3 Killed By Mudslide In Pulwama, Banihal Highway Closed; Power Supply Affected
Srinagar: Three members of a nomad family were killed and another critically injured on Saturday due to the fresh spell of snowfall and heavy rain cutting off the Valley from the rest of the world besides causing widespread destruction to horticulture, and plunging many parts of Kashmir into darkness.
The snowfall and rains, which started late on Friday night, triggered a mudslide that hit a tent set up by nomads in Noorpora in the Tral area of Pulwama district, leaving three persons, including two women dead, and one critically injured, officials said.
The nomads belonged to Reasi district in the Jammu division, they added.
The officials said moderate snowfall was recorded in Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam, Shopian and Gurez areas of the Valley.
Minamarg and Drass in Ladakh also received snowfall since Friday night, they added.
The officials said light snowfall was reported from some areas in Pulwama and Kulgam districts, while some areas in the plains, including summer capital Srinagar, received sleet.
They said Pahalgam tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district received about five inches of snowfall from the morning till 2.30 pm, while Sonamarg resort in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district recorded seven inches of snowfall.
The snowfall has caused extensive damage to apple orchards in some areas of the valley, especially in Shopian and Kulgam districts in south Kashmir where most of the horticulture produce was yet to be harvested.
Meanwhile, Srinagar and other plains of the valley received moderate to heavy rainfall since Friday night, the officials said.
The rainfall has caused water-logging in many areas of the city.
A meteorological department official here said that there was moderate rainfall over plains and light to moderate snow was observed over middle and upper reaches during last 12 hours upto 0830 hours today. It was raining and snowing at most places when this report was filed.
Regarding rainfall and snow recorded upto 0830 hours, he said highest rain was observed over Qazigund (58 mm), Kokernag (50mm) and Banihal (48mm).
Srinagar, he said, recorded 31.6mm, Kupwara 9.6mm, Pahalgam 43.2mm, Gulmarg 23.8mm, Jammu 12.8mm, Batote 23.2mm, Katra 33.8mm Bhaderwah 8.1mm and Kathua 0.0mm.
He said moderate snow was also observed over Gulmarg (6.4cm), Pahalgam (5.6cm), Shopian, Zojila, Drass, Zanskar, Gurez (upto 15 inches) and other higher middle reaches.
“Currently it is raining over plains of Kashmir and Jammu and snowing over middle and upper reaches,” the official said, “This system will likely persist during next 8-10 hours and gradual decrease thereafter.”
He said there would be significant improvement in the weather from October 24 afternoon and weather is expected to be dry till November 2.
As per the forecast there will be widespread moderate rain in the plains and snow over higher and middle reaches on Oct 23. On October 24, light to moderate rain is expected at many places.
Due to the weather system, the MeT has already warned that there could be disruption to both air and highway traffic besides drop in day temperature.
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