Srinagar, June 3: Engineers in Kashmir have indigenously designed a low cost machine to clear the snow in narrow lanes and link roads in the region.

Made in one-and-a-half-months by the Mechanical Engineering Department (MED) of Kashmir, the 'Snow Cat 2007' will help in clearing snow on the narrow roads especially in far-flung areas.

"Whenever we used to visit the far flung villages, we felt the need for a machine which is small and could be easily taken to narrow places. We have less number of machines and they cannot be used everywhere. So, the need for such a machine was being felt for a long time," said Abdul Qayoom, machine maker and operator.

Srinagar, June 2 : Security forces today achieved major success in Jammu and Kashmir by eliminating four hardcore Lashakar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorists in two different operations in Baramulla and Kupwara.

The first operation was launched by troops of the 32 Rashtriya Rifles, Srinagar and STF Baramulla at Watergam in Baramulla district.

Terrorists opened indiscriminate fire at about 8 a. m. on troops who were trying to close in near the target house. During the ensuing fire fight, two terrorists were killed.

Srinagar, June 2 : Doabgah Rafiabad village in Baramulla District was granted as backward status by the Jammu and Kashmir Government today.

Addressing a public rally at Doabgah, Social Welfare Minister Abdul Gani Vakil said the village deserved the status for not only being remote, but also for lagging behind in education, infrastructure, landholdings and other development parameters.

He said this status would brighten employment prospects for the youth of Doabgah and will also pave a way for speedier and integrated development of the village.

Vakil said the Congress works for unity and integrity of the State.

Srinagar, May 31 : An old air base in mountainous Ladakh region in Jammu and Kashmir, that was closed 43 years ago, was made operational by the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Saturday.

The air base was set up in 1962 during the Indo-China war and closed in 1965.

It overlooks the strategic Karakoram pass and is located eight km south of the Chinese border.

AN-32, a transporter plane carrying Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (Western Air Command) P K Barbora landed at the Dawaltbaigh Oldi air strip around 0850 hours after taking off from Chandigarh.

Doda (Jammu and Kashmir), May 30 : School students of Doda District in Jammu and Kashmir have reportedly mastered a series of defensive tactics by the Indian Army.

The training programme, which was organised by the No. 4 Battalion of the Rashtriya Rifles for 30 girl students of various schools in the Bhadarwah Sub-Division involved basic weapon handling and shooting skills.

The range of arms that were used included AK-47, .303, pistol and even light machine guns.

During the training course, the girl students in particular radiated immense confidence and fearlessness.

Srinagar, May 29 : Red, tangy, juicy strawberries are the flavour of the season in Kashmir. A timely rainfall in the Kashmir Valley has cheered strawberry growers who are now expecting a bumper crop this season.

Acres of strawberry fields are spread across the lush green slopes as more and more farmers have opted for a diversification in crops.

Strawberries are grown during October and is harvested in early May.