SRINAGAR – Snow on Saturday blanketed entire Kashmir, leading to traffic chaos, inundation of roads in most parts of Srinagar and other parts of the Valley even as it led to closure of strategic Srinagar-Jammu highway and cut off many far-flung areas from district headquarters besides affecting the air traffic.
It was for first time in last nine years that Srinagar plains witnessed a snowfall in November, a meteorological department official told Kashmir Observer .
Last time it was on 10 November 2009 that the summer capital of the state received the snowfall, a the added.
It started snowing in Srinagar around 1300 hours and when this report was filed, the entire Srinagar was covered in white.
Due to the snowfall, traffic slowed down in Srinagar city as the roads became slippery. Traffic jams were seen at a number of places as poor visibility impeded the movement of vehicles.
Other plains of the Valley also received the season’s first snowfall while higher reaches amassed more snow, heaviest of the season.
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In frontier Kupwara district, the upper reaches including Sadna top received 2 feet of snow, Z-Gali received 1.5-ft of snow and Ferkiyan Top of Keran received 1.5-ft of snow.
An official said that due to the snowfall, the roads connecting Gurez with Bandipora, Srinagar with Ladakh, Tanghdar, Keran and Machhil with Kupwara were closed.
The famous Gulmarg valley, received more six inches of fresh snowfall, officials told GNS.
The Srinagar-Jammu highway, the vital surface link connecting Valley with the outside world was closed for traffic due to heavy snowfall and rains. Earlier, a landslide at Ramsoo caused brief disruption of traffic on the strategic highway. Many light motor and passenger vehicles, were stranded along the highway including, Qazigund, Banihal, Ramban, Ramsoo, Batote, Patnitop, Nagrota and Udhampur, reports said.
Beacon, the agency responsible for the maintenance of the thoroughfare was making efforts to clear the highway.
Traffic also remained suspended on the 434 km Srinagar-Leh highway for the third consecutive day due to heavy snowfall around Zojila. Mughal road too remained closed for traffic even as police rescued over 120 people, mostly truck drivers stranded around Peer Ki Gali along the highway.
Snowfall and poor visibility also affected the air traffic as incoming and outgoing flights were suspended at the Srinagar International airport.
All flights were cancelled this afternoon today due to poor visibility. No flight landed or took from Srinagar International airport, an official of a private airliner said.
In wake of the snowfall, the district administration Srinagar today set up a helpline.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, Saturday issued instructions to all concerned departments with regard to the preparedness about snow-clearance and dewatering in the district.
The departments were asked to ensure meeting any eventuality arising out of the prevalent weather situation in the district being directed to keep adequate men and machinery on standby. He instructed to ensure timely clearance of snow from all main roads, lanes and by-lanes, especially roads leading to important installations like hospitals and receiving stations.
It was said that Assistant Commissioner Revenue Srinagar Peerzada Zahoor (Mobile No. 7006690719/ 9419123429), Sub Divisional Magistrate (East) Srinagar Riyaz Ahmad Beigh (9419026036) and Sub Divisional Magistrate (West) Hameeda Akhter (9682666597/ 9018668253) will function as nodal officers to monitor the situation within their areas of jurisdiction.
The general public have been asked to contact the following numbers in case of any eventualities: DC Office Srinagar 0194-2483229/0194-2477033/0194-2472580/9419042342/ 7051112345, R&B Department 0194-2311364/9419012257, Fire & Emergency Services 0194-2479488/101/9419251908, Police Control Room 100, Mechanical Engineering Department 0194-2497458/9419747240, PDD 0194-2452001/9419019634, UEED 0194-2500444/9419176458, SMC 0194-2474499/9419065735, CAPD 0194-2455019, PHE 0194-2452047/7889587011, Health 0194-2452498/9906540795 and Drainage 9419004480.
Reports said that apple crop was damaged due to snowfall In south Kashmir parts including Kulgam, Shopian, Anantnag. Achgoza, Bamnoo, Karazipora and Abhama in Pulwama. Dalwan, Fotlipora, Tilsura, Malpora in Budgam. Rafiabad, Sopore, Handwara.
Mercury Plummets: Minus 1.3 In Gulmarg, Below 7 Deg Cel Elsewhere
Day temperature plunged further amid snowfall in Kashmir on Saturday with Gulmarg recording maximum of minus 1.3 degree Celsius while other places in the Valley recorded below seven degrees Celsius.
A meteorological department official said here that the temperature of minus 1.3 at the world famous skiing resort of Gulmarg was below 12.3 degrees normal for this time of the year.
Srinagar, the summer capital of the state which received snowfall after nine years in November recorded maximum of 6.3 Degrees Celsius, a drop of three degree Celsius from what was recorded yesterday and 19.3 degrees Celsius from the normal for this time of the year.
Similarly Qazigund recorded maximum of 4.0 against 8.1 Degree Celsius on Friday, Pahalgam 6.2 Deg Cel, Kokernag 0.6 against 8.0 degree Celsius on previous day while Kupwara recorded maximum of 6.3 degree Celsius.
Regarding forecast for next 24-hours, the weatherman said that there was possibility of light to moderate rain/snow coupled with Thundershowers at most places In Kashmir, many places in Jammu and a few places in Ladakh division.
Regarding outlook for subsequent two days, the weatherman said there would be decrease in precipitation, meaning thereby an improvement in the weather.
Administrations Efficiency Will Be Tested: Chief Secretary
In view of the incessant downpour and heavy snowfall ” in Kashmir, Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam this evening took stock of the situation and called for urgent measures to for restoration of road connectivity and electricity supply in the affected areas.
The Chief Secretary has asked the Divisional Administrations of Kashmir and Jammu divisions and the concerned district administrations to immediately establish Joint Control Rooms at the divisional and the district levels across the Kashmir division and the winter zone of Jammu division to deal with the situation arising due to the snowfall.
Chief Secretary directed the administration to put in added efforts in mitigating the difficulties of the people and meeting their requirements in view of the inclement weather conditions.
Our effort at two key fronts, restoration of power supply and road connectivity, have to be meted with full strength and with a sense of urgency, he said and added that the Administrations efficiency will be tested in ensuring the power supply and clearing of snow from the roads especially in view of the fact that thousands of students are presently appearing for Board examinations.
The Chief Secretary directed continuous and overnight snow clearance of highways; inter-district roads and connecting arteries without any break.
He also called for deployment of enough dewatering pumps to ensure speedy dewatering of the inundated areas. He said the PHE Department should ensure that there is no disruption of drinking water supply.
The Chief Secretary also called for taking measures for effective regulation of traffic to ensure that people are not put to any inconvenience.
He took an appraisal about the status of snow clearance and passenger movement on the National Highway as hundreds of Durbar Move employees are stranded in Kashmir due to disruption of road and air traffic.
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