Jammu, Mar 1 : Lt. Gen. P C Bhardwaj on Saturday took over as the chief of the Udhampur-based Northern Command of the Indian Army.

Lt. Gen. Bhardwaj succeeds Lt. Gen. H. S. Panag, who has been transferred to the Lucknow-based Central Command.

Before taking charge, Lt. Gen. Bhardwaj was commanding the Leh-based 14 Corps of the Indian Army that looks after the frontiers with China, Kashmir and also guards the Siachen glacier, the highest battlefield in the world.

Lt. Gen. Bhardwaj has vast experience in the terror-hit Jammu and Kashmir having been the Brigadier General Staff at Nagrota, the headquarters of 16 Corps in 2000-01, when militancy was at its peak and infiltration at its highest level.

Jammu, Mar. 1 : An orphanage in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir (J and K) Academy of Art, Culture and Languages and the Jammu and Kashmir Police recently organised 'Shehjar Carnival 2008', a two-day theatre festival at the Abhinav Theatre here.

The State's Director General of Police, Kuldeep Khuda, was the chief guest at the festival.

The Human Efforts For Love and Peace (HELP) Foundation in Jammu has adopted children who have been affected due to militancy in Kashmir.

Over 42,000 people have been killed in the region since insurgency broke out in 1989, officials say. Human rights activists put the toll at about
60,000 dead and missing.

Srinagar, Feb 22: The Army reportedly foiled an infiltration bid by two militants on Friday in the Keran sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara District.

Srinagar, Feb 22: Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil will undertake an aerial survey of the avalanche-hit areas of Jammu and Kashmir today.

Patil will make an aerial survey of Kulgam, Shopian and Budgam.

Besides meeting senior state government officers, he will also assess the situation in Anantnag district in south Kashmir.

Before leaving for Delhi, he is also scheduled to meet affected people in Bhaderwah, which is Azad's hometown and assembly constituency.

Lolab (J-K) Feb 21: Braving the chill and snow, the soldiers deployed in the border area of Lolab Valley in Jammu and Kashmir are undeterred by freezing sub-zero temperatures as they go about patrolling the region to keep a check on infiltration.

The soldiers have to remain highly alert and active as they conduct regular patrols and lie in wait for ambushes.

Pahalgam (J-K), Feb 21: Following heavy snowfall in Pahalgam, Residents anticipate a heavy rush of devotees during the annual Amarnath pilgrimage, benefiting the region's economy.

The livelihood of thousands of residents of Pahalgam and nearby areas is heavily dependant upon the Amarnath pilgrimage, which attracts large number of pilgrims during summer.