Heavy rains, fresh snowfall in J&K; NH blocked

By
Daily Excelsior
-
Fayaz Bukhari/ Gopal Sharma SRINAGAR/ JAMMU, Mar 14: The plains of Kashmir valley and many parts of Jammu region were lashed by incessant rains this afternoon and hills experienced fresh snowfall with the Weatherman forecasting no improvement in weather this week. The incessant rains led to fresh landslides forcing authorities to close Jammu-Srinagar National Highway while cross LoC bus service between Srinagar-Muzaffrabad and Poonch- Rawlakote was suspended due to land-slides. `Karvan-e-Aman’ weekly bus could not operate today between both sides of divided Kashmir and the passengers had to return to their respective relatives. Director Meteorological Department Kashmir, Sonam Lotus, told the Excelsior that there will be no improvement in weather this week. He said that thunderstorms with hail are likely in the afternoon tomorrow in Kashmir and Jammu divisions. Lotus said that the weather will be cloudy this week with fresh western disturbance hitting the State on March 17 that will bring more rains and snowfall in the hills of the State. The plains of the Kashmir valley received rains while the upper reaches received fresh snowfall with North Kashmir’s hills along the Line of Control (LoC) witnessed heavy snowfall this afternoon. Most of the plain areas of Jammu region including Samba and Kathua and the hilly areas like Poonch, Rajouri, Reasi, Udhampur, Ramban and Doda experienced heavy rain and thunder storm this evening. The temperature further dropped down while due to heavy downpour, massive water logging was witnessed in most parts of Jammu city. Even in some localities, the water entered the houses and shops of the people damaging their properties in city’s southern parts. The hail-storm in some plain areas of Jammu caused damage to the crop. While Reasi-Mahore and Gool roads besides Mahore-Budhal- Rajouri roads continued to be closed due to land slides, the fresh land slides also blocked Batote- Kishtwar road this evening. The road which was blocked at Kauda Pani ahead of Batote was cleared by the authorities this afternoon but it again got blocked in the evening due to fresh land slides. A large number of passengers have been stranded at Jammu Bus Stand. Meanwhile, the Sadnatop on Kupwara-Tanghdar road received around 5.5 feet of fresh snowfall for last 4 days while Furqiyan Top connecting Keran with Kupwara received 4 feet of snow and Gurez around 5 feet of snow with Razdan Top 3.5 feet of snow, Gulmarg 14 inches, Khilanmarg and Affarwat in Gulmarg one and a half feet, Peer Ki Gali in Shopian, South Kashmir, around 3 feet, Pahalgam, Chandanwari, Sonamarg also received fresh snowfall. The Kupwara-Tanghdar Road continues to be closed due to heavy snowfall, avalanches and landslides. The snow clearance work on Mughal road in South Kashmir was also affected due to fresh snowfall and landslides. The authorities last week started snow clearance from the road that connects Shopian in Kashmir with Poonch in Jammu division and remains closed during winter due to snowfall. Inspector General of Police, Traffic, Viplov Kumar told Excelsior that the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was closed this evening for traffic as two major slides hit the road at Sher Bibi and Chamal Vas between Ramsu and Banihal at around 8 p.m. Kumar said that around 300 trucks and passenger vehicles are stranded at Ramban and Ramsu. He said that 150 passenger vehicles and 30-40 trucks are stranded at Ramban and 100 passenger vehicles at Ramsu. He said that the efforts are on to clear these two landslides. The IGP further said that heavy rains triggered shooting stones and slides between Ramsu and Banihal especially at Gangroo, Panthal and Sher Bibi this afternoon due to heavy rains. He said that the BRO cleared the highway of shooting stones and slides and traffic was on throughout the day but in the evening the highway was again blocked. Meanwhile, the weekly Karvan-e-Aman bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad was suspended today due to land slides on the Srinagar-Muzzafarabad road at several places between Chakoti and Kohala in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. The major problems for PoK authorities are the slides that have hit the road at Hatya Bala, Chinar Chakoti and Kohala. Another weekly bus service between Poonch and Rawlakote (PoK) could not operate today as fresh land slides between Chakkan-da- Bagh and Rawalakote blocked the road in Pak occupied Kashmir. “Eight PoK residents reported back to the District authorities at Poonch today but they were told to return to their respective relatives as the bus will now operate on next Monday. There was no visitor to Pok from this side today. They all were PoK returnees,” Tanveer Ahmed Custodian Poonch said. In the meantime, over 22 livestock died after mud house collapsed due to rains in Limber area of Bonyar in Uri area of Baramulla district last night. The livestock belonged to Sikander Khan, Ashraf Khan and Abdul Rashid Khan were buried alive after a mud house (Kotha) collapsed due to torrential rains in last night. A Defence spokesman said here that Army came to the rescue of the people at higher reaches of Shamshabari ranges in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district over the last few days. “Heavy Snowfall along the Shamshabari and the Nasta Chhun Pass since March 10, 2016 has resulted in accumulation of approx 4-5 feet of snow on the Tanghdar - Chowkibal road. Numerous avalanches have been triggered due to heavy snow fall causing the road inaccessible even on foot”, the spokesman said.  