Speaking at a public rally in Rajouri after joining a march under the government’s anti-drug campaign, Sinha said authorities had intensified enforcement efforts in recent days.
Relatives assembled before dawn at the Hajj House in Bemina, where pilgrims reported for processing before heading to the airport.
The programme, conducted under the Moul Mouj Cancer Care Project by the Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies on Ageing, brought together doctors, paramedics and healthcare providers at a conference facility in the city.
Organisers said the programme sought to promote the use of advanced genetic techniques in conservation planning, particularly in ecologically sensitive areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
Traffic officials said similar arrangements were likely to continue on Saturday if conditions remain stable.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the key waterway would remain open for shipping “for the remaining period of the ceasefire,” while adding that vessels must follow designated routes set by Iran’s maritime authorities.
More than 4700 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir, including Ladakh, are scheduled to travel this season, with departures starting on Saturday, officials said.
Separate notifications issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs brought corresponding provisions into force for Jammu and Kashmir and other union territories from April 17, 2026.
The Ministry of Home Affairs said the provisions of the amended law would come into force from April 17, 2026, under separate notifications issued for Jammu and Kashmir and union territories.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha during a debate on legislation linked to women’s quota and delimitation, Gandhi said the proposal was “a shameful act” that sought to “change the country’s electoral structure while hiding behind India’s women”.
