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| Valley reels under darkness due to power breakdown | | Heavy snowfall disrupts normal life | |
Mustansir/ Asif Iqbal Naik
Srinagar/Kishtwar, Mar 11: Amid heavy snowfall, normal life in entire Kashmir valley remained out of gear as there was thick blanket of snow all around with major breakdown of power supply and closure of internal as well as national highway. As the heavy snowing has damaged electricity lines in parts of Kashmir, officials said, breaking down power supply, officials find it difficult to restore the power supply as long as the snowfall continues.
Heavy snowfall occurred in whole valley during the night and when on Tuesday morning people woke up they witnessed the surroundings wearing a thick blanket of snow. Officials said that 6 inches of snow was recorded in Srinagar and it was still snowing when this report was filed.
They said that 1.5 feet snow was recorded in Shopian town, 2 feet in Gulmarg, and 8 inches in Pulwama.
The power supply was shut down by the authorities to the valley last night for fear of damage to human life. Large number of trees got uprooted, blocking roads and getting entangled in transmission lines.
As a result, there was no power supply in any part of the valley on Tuesday. Reports from Budgam said that four pylons of the 220 kv Wagora-Budgam-Zainakoot transmission line collapsed. Reports said that thousands of apple trees have suffered damage in the Shopian district.
According to experts the heavy snowfall in the month of March is not in favour of agriculture or horticulture sectors. Snowfall has also affected the flights scheduled on Srinagar airport.
Sources said that till morning no flight came to Srinagar nor any flight could take off. Srinagar Jammu highway has been closed and the traffic personnel are busy in clearing the landslides and snow from Banihal and Patnitop areas.
Official sources said that it was still raining on the highway. Senior traffic police official confirmed that the 300-km Srinagar-Jammu highway had been closed due to heavy landslides on Ramban-Banihal patch besides heavy snowfall from Srinagar to Bahihal, on either side of Jawahar Tunnel.
Traffic was not allowed from either side on the highway on Tuesday even as all the stranded vehicles reached their destinations of Srinagar and Jammu on Monday evening. Even all of the inter-district roads and other links were closed though the snow clearance operations were in progress despite continuous snowfall in all 10 districts.
Waterlogging was also emerging as a major problem as the dewatering operations is badly hit in Srinagar city.
Air traffic also remained suspended due to heavy snowfall . No flight operated from Srinagar today and it was most likely that the airport would remain shut down even tomorrow. All schools in Kashmir--including primary, middle, high and higher secondary--shall remain closed on March 11, 12 (Tuesday, Wednesday) in view of inclement weather, official sources said. Kashmir University has also postponed the entrance examination for PG courses. As per the details available with "Early Times", a residential house belongs to Lakhmi Chand of Indrala Panchayat in Thatri block of Doda District, while the family members residing in the said house escaped unhurt. Due to continuous rains in plane areas of Doda region, many boulders have fallen on Jammu-Kishtwar National Highway thereby causing damage to 02 vehicles and a bathroom in Prem Nagar area, besides causing disruption in movement of traffic at Assar, Korapani, Reginallah etc. The police statement stated that few empty trucks /buses and LMVS are still lying on the National Highway, added that general public of Doda including Sub-Divisions have been requested through loudspeakers by the Concerned SHOs not to venture out for travelling purpose with their vehicles in view of apprehension of heavy landslides.Bhaderwah town, Kishtwar town and its adjoining areas has received half feet to one feet snowfall while Marwah area of Kishtwar District witnessed 2 feet fresh snowfall, Warwan 4 to 5 feet, Padder 2 feet, Machail 4 feet, Chatroo 1.5 feet, Bhunzwah, 1 feet, Gandoh area 1 to 2 feet causing lot of inconvenience to the general public. Electricity supply in many areas has also been snapped by the Power Development Department fearing damage to property and human life. Many internal road links connecting Doda and Kishtwar towns with different areas, also remains closed due to heavy snowfall. Keeping in view of continuous snowfall and rains District Administration at Kishtwar announced three days holiday in all government schools, beside Doda administration also announced two days holiday in all schools of the District. Metrological Department has also sounded alert for snowstorm in many parts of Jammu and Kashmir for next 24 to 36 hours.
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