The spokesman said, “On Mar 13, 2016, in late hours, the Army detachment at Nasta Chhun Pass rescued Arshad Mir, Police Constable who was badly caught in 4-5 feet deep snow near Khooni Nala about 4 Kms from Nasta Chhun Pass. Yesterday five locals of Tanghdar area decided to move on foot from Chowkibal towards Tanghdar as no local vehicle was plying due to the accumulation of snow along the route. Only four of them could manage to reach Nasta Chhun Pass. On reaching they informed the Army detachment, that the fifth person Arshad Mir could not make it as he was physically exhausted near Khooni Nala.” “The avalanche rescue team at Nasta Chhun Pass immediately sprung to action despite heavy snowfall, snow blizzard, and zero visibility. The team on reaching the incident site found Arshad Mir in critical state who had lost all hopes of survival. The team provided first aid and rescued Arshid Mir by carrying him on their back turn by turn and brought him safely at Nasta Chhun Pass. The medical aid was immediately rendered and he regained consciousness after couple of hours of treatment”, the spokesman said.
Fayaz Bukhari/ Gopal Sharma SRINAGAR/ JAMMU, Mar 14: The plains of Kashmir valley and many parts of Jammu region were lashed by incessant rains this afternoon and hills experienced fresh snowfall with the Weatherman forecasting no improvement in weather this week. The incessant rains led to fresh landslides forcing authorities to close Jammu-Srinagar National Highway while cross LoC bus service between Srinagar-Muzaffrabad and Poonch- Rawlakote was suspended due to land-slides. `Karvan-e-Aman’ weekly bus could not operate today between both sides of divided Kashmir and the passengers had to return to their respective relatives. Director Meteorological Department Kashmir, Sonam Lotus, told the Excelsior that there will be no improvement in weather this week. He said that thunderstorms with hail are likely in the afternoon tomorrow in Kashmir and Jammu divisions. Lotus said that the weather will be cloudy this week with fresh western disturbance hitting the State on March 17 that will bring more rains and snowfall in the hills of the State. The plains of the Kashmir valley received rains while the upper reaches received fresh snowfall with North Kashmir’s hills along the Line of Control (LoC) witnessed heavy snowfall this afternoon. Most of the plain areas of Jammu region including Samba and Kathua and the hilly areas like Poonch, Rajouri, Reasi, Udhampur, Ramban and Doda experienced heavy rain and thunder storm this evening. The temperature further dropped down while due to heavy downpour, massive water logging was witnessed in most parts of Jammu city. Even in some localities, the water entered the houses and shops of the people damaging their properties in city’s southern parts. The hail-storm in some plain areas of Jammu caused damage to the crop. While Reasi-Mahore and Gool roads besides Mahore-Budhal- Rajouri roads continued to be closed due to land slides, the fresh land slides also blocked Batote- Kishtwar road this evening. The road which was blocked at Kauda Pani ahead of Batote was cleared by the authorities this afternoon but it again got blocked in the evening due to fresh land slides. A large number of passengers have been stranded at Jammu Bus Stand. Meanwhile, the Sadnatop on Kupwara-Tanghdar road received around 5.5 feet of fresh snowfall for last 4 days while Furqiyan Top connecting Keran with Kupwara received 4 feet of snow and Gurez around 5 feet of snow with Razdan Top 3.5 feet of snow, Gulmarg 14 inches, Khilanmarg and Affarwat in Gulmarg one and a half feet, Peer Ki Gali in Shopian, South Kashmir, around 3 feet, Pahalgam, Chandanwari, Sonamarg also received fresh snowfall. The Kupwara-Tanghdar Road continues to be closed due to heavy snowfall, avalanches and landslides. The snow clearance work on Mughal road in South Kashmir was also affected due to fresh snowfall and landslides. The authorities last week started snow clearance from the road that connects Shopian in Kashmir with Poonch in Jammu division and remains closed during winter due to snowfall. Inspector General of Police, Traffic, Viplov Kumar told Excelsior that the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was closed this evening for traffic as two major slides hit the road at Sher Bibi and Chamal Vas between Ramsu and Banihal at around 8 p.m. Kumar said that around 300 trucks and passenger vehicles are stranded at Ramban and Ramsu. He said that 150 