Dalai Lama in Valley

His Holiness Dalai Lama arrived in Srinagar for a week-long visit to Kashmir valley once a niche of twenty four years.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Tourism Minister Ngawang Rigzin Jora received him at Srinagar International Airport this morning. The Chief Minister welcomed the non secular leader and conveyed his sensible desires to him. He conjointly enquired regarding the health of Dalai Lama. Dalai Lama prayed for peace, prosperity and development of the State.

After his arrival, Dalai Lama straightway visited Nehru Guest house where he's staying as a State guest.

Members of the Tibetan Muslim community, members of the Ladakhi community in Srinagar additionally as Tibetans received him on his arrival at the Nehru guest house.

The management committee of the Tibetan public college and heads of the Ladakhi community expressed their greetings to him within the guest house.

Dalia Lama can visit the Tibetan public college in Srinagar's down city space and address the Tibetan Muslim community of Srinagar on July fourteen.

Dalia Lama initial met with the Tibetan Muslim community in 1975 at the recent Tibetan Muslim settlement at Idgah, Srinagar. He met the Tibetan Muslim community once more in 1988 and through militancy he did not return to Kashmir. this can be his initial visit to Kashmir valley since 1988.

Strike affects life in valley

The normal life across Kashmir remained affected in response to a strike call given by hardline senior separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, against the conviction of Kashmiri separatist leader Ghulam Nabi Fai by a US court last month.

Shops, businesses establishment and educational institutions remained closed in Srinagar because of the shutdown.

Banks, post offices, Government offices, however, functioned in Srinagar city but the attendance was thin because of non-availability of public transport.

Private transport and some three-wheelers were plying in the city roads. However, their frequency in the old city area was very thin.

Reports reaching here from other district headquarters of Baramulla, Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam, Ganderbal and Badgam said that shutdown affected normal life in these districts as well.

The shops and business establishments in these towns were also closed and traffic was minimal on the roads.

Meanwhile a police spokesman said here today that the call for strike for today called by a section of separatists evoked feeble response.

Police said that in most parts of Valley, the call had a marginal impact on the daily chorus of life. "It had no impact on the normal life in the districts of Bandipora, Kupwara and Uri town", police said.

Police said that shops and other business establishments functioned partially in rest of the towns while private as well as some public transport was also seen plying on the roads in Srinagar city and some other towns.

Police said situation remained normal and under control. "There were no reports of any untoward incident from any place", police added.

The authorities had made deployments of riot control squads and security forces at vulnerable places in the city and other towns of the Valley to avoid any disturbance.

Fai a resident of Wadwan, Budgam was charged in the US with spying for Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence.

Fai served as the Executive Director of the Kashmiri American Council, which described itself as a non-profit organization run by Kashmiris and funded by Americans.

But US authorities had said some of the Kashmiri American Council's money came from Pakistan's ISI, and that he failed to register as an agent of a foreign Government as required under US law.

Farmers awareness camp organized

Moderate rains in Valley

Following a warm sunny day, moderate showers of rainfall lashed valley this evening. Rainfall was experienced in most parts of the valley accompanied by strong winds. Rainfall continued till filing of this report.

"This is just a brief spell of rain which will not cause any major disruption of life. It will get better soon," said Sonum Lotus, director meteorological department.

Meteorological Department has predicted moderate to light rain and snowfall across the state of Jammu and Kashmir from the evening of March 4 till March 7.

Sonum Lotus said higher reaches of the state will receive moderate snowfall. Plain areas of Jammu and Kashmir region will experience rainfall.

“From evening of March 4, we are expecting precipitation in the form of rain and snow across the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu regions will receive moderate rainfall as well,” said Sonum.

There will be a dip in the day temperatures while night temperatures shall rise by few degrees. Sonum ruled out the possibility of heavy snowfall anywhere in the valley.

