Bailey bridge to be completed today evening
Fayaz Bukhari/Gopal Sharma
SRINAGAR/ JAMMU, Jan 14: As the intense cold weather conditions have further intensified with the mercury during the night settling several degrees below freezing point across Kashmir valley, the authorities today deployed SDRF men in Dal lake, which has frozen with record low temperature of minus 8.4 deg C in Srinagar.
The authorities deployed SDRF personnel in the Dal lake, which has frozen due to record low minimum temperature in Kashmir, to prevent people from walking on the frozen surface of the water body. “Due to freezing temperatures, many water bodies in the Valley, including the world famous Dal lake have frozen. It has been observed that some people, particularly youth and children attempt to walk on the frozen water bodies,” Aamir Ali, Nodal Officer of the State Emergency Operation Centre, Srinagar said.
Click here to watch video
Aamir said that moving on this thin layer of ice, particularly the Dal lake, is very risky and can result in slips, falls, fractures and fatal injuries.
“When the thickness of ice is less than four inches, it is very unsafe to walk, or play and the ice can break resulting in drowning. There are many springs inside the Dal lake and the ice is very thin at these spots and it’s difficult to spot these locations while walking or playing cricket on the ice surface,” he said.
He said the District Magistrate Srinagar has issued an advisory to dissuade people from walking, playing or moving on the frozen Dal lake, as it is unsafe. He said action will be initiated against anyone trying to violate these instructions.
“Quick Response Teams (QRTs) of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and River Police have been deployed in the Dal lake, as a precautionary measure,” he added.
Meanwhile, Srinagar recorded a low of minus 8.4 degrees Celsius today, which is the lowest since 1991 when the mercury plunged to minus 11.4 degrees Celsius.
A MeT department spokesperson said that the weather will remain dry during the next four days in Kashmir valley. “Due to open skies, the minimum temperature is expected to dip further though day temperature is likely to improve due to sunshine,” he added.
Even though there was slight improvement in the night temperature, Pahalgam, was the coldest place at minus 11.1 degree, which is 4 degree below normal.
The world famous ski resort of Gulmarg was the only place in the Valley where the minimum temperature settled above normal. Against minus 10 degree recorded on Wednesday, the night temperature at the ski resort settled at minus 7 degree, which is about a degree above normal.
The night temperature at Qazigund, gateway to the Valley, Kupwara in North Kashmir and tourist resort of Kokernag dipped and settled at minus 10 degree, minus 6.7 degree and minus 10.3 deg C, respectively.
“Despite chilly weather conditions due to ice cold winds, the tourists are out on ski slopes enjoying different snow related activities. All the ski slopes have been thrown open for tourists,” a hotelier from Gulmarg said on phone.
Very few vehicles were seen on the roads in the morning, moving in a very low speed due to slippery conditions in the city, where minimum temperature was 6 degree below normal. However, things changed after the Sun appeared, much to the delight of people though icy cold winds continued. Majority shops and business establishments, including at historic Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the city, reopened only after 10 am.
Meanwhile, Jammu continued to witness decline in night temperature for the last couple of days with today’s minimum temperature recorded as 5.9 deg Celsius. The day temperature however, remained 16.3 deg C today. However, there is little improvement in weather as thick clouds of fog have disappeared in many areas of Jammu.
Tourist resort of Bhaderwah recorded a minimum temperature of 0.3 deg C, Banihal 6.2 deg C, Batote 6.1 deg C while holy township of Katra had 4.8 deg C night temperature. The Met official predicted dry weather till January 18 in Kashmir and Jammu regions.
Project Director NHAI, Ramban sector PK Phonsa, who was on the spot tonight told the Excelsior that the construction of Bailey bridge at Kela Morh in Ramban on Jammu-Srinagar highway is going on round the clock and Border Roads Organization (BRO) has completed more than 55 % work today. He said that bridge will be completed by tomorrow evening and the traffic will also be restored.
Chief Engineer project Beacon of BRO, Brigadier K Jaggi, who is also closely monitoring the construction of the bridge at the site said that on Wednesday entire pre-fabricated material was dumped at the site near Ramban and today morning launching work was commenced. He said by evening over 40 percent work had been executed.
“We have put all the resources available for completing the bridge. Work is going on war footing as all men and machinery have been put to use. We are sure that by Friday evening the Bailey Bridge will be completed and ready for traffic,” the Chief Engineer said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner, Ramban, Nazim Zia Khan today also visted the bridge site and supervised the construction work initiated by BRO and restoration work by NHAI. He was accompanied by ADC Harbans Lal and other officers of NHAI.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
