Kashmir experiences seasons first major snowfall

The Kashmir Valley experienced season’s first major snowfall with the white blanket of snow covering all higher reaches and plains, throwing normal life out of gear.
Unconfirmed reports said a man from Bandipora in North Kashmir was killed in the avalanche this morning. Valley continued to remain cut off from outside world by road while the air traffic was resumed in the late afternoon.
The snowfall started late last evening and it continued, intermittently, at many places throughout the day.
According to the figures provide by the meteorological department here, the summer capital witnessed four to five inch snow by 8:30 this morning while a precipitation of 4.0 mm was recorded during the day.
However, the highest snowfall was recorded at Jawahar Tunnel in south Kashmir where the snow was 4.5 feet deep. Among other places in the south, Qazigund and Pahalgam recorded 2.25 feet and two feet snow respectively.
In north, the picturesque Gulmarg recorded five inch snow in past 24 hours while nine  cm snow was recorded at Kupwara.
The unprecedented snowfall was witnessed at Ramban where around four to five feet snow has been recorded in the higher reaches while two feet snow was recorded in the lower areas.
The avalanche at Kudara Sumblar at Bandipora in North Kashmir killed a man this morning. The search operation in the area has been on since morning while the authorities have not confirmed the death yet.
“We have reports that the avalanche has killed one man, but we are yet to confirm it. We will have to wait for the search operation to complete,” head disaster management, Amir Ali, told Kashmir Times.
It is the first major snowfall Kashmir witnessed this winter.
The snow has broken the chill, bringing relief for the common man.
“The snow has at least brought relief from the dry chilly weather that we have been witnessing till date. It definitely is difficult to move out in snow, but the chill is not there,” said Hashim Mir, a businessman at Dalgate.  
The day, however, started with a delay with majority preferring to stay indoors. The government offices, banks, educational institutions saw a low attendance while the traffic movement on the roads was bear minimum till very late in the forenoon. The shops and business establishments also started the day late.
All university examinations scheduled for the day were canceled.
“It was impossible to reach office this morning due to the snow. I left home at 10 in the morning, but it was very difficult to find a bus. So I had to walk all the way to the shop at Batmaloo chowk,” said Meraj-ud-Din a businessman residing at Nowpora.
Due to heavy snow across the Jawahar Tunnel, the Srinagar-Jammu highway has been closed for traffic. Also, the air traffic remained suspended for most part of the day.
“Heavy snowfall has taken place across the Tunnel so the highway has been closed. But the work is on and hopefully the road will be opened shortly,” Amir Ali, who is also the officer on special duty to the divisional commissioner Kashmir, said
“No flight could operate from the Srinagar airport toll 2 PM, but afterwards all flights operated on schedule,” he added.
All inter distrct routes, Amir said, have been cleared “except the Pakharpora-Pulwama road where the work is still on.”
More snow, avalanches likely
According to the met department, more rains and snow are likely to occur at many places within next 24 hours.
The disaster management, however, sounded medium danger avalanche warning for Baramulla, Gurez, Tanghdar, Anatnag, Pulwama, Shopian, Kupwara, Machil and both sides of Jawahar Tunnel.
Light off for 2 days
The snowfall, according to Amir Ali, has damaged the Kishanpora-Wagoora power transmission line, rendering the entire valley without electricity for two days.
“The work on the transmission line is on, but it will take at least two days,” Amir said.
He, however, said the 75 MW power has been restored to hospitals on priority.
“We are running a gas turbine and Uri-Wagoora and Lower Jhelum Projects. They collectively supply 75 MW Power, which is being given to the hospitals,” Amir said.

Srinagar Leh Gurez road reopen

With the improvement in weather after three days, Srinagar-Leh highway and Bandipora-Gurez road was re-opened for traffic after snow fall blocked them early this week.

The Sun came out in Kashmir valley after three days bringing some respite to the people from continuous chill and icy weather conditions. However, in the afternoon chilly conditions returned to the Valley.

Both the day and night temperatures in the summer capital of the State saw some improvement. This gave some relief to the people as the entire Kashmir valley has been reeling under intense cold wave conditions since November 8.

After improvement in weather, the authorities re-opened the Srinagar-Leh highway and Bandipora-Gurez road for vehicular traffic today. Both these routes had to be closed for the traffic on the evening of November 8 due to the snowfall and slippery conditions at some of the places.