He, however, cautioned people planning to travel across Jammu –Srinagar national highway.“People are suggested to consider the weather forecast before traveling in order to avoid inconveniences.”The month of February received persistent precipitation in the form of rain and snow across Kashmir, intercepted by brief sunny days. The total precipitation recorded during the month of February is 79 mm. In 2011, 100.9mm of precipitation was recorded, 88.9 mm in 2010, 108.9 minimum 2009 for the month of February.

The month of January has received more precipitation this year against past two year. This January recorded 60mm of precipitation which is above normal. In 2011, 54 mm of precipitation was recorded while in 2010, January saw 24 mm of precipitation.

This year December recorded below normal precipitation. While 48 mm of rainfall is normal for the month of December, 33mm of precipitation was recorded during this December.

Avalanche hits north Kashmir villages

A massive avalanche has hit three villages in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, damaging 11 houses and two school buildings, police said today.

The fresh avalanche hit Abdulan, Chakwali and Malangam villages of Tulail near Line of Control in Bandipora district last night.

Though no one was hurt in the incident, the avalanche damaged 11 houses and two school buildings in the area, police said.

The hilly regions of the Kashmir Valley have been hit by a spate of avalanches over the last fortnight, including two massive avalanches which swept over army camps in central Kashmir’s Sonamarg and north Kashmir Gurez region, killing 19 soldiers.

The avalanches have also extensively damaged the fence on the Line of Control, which was meant to deter infiltration of militants into the Valley.

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Police revokes order for furnishing customers details

Police today revoked its order which had asked retail vendors in the Valley to keep a record of details of the customers who recharge their mobile phones.

"Instructions issued to vendors to maintain records of such customers have been rescinded following assurance by the mobile service providers to submit the details centrally," a police spokesman said.

Retail vendors had stopped recharging facilities for mobile phones by saying that while it intruded the privacy of the customers, the process would be cumbersome for them to follow.

District police authorities have been asked not to collect any such detail with regard to recharges, he said.

Shop owners had been asked yesterday to record name, residential details and phone numbers of customers who recharged their mobile phone connections from their outlets and submit the information to the department every fortnight.

The order was given in view of increasing complaints of misuse of mobile phones.

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Tarffic chaos in Jammu City
Tarffic chaos in Jammu City

Moderate earthquake rocks Valley

A moderate intensity earthquake rocked Kashmir valley early today, Disaster Management officials said here.

However, no damage to life or property has been reported from any part of the Valley.

"The magnitude of the earthquake was 4.7 on the Richter scale. It occured at 5.02 a.m. on Saturday morning," Aamir Ali, in-charge of the Disaster Management Cell said.

"The epi-centre of the quake was in the Hindukush mountain range of Afghanistan, 36.4 degrees north and 71.4 degrees east", he said.

Fresh Snowfall in Valley Rains in Plains

An elderly man died due to snow avalanche while grazing cattle near Ledge nallah in Bheemdasa area of Gool in Ramban district, today while traffic on Jammu Srinagar National Highway was stopped this evening after accumulation of one feet snow at Jawahar Tunnel.

KTNS correspondent Khawaja Sharjeel from Banihal said that 75-year-old man died due to snow avalanche while grazing cattle near Ledge nallah in Bheemdasa area of Gool in Ramban district, today.

The deceased has been identified as Abdul Sattar, 75, son of Abdul Samad of Bheemdasa, Gool.The family members informed that he went to graze his goats near the Ledge nallah on February 2.The goats returned to home but he went missing. They started searches in the area and today at about 8 AM, the dead of missing man was found buried in snow avalanche in Ledge nallah, Bheemdasa.

The cops Police station Gool also reached the spot and started investigation. A case has been registered in this regard.

Meanwhile, vehicular traffic on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was stopped this evening after accumulation of one feet snow at Jawahar Tunnel.

Traffic officials said that flow of traffic was stopped as a precautionary measure keeping in view slippery road condition and due accumulation of one feet snow at Jawahar Tunnel. The traffic was stopped at 9.05 PM with nearly hundred heavy vehicles stranded at various places along the highway from Patnitop, officials, said, adding that no vehicle will be allowed to move on the road in the morning tomorrow as a precautionary measure.