passenger vehicles and 30-40 trucks are stranded at Ramban and 100 passenger vehicles at Ramsu. He said that the efforts are on to clear these two landslides. The IGP further said that heavy rains triggered shooting stones and slides between Ramsu and Banihal especially at Gangroo, Panthal and Sher Bibi this afternoon due to heavy rains. He said that the BRO cleared the highway of shooting stones and slides and traffic was on throughout the day but in the evening the highway was again blocked. Meanwhile, the weekly Karvan-e-Aman bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad was suspended today due to land slides on the Srinagar-Muzzafarabad road at several places between Chakoti and Kohala in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. The major problems for PoK authorities are the slides that have hit the road at Hatya Bala, Chinar Chakoti and Kohala. Another weekly bus service between Poonch and Rawlakote (PoK) could not operate today as fresh land slides between Chakkan-da- Bagh and Rawalakote blocked the road in Pak occupied Kashmir. “Eight PoK residents reported back to the District authorities at Poonch today but they were told to return to their respective relatives as the bus will now operate on next Monday. There was no visitor to Pok from this side today. They all were PoK returnees,” Tanveer Ahmed Custodian Poonch said. In the meantime, over 22 livestock died after mud house collapsed due to rains in Limber area of Bonyar in Uri area of Baramulla district last night. The livestock belonged to Sikander Khan, Ashraf Khan and Abdul Rashid Khan were buried alive after a mud house (Kotha) collapsed due to torrential rains in last night. A Defence spokesman said here that Army came to the rescue of the people at higher reaches of Shamshabari ranges in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district over the last few days. “Heavy Snowfall along the Shamshabari and the Nasta Chhun Pass since March 10, 2016 has resulted in accumulation of approx 4-5 feet of snow on the Tanghdar - Chowkibal road. Numerous avalanches have been triggered due to heavy snow fall causing the road inaccessible even on foot”, the spokesman said.  The spokesman said, “On Mar 13, 2016, in late hours, the Army detachment at Nasta Chhun Pass rescued Arshad Mir, Police Constable who was badly caught in 4-5 feet deep snow near Khooni Nala about 4 Kms from Nasta Chhun Pass. Yesterday five locals of Tanghdar area decided to move on foot from Chowkibal towards Tanghdar as no local vehicle was plying due to the accumulation of snow along the route. Only four of them could manage to reach Nasta Chhun Pass. On reaching they informed the Army detachment, that the fifth person Arshad Mir could not make it as he was physically exhausted near Khooni Nala.” “The avalanche rescue team at Nasta Chhun Pass immediately sprung to action despite heavy snowfall, snow blizzard, and zero visibility. The team on reaching the incident site found Arshad Mir in critical state who had lost all hopes of survival. The team provided first aid and rescued Arshid Mir by carrying him on their back turn by turn and brought him safely at Nasta Chhun Pass. The medical aid was immediately rendered and he regained consciousness after couple of hours of treatment”, the spokesman said.

Fayaz Bukhari/
Gopal Sharma

SRINAGAR/ JAMMU, Mar 14: The plains of Kashmir valley and many parts of Jammu region were lashed by incessant rains this afternoon and hills experienced fresh snowfall with the Weatherman forecasting no improvement in weather this week.
The incessant rains led to fresh landslides forcing authorities to close Jammu-Srinagar National Highway while cross LoC bus service between Srinagar-Muzaffrabad and Poonch- Rawlakote was suspended due to land-slides. `Karvan-e-Aman’ weekly bus could not operate today between both sides of divided Kashmir and the passengers had to return to their respective relatives.
Director Meteorological Department Kashmir, Sonam Lotus, told the Excelsior that there will be no improvement in weather this week. He said that thunderstorms with hail are likely in the afternoon tomorrow in Kashmir and Jammu divisions.
Lotus said that the weather will be cloudy this week with fresh western disturbance hitting the State on March 17 that will bring more rains and snowfall in the hills of the State.
The plains of the Kashmir valley received rains while the upper reaches received fresh snowfall with North Kashmir’s hills along the Line of Control (LoC) witnessed heavy snowfall this afternoon.
Most of the plain areas of Jammu region including Samba and Kathua and the hilly areas like Poonch, Rajouri, Reasi, Udhampur, Ramban and Doda experienced heavy rain and thunder storm this evening. The temperature further dropped down while due to heavy downpour, massive water logging was witnessed in most parts of Jammu city. Even in some localities, the water entered the houses and shops of the people damaging their properties in city’s southern parts. The hail-storm in some plain areas of Jammu caused damage to the crop.
