On Thursday, weather official India Meteorological Department said that the cities are part of India and that it would give their weather updates in its daily bulletin. Following this, the Broadcasting Ministry said that DD News and All India Radio will also broadcast temperatures and weather reports of Mirpur, Muzaffarabad and Gilgit in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir in their prime-time news bulletins.
Ministry Secretary Amit Khare in a statement on Friday said that "With effect from today, DD News and All India Radio will broadcast temperatures and weather reports of Indian towns and cities including Mirpur, Muzaffarabad and Gilgit in their prime-time news bulletins."
"DD News will telecast the prediction at 8.55 a.m. and 8.55 pm. Private channels will also follow the lead soon," the official added.
This assumes significance as India consistently believes that the Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir belongs to India.
According to a report of Deccan Herald, the Weather Official started referring its Sub Division of Jammu and Kashmir as Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan and Muzaffarabad from Tuesday. It provides temperatures of Gilgit, Muzaffarabad, Gilgit and Skardu, which is now occupied by Pakistan.
The decision was taken after Supreme Court of Pakistan permitted to conduct elections in Gilgit-Baltistan last month. Gilgit-Baltistan, according to India, is under illegal occupation of Pakistan.
IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said on Thursday that the weather department has started mentioning this information in their regional bulletin the past couple of days.