It was raining in the low-lying areas of Jammu region with snowfall in upper reaches. The temperature declined with change in weather as predicted by the Met department due to entrance of Western Disturbances KTNS correspondent DS Ahmad from Srinagar reported that even as the authorities claimed that the highway remained open for the one way  vehicular traffic today but the drivers discrediting the officials claims alleged that they were not allowed to move. Officials said that the one-way-traffic from Jammu to Srinagar moved on the road smoothly today.

"The road was open for traffic movement as per the announcement and all the vehicles reached their destinations safe. There is no vehicle stranded on the road," said Inspector General of Traffic, H K Lohia.

However, drivers who had left towards Srinagar from Jammu said that they were not allowed to move beyond Udhampur. "I reached Udhampur at around 1:30 PM but the traffic officials deputed there did not allow us to move ahead. They forced us to move back to Jammu saying that the road has been closed for traffic," said a driver, Abdul Rashid.

He said that the traffic officials even beat up many drivers who tried to move ahead. However, a traffic official  said that only those vehicles were allowed to ply who crossed Udhampur by or before 11 AM.

Meanwhile, the authorities as a precautionary measure in view of the bad weather conditions have decided not to allow any traffic movement on the road in the morning tomorrow. "Keeping in view the slippery road conditions we have decided not to allow any vehicle to ply on the road tomorrow morning. And the decision to reopen the road will be taken as per the weather conditions," IG said.

KTNS correspondent Shabir Ibn Yusuf from Srinagar said that the upper reaches of valley including the tourist resort of Gulmarg today received fresh snowfall, while the night temperature has started to register an increase by several degrees.

According to the officials of Metrological Department (MeT) the snowfall started today afternoon and continued till evening. The areas which received snowfall include Keran, Karnah, Tangdhar, Machil, Sadhna, Razdan passes and villages near the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir.

Less than a week ago the MeT office had predicted moderate to heavy snowfall in most parts of the Kashmir Valley between February 3 and 7.

The plains across the valley witnessed moderate rains. The area which witnessed the rains included whole of north Kashmir and Central Kashmir. Srinagar was receiving rains when this report was being filed.

The officials of MeT department added that the night temperatures in most places including Srinagar registered an increase of several degrees and moved above the freezing point for the first time in over a month.

The minimum temperature recorded in Srinagar was 2 degrees Celsius, still four degrees below normal during this part of the season, MET officials said.

Meanwhile Kashmir disaster management cell has issued advisory that there might be avalanches in upper reaches. A statement issued by cell said that on the basis of reports from SASE, the Coordinator, Divisional Disaster Management Authority has issued a Medium danger avalanche warning for higher reaches of snow bound areas of Chowkibal, Tangdhar, Machhil and Keran areas.

“People living in these areas above the height of 8000 feet have been advised not to venture into steep and avalanche prone areas and to avoid movement during snowfall,” said the statement.

Valley records lowest temp in 17 years

For the first time in about 17 years the temperature in Srinagar dipped to minus 7.8 degree Celsius, almost freezing normal life.To add to the tough conditions, moderate to heavy snowfall is likely to take place within the next 48 hours with temperatures  expected to stay between 2 and minus 3.The last time mercury hit below -7 mark was on January 2, 1995, which was followed by an average minimum temperature of  around minus 4 degree Celsius.

