Major parts of Kashmir in darkness for 3 days
* Two more killed, toll 11
Nishikant Khajuria/ Fayaz Bukhari
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Nov 9: Fresh landslides near Ramban once again blocked the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway a few hours after it was re-opened for vehicular movement even as the air traffic was restored in Kashmir after two days while death toll in snowfall related incidents in the Valley since Thursday has gone upto 11.
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The NH-44, connecting the Valley with rest of the country, was closed again for traffic this afternoon after massive landslides at Mehar, around two kms from Ramban town. The highway, which was closed Thursday morning after heavy snowfall around Jawahar Tunnel area, was thrown open for traffic late last night after snow clearance was done.
According to IG Traffic, Alok Kumar, around 1200 trucks and Light Motor Vehicles are still stranded on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway because of the blockage after massive landslide around 2 pm today. Even as the efforts are going on to clear the debris and machines have been pressed into service, the landslide is massive and it may take a day to re-open the road for traffic, he added.
Before the fresh landslide, the IGP Traffic informed, more than 1500 stranded vehicles, including around one thousand trucks were cleared after highway was re-opened for downward traffic following snow clearance. As the downward traffic was being allowed from Qazigund, he added, the sudden blockage once again resulted into stranding of vehicles, which would be cleared on priority basis subject to the road condition.
Mughal road, the alternative surface link to Kashmir valley, was also lying closed for the last four consecutive days. The road is unlikely to be cleared soon because of massive accumulation of snow at Peer Ki Gali and Shopian stretch even as no stranded vehicles are there.
Meanwhile, after remaining shut for air traffic for two days, over a dozen flights landed at Srinagar airport today bringing respite to those who were stranded. Despite snow clearance from runway and tarmac at the airport yesterday morning no flights operated yesterday.
The roads connected to Gurez with Bandipora, Srinagar with Ladakh, Tanghdar, Keran and Machhil with Kupwara and Mughal road also continue to be closed for last four days.
Two people died due to cold in North Kashmir today taking the death toll due to snowfall in last three days to 11. One Nazir Ahmad son of Faqir Mohammad, a mentally challenged died due to cold in Chandanwari area of Uri today. An unidentified man died in Shakagund area of Sopore today due to cold.
Three people died in snow related incidents in Kashmir yesterday. Parveena wife Shabir Ahmad Dar gunde Chahal of Kulgam district died when cow shed where she had gone collapsed. One Ghulam Qadir Bhat of Parigam in district Pulwama fell from the roof of the house yesterday when he was clearing snow. He died on the spot. One Abdul Rashid of Kargam in district Budgam was killed when a tree fell on him.
Thirty -nine families, including two residing in a houseboat, were rescued on Saturday in two separate operations in Kashmir following heavy snowfall.
District administration of Srinagar along with police rescued 37 nomadic families left stranded in Panthachowk area of the city. These nomadic families along with livestock were on their way to Poonch district when they were caught in the heavy snowfall, said a Government spokesperson.In another operation, the spokesman added, at least 12 members of two families residing in a houseboat in Jhelum river were rescued. The houseboat owned by the families sank this evening in Kothibagh area of the city leaving the families in distress.
The rescued families were provided accommodation in a local hotel and provided financial assistance, blankets and rations.
Meanwhile, the power supply remains to be restored in many parts of Srinagar and entire North Kashmir, making residents to face hardships amid chill.
The power to the posh areas of Tulsibagh, Gogjbagh, Jawahar Nagar, Rajbagh and many others are without power supply for last three days.
The Power Development Department is yet to clear scores of distribution lines in the city, leading to further delay in the restoration of power supply. Even in Lal Chowk there are several spots where tree branches that have fallen due to the snowfall that are yet to be cleared, particularly Exchange Road.
The situation in old city Srinagar is worse as of now, where the trees continue to remain hanging on the wires and the residents continue to reel under darkness since Thursday as the inner distribution lines are yet to be cleared. The residents are alleging that they are unable to find the field staff of the PDD on ground and have not been able to reach them so far to make the necessary clearances.
“The ground staff seems invisible in the area as there are many places where the power lines continue to remain grounded and nobody seems to be making any efforts to make clearances,” said Zahid Ahmad a resident of Rainawari.
In Zoojilanker area of Rainawari, a high tension transmission line continues to remain grounded from Thursday, and since then, the authorities have preferred to look the other way by not initiating the repair works. The areas such as Zoojilankar, Kralyar, Chana Mohalla, Naidyar, Iddgah, Noorbagh continue to reel under darkness, while as inner transmission lines in the areas are yet to be cleared.
In areas where the power was restored, it is playing hide and seek. The power in commercial hub of Srinagar, Lal Chowk, was restored this afternoon but it was playing hide and seek.
Medical Superintendent, Lal Ded Hospital Dr Shabir Siddiqui told Excelsior that the power supply was restored on Saturday after continuous efforts of the hospital administration. The Medical Superintendent the Chest Diseases Hospital said that Dr Saleem Tak that the power supply was restored today for just one hour. “We continue to face power shutdowns; we are relying on the generator as of now,” Dr Tak said.
At GB Pant Hospital in Sonwar the electricity supply was restored by 11 PM on Friday. The hospital is also facing frequent power cuts, despite the claims of the PDD that the feeder supplying electricity to the hospital was up and running.
Chief Engineer PDD, Qazi Hashmat, told Excelsior the power was restored in South Kashmir including Shopian and Pulwama. He said that in Srinagar power to the majority areas was rested. He, however, said that they have a supply of 300 MWs for Srinagar currently which is insufficient. “It is why it is being supplied in a phased manner in the areas where it was restored”, he said.
The CE said that it will take 5 days to restore power in North Kashmir as there is damage to the transmission towers and lines. He said that power to hospitals in Baramulla and Water Works Department has been restored and the department is trying to restore it to essentials services in Kupwara and Sopore as well.
In the meantime, the State Institute of Education (SIE) today postponed examination of 5th class to 9th that was being held on 11th and 13th October. It will be now held on 26th and 28th October. Kashmir University also postponed examinations that were scheduled for 11th of October.
The 10th and 12th class examinations being held by Jammu and Kashmir State Board of School Education will however be conducted as per scheduled date sheet.
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