Avalanche warning issued for hills
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 11: The hills of Kashmir experienced heavy snow while there was light snowfall in parts of the Valley this morning leading to delay in morning flights at Srinagar airport while administration issued fresh avalanche warning.
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There was fresh snowfall in Kashmir this morning including Srinagar and later the weather improved. “Widespread light to moderate snowfall and rain was expected in Kashmir and hilly areas of Jammu with chances of heavy snowfall over higher reaches during next 24 hours,” a Meteorological department said.
The flight operations at Srinagar airport were disrupted this morning due to snowfall and low visibility but the operations resumed later.
“Our peak hour passenger capacity is 950. That is 450 arriving and 500 departing passengers,” Director Airport Srinagar Kuldeep Singh Rishi said, adding, “a slight weather disruption with a few delays results in bunching of several flights and consequent congestion.”
Earlier, he said, visibility at the airport increased from 500M to 1000M, allowing resumption of the air traffic at the airport.
The Disaster Management Authority (DMA) today issued avalanche warning for the hills of Kashmir.
The DMA, issued a ‘Medium Level’ warning above 2000 to 2500 metres over Anantnag, Bandipora, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Kulgam, Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, Rajouri and Reasi districts.
The Authority also expressed apprehension of ‘Low Level’ avalanche occurrence above 2200 metres over Anantnag, Kulgam and Ramban district.
“People living in the specified areas have been advised to take precautions and avoid venturing in the avalanche prone areas,” the advisory read.
Meanwhile, Srinagar recorded a low of 0.5°C against 0.7°C the previous night. Today’s minimum temperature was above normal by 0.3°C for the city.
Qazigund recorded a low of 0.0°C against 1.8°C the previous night and it was 1.0°C above normal for the town.
Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 2.4°C against minus 0.3°C the previous night and it was 2.6°C above normal for the tourist resort.
Kokernag recorded a low of minus 0.6°C against minus 0.6°C the previous night and it was 0.4°C below normal for the place.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 8.3°C against minus 4.0°C the previous night and it was 2.1°C below normal for the skiing resort.
In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at minus 1.0°C against minus 0.5°C the previous night and it was 0.2°C above normal for the town.
Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 10.4°C and minus 6.7°C respectively.
While Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day long harsh winter period that started on December 21 has ended, Kashmir is under the grip of a 20-day-long period called ‘Chillai-Khurd’. It will be followed by a 10-day-long period ‘Chillai-Bacha’ (baby cold) which will end on February 28.
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