“On January 2, 1995 the temperature recorded was minus 8.3 degree Celsius. And since then it is the first time we have seen temperature fall below minus seven,” duty officer at the meteorological department told Jk News.The valley was coldest on January 31, 1983 when the temperature was minus 14.4 degree Celsius. Afterwards, the mercury dipped to minus 9 degree Celsius in 1986, minus 8 degree Celsius in 1987 and minus 11.8 degree Celsius on January 20, 1991.The impact of the freezing cold was quite evident as people tried to heat the water pipes, tanks, car engines and everything  frozen due to the cold.  The auto rickshaw drivers, street vendors and labourers could be seen circled around the bonfires to  keep away the chill.“This is unimaginable. I do not remember the last time I saw the winter getting this cold. Exposed to cold, your feet and hands will turn numb in a moment...” said Murtaza, an auto driver in mid twenties, who was sitting near a container-turned-furnace near Lal Mandi here.

The cold has frozen from end-to-end the Dal Lake, which, however, has become a spectacle of adventure for the dventure-loving-youth. While the boatmen faced great difficulties in rowing the boats and shikaras, many youths could be seen taking a walk on the frozen surface of the Lake.“I have come here to see the frozen lake and I must admit that it is a treat to watch. I in fact walked a few meters on the surface to see how it feels,” Ashiq Mohi-ud-Din of Nishat said.The Met department has forecast light or moderate rain/snow for the next 48 hours while the higher reaches might receive heavy snowfall.

“Light to moderate snow and rains are likely to occur at most places in Kashmir region and at a few places in Jammu and Ladakh regions,” the Met officials said, sounding the warning: “Rather heavy snow would occur at isolated places in Kashmir Jammu regions during the next 48 hours.”LPG shortage A week of road block has exposed the government’s hollow claims of maintaining enough stock of essential supplies in the  Valley.

At present, when the valley is expecting 48 hours of snow and rains, the consumer affairs and public distribution (CAPD) department only has two days stock of the LPG available while it is “hoping” to receive a little more by this evening.

“Right now we have two days stock with us, but we have more containers on the way and we are hoping to receive them by this evening. That will make us a sufficient stock for a total of six days,” the deputy director CAPD, Shafqat Iqbal, said.

Asked about the meager stock of the LPG, he said: “Normally we have a 15 day stock in the valley, but there was a problem with HPCL which affected the supplies.”The likely snowfall from tomorrow, which may lead to closure of the highway again, might make the matters worse.“We have the supplies on way and we hope that the road stays clear so that it reaches us,” the deputy director said.

Kashmir Valley faces LPG crisis

After last week's snowfall, Kashmir valley is facing severe crisis of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and stock position claimed by the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has come under scanner.

A highly placed source in one of the companies said that both the companies are lying about the stock position to the Government with the result there is LPG crisis here with the closure of the highway.

Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD), Qamar Ali Aknoon, has called a meeting of the Oil Companies and local administration officials tomorrow at Srinagar to deal with the crisis.

And the divisional administration has now put Tehsildar and SHO Pampore as the Nodal Officers at HPCL Plant Pampore and they will furnish daily reports about the dispatch of LPG cylinders to the Government.

The sources said that the Companies are supplying the LPG at the rate of one cylinder per LPG connection for 20 days. "This standard is valid for other cities where the temperature is higher but in Kashmir valley the LPG consumption is double as the temperatures are sub-zero", the sources added.

The LPG plant of the HPCL has the storage capacity of around one lakh cylinders for a population of over 60 lakh in Kashmir valley where the daily consumption is around 25, 000 LPG cylinders. And by this standard the stored LPG can't last for more than 4 days.

One of the IOC LPG dealers in Srinagar said that the IOC has no storage capacity here and the dealers are worst hit with the snowfall. "We are dependent on the highway for LPG supply but with the closure of highway there was LPG crisis", said the dealer. "My demand for LPG is 700 cylinders per day but I am getting only 150 LPG cylinders and over 500 consumers have to go back without getting LPG despite waiting in the queue for hours in sub-zero temperatures", he added.

One of the HPCL LPG dealers in Srinagar said that he is getting 300 cylinders per day from the HPCL plant Pampore these days when the demand is over 800 cylinders. He said that normally he gets 600 cylinders per day but after the closure of the highway he has got only 300 cylinders per day.

