On the night of 11-12 March, the nature struck to demonstrate how furious and merciless its elements can be when God so please. It appears that much dreaded cold wave arising in the snow-clad plateau of Siberia straddled the forbidding Karakorum and moving southward encountered obstruction from the Pir Panchal heights that wrought havoc to the valley of Kashmir and it hilly region. The tail end impacted the weather of the plains of Northern India and the capital got untimely rains much to the disadvantage of rabi crop that is round the corner.
The fury of elements spared nothing in the mountainous State. It brought avalanches that took the toll of about a dozen lives and left scores injured. It disrupted vehicular traffic on Banihal Batote Highway at several places forcing authorities to close down the traffic that left hundreds of vehicles stranded on the roadside. Heavy snowfall damaged houses and house tops and caused death of the denizens. Heavy rains made the entire city of Srinagar water logged forcing people to stay indoor and the traffic on the rods was mere skeletal. Realising that normal life was disrupted and that there seemed no relent in inclement weather authorities ordered closure of schools from Primary to 12th Class all over the valley. The order included aided schools as well. Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment has advised people to be careful of more avalanches coming down particularly in hilly regions of Ramban, Doda, Batote, Tangdhar, Karen, Uri, Baramulla and other places. Shops, business establishments and offices remained closed owing to water logging and no traffic. Flights to Srinagar were suspended and the entire airport premises turned into a large pool of water.
Apart from traffic, telecom and electric power supply also suffered damages to large extent. For one complete day the valley went without power and telephone connection. Similar the fate if several far-flung area in Jammu province. But one should appreciate the sense of responsibility of the bosses of electric power supply and telecommunication who put their manpower to the urgent task of restoration of services. Within shortest possible time both electric power and telecommunication system have been restored. People have been provided services within shortest possible time. We appreciate the sense of responsibility demonstrated by concerned officers.
However, commenting on the event, we would like to emphasize that it is unavoidable to fully strengthen the State Disaster Management Authority in terms of infrastructure, manoeuvrability and availability of funds. Ours is a hilly state and the type of sever cold wave that has swept it is not the first one or the last one. We must know that given our geographical location, we are prone to these vagaries of weather. We need to take a holistic view of this phenomenon. We also know that the State is on the seismic map and is prone to earthquakes and turmoil’s. Therefore first of all, the structures that are coming up should be able to resist severe climatic conditions. Secondly the Disaster Management Authority should be adequately equipped in all respects to meet the challenges. Thirdly, Disaster Management Authority should have well-equipped mobile hospital especially along the National Highway in avalanche prone sectors to be pressed into service at a short notice. Facilities like x-ray, blood transfusion and emergency life saving drugs etc should be available in these mobile hospitals at all the time. Adequate budget has to be allowed to this head of expenditure. Even adequate manpower is also required to be available to the Authority. There should be a well-considered programme of temporarily shifting population living in highly avalanche prone areas to safer areas at least during three months of winter beginning with mid-December each year. Shifting of vulnerable population should be a regular programme of the Department of Relief and Rehabilitation and adequate funds should be allocated to this head of expenditure. Those who have suffered in the current snow storm should be provided adequate relief at the earliest.
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