Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Mar 15: As the Meteorological Department issued warning of heavy snowfall due to fresh western disturbance early next week, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir today announced closure of schools till March 20 and also reviewed snow preparedness of various Government departments.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Shailendra Kumar, while addressing a press conference announced closure of educational institutions across Kashmir division till March 20. “We have taken a decision in a high level meeting today to close schools and colleges in Kashmir division till March 20”, he said.
This is for the third time that authorities closed down schools and colleges in Kashmir division since they re-opened on March 3 after three months of winter vacations. Authorities closed the schools following heavy snowfall on March 10 for two days and it was then extended up to March 15 and now it has been extended up to March 20.
In the meantime, western disturbance today brought heavy rains in North Kashmir since morning 6 a.m. while Srinagar witnessed intermittent drizzling.
The hills in Kashmir witnessed fresh snowfall with areas falling near Line of Control in North Kashmir witnessing around 1-2 feet fresh snowfall. The rains and chilly weather conditions forced people to stay indoors.
And despite rains and snowfall, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained open for one-way traffic today.
Inspector General of Police Traffic, Muneer Ahmad Khan, told Excelsior that 7000 load carriers and passenger vehicles crossed Jawahar Tunnel towards Jammu from Srinagar today. He said that majority of these vehicles had crossed the slide prone areas of Battery Chesma, Nashri and Penthal when last reports came in. He said that traffic will ply from Jammu to Srinagar tomorrow.
In the meantime, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, reviewed snow preparedness with the Deputy Commissioner’s across Kashmir division and other heads of the departments.
“We are making efforts to prove better this time in minimizing the problems that people may face in wake of adverse weather conditions,” Kumar told reporters. He said that he held a detailed meeting with the officials and Deputy Commissioners across Kashmir to discuss the snow preparedness.
“We have already issued avalanche warnings on basis of the forecast available with us and kept men and machinery ready for any challenge”, the Divisional Commissioner said.
Kumar said 12 people died and 17 were injured in this week’s avalanches and house collapses caused by heavy snowfall. “The initial assessment suggests 159 housing units suffered heavy damage and 2212 were partially damaged. Non residential units were also damaged and in fact 47 were decimated by the 30 hours snow early this week”, he added.
The Divisional Commissioner said that during the review meeting it was decided that every district will get 18 men from SDRF which will be assigned to Electric Department for assisting its employees to repair the damage that department’s infrastructure may suffer due to snowfall.
Kumar said that snow cutters will leave their headquarters at 4 a.m. every day till weather improves. “Srinagar city is facing lack of basic requirements like water pumping stations. Right now, we have 57 static dewatering stations in the city in addition to 40 mobile units,” he said.
“From this year, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) will set aside Rupees 1 crore to purchase new mobile de-watering units so that we are in a position to locate one pump station in every locality having severe water logging issue”, said Divisional Commissioner.
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