The sources in the HPCL said that the company usually distributes 45 truckloads of LPG daily that is around 13, 000 cylinders but for past 10 days only 10 truckloads of around 3000 cylinders are being distributed per day in the Valley.

The Sales Manager HPCL Haroon Hamid said that during January, the HPCL distributed 1.32 lakh cylinders among the consumers. He said that on an average the HPCL distributes over 10, 000 cylinders in the Valley but these days they have been distributing half of what the company normally distributes.

The HPCL Manager, however, said that additional supply of the LPG is on its way and by evening they are getting 17,000 cylinders of LPG through Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. He said that 11 day stock of LPG is on way and this will meet the growing demand of the LPG in the Valley.

Meanwhile, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon inspected the HPCL LPG plant at Pampore along with Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Baseer Ahmed Khan. He held a meeting with HPCL officials and directed them to ensure rational distribution of LPG throughout the Valley.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Director CAPD, Shafqat Iqbal, Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Pulwama, SDPO Pampore, SHO Pampore, Tehsildar Pampore, Sales Manager HPCL, Haroon Hamid, Plant Manager Farooq Ahmed, OSD with Divisional Commissioner Aamir Ali and other senior officers of HPCL.

The Divisional Commissioner said that 32 oil tankers, 35 LPG tankers, 21 trucks loaded with chicken, 30 with sheep, 33 trucks carrying rice of FCI and 40 trucks with vegetables crossed Jawahar Tunnel by morning today.

Divisional Commissioner has given instructions to all Deputy Commissioners to visit far flung areas of their districts in order to redress the grievances of the public and constitute market checking squads to prevent hoarding.

A squad headed by Additional Commissioner Kashmir Abdul Majid Mir also conducted market checking in Parimpora Mandi, Maharaj Bazaar, Amira Kadal, and Hari Singh High Street, Srinagar. He also directed DC Srinagar to keep a squad at Pantha Chowk to monitor the conditions of the chicken and sheep being imported into the Valley. Divisional Commissioner also directed Chief Engineer Beacon Brigadier TPS Rawat to visit Shaitani Nalla and ensure removal of road blockades due to avalanches.

Meanwhile, disciplinary action was initiated against 99 Government employees of Bone and Joint Hospital, Maternity Hospital Sanat Nagar, Offices of Chief Engineer R&B, PMGSY, Irrigation Flood Control, PHE, MD Forest Corporation and Pollution Control Board as they were found absent during the surprise checking of attendance in offices by the Additional Commissioner Kashmir.

After electricity, water crisis in Valley

Winter woes do not seem to end for the people of Kashmir. No sooner did people get slight relief from long powers cuts, people are faced with tremendous water shortage in almost all parts of the valley.The minus day and night temperatures without any sunshine have given way to persistent freezing. As the day temperatures fail to rise, no melting of snow or water bodies is taking place. The sub zero day temperatures have frozen taps and water supply pipes. This has resulted in serious water shortage in most parts of the valley. There is no water supply to homes or even offices.

“The water supply pipes to our homes are completely jammed and frozen.  We have no water supply inside the house,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, from Raj Bagh.  “I filled the tank by carrying water in buckets from lawn tap.”

The problem is grave in upper town where water supply is facilitated commonly by using water pumps.“Even though we receive water supply to the main reservoir but could not pump water into the house as water pump has jammed due to freezing temperatures,” said Naseema Begum. The main water supply pipes in some areas have also wedged.

Following snowfall across Kashmir on Saturday, the valley loomed under unrelenting minus temperatures. The maximum temperature recorded at 11.30 a.m today was minus 1.4  Celsius while minimum went down to minus 3.8 degree. There has been no relief from cold for the past six days. The ongoing chillai kalaan will be over after 18 days, on January 31.

“I have never lived a more severe winter. We not only have to deal with freezing cold but problems of water and electricity as well,” adds Naseema.

An official at the MeT department said that there is no abnormality in the weather this year. “Kashmir has experienced much lower temperatures than what we are facing. The reason why we are facing more problems is because there is no sunshine,” official revealed.

