Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Karnah-Tangdhar

Dr Bilal Mohi-ud-Din Bhat's first independent field charge was Karnah-Tangdhar, a sub-division of Kupwara district on the Line of Control, reached over the 10,000-foot Sadhna Pass and cut off by snow for several months each year. He held the post from October 2019 until his transfer under Government Order No. 246-JK(GAD) of 2021 dated 16 March 2021, with the additional charge of Sub-Registrar.

Work During the Tenure

The posting coincided with the first year of COVID-19. He chaired the sub-division's early awareness meetings in March 2020, briefed the press on restrictions, and arranged home delivery of offline school assignments to students without internet access during the lockdown. Winter stocking was reviewed in September 2020, with three months of rations in place and LPG allocations raised from 2,400 to 20,000 cylinders.

Border administration included visits to LoC villages after cross-border shelling to have live shells defused, a Rs 20 crore plan for 300 individual bunkers, the distribution of 40 poly-greenhouses to families at Nachiyan and Shamspora under the Cluster Model Village Scheme, and reviews of PMGSY roads and land compensation. Seven patients were airlifted from Tangdhar to Srinagar by Army helicopter on his direction in January 2021. On 21 April 2020 he survived an avalanche that buried his vehicle at Sadhna Top on the return from a COVID review; he, his security officer and driver were pulled out by the Army's avalanche rescue team.

Documented Initiatives

1. 19 Feb 2021Reviewed plan for 300 individual LoC bunkers at Rs 5 lakh each (Rs 20 crore scheme) Source
2. 16 Feb 2021Distributed 40 free poly green houses to families at Nachiyan and Shamspora under the Cluster Model Village Scheme Source
3. 11 Feb 2021Reviewed PMGSY roads (Dildar-Tad, Khawarpora-Chamkote) and land/walnut-tree compensation Source
4. 08 Jan 2021Seven patients airlifted from Tangdhar to Srinagar by Army helicopter on his directions Source
5. 03 Jan 2021Reviewed ITI Karnah trades and pending infrastructure Source
6. 18 Nov 2020 and 16 Dec 2020Managed Sadhna Pass closures: one-way traffic orders; highway reopening after 3 ft snow Source
7. 07 Sep 2020Winter stocking review: 3 months' rations in place; LPG cylinders to rise from 2,400 to 20,000; kerosene reserves boosted Source
8. 21 Apr 2020Survived an avalanche that buried his official Bolero at Sadhna Top on return from a COVID review; he, PSO and driver pulled out by Army Avalanche Rescue Team (Chowkibal) Source
9. 19 Apr 2020Ordered home delivery of offline assignments to students without internet during lockdown Source
10. 11 Mar 2020Chaired early COVID-19 awareness meeting of sectoral officers, tehsildars, school heads and doctors in Karnah; briefed media on restrictions (videos 20-21 Mar 2020) Source
11. 10 Feb 2020Visited LoC villages and directed defusing of live shells fired from across the border after skirmishes Source

News Coverage from the Period

• 17 Mar 2021Major reshuffle in JK administration, 34 officers transferredFree Press Kashmir
• 17 Mar 2021JKGAD Transfers and postings of 20 IAS, KAS officersJK Alerts
• 17 Mar 2021Admin orders massive reshuffleKashmir Images
• 17 Mar 2021Govt Orders Major Reshuffle In Administration; Mohammad Aijaz Is New DC SrinagarKashmir Life
• 17 Mar 2021Major reshuffle in bureaucracyKashmir Reader
• 17 Mar 2021Major Reshuffle In Administration, 34 Officers TransferredThe Dispatch
• 17 Mar 2021Major reshuffle in bureaucracy; Aijaz new DC Srinagar, Langer Div Comm JammuThe Kashmir Monitor
• 16 Mar 2021Major administrative reshuffle; 34 IAS, KAS officers transferredGreater Kashmir
• 16 Mar 202117 IAS transfers in J&KIndian Bureaucracy
• 16 Mar 2021LG Manoj Sinha orders Massive bureaucratic reshuffle in JK administrationKashmir Dot Com
• 16 Mar 2021Major reshuffle in J-K admin, 34 officers transferred, Mohd. Aijaz DC SgrThe Kashmir Walla
• 15 Mar 2021Traffic resumes on Karnah roadKashmir Images
• 19 Feb 2021300 individual bunkers to be constructed at KarnahKashmir Images
• 19 Feb 2021300 individual bunkers to be constructed at KarnahKashmir Reader
• 16 Feb 2021SDM Karnah distributes 40 poly green houses, visits ITI TangdarKashmir Reader
• 11 Feb 2021SDM reviews ongoing road projects in KarnahKashmir Reader
• 09 Jan 20217 patients airlifted from TangdarKashmir Images
• 08 Jan 202107 patients airlifted from TangdarKashmir Dot Com
• 08 Jan 2021Seven patients airlifted from TangdarKashmir Life
• 03 Jan 2021SDM reviews functioning of ITI KarnahKashmir Reader
• 16 Dec 2020Karnah-Kupwara highway opens for trafficKashmir Images
• 12 Dec 2020Cop allegedly thrashes govt school principal in Kupwara; SHO says issue amicably resolvedKashmir Reader
• 18 Nov 2020SDM orders one-way traffic movement on Karnah-Chowkibal roadKashmir Images
• 30 Sep 2020Advisor Khan attends series of programmes at KarnahKashmir Images
• 07 Sep 2020SDM Karnah takes stock of ration supplies ahead of winter seasonKashmir Reader
• 21 Apr 2020SDM Karnah, others escape unhurt as snow avalanche hits vehicleKashmir Images
• 21 Apr 2020Narrow Escape For SDM Karnah After Snow Avalanche Hit His Vehicle At Sadna TopKashmir Life
• 21 Apr 2020SDM Karnah escapes unhurt after avalanche hits vehicleKashmir Reader
• 20 Apr 2020Karnah students to get offline assignments at doorstepsKashmir Images
• 20 Apr 2020Coronavirus: Karnah students to get assignments at doorstepKashmir Life
• 19 Apr 2020In Karnah, students to get home-delivered offline assignmentsThe Kashmir Monitor
• 16 Apr 2020Karnah Administration Launches Mobile ATMs, Home Based Cash Withdrawal In Red Zone VillagesKashmir Life
• 13 Apr 2020Coronavirus: Kupwara Red Zones Entry, Exit Points SealedKashmir Life
• 23 Mar 2020Coronavirus: DC Kupwara Inspects Quarantine Centres, Takes Stock Of ArrangementsKashmir Life
• 11 Mar 2020DDC Kupwara calls for preventive measures to avert spread of COVID-19Kashmir Images
• 10 Feb 2020Diffusing live shells from Karnah, Tangdar border villages: Army asks for written affirmationKashmir Images

All 37 reports from this posting