SRINAGAR
An IndiGo flight (6E 2142) from Delhi to Srinagar carrying over 220 passengers, including a five-member delegation of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs, encountered severe turbulence on May 21 due to a sudden hailstorm near Pathankot. The mid-air crisis intensified after the pilot’s emergency requests to deviate through Pakistani airspace were denied, owing to heightened Indo-Pak tensions following the recent Pahalgam massacre that killed 26 people. A similar request to Indian Air Force-controlled northern airspace was also turned down. Consequently, the flight proceeded on its original route and was forced to fly through the storm. Passengers onboard, including TMC’s Sagarika Ghose, described the experience as “near-death,” with widespread panic, screaming, and prayers as the aircraft shook violently. Videos recorded during the turbulence went viral, depicting scenes of chaos inside the cabin. Despite multiple critical system warnings, autopilot failure, stall alerts, unreliable speed readings, and a vertical descent rate peaking at 8,500 feet per minute, the crew managed to manually control the aircraft and land safely in Srinagar at 6:30 p.m.
The DGCA confirmed the incident is under investigation. It stated the pilots declared a “PAN PAN” emergency (urgent but not immediately life-threatening) and were guided by radar vectors to a priority landing. The aircraft’s nose, particularly the radome, was visibly damaged by hailstones and declared “Aircraft on Ground” (AOG) for inspection and maintenance.
Passengers like FastBeetle co-founder Sheikh Samiullah expressed deep gratitude to the pilot. Airlines across India, including IndiGo and Air India, issued weather-related advisories as storms disrupted multiple routes. The episode not only raised questions on air traffic management during emergencies but also highlighted the risks of restricted airspace amid geopolitical tensions. The crew’s decision-making and composure were widely praised, though the incident underscored the vulnerabilities of civilian flights during periods of diplomatic strain.
KASHMIR
Kashmir experienced an intense heat wave on May 22, 2025, with temperatures soaring to 34.4°C, the third-highest May temperature recorded in Srinagar city in 133 years, and nine degrees above normal. Similar extremes were reported across Jammu and Kashmir, with Kokernag and Qazigund witnessing their hottest May days since recordkeeping began. Jammu city recorded 38.5°C, while other towns like Banihal, Bhaderwah, and Batote also reported significantly above-normal temperatures. The Meteorological Department has attributed this unusual heat to persistent dry weather and forecasts continued hot conditions until May 26, after which some relief is expected with scattered rainfall. Meteorologists have issued advisories urging people to avoid outdoor activities during peak heat hours, stay hydrated, and follow health precautions. Srinagar’s minimum temperature also remained elevated at 15.4°C. The situation is being closely monitored, with updates expected as the region anticipates a possible shift in weather patterns by the end of May. Authorities have changed school timings owing to the weather conditions.
SRINAGAR
Ruling National Conference (NC), during its first Central Working Committee meeting after returning to power in Jammu and Kashmir, passed seven resolutions, chief among them a demand for the immediate restoration of Statehood and the special constitutional status of the region. The meeting, chaired by Dr Farooq Abdullah and attended by top leaders, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, condemned the April 22 Pahalgam massacre and cross-border hostilities, calling for sustained peace between India and Pakistan. The NC also decried harassment of Kashmiris outside the region and warned against alienating the people through heavy-handed state actions. However, the decision to pass such pivotal resolutions outside the Assembly has sparked criticism. Opposition voices, including PDP’s Waheed Para, questioned why the Assembly, dominated by the NC with 50 MLAs, was bypassed. Critics argue that resolutions of this nature belong in the legislature, not the party headquarters, suggesting a lack of institutional seriousness in addressing vital state issues.
KOLKOTTA
A month after the deadly Pahalgam massacre and the subsequent cross-border conflict between India and Pakistan, a five-member Trinamool Congress (TMC) delegation from West Bengal has arrived in Jammu and Kashmir on a ‘sympathy’ tour to meet residents affected by shelling along the Line of Control (LoC). Led by Rajya Sabha MP and former journalist Sagarika Ghose, the group includes Derek O’Brien, Nadimul Haque, Manas Bhunia, and Mamata Thakur. The delegation is visiting Poonch, Rajouri, and Kupwara districts, areas severely impacted by Pakistani shelling following India’s Operation Sindoor. Ghose stated their visit is one of “empathy, solidarity and sympathy”, aiming to draw national attention to the hardships faced by border villagers, which she said have been neglected by mainstream media. The TMC’s move comes after visits by local leaders and officials, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and LG Manoj Sinha, who have announced rehabilitation and jobs for the shelling victims’ families.