In view of the forecast of more snowfall on January 15 and 16, people are  fearful of more horrifying conditions. Valleyites are keeping a stock of essential commodities including food and milk to avoid inconveniences.

Power supply expected to resume by tomorrow

Two days after Kashmir Valley plunged into darkness due to heavy snowfall, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today assured that the power supply to the region would be restored by tomorrow.

"Weather permitting, the normal electricity supply in Kashmir Valley will be restored by tomorrow evening or Tuesday morning", Omar told reporters here.

Kashmir Valley plunged into darkness on Friday following moderate to heavy snowfall across the region.

Briefing the media about the restoration work, he said the Kishanpore-Pampore transmission line will be restored by later this evening, while the Kishanpore-Wagoora line is expected to be restored by tomorrow evening.

The Chief Minister said the power crisis was triggered by unexpected snowfall in south of Pir Panjal range.

"Normally, the maximum damage to the power infrastructure takes place in Kashmir Valley but we have had unexpected snowfall on the other side of the Pir Panjal which has resulted in snapping of the transmission line at multiple places," he said.

Omar said he has kept the state helicopter available to power grid corporation to facilitate the speedy restoration of the transmission line.

"We have around 200 MWs available right now which we are feeding hospitals, water supply schemes and other essential services," he said.

He said the snow clearance on Srinagar-Jammu national highway is also in full swing and the 294-km road is likely to reopen for one-way traffic tomorrow evening.

"Snow clearing is on between Ramban and Banihal while four kilometer stretch between Batote and Patnitop is still blocked," the Chief Minister said adding the Banihal-Srinagar stretch of the highway has been cleared for traffic

Kashmir Valley plunged into darkness

The major snowfall of the season has brought with it more problems for the people of Kashmir.

The already bad power scenario was worsened as electricity remained snapped from almost all parts of the valley, including Srinagar, since yesterday evening. People had to reel under darkness in both metered and unmetered areas.

An officer of Power Development Department  (PDD) said, “We deal with transmission of power and we have no problems. We are ready to received power but there is fault in the supply from Northern Grid.”

Chief engineer, System and Operation Wing, Kashmir, Sheikh Gul Ayaz revealed that problem has occurred in the Northern Grid which has resulted in snapping of  power supply.

“We are utilizing our local power generation and have also started the gas turban. We are able to generate around 60 MW of power,” Ayaz said.

He added that the available power is being supplied to essential services, particularly to hospitals.

“Government is doing its best to repair the lines of Northern Grid which is our main source of power. It might take some time,” said Ayaz.

People who are already irked by the frequent power curtailment, announced recently by the government, are facing inconvenience in absence of electricity.

“Power scenario was already very bad. And now we are left with nothing. We do not even have warm water in this chilly weather as there is no electricity,” said Shagufta Begum from old city.

In view of cold and wet weather, people preferred staying indoors today. The movement of traffic, particularly private vehicles also remained thin in the city. People could be seen mostly walking their way to work places. Markets and office started off late than usual days.

Besides power supply, mobiles and internet services also stopped working since last night, leading to communication breakdown.

“My phone stopped working completely since last night. I have not been able to make or receive calls at all,” said Afsana from Raj Bagh.

“The snapped mobile network is very difficult to deal with. Though it did not snow dangerously, but network are badly affected,” said Ishfaq Khan, from old city.

Absence of all internet services affected work at offices. “Whenever it snows we are completely disconnected from the world. It takes just few inches of snow to part us from the world,” adds Ishfaq

The problem of water logging surfaced badly in most areas. Roads, lanes and by lanes remained water logged. 

While snowfall brought worries for valleyites, tourists currently on visit to Kashmir were thrilled by the fresh snowfall. Visitors from different parts of the country could be seen enjoying the snow, particular along Boulevard and at Gulmarg. Locals could also been seen involved in snow fights and making snowman.