* NH, Poonch, Doda, Kishtwar roads closed
Gopal Sharma/ Fayaz Bukhari
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Dec 31: Heavy snowfall and rain lashed entire Jammu region since last night throwing normal life out of gear while the winter capital city (Jammu) has recorded the lowest temperature after a span of 30 years, whereas, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, Doda, Kishtwar and Poonch roads have been closed due to massive snowfall.
All the flights between Jammu and Srinagar were cancelled due to bad weather and heavy snowfall in Srinagar while the Helicopter service between Katra Mata Vaishnodevi and Sanjichhat remained suspended throughout the day due to heavy snowfall at Trikuta hills. The Holy shrine has experienced heavy snowfall of the season while most of the hilly roads in the entire region have been closed.
On Jammu-Poonch highway nearly 200 vehicles have been stranded between Manjakote-Bhimber Gali-Jarran Wali Gali and Surankote while Army and police rescued over 180 passengers trapped in BG area of Poonch in 2-3 feet snowfall. From Poonch side the movement of vehicles was stopped from Potha onwards while from Rajouri side, it was not allowed beyond Manjakote by the police authorities. Poonch- Mandi Loran, Mendhar-KG-Poonch, Rajouri-Kotranka-Budhal, Thannamandi- Dera Gali-Bufliaz-Surankote roads have also been closed due to heavy snowfall.
The traffic on Jammu-Srinagar, Batote- Doda-Kishtwar and Bhaderwah road, has also been suspended as Patnitop and many other areas have experienced heavy snowfall. Chenani-Latti-Dudu, Ramnagar -Basantgarh, Reasi-Mahore-Gool, Sungri- Chasana-Budhal, Basohli- Bani, Billawar-Mechhedi, Lohai Malhar roads are also closed. Patnitop-Kud, Batote, and BG in Poonch Mandi and Loran have experienced nearly 2 to 3 feet snow. The Traffic police authorties have stopped the movement of vehicles from Nagrota Bypass and Udhampur towards Srinagar and Doda-Kishtwar.
With the heavy snow the power supply to the many areas of Poonch, Mendhar, Surankote, Thannamandi, Budhal, Mahore, Ramban, Bhaderwah, Dudu-Basantgarh, Bani, Loang area has been affected. Many cables and poles have broken. Due to closer of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and other roads, a large number of passengers have been stranded at Jammu Bus Stand. They are demanding their airlifting to the respective destinations.
Chief Scientist and Head Agro-Meteorology Department of SKUAST-Jammu, Dr B C Sharma told the Excelsior that Jammu recorded lowest ever day temperature in past 30 years which is, around 10.6 degree Celsius below normal temperature. He disclosed that Jammu observatory of the SKUAST recorded 8 degree Celsius maximum temperature today while the normal temperature is 18.6 degree C. The minimum temperature was 3.6 degree C today while the normal is 5.7 degree Celsius. Dr Sharma said till 2.30 pm today, 10.4 mm rainfall was recorded in Jammu and the rain was in right time and essential for sowing wheat crop in the remaining Kandi belt of Jammu region. The farmers should use 25% extra seed per hectare/ kanal for better crops in view of prevailing climate. He disclosed that in next 24 hours, the rain and snowfall at higher reaches would continue.
SP Airport Jammu Ashok Sharma disclosed that all the flights to Srinagar from Jammu airbase were cancelled due to bad weather and heavy snowfall at Srinagar airport. He disclosed that all the flights between Delhi and Jammu operated normally but the copter service at Katra Mata Vaishnodevi also remained suspended. He hoped that tomorrow some flights may operate for Srinagar if weather improves and the air strip is cleared in Kashmir.
Reports from Poonch said that about 60 vehicles had been trapped on Mandi Loran road while nearly 200 between BG-Jarranwali Gali and Surankote area. The Poonch city experienced heavy snowfall between one to 1.5 feet today. The Army rescued a large number of trapped passengers in BG and Jarran Wali Gali and provided them food and shelter. Brigade Commander of the area himself was monitoring the rescue and relief work. The Army also provided blankets to the old people, women and children rescued from the snow at their camp. SDPO Mendhar and Tehsildar also supervised the relief and rescue work.
Trikuta hills of Katra Mata Vaishnodevi have been snow clad as nearly one foot snow has been experienced near Bhawan and Sanjichhat. The rain has also affected he smooth yatra on the track. Over 30,000 pilgrims are expected at the shrine today and many of them have already reached. The Shrine Board authorities expect nearly 91 lakh yatra figure by the end of this year (midnight). The authorities have also issued warnings in view of bad weather and continuous rain.
Meanwhile, Kashmir valley was today cut off from rest of the country after heavy snowfall forced the closure of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and cancellation of all flights from Srinagar International Airport.
Srinagar and other parts of the Valley received season’s heavy snowfall on the eve of New Year disrupting normal life across Kashmir.
Srinagar received around 9 inches of snow since early morning, Jawahar Tunnel on the National Highway around 3.5 feet of snow on Southern portal and 3 feet on Northern portal; Qazigund 2.5 feet, Kokernag, Shopian, Kulgam, Pulwama, Anantnag around 1.5 feet.
North Kashmir’s Baramulla, Bandipora, Sopore, Kupwara, Handwara towns received 3-6 inches of snowfall. The Ski resort of Gulmarg received 3 feet of snow.
The Line of Control (LoC) in North Kashmir received fresh snowfall of 3-4 feet at various places and snow depth has gone upto around 10 feet at most of the places along the LoC.
