news details |
|
|
| Heavy Snowfall Cuts Off Kashmir from Rest of Country | | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Jan 15: Kashmir Valley was cut off from the rest of the country today as fresh snowfall forced cancellation of all scheduled flights and blocked the vital Srinagar-Jammu national highway, officials said.
The snowfall started across the Valley including Srinagar late last night, also crippling normal life as most of the people preferred to remain indoors although the minimum temperature rose by several degrees providing much needed respite to people from extreme cold.
An official spokesman said moderate to heavy snowfall was recorded in the Valley, prompting the authorities to issue an avalanche warning in the higher reaches close to the Line of Control (LoC).
"On the basis of information received from Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE), a medium danger avalanche warning has been issued for higher reaches of north Kashmir," Coordinator Natural Disaster Management Cell Aamir Ali said.
The official said the areas prone to avalanches include Khilanmarg, Uri, Chowkibal, Tangdar, Keran, Macchil and Gurez.
"People living in these snow bound areas above the height of 7500 feet have been advised not to venture into avalanche prone areas during the next 24 hours," Ali said.
Srinagar recorded about six inches of snow, while the famous ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir was covered by about 18 inches of snow so far, the spokesman said.
Snowfall ranging between eight inches to over one feet was also recorded in other parts of the Valley including Pahalgam, Yousmarg and Sonamarg, he said.
Continued snowfall also hampered efforts of the Border Roads Organisation to clear the 300-km Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, the only road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country.
Due to its closure, over 2200 vehicles are stranded at various places on the route, mostly Udhampur and Nagrota belts.
Snow clearance machines were pressed into service at Srinagar International Airport since 4 am but due to poor visibility and continued snowfall no flight could be operated today, the spokesman said.
Heavy snowfall along Jawahar Tunnel and Banihal and incessant rains on the other side of the Pir Panjal left the road unsafe, he said.
However, the spokesman said electricity remained unaffected throughout the Valley despite the snowfall.
"The electricity department maintained electric supply throughout the valley despite the moderate to heavy snowfall," the spokesman said.
The snowfall has resulted in a sharp increase in minimum temperature across the valley but the respite failed to bring the people out of their homes.
The city roads continued to be slippery with very thin transport seen moving at snail's pace.
The hustle and bustle in the Sunday market was also missing as the vendors did not venture out.
Srinagar city recorded a minimum temperature of minus 3.5 degrees Celsius, which was 4.3 degrees more than yesterdays record-breaking minus 7.8 degrees Celsius.
Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir, recorded an increase of 7.8 degrees Celsius in minimum temperature to settle at minus 5.2 degrees.
A Kashmir University spokesman said all examinations for professional and under-graduate courses scheduled for next two days at University of Kashmir have been postponed.
"Owing to bad weather all the undergraduate and professional examinations, which were scheduled to be held on 16th and 17th of January 2012, have been postponed," Showkat Shafi, public relations officer of the University, said. More
Shafi said fresh dates for these examinations will be notified separately.
He, however, said the examinations for Bachelor of Education (B.Ed), Bachelor of Physical Education (B.P.Ed) and Fazilia courses will be held as per the schedule already notified.
The official spokesman said Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Asgar Hassan Samoon, visited different hospitals in the city and enquired about the availability of medicines and heating arrangements.
Accompanied by Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Baseer Ahmed Khan, Samoon also visited interior parts of the city to assess the situation.
"There is no shortage of essential commodities in the Valley," he said and directed all Deputy Commissioners and CAPD officers for making extra efforts for smooth distribution of these essentials to the consumers.
He also directed Deputy Commissioners to conduct extensive tour of their districts and ensure speedy clearance of snow from the roads.
In view of the closure of Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir ordered rationing of LPG and directed the Oil companies to fill only five Kgs in the domestic cylinders, so that more people can be accommodated, till the highway reopens.
Samoon also issued directions to the Deputy Commissioners and CAPD officers to intensify market checking squads in their districts strictly for curbing the black marketing and artificial hoardings. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
