lakh devotees have completed their Darshan... The area of Shri Hemkund Sahib has a rich ecosystem. It is our pledge to protect the environment here. We have pledged to make this Yatra plastic-free. You are requested to follow the rules made by the ancestors during the Yatra.' Dhami also highlighted the amenities provided by the government for the devotees' convenience. (ANI)
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
1971 war was not remotely as terrifying as 6-odd hours on Thursday: Poonch locals
Poonch residents experienced intense Pakistani shelling, surpassing the fear of the 1971 war, causing widespread damage to homes, religious sites, and businesses. JAMMU: Poonch didn't sleep a wink past midnight. In the distance, the ominous thunder of relentless Pakistani bombardment from across the LoC seemed to portend a danger that even 1971 didn't pose. Around 2am Thursday, when the first of the fireballs coursing through the night sky hit home, district Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee president Narinder Singh's mind raced back to when he was eight. 'The 1971 War wasn't remotely as terrifying as what we experienced for six-odd hours till Thursday morning. Back then, my family and thousands of others remained in Poonch through the war without fear of coming in the line of fire. Operation Sindoor Operation Sindoor: 'India won't give face-saving exit to Pak army chief Asim Munir' IPL 2025: BCCI suspends IPL 2025 amid India-Pakistan tensions Fully intact, undetonated Chinese PL-15 missile found in Hoshiarpur This is different, which is why most residents have fled to safer places,' he said. At the first light of dawn, businessman Aijaz Kazmi, in his late 50s, picked up his car keys to leave for Jammu with his family. 'After a shell exploded in our neighbourhood, I prayed the entire night for our safety,' he said. As Kazmi drove through Poonch, the place looked different from the town he had grown up in. Almost all 17 wards bore the scars of shelling, which intermittently continued till around 11am. 'Shri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara, Geeta Bhavan and a madrassa housed within a mosque were damaged. Many shops and other commercial buildings were struck by mortar fire,'he said. The 16 casualties in Pakistani shelling across sectors in J&K included Amarjeet Singh, who would play the tabla during kirtan at Shri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara, and Amreek Singh, a ragi (kirtan singer) at another Sikh temple in Poonch. A maulvi, Maulana Mohammad Iqbal (46), died when a shell hit the Zia-ulUloom madrassa. Poonch opened temporary shelters for those displaced by overnight shelling, but they remained mostly empty until Thursday evening. Vishal Sharma of Poonch town noted, 'There's an exodus; no one knows what will happen next.' Jahangir Ali, whose parents survived the 1965 and 1971 wars, said, 'Even during past border clashes, we didn't fear for our safety. Now, we're directly attacked.' Kazmi said that Poonch needs bunkers due to the heightened LoC tensions and potential prolonged conflict.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
1971 wasn't half as terrifying for shell-shocked Poonch
A view of a portion of damaged walls and structures following cross-border shelling by Pakistan in the wake of 'Operation Sindoor', in Poonch on Thursday. JAMMU : Poonch didn't sleep a wink past midnight. In the distance, the ominous thunder of relentless Pakistani bombardment from across the LoC seemed to portend a danger that even 1971 didn't pose. Around 2am Thursday, when the first of the fireballs coursing through the night sky hit home, district Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee president Narinder Singh's mind raced back to when he was eight. Operation Sindoor Operation Sindoor: Several airports in India closed - check full list Did Pak shoot down Indian jets? What MEA said India foils Pakistan's attack on Jammu airport: What we know so far 'The 1971 War wasn't remotely as terrifying as what we experienced for six-odd hours till Thursday morning. Back then, my family and thousands of others remained in Poonch through the war without fear of coming in the line of fire. This is different, which is why most residents have already fled to safer places,' he said. At the first light of dawn, businessman Aijaz Kazmi, in his late 50s, picked up his car keys to leave for Jammu with his family. 'After a shell exploded in our neighbourhood, I prayed the entire night for our safety,' he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo As Kazmi drove through Poonch, the place looked different from the town he had grown up in. Almost all 17 wards bore the scars of shelling, which intermittently continued till around 11am. 'Shri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara, Geeta Bhavan and a madrassa housed within a mosque were damaged. Many shops and other commercial buildings were struck by mortar fire,' he said. The 16 casualties in Pakistani shelling across sectors in J&K included Amarjeet Singh, who would play the tabla during kirtan at Shri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara, and Amreek Singh, a ragi (kirtan singer) at another Sikh temple in Poonch. A maulvi, Maulana Mohammad Iqbal (46), died when a shell hit the Zia-ul-Uloom madrassa. Randhir Singh from Mankote village said the extent of damage was even greater in areas closer to the LoC. 'This is not to say that India shouldn't have responded to the terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam. Pakistan has been a thorn in the side for a long time. Enough is enough,' he said. The Poonch administration opened temporary shelters for those displaced by shelling overnight, but they were mostly unoccupied until Thursday evening. 'There is an exodus of residents, for nobody knows what might happen next,' said Vishal Sharma of Poonch town. Jahangir Ali, another resident, said his parents lived through the 1965 and 1971 wars without Poonch being touched by fighting. 'Even during previous border clashes over the past decade, we wouldn't worry about our safety. My parents can't believe we are being directly attacked now.' Kazmi said Poonch needs bunkers for civilians given heightened tensions along the LoC and the possibility of the conflict dragging. 'Maybe the administration should have known that we were vulnerable. Now that war is at our door, bunkers are a must.'