While Reasi-Mahore and Gool roads besides Mahore-Budhal- Rajouri roads continued to be closed due to land slides, the fresh land slides also blocked Batote- Kishtwar road this evening. The road which was blocked at Kauda Pani ahead of Batote was cleared by the authorities this afternoon but it again got blocked in the evening due to fresh land slides. A large number of passengers have been stranded at Jammu Bus Stand.
Meanwhile, the Sadnatop on Kupwara-Tanghdar road received around 5.5 feet of fresh snowfall for last 4 days while Furqiyan Top connecting Keran with Kupwara received 4 feet of snow and Gurez around 5 feet of snow with Razdan Top 3.5 feet of snow, Gulmarg 14 inches, Khilanmarg and Affarwat in Gulmarg one and a half feet, Peer Ki Gali in Shopian, South Kashmir, around 3 feet, Pahalgam, Chandanwari, Sonamarg also received fresh snowfall.
The Kupwara-Tanghdar Road continues to be closed due to heavy snowfall, avalanches and landslides. The snow clearance work on Mughal road in South Kashmir was also affected due to fresh snowfall and landslides. The authorities last week started snow clearance from the road that connects Shopian in Kashmir with Poonch in Jammu division and remains closed during winter due to snowfall.
Inspector General of Police, Traffic, Viplov Kumar told Excelsior that the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was closed this evening for traffic as two major slides hit the road at Sher Bibi and Chamal Vas between Ramsu and Banihal at around 8 p.m.
Kumar said that around 300 trucks and passenger vehicles are stranded at Ramban and Ramsu. He said that 150 passenger vehicles and 30-40 trucks are stranded at Ramban and 100 passenger vehicles at Ramsu. He said that the efforts are on to clear these two landslides.
The IGP further  said that heavy rains triggered shooting stones and slides between Ramsu and Banihal especially at Gangroo, Panthal and Sher Bibi this afternoon due to heavy rains. He said that the BRO cleared the highway of shooting stones and slides and traffic was on throughout the day but in the evening the highway was again blocked.
Meanwhile, the weekly Karvan-e-Aman bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad was suspended today due to land slides on the Srinagar-Muzzafarabad road at several places between Chakoti and Kohala in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. The major problems for PoK authorities are the slides that have hit the road at Hatya Bala, Chinar Chakoti and Kohala.
Another weekly bus service between Poonch and Rawlakote (PoK) could not operate today as fresh land slides between Chakkan-da- Bagh and Rawalakote blocked the road in Pak occupied Kashmir.
“Eight PoK residents reported back to the District authorities at Poonch today but they were told to return to their respective relatives as the bus will now operate on next Monday.    There was no visitor to Pok from this side today. They all were PoK returnees,” Tanveer Ahmed Custodian Poonch said.
In the meantime, over 22 livestock died after mud house collapsed due to rains in Limber area of Bonyar in Uri area of Baramulla district last night.
The livestock belonged to Sikander Khan, Ashraf Khan and Abdul Rashid Khan were buried alive after a mud house (Kotha) collapsed due to torrential rains in last night.
A Defence spokesman said here that Army came to the rescue of the people at higher reaches of Shamshabari ranges in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district over the last few days.
“Heavy Snowfall along the Shamshabari and the Nasta Chhun Pass since March 10, 2016 has resulted in accumulation of approx 4-5 feet of snow on the Tanghdar – Chowkibal road. Numerous avalanches have been triggered due to heavy snow fall causing the road inaccessible even on foot”, the spokesman said.
The spokesman said, “On Mar 13, 2016, in late hours, the Army detachment at Nasta Chhun Pass rescued Arshad Mir, Police Constable who was badly caught in 4-5 feet deep snow near Khooni Nala about 4 Kms from Nasta Chhun Pass. Yesterday five locals of Tanghdar area decided to move on foot from Chowkibal towards Tanghdar as no local vehicle was plying due to the accumulation of snow along the route. Only four of them could manage to reach Nasta Chhun Pass. On reaching they informed the Army detachment, that the fifth person Arshad Mir could not make it as he was physically exhausted near Khooni Nala.”
“The avalanche rescue team at Nasta Chhun Pass immediately sprung to action despite heavy snowfall, snow blizzard, and zero visibility. The team on reaching the incident site found Arshad Mir in critical state who had lost all hopes of survival. The team provided first aid and rescued Arshid Mir by carrying him on their back turn by turn and brought him safely at Nasta Chhun Pass. The medical aid was immediately rendered and he regained consciousness after couple of hours of treatment”, the spokesman said.

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