Power supply hit in many areas, house collapses
*Snow cleared from Bhaderwah-Bani road
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Oct 17: While cold wave continued to grip hilly areas of Jammu and Kashmir with fresh snowfall and rain throughout the night and day today, over 2000 vehicles were stranded on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway due to closure of the road near Ramban. The Mughal Road and Kishtwar-Sinthan Top-Kokernag Roads also remained blocked due to heavy snowfall on second day.
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The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was also blocked though it was restored for brief period during the day near Cafeteria Morh and Mehad in Ramban today. The highway which was restored at around 12 noon today, was again blocked after hardly 45 minutes. Some stranded passenger vehicles and scores of loaded trucks for Valley were cleared, But again land slides and mudslide hit the road at these points, creating blockade. Some LMVs were diverted via Maitra through old Jhulla bridge over river Chenab.
A Traffic Police official said that no fresh movement of vehicles either from Jammu-Udhampur or Kashmir side was allowed today. Only some stranded vehicles in Ramban, Mehar and Chanderkote area were cleared. Road was restored around 5 pm again but again after half an hour it was blocked and it was closed till late tonight. He said over 2000 vehicles in Kashmir, Jammu and Udhampur areas were stranded.
SSP Traffic, NHW, Rohit Baskotra said that landslides triggered by incessant rainfall since yesterday morning at Mehar, Cafeteria Morh and Dhalwas and shooting stones at Trishul Morh caused trouble. The light vehicles were diverted via Maitram, however, the heavy vehicles were stranded at various places along the highway. Over 150 LMVs stranded in Ramban area were also cleared.
Meanwhile, due to heavy snowfall at Chattergala Pass and Guldanda area of the road connectivity between Bani-Bhaderwah was snapped. The BRO team led by Gaurav Tewari, Officer Commanding 118 RCC (GREF) along with 2 IC, TK Bag opened the road axis today.
Amidst all hurdles the team under snowfall and adverse weather conditions is taking adequate measures for maintaining the connectivity between Bani and Bhaderwah for the convenience of general public.
Meanwhile, a Kucha house collapsed at a remote village in Kishtwar district today, however, the family members had miraculous escape in the incident. All the household items of poor villager-Mohemdu, son of Gaffar Rather, resident of Drubeel were buried under the debris.
Due to rain and snowfall in many hilly area of Ramban, Poonch, Doda, Bhaderwah, Bani and Kishtwar area, the power supply to many areas has been affected, Many transformers and transmission towers of the PDD have been affected. The restoration work was in progress, an senior PDD official said.
Reports from Poonch said that the snow was cleared from most of the road axis near Peer Ki Gali today despite bad weather but due to fresh snowfall the road remained blocked on the second day today. Many vehicles hae been trapped and stranded at different places on Mughal Road.
Reports from Srinagar said Intermittent rains continued to lash Kashmir for the second straight day today while the upper reaches received fresh snowfall bringing down the mercury further in the region.
An official said that Sadhna Top received a snowfall of nearly one foot till today while Afarwat hills experienced a snowfall of six inches today.
In Gulmarg, a snowfall of nearly one inch was experienced today while Zojila also recorded a snowfall of 6 inches.
The Meteorological department (MeT), that Srinagar received a precipitation of 20.9 mm till this morning while Qazigund received a rainfall of 47.4 mm.
Pahalgam received a rainfall of 27.4 mm while the highest precipitation of 52.0 mm was recorded at Kokarnag.
The wet spell has led to a further dip in temperature. Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 11.6 degree Celsius while Anantnag recorded 9.2 degree Celsius today.
Gulmarg, recorded a maximum temperature of 2.0 degree Celsius while Pahalgam in South Kashmir recorded 9.1 degree Celsius.
Bandipora to Gurez Road, Sinthan Top- Road and Sadna top-Tangdar Road continue to remain closed due to fresh snowfall.
Director MeT, Sonum Lotus said that the weather conditions would improve from tomorrow.
“The weather is expected to turn pleasant from tomorrow as there is no forecast of any wet spell till October 24,” he said, adding that the temperature would also start increasing gradually from tomorrow.
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