Srinagar, Jan 06: A light spell of snowfall was experienced in the morning hours on Wednesday while occasional sunshine was also witnessed today after three-day snow spell across Kashmir where life has come to a standstill since then. However, the weatherman has predicted light snowfall on January 09.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the weatherman informed KNO that as far as the depth of snow is concerned, Kashmir has not received such a heavy snowfall in last 10 years.
Deputy Director Meteorological department, Mukhtar Ahmad said that the weather conditions have improved and there will be no major snowfall across J&K till January 15.
However, he said that a system is visible on January 09 and it is predicted that moderate snowfall will be experienced in higher reaches and plains would receive light snowfall on the particular day in Kashmir.
He further informed that the weather would mainly remain dry till next nine days, adding that the night temperature would start increasing from tonight.
As per MeT spokesman, Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, received 34.7cms of snowfall in the last 24 hours till 08:30 AM while it recorded minus 0.9 degree Celsius temperature in the last night.
As the three-day snow spell ended today afternoon, most of the roads, lanes and bylanes continued to witness accumulation of snow as the administration although claiming high and tall failed to clear the roads especially in Old City areas here.
The people had to face tremendous hardships throughout the day as the accumulated snow was not removed by the concerned authorities. The roads wore deserted look today as the snow accumulation could not permit the commuters to drive on the snow-bound roads.
However, as per the official communiqué, the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and other concerned officers of Kashmir division have been asked to carry out regular market checking in their respective jurisdictions and ensure that no hoarding or profiteering is exercised by any trader, especially under prevailing circumstances.
The DCs have been asked to put all available resources in service to restore all the affected services like roads, transport, power and water supplies besides hospital supplies in their respective districts.
The continuous snowing for the past two days has affected normal life throughout the Kashmir Valley, however, the district administrations had started on war footing snow clearance from inter-district and main roads since yesterday morning, which was still going on today.
To take on the spot assessment of the situation arisen in South Kashmir, which witnessed heavy snowfall measuring from 1 ft to 6 ft since past two days, the Div Com, P K Pole, along with senior officers of divisional administration, today, visited Kulgam and Anantnag districts.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Authority (DMA) today issued High, Medium and Low level avalanche warning for higher reaches of avalanche prone areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
As per a communiqué received in this regard, High Danger level avalanche warning has been issued for higher reaches of Poonch, Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Anantnag, Baramulla, Kupwara Bandipora and Kulgam districts.
Similarly, medium level avalanche warning has been issued for higher reaches of Rajouri, Udhampur, Ganderbal and Reasi districts.
As such, people living in these areas have been advised to take precautions and avoid going to the vulnerable areas and to remove snow from their rooftops to avoid loss of lives—(KNO)