Fayaz Bukhari/Gopal Sharma
Srinagar/ Jammu, Mar 10: People in Kashmir valley today woke up to a thick blanket of snow, forcing authorities to close schools while Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE), issued avalanche warning in the hills of all the three regions of the State.
After light snowfall in the plains of Kashmir and heavy snowfall in the hills of Kashmir division and parts of Jammu, SASE issued avalanche warning across the State.
In Reasi and Poonch area, three houses collapsed due to heavy rain last night, whereas, five horses of a nomad were killed due to lightning in Arnas area. The hailstorm in hilly areas of Kathua, Billawar, Basohli, Udhampur, Reasi and Rajouri, has caused extensive damage to mustard crop.
A spokesman of the Jammu and Kashmir State Disaster Management Authority on the basis of SASE report issued High Danger avalanche warning for hilly areas of Tangmarg, Khilanmarg and higher reaches of Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora and Kargil districts.
The spokesman said that medium danger warning has been issued for higher reaches of Banihal, Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, Rajouri, Pulwama, Kulgam, Budgam and Ganderbal districts. “People living in these snowbound areas have been requested to take precautions and not to venture on steep slopes. The warning is valid for the next 24 hours”, the spokesman added.
The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Shalindra Kumar, said here that schools upto 8th standard in Kashmir division will remain closed for two days following snowfall and freak weather.
In-charge Director Metrological Department in Srinagar, Farooq Ahmad Khan, said that the freak weather conditions caused by western disturbance will continue till March 12. He said that there will intermittent rains in Kashmir valley, snowfall in hills and hail storm and thundershowers in Jammu during this period. “The weather will show considerable improvement by March 12 evening or March 13 morning”, Khan added.
An official of the weather office in Srinagar said that Ski resort of Gulmarg in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district received one foot of fresh snow and Pahalgam in South Kashmir received 8 inches since last night.
The official said that Srinagar received three inches of snowfall and 46.3 mm of rains since last night. The official said that North Kashmir Baramulla, Sopore, Bandipora and Kupwara received 4-5 inches of snowfall since last night. “Qazigund received 4 inches of snow, Shopian 4 inches and Jawahar Tunnel around six inches of fresh snow”, the official added.
Snowfall in the plains was followed by heavy intermittent rains during the day leading to water logging in most parts of Srinagar city due to faulty drainage. The roads in Jawahar Nagar, Tulshibagh, Rajbagh, Gogjibagh, Batmaloo, Lal Chowk, Residency road, Bemina, Qamarwari, Peer Bagh, Hyderpora and several other localities were waterlogged causing problems for the movement of pedestrians and traffic.
The heavy downpour led to the dip in mercury. “Srinagar witnessed maximum temperature of 4.3 degree Celsius and minimum temperature with zero degrees Celsius, while as in Gulmarg temperature dipped to minus 1.8 degree Celsius,” a MeT official said.
The official said that Jammu received rainfall of 9.3 cm throughout the day and the night temperature was recorded at 12. 7 degree Celsius and day temperature at 25.2 degree Celsius.
The Inspector General of Police, Traffic, Muneer Ahmad Khan told the Excelsior that despite heavy rains and snowfall around 6500 vehicles crossed into Kashmir valley this evening from Jammu.
Khan said that 6 inches of snowfall was recorded on either side of Jawahar Tunnel this morning. He said that Border Roads Organization (BRO) pressed its men and machinery into service to clear the highway of snow. “The intermittent snowfall at Jawahar Tunnel was going on throughout the day”, he added.
The IGP said that mudslides triggered by heavy rains blocked traffic at Nashri, Battery Cheshma and Panthal on the highway but these were cleared by the BRO. He said that Traffic will ply from Srinagar to Jammu tomorrow.
Meanwhile, three houses collapsed while five horses were killed in lightning during thunder storm and rains in Reasi area Poonch area while mustard crop was badly hit with massive hail storm in hilly areas of Kathua, Udhampur, Reasi and Rajouri districts since last night.
Reports said that heavy rain and hail storm hit the normal life of the people since last evening while fresh snowfall has been reported from hilly areas of Doda, Ramban, Rajouri and Poonch. The movement of traffic was also affected for several hours in Nashri and Batore areas this morning but the GREF men cleared the marsh and boulders at a few places.
Due to bad weather, the Chopper service to Mata Vaishnodevi shrine from Katra base camp was also suspended today. However, the movement of pilgrims on the track continued throughout the day and late evening.
Reports from Reasi said that two `kutcha’ houses belonging to Hardev Singh, son of Isher Dass and Sher Singh, son of Jagat Ram, resident of village Thilu in Arnas area collapsed due to rain last night. However, no loss of life has been reported. About six rooms of both the houses are said to have suffered damage in the collapse.
The police party and officials from local civil administration moved to the village today and provided some immediate relief to the affected families. Another house got partially collapsed in Mendhar area of district Poonch today. No loss of human or animal life has been reported.
Another report said that five horses of Ghulam Nabi, son of Haji Mohammed, resident of Kenthi in Arnas area died due to lightning last night. The incident took place at around 1.15 am (mid night). Some animals were also injured in the incident. The police party and local revenue officials moved to the area.
Reports from Basohli, Bani, Billawar, parts of Ramnagar, Dudu Basantarh, Mahore, Budhal, Rajouri said that mustard oil crops has suffered extensive damage due to hailstorm. The farmers have demanded that assessment of damaged crop be done and compensation for the same be sanctioned to them.
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