Many houses damaged in wind-storm
Gopal Sharma/Fayaz Bukhari
JAMMU/ SRINAGAR, Feb 19: The movement of vehicular traffic on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained suspended on Monday after landslides and shooting of stones from hillocks at over half-a-dozen places in Ramban and Banihal sectors while rains and snowfall lashed several parts of Jammu and Kashmir for the second consecutive day today.
The chopper service at Katra Mata Vaishnodevi remained suspended due to bad weather and poor visibility today while pilgrimage was also stopped following landslides and falling of a big tree on the track near Bhawan this morning.
Dozens of houses were damaged in wind-storm in Mandi and Surankote areas of Poonch besides some parts of Kashmir valley while Jammu -Poonch highway remained blocked for over five hours after a big tree fell on the road near Bhimber Gali this morning due to rain and windstorm. The power supply was also snapped in many areas of Poonch due to falling of poles and breaking of cables.
Two interstate highways were also closed as a precautionary measure in view of fresh snowfall in the upper reaches of Bhaderwah in Doda district.
A Traffic Police official said the traffic on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was suspended at around 9:20 am following landslides triggered by heavy rains in Dalwas, Mehad, Cafeteria Morh, Chambalbas, Shailgadi, Gangroo and Marog areas of Ramban district. He said shooting stones from the hillocks were also reported from Panthyal, Jaiswal bridge (T-2 Tunnel), Marog and a few other places during the day. The highway was still closed for vehicular traffic when last reports were received late this evening.
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Hundreds of passengers were left stranded due to the sudden closure of the road. Despite incessant rains, authorities mobilised men and machines to clear the road of the debris to make it operational. The light passenger vehicles were, however, diverted via Maitra and old Chenab bridge at Ramban, they added.
Authorities have advised people to avoid journeys on the highway till the road is cleared and weather improves.
ASP Bhaderwah, Vinod Sharma said the vehicular movement on Bhaderwah-Pathankot and Bhaderwah-Chamba-Himachal interstate highways was also suspended due to heavy snow accumulation at Padri-Galli, Guldanda and Chattergalla Pass in Bhaderwah Additional district.
While intermittent to moderate rains lashed the plains, including the twin capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar, most of the upper reaches across J&K got a fresh snowfall.
Following a heavy snowfall, particularly on the 30 km-stretch from Thanala to Khundi Maral on Bhaderwah-Chamba road, and 25 km-stretch from Thantera to Chattar Galla Pass on Bhadarwah-Pathankot National Highway, Doda district administration suspended all kind of traffic on both roads.
“It is snowing heavily and the hilly roads have become very slippery with apprehension of avalanches,” the ASP said.
He appealed to all the tour operators and hoteliers not to guide any tourists to venture on these roads.
A couple of tourist vehicles got stuck in a snow storm in the Guldanda area and the travellers were rescued after hectic efforts by Border Roads Organisation and Police late Sunday night.
Meanwhile, a pucca house of one Devinder Kumar, son of Tek Chand, resident of Gunti in Tehsil Thathri collapsed due to heavy rain in the area during this morning. However, no loss of life has been reported while household goods of the family were damaged in the incident.
Reports from Poonch said that dozens of houses and government buildings including schools were damaged due to heavy rain and wind-storm in Mandi and Surankote area of district Poonch. Tin roofs of many houses and schools buildings were uprooted with the wind-storm during the day today. The major loss has been reported from Faizlabad, Hari, Marhote, Hari Safeda, Marha, Sadda, Sangla, Dara Sangla, Gonthal and others areas. From Mandi area the reports of damage to at least eight houses have been reported so far, Tehsildar Mandi said. He said the reports from the far flung areas are still awaited.
A tree fell on Jammu-Poonch highway near Bhimber Gali and it suspended movement of vehicles for several hours. With the help of Army the road was later restored.
A Meteorological department official predicted wet weather till February 25, except February 23, with widespread rain in the plains and snowfall in high altitude areas of the region in next 24 hours.
Meanwhile, amidst heavy rains in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir today, gusty winds damaged several houses and trees in the orchards while hills received snowfall.
Srinagar and other parts of the Valley received heavy rains throughout the day while it was followed by gusty winds which led to damage to several houses and orchards.
At least three residential houses were damaged during the winds. The winds blow away the rooftops of two residential houses in the Rainawari area of Srinagar. The houses belong to Firdous and Inayat, sons of Ghulam Mohammad of Gada Mohalla; Manzoor Ahmad Sofi, son of Late Mohammad Qasim of Lati Mohalla, Rainawari.
A house belonging to Mohammad Aslam Phamda, son of Raj Mohammad Phamda of Faqeer Gujree Dara, Harwan was damaged during winds.
The higher reaches of Kashmir continued to receive snowfall for the second day today. Gulmarg received over 2 feet of snow, Kongdoori 3 feet, Affarwat around 4 feet, Baba Reshi one feet, Tangmarg 10 inches, Drang over one feet and Baramulla Kandi over 4 inches.
Dawar in Bandipora district received over 2 feet of snow, Tulail around 3 feet and Razdhan Top around 4 feet.
Sonamarg in Ganderbal district received 4 feet of snowfall while Zojila over 4 feet while Pahalgam in South Kashmir received 4 inches of snowfall.
Authorities in the meantime, issued an avalanche warning in the higher reaches of ten districts of Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours.
The Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Authority (JKDMA) said a “low danger” level avalanche is likely to occur at 2500 metres above sea level in the higher reaches of Anantnag and Kulgam districts of south Kashmir in the next 24 hours.
Avalanche with “medium danger” level is likely to occur above 2200 metres over Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch and Ramban districts in Jammu division and Bandipora and Baramulla districts of Kashmir valley during the next 24 hours, he added.
Similarly, an avalanche with “high danger” level is likely to occur above 2200 metres over Kupwara in north Kashmir and Ganderbal in central Kashmir in the next 24 hours, he cautioned.
People living in these areas have been advised to take precautions and avoid venturing in the avalanche prone areas till further orders.
Upper reaches of the Jammu and Kashmir experiencing a fresh snowfall for the past two days prompting authorities to issue a fresh avalanche warning as a precautionary measure for the people today.
The authorities have also asked the people living in these districts to dial 112 for help in case of any emergency.
Meanwhile, Srinagar recorded a low of 2.0°C against 5.8°C the previous night; Qazigund recorded a minimum of 3.6°C against 3.8°C the previous night; Pahalgam 0.8°C against 2.5°C the previous night; Kupwara minus 0.1°C while, Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 2.8°C against minus 1.4°C on the previous night and the temperature was above normal by 4.0°C for the skiing resort.
Srinagar recorded a maximum of 9. 0 degree Celsius temperature today, Qazigund 8.4 degree, Pahalgam 4.8 deg while Gulmarg a maximum of 0.2 degree Celsius which is 0.6 degree Celsius below normal for the place during this time of the year.
The weatherman has forecast an “extended wet spell” in Jammu and Kashmir till afternoon of February 21.
Director MeT Srinagar Mukhtar Ahmad told Excelsior that weather will remain wet till Feb 21 noon and it will improve after that.
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