The Director Meteorological Department at Srinagar, Sonum Lotus said here that more precipitation is expected in the region till tomorrow afternoon. He, however, said that weather will improve by tomorrow afternoon.
The heavy snowfall cut off the main towns of Valley from interiors as the authorities cleared snow from the main roads of Srinagar and other major towns only while interior roads were still covered with snow and people faced difficulties in commuting.
Majority of the people preferred to remain indoors due to heavy snowfall. The traffic in Srinagar and other major towns of Kashmir valley was thin. The roads were slippery due to continuous snowfall and the skeletal traffic was moving at snail’s pace.
The snow closed Kupwara-Karnah and Kupwara-Keran in North Kashmir cutting off these border areas. Around 2-3 feet snow was recorded at Sadna and Furkian Tops.
Snowfall left majority of the areas in Kashmir valley in dark as electricity was playing hide and seek at some places and at majority of the places there was no electricity. However, a Power Development Department official said there was not major power fault but the local transmission and distribution lines developed snags leading to the disruption in power supply. The official said that power has been restored to majority of the area by evening.
The Inspector General of Police Traffic, Muneer Ahmad Khan, told Excelsior that 3 feet snow had accumulated near Jawahar Tunnel at Southern portal and 2.5 feet near Northern Portal.
The IGP said that Border Roads Organization (BRO) pressed its snow clearance machinery into service thrice a day to clear snow from the National Highway at Jawahar Tunnel, Patnitop and Batote area but due to continuous and heavy snowfall Highway remained closed.
Khan said that as there was forecast of snow, last night the traffic police cleared majority of the vehicles and only 16-17 passenger vehicles had remained stranded on the highway in Banihal, however, these passengers crossed towards Srinagar in Train from Banihal to Qazigund early today.
The IGP said that around two dozen passengers are stranded at Ramban and they have been accommodated in a hotel by the district administration.
Khan said that around 50 trucks are stranded between Udhampur and Banihal. He said that tomorrow after improvement in weather, the traffic police will start clearing the stranded vehicles on the Highway once BRO clears snow from it.
The snowfall resulted in cancellation of all flights to and from Srinagar International Airport. The BRO pressed its machinery into service to clear the snow from the runway but bad weather led to the cancellation of the flights.
A large number of passengers had reached the airport to catch the flights out of Srinagar but they had to return back to Srinagar due to cancellation of the flights.
Kashmir University postponed all the examinations that were scheduled to be held between January 1 and 5.
A spokesman of the varsity said due to snowfall and subsequent disruption in traffic all the examinations scheduled from between January 1 and 5 have been postponed. However, the examination scheduled from January 6 shall be conducted as per the dates already notified, the spokesman added.
Police in Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir rescued three youth who were buried under a snow avalanche in Kangan area of the district.
Police said that three youth Riyaz Ahmad Bijad, Parvez Ahmad and Riyaz Ahmad of Sarfaraw , Gund area who had gone to the forest area for collection of firewood were hit by an avalanche early today.
Ganderbal police immediately swung into action and with help of locals rescued two of them. However, the third youth Riyaz Ahmad Bijad son of Nisar Ahmad was completely buried under the snow. After three hours of rescue operation he was rescued in critical condition and was shifted to SKIMS hospital in Srinagar for treatment.
Police said that the rescue operation was conducted under the supervision of Superintendent of Police, Ganderbal Shahid Mehraj. SP Ganderbal has issued advisories to the locals living in Kangan area to avoid venturing in avalanche prone areas.
In the meantime, an official spokesman said here that to take stock of heavy snowfall in Srinagar City, the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Farooq Ahmad Shah conducted extensive visit of various areas of Srinagar city besides Health Institutions which include SMHS and Bones and Joint Hospitals.
Shah inspected the pace of snow clearance on the Srinagar roads, lanes and by lanes and directed the executing agencies to speed up the snow clearance process so that the roads are made traffic worthy and people do not face any difficulty in movement from one area to another.
The Deputy Commissioner visited various markets of the city and took stock of supply position and availability of essential commodities. He directed the concerned officers accompanying him to ensure the availability of all necessities particularly during ensuing snowfall in the district. He visited Safa Kadal, Eidgah, Karan Nagar, Ram Bagh, Barzulla, Sanat Nagar, Hyderpora and other markets of the city and interacted with the people and traders. He directed for ensuring the availability of the essential commodities at all the market places besides strictly adhering to price list.
Shah visited SMHS and Bone and Joint Hospitals and took stock of the healthcare facilities being provided to the patients. While interacting with the Doctors and Para Medics about the facilities being provided to the patients, Shah stressed for extending better healthcare services to the patients. He was informed that adequate stocks of the medicines and other items are available in all the Health Institutions.
The District Development Commissioner, Kupwara, Itrat Hussain Rafique convened a meeting of officers to review the snow clearance and stock and supply position of essential commodities in the district.
The district administration said that five snow clearance machines were pressed into service and claimed all the roads were cleared of snow.
The spokesman said that at Shopian, snow clearance operation has been started in the wee hours and all the major roads have been cleared. Six snow clearance machines have been pressed into service.
The spokesman said that Deputy Commissioner, Shopian also visited Health Institutions and the medical and para-medical staffs were directed to remain available on duty and shall not leave without formal permission.
The spokesman said that electricity supply has been partially affected and is being restored. There is no shortage of the essential commodities and medicines in the district, the spokesman said.
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