KULGAM
Cyber Police Station Srinagar has detained Dr Abdul Waseem alias Bari, a terminated professor from Kulgam, and social media content creator Asifa Bashir of Chattabal for allegedly uploading and circulating objectionable content about complainants on social media platforms, including Facebook. The duo has been booked under FIR 06/2025, invoking sections of the IT Act and BNS. Dr Waseem has been handed over to Shergari Police Station, while Asifa Bashir is in custody at the Women’s Police Station Rambagh. Officials said the content they shared was found to be offensive and in violation of cyber laws governing online conduct.
NETHERLANDS
During his visit to the Netherlands, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar underlined India’s strong stance against Pakistan’s involvement in terrorism, particularly in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam massacre. He asserted that the Pakistani state and army are deeply complicit in the crime, citing the open presence of UN-sanctioned terrorists in Pakistan’s major cities. Jaishankar insisted that India seeks a “definitive end” to terrorism and warned of consequences if cross-border attacks continue. Dismissing US President Donald Trump’s claims of brokering peace, he clarified that the May 12 ceasefire, following Operation Sindoor, was negotiated directly between India and Pakistan, without third-party mediation.
Jaishankar rejected linking terrorism with the Kashmir dispute, calling terrorism an unacceptable international crime. He reiterated India’s position that Pakistan must vacate illegally occupied parts of Jammu and Kashmir. Operation Sindoor, launched in retaliation for the Pahalgam killings, remains ongoing as a clear message of zero tolerance.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, speaking in Japan, emphasised the need to distinguish between victims and perpetrators of terrorism. He praised Japan’s solidarity and called for stronger Indo-Japanese strategic collaboration. Together, these developments reflect India’s sharpened counter-terrorism posture, rejection of outside mediation, and commitment to bilateral resolution with Pakistan while maintaining firm control over Kashmir-related narratives.
JAMMU
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a chargesheet against former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik, naming him as an accused in an alleged Rs 2,200-crore corruption case concerning the Kiru hydroelectric power project in Kishtwar. The move marks a dramatic turn in a case Malik himself had flagged in 2021, claiming he was offered a Rs 300-crore bribe to clear files linked to the project. Based on his disclosures, the CBI initiated a probe and conducted widespread searches across India.
Malik, who served as Jammu and Kashmir Governor from August 2018 to October 2019, had been treated as a witness until now. The chargesheet, however, now includes his name along with those of senior officials from Chenab Valley Power Projects Pvt Ltd and Patel Engineering. The CBI alleges that despite a board decision to cancel the original tender and go for e-tendering with reverse auction, the contract was ultimately handed to Patel Engineering in violation of procedure.
As news of the chargesheet emerged, Malik was hospitalised in critical condition, undergoing dialysis. His aides condemned the charges as harassment of the whistleblower. The inclusion of Malik, the original complainant, in the list of accused has raised significant political and legal questions.
WEST BENGAL
In response to the April 22 Pahalgam massacre that killed 26 people, including 25 tourists, India’s travel industry has launched the Chalo Kashmir campaign to revive tourism in Jammu and Kashmir. Led by the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), the campaign aims to restore traveller confidence and support local livelihoods, with backing from over 2,400 member companies. Initiatives include discounted hotel rates, airfare concessions, and appeals to the government for enhanced tourist safety. Tourism, a key economic sector in Kashmir, had witnessed record footfall in 2024 before the attack triggered mass booking cancellations. The campaign has received national support, including from the Prime Minister, and seeks to reach over a million potential travellers across India. Stakeholders, including local travel operators and TAAI’s West Bengal chapter, say the best response to violence is to reaffirm faith in Kashmir’s appeal. The campaign’s message urges solidarity, resilience, and support for the region’s economic recovery.
SRINAGAR
PDP president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has urged the Government of India to revisit the Vajpayee-era doctrine of dialogue, insisting that war is neither a solution nor a last resort. Speaking after cross-LoC shelling displaced residents, she demanded that affected areas be declared “war-impacted zones” and receive Rs 50 lakh in compensation for destroyed homes. Mufti called for job provision to bereaved families, waiver of loans, and recognition of shelling victims as martyrs. She decried the lack of trauma centres in conflict zones like Poonch and stressed that people should not be forced to live in fear or demand bunkers.
KANGAN
Mian Altaf Ahmad, Member of Parliament from Anantnag-Rajouri and custodian of the revered Baba Nagri shrine in Wangat, has opted out of an all-party foreign delegation tour ahead of the annual Urs. The delegation, led by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, is part of India’s diplomatic initiative, Operation Sindoor, aimed at reinforcing its global stance against cross-border terrorism. It includes visits to five countries, with participation from several prominent MPs. However, Mian Altaf declined the invitation, citing religious responsibilities associated with the Urs of Hazrat Mian Nizamuddin Kiyanvi (RA), scheduled for early June. As Sajada Nasheen of the shrine, he is currently overseeing arrangements for the event, which draws tens of thousands of devotees. Mian Altaf confirmed his non-participation to the media, stating that his party and the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi have acknowledged and accepted his decision without objection, respecting his religious commitments during this significant annual event.
