Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Lands In Srinagar; Will Address Army Personnel

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Srinagar on Thursday, where he will likely interact with Army personnel stationed in the region.

“Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh has reached Srinagar this morning. He will interact with troops,” read a post by the Office of the Raksha Mantri on X.

The Defence Minister is accompanied by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

This marks Singh’s first visit to Jammu and Kashmir following the Pahalgam terror attack and the recent agreement between India and Pakistan to cease hostilities.

In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor and the cessation of hostilities, signs of normalcy are gradually returning to the region.

In a positive development for students and families, the Directorate of School Education, Jammu, announced the reopening of schools in various border areas of Jammu and Kashmir from 15 May.

Schools will resume operations in several districts, including Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, and Poonch, which were earlier closed due to heightened tensions.

In Jammu district, schools in the zones of Chowki Choura, Bhalwal, Dansal, Gandhi Nagar, and Jammu will reopen. In Samba, schools in Vijaypur will resume. Kathua district will reopen schools in Barnoti, Lakhanpur, Sallan, and Ghagwal zones.

Similarly, Rajouri will see schools reopening in Peeri, Kalakote, Thanamandi, Moghla, Kotranka, Khawas, Lower Hathal, and Darhal.

In Poonch, educational institutions in Surankote and Buffliaz will also be operational from Thursday.

Helicopter Services Resume In Katra

In another sign of returning stability, helicopter services from Katra to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine resumed on Wednesday after a week-long suspension due to tensions between the two countries.

Meanwhile, the Indian Army has intensified its counter-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir in response to the 22 April Pahalgam attack.

India launched Operation Sindoor following the attack that claimed 26 lives.

On 7 May, Indian forces carried out targeted precision strikes across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), reportedly killing over 100 terrorists.

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