The Zojila area on the Srinagar-Leh highway had witnessed heavy snowfall and, as a result, the highway connecting Kashmir with Ladakh division had to be closed. The Bandipora-Gurez road was also closed for vehicular traffic as some of the areas witnessed heavy snowfall and the road became slippery.

An official of the Meteorological department said that the weather conditions were normal in Kashmir valley on Friday. He said that no report of fresh rain or snowfall has come from any place of the Valley today adding that higher reaches of the Valley also witnessed normal weather conditions.

"In Srinagar the day temperature was recorded as 14.2 degrees Celsius while as the minimum temperature was 7.5 degrees Celsius. Jammu recorded a maximum temperature of 30.0 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature 18.0 degrees Celsius," said the MeT official.

He said that weather is expected to remain dry in Kashmir valley over the next 24 hours adding that isolated places may receive light rains or snowfall.

At the same time, the civil authorities have asked the Air Force officials to make necessary arrangements to ferry the civilians stranded at Srinagar and Jammu due to the closure of Srinagar-Leh highway. They have been asked to make arrangements for future as well so that people who get stranded at Srinagar and Jammu due to flight cancellations to Kargil are ferried as the winter season had already set in.

"Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon today directed all the stakeholders to take necessary steps so that passengers of areas like Kargil, Zanskar, Leh and Gurez that remain cut-off due to heavy snowfall; do not face any difficulty, especially in the event of flight cancellations due to bad weather. The Kargil Courier service would operate between Srinagar-Kargil on every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and between Kargil-Jammu on every Tuesday," said Aamir Ali, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) with Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir.

Aamir said that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has already been signed with Ministry of Defence under which AN-32 Kargil Courier service would be operated between Srinagar-Kargil and Kargil-Jammu. He said under the MoU MI-17 Air Force flights between Bandipora-Gurez and Kargil-Zanskar would be operated.

"State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) has been directed to make adequate arrangements for transportation of passengers from Kargil House Bemina to Srinagar airport and back. Director, Airports Authority of India, Srinagar has been directed to make necessary arrangements at Srinagar airport," said Aamir.

He said instructions have been given to Deputy Commissioners concerned to deploy Liaison Officers for operationalization of the air service between Kargil-Zanskar and Bandipora-Gurez. He said tickets would be issued on first come first serve basis and priority shall be given to ladies, old persons, infants and patients.

Aamir has been nominated as the overall nodal officer and he has been authorized to liaise and coordinate with State Civil Aviation Department and IAF authorities, on behalf of Divisional Administration Kashmir, for day to day matters related to AN-32 Kargil Courier service and MI-17 flights.

UNI adds from Shimla:

High reaches of Himachal Pradesh experienced a heavy snowfall snapping terrestrial link with Leh in Jammu and Kashmir and Pangi in Chamba district of the State during past 24 hours.

Official spokesman of Lahaul-Spiti district administration Sher Singh said that since last night Manali-Leh highway was blocked for vehicular traffic as Baralacha Passes had heavy spell of snowfall.

However 13050 ft high, Rohtang pass was still open for traffic recorded about 15 cm snowfall. Lady of Keylong, Seven sister's hill and Petsio in district reported fresh spell of snowfall.

Road link of Pangi subdivision in Chamba district also snapped with rest of nation as Sachpass received recorded about 3 ft thick snowfall, while life is also out of gear in Bharmour, Churaha and Chamba sub-division.

Snowfall also hampered search operation launched by Indian Air Force (IAF) to find wreckage and black box of MIG 29 crashed on Oct 18 in the Chokhang hills of Thirot village in Lahaul Spiti district at altitude of 15000 to 20000ft.

Tisa in Chamba district registered 6 mm rainfall, Keylong and tourist resort Manali 1 mm each, Saloni and Manali -1 each rainfall.

Minimum temperature improved in the State, as Bhuntar in Kullu, Dharamshalla in Kangra, Shimla and Sundernagar in Mandi recorded 13 degree Celsius each, Kalpa in Kinnuar 7.5 degrees, Una 15 degrees, Mandi 14.7 degrees, Nahan in Sirmour 16 degrees, Keylong 5.6 degrees, Palampur in Kangra 15.5 degrees and Solan 10 degrees, respectively.

The MeT Office forecast mainly dry weather in the State during next 24 hours.