THATHRI — A major tragedy was narrowly averted early...

Kashmiri has survived centuries of conflict, displacement and political upheaval, but in Jammu and Kashmir's Chenab Valley, its greatest threat may now lie inside the home. This article explores how families are gradually replacing Kashmiri with Urdu and English, disconnecting younger generations from a rich literary heritage shaped by poets such as Rasa Javidani, Bashir Bhaderwahi and Janbaaz Kishtwari. It examines the cultural, social and policy failures driving the language's decline, while questioning whether one of the region's oldest linguistic traditions can still be preserved before it falls silent.

The Meteorological Centre, Srinagar, has installed a new Automatic Rain Gauge (ARG) at an NHPC station in Kishtwar, bolstering real-time rainfall data collection and enhancing weather forecasting accuracy for the region.

Security forces and disaster management agencies conducted a joint mock drill in Ramban district, simulating emergency response scenarios along NH-44 and at Yatra Niwas Chanderkote. The exercise aimed to enhance preparedness for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra.

The deplorable condition of washrooms at Government High School Joura has highlighted persistent infrastructure neglect in educational institutions across the Chenab Valley in Jammu and Kashmir. According to details received by The Chenab Times, the washrooms have remained in poor condition for more than 16 years, forcing students to use nearby drains and open spaces. Aam Aadmi Party Doda Constituency Spokesperson Er Raja Shakeel has strongly criticised the local administration and elected representatives, describing the situation as a glaring example of official negligence and failed governance, while questioning the performance of the MLA from Bhaderwah Constituency and the DDC member from Thathri amid a triple crisis of teacher shortages, inadequate sanitation, and declining education standards. Shakeel, a former student of the school, urged authorities to immediately inspect the premises in Doda district and take concrete action to provide clean facilities, adequate staff, and a dignified learning environment for Chenabi children, asserting that people demand accountability and visible results over excuses.

Sanitation workers are among the most essential yet least recognised contributors to public health. Their daily labour keeps streets clean, drains functional, and communities protected from disease, yet they often work in hazardous conditions with inadequate safety measures, delayed wages, and little public appreciation. As recurring sanitation workers’ strikes across Jammu and Kashmir have shown, a clean environment cannot be sustained by government agencies alone; it requires respect for sanitation workers, responsible waste disposal by citizens, and a shared commitment to the constitutional duty of protecting public health and the environment.

Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested two individuals, including a Forest Department employee, in Kishtwar district for allegedly providing support to militants. The arrests are part of an ongoing investigation into a case involving charges under the BNS, UAPA, and Arms Act.