Mercury drops across Kashmir, stay above zero
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 20: Several houses were damaged after a landslide hit the Rezin area of Sonamarg in Ganderbal district last evening.
An official said that a massive landslide hit the Rezan area in which many houses were damaged besides Srinagar Leh highway was also blocked.
“Soon after the incident, the residents were moved to safer locations while the highway remained blocked following the incident, he said.
He said all efforts were put in place to clear the path and reestablish traffic at an earliest.
Iqbala Bano whose house was also damaged in the incident said the villagers were already worried that such an incident would happen as a tunnel is being constructed there.
“We narrowly escaped this incident, as there is construction of tunnel going in the village, which caused the loosening of the soil,” she said.
Another local said 7 residential houses and several shops were damaged in the incident. He alleged that due to the construction of the tunnel, their settlement has been destroyed.
The villagers alleged that the area is unsafe for living now and the administration should relocate and rehabilitate the affected residents.
“People were moved to safe locations. The operation continued overnight and right now we have started it again to remove the debris. All facilities being provided to people,” said Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Javid Ahmad Rather.
In the meantime, the mercury dropped slightly in Kashmir today but was recorded above sub-zero for the second consecutive day with Weatherman forecasting light rain and snowfall.
Srinagar recorded a low of 5.3°C against the previous night’s 6.7°C . Today’s minimum temperature was above normal by 4.4°C for the city.
Qazigund recorded a low of 3.1°C against 4.4°C on the previous night and it was 3.2°C above normal for the town.
Pahalgam recorded a low of 1.7°C against minus 2.1°C on the previous night and it was 5.7°C above normal for the tourist resort.
Kokernag recorded a low of 3.7°C against 3.2°C on the previous night and it was 4.4°C above normal for the place.
Gulmarg recorded a low of 0.2°C against 2.0°C on the previous night and it was 6.9°C above normal for the skiing resort.
In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at 4.5°C against 5.1°C on the previous night and it was 4.8°C above normal for the town.
Leh recorded a low of minus 2.2°C.
The MeT has forecast light rain in plains and light to moderate rain and snow in middle and higher reaches from late afternoon today to early morning of February 21.
While Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day long harsh winter period that started on December 21 and a 20-day-long period called ‘Chillai-Khurd’ have ended, Kashmir is under grip of 10-day-long period ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) which will end by the end of this month.
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