Rain, snowfall in J&K; Army, IAF airlift pregnant woman from Nawapachi

Jammu-Sgr NH, Batote-Kishtwar road closed

*Ahead of Khelo India, Gulmarg receives heavy snowfall

Gopal Sharma

JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Feb 9: The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and Batote-Kishtwar road were closed after landslides while rain and snowfall lashed many parts of Jammu and Kashmir, whereas, braving heavy snowfall, the Army and the Indian Air Force airlifted a pregnant woman in critical condition from remote Nawapachi area of district Kishtwar today.
Responding to a distress call, Army troops rushed to the village in remote Nawapachi area and carried the woman on a stretcher through snow-clad track and fields. The IAF flew a MI Helicopter to Nawapachi and airlifted the woman, who was transported to the District Hospital, Kishtwar for specialised treatment, a Defence spokesman said.

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“Indian Army in close coordination with the Indian Air Force evacuated a pregnant woman in critical condition from remote and isolated Nawapachi area of Kishtwar district to the town where the lady is being treated at district hospital,” Defence spokesperson Lt Col Devender Anand said.

He said Army has been making efforts to reduce the hardships faced by people in the area that has harsh weather and extremely difficult living conditions, especially during winters when it gets cut off from the rest of the district due to closure of roads.
As Ramban sector and entire Chenab region was experiencing rain and snowfall at higher reaches since morning, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was blocked at Panthyal due to fresh landslides this evening.
An official spokesman said that due to falling of boulders and frequent shooting stones, the National Highway was blocked at around 6.40 pm today. A large number of trucks loaded with goods bound for Valley have been stranded between Chanderkote, Ramban and Ramsu areas. There were no chances of opening road during night, the spokesman added..
He said Batote-Kishtwar road was also blocked due to fresh landslides near Thathri at around 5 pm today. Many vehicles have been stranded on both sides of the road while fresh movement from Kishtwar and Jammu-Udhampur side was suspended by Traffic police authorities this evening.

Meanwhile, the hills of Kashmir and parts of Jammu region including the ski resort of Gulmarg today received heavy snowfall while parts of the Valley were lashed by rains and light snowfall.
Several areas including a famous ski-resort Gulmarg, Gurez, Sadhna Top, Karnah, Kupwara, Baramulla, Bandipora, Ganderbal and other parts of North Kashmir received fresh snowfall today.
Gulmarg recorded around 2 feet of snow while plains of north Kashmir recorded 3-9 inches of snow till today evening. Gurez recorded a fresh snow of about one foot today while Tangdar, Sumbal Bala Ganderbal, Lolab and other areas recorded a snowfall of about 9 inches.
Director Meteorological department (MeT), Sonum Lotus said that there is a possibility of cloudy weather conditions with light rain and snow at scattered places of J&K on February 10.
He further advised people to stay alert and away from avalanche prone areas.
The Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Authority issued a fresh avalanche warning in 12 districts for the upcoming 24 hours.
The DMA issued a ‘Medium Level’ warning above 2000 to 2500 metres over Anantnag, Bandipora, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Kulgam, Doda, Kishtwar and Poonch districts.
People living in these areas have been advised to take precautions and avoid venturing in the avalanche prone areas.
Meanwhile, Srinagar recorded an increase in temperature with minimum temperature settling at 0.4°C against minus 0.1°C the previous night. Today’s minimum temperature was above normal by 1.2°C for the city.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 0.8°C against minus 1.8°C the previous night and it was 0.7°C above normal for the town.
Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 2.4°C against minus 7.6°C the previous night and it was 3.8°C above normal for the famous tourist resort.
Kokernag recorded a low of minus 0.6°C against minus 0.1°C the previous night and it was 1.4°C above normal for the place.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 4.2°C against minus 6.5°C the previous night and it was 2.5°C above normal for the skiing resort.
In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at 2.3°C against minus 1.9°C on the previous night and it was 4.3°C above normal for the town.
Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 10.0°C and minus 15.0°C respectively.
There has been sharp decrease in the day temperature in Jammu, Katra and many other areas of region after rain and snowfall on the higher reaches. Hills around Bhaderwah town, Dudu-Basantgarh, Latti, Bani, Patnitop, Nathatop, besides many areas of Kishtwar, Ramban, Poonch and Rajouri experienced fresh snowfall this evening.
Bhaderwah recorded a minimum temperature of 3.7 degree C, Batote 5.7 deg C, Banihal town 2.6 deg C, Katra 9.1 degree C and Jammu 9.9 degree C temperature today. The MeT has predicted rain in most of the areas in Jammu region during next two days. From Sunday onwards, weather would remain dry in most of the areas in the region for couple of days, he added.

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