Schools closed in Kupwara, Ramban
*Weather likely to improve from this afternoon
Govind Sharma &
Fayaz Bukhari
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Mar 15: Jammu and Kashmir witnessed fresh snowfall and widespread rainfall over the past 24 hours, leading to a significant drop in temperatures, school closures, and disruptions in daily life. An avalanche struck the remote hamlet of Alya in Gandhari village, Paddar area of Kishtwar district on Friday night, affecting four to five families. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, though some houses sustained damage to doors and windows.
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According to the weatherman, most parts of J&K experienced moderate to heavy rainfall and snowfall during the past 24 hours. The plains in Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama districts received fresh snowfall, while snowfall was also recorded in Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam tourist resorts. Gurez in Bandipora district, some localities in Kupwara, and several areas in the higher reaches of the Valley also received snowfall. Most other parts of Kashmir saw light to moderate rains.
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The wet weather during last three days led to accumulation of 3 feet snow in Sadhna Top, 3 feet in Razdan top, 2 feet in Z Gali, 2.5 feet in Zojila Top, 2.5 feet in Sinthan top, 2 feet in Peer Ki Gali, 2 feet in Sonamarg, one foot in Gulmarg, one foot Doodhpatri, 8 inches in Pahalgam, 7 inches in DK Marg, 8 inches in Yousmarg, 3 inches in Shopian plains and 2 inches in Kulgam plains.
The higher reaches of Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar also received fresh snowfall in past 24 hours. Marwah, Warwan, Padder, Dachhan and several forward areas of Kishtwar have witnessed heavy snowfall. As per the reports, an avalanche hit a remote hamlet of Alya in village Gandhari in Paddar area of Kishtwar district last night, causing damage to doors and windows of some houses while no casualty was reported.
Deputy Commissioner Kistwar, RK Shavan, said, “It is an avalanche prone area and usually people do not live here in this season but yesterday around 25 people of some 4-5 families had gone there to perform some religious rituals and in the meanwhile an avalanche hit the hamlet. However, there is no loss of life and all the people are safe and presently, they have taken shelter in one of the houses which has not suffered any damage.”
Giving details of the rainfall across the UT from 8:30 AM to 5:30 this evening, the weatherman said Banihal received the highest at 20 mm, followed by the tourist resort of Pahalgam 19.2 mm, Gulmarg 14.4 mm, Batote 12 mm, Srinagar and Qazigund 11 mm, Kokernag 9.2 mm,Kupwara 8 mm, Bhaderwah 4.3 mm, Katra 3 mm and Jammu 0.8 mm.
In view of incessant rains and snowfall, district administration in Kupwara closed all the schools in Machil, Keran, Budnambal, Kumkadi, Jumagund and upper areas of Karnah till Monday. These areas had experienced heavy snowfall in the last 3-4 days. Due to bad weather, all government and private schools in Ramban district also observe holiday today on the orders of DC Ramban Basirul Haq Chaudhary.
—Excelsior/Sajad Dar
The ongoing wet spell from the last three days in Kashmir has led to water logging in several areas, with intermittent rainfall affecting normal life. At least half a dozen cars were damaged when a portion of the boundary wall at Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial Hospital in old Srinagar collapsed today due to incessant rains lashing the region. However, no injuries were reported when the section of the wall collapsed.
Despite rain, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH) remained throughout the day except for a brief period in the morning due to mudslides at Dalwass, Mehad Cafeteria stretch. However, there was slow movement observed on NH-44 due to breakdown of 3 HMVs, single lane traffic at Dalwas and Mehad, between Marog and Kishtwari Pather and due to four lane construction work.
According to a Traffic Police spokesman, subject to fair weather and better road conditions, only LMVs (passenger/private cars) shall be allowed from both sides on NH-44 viz from Jammu towards Srinagar and vice-versa on Sunday. However, he said that HMVs (Load carriers) shall be allowed from Jakheni (Udhampur) towards Srinagar after assessing the road condition.
The snowfall led to a drop in the temperatures across the region by several notches. Srinagar recorded a day temperature of 5.6 degree Celsius which is 9.5 degree below normal. Qazigund recorded a maximum of 2.4 degree Celsius, Pahalgam recorded 2.3 degree Celsius, Kupwara a maximum of 3.4 degree Celsius, Kokernag 3.4 degree Celsius and the ski resort of Gulmarg recorded 1 degree Celsius. Jammu recorded a maximum of 24 degree Celsius, Banihal 7 degree Celsius, Batote 8.4 degree Celsius, Bhadarwah 9.6 degree Celsius and Katra registered a maximum of 22.5 degree Celsius. The night temperatures across the region also remained several notches below normal.
The Meteorological department has forecast intermittent brief spells of light rain or snow at several places of J&K towards Sunday morning. The weather is likely to improve in the afternoon, it said.
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