Met predicts snowfall Feb 13 14

Kashmir valley is all set to receive fresh bout of snowfall as the Meteorological Department has forecast light to moderate rain and snowfall across Kashmir over the next couple of days.

The department has issued weather advisory saying that some places along the Pir Panjal range are likely to experience heavy snowfall. It has also asked people to exercise maximum restraint while traveling by road and air between Srinagar and Jammu on February 13 and 14.

Director Meteorological Department, Sonam Lotus said that a western disturbance is approaching Jammu and Kashmir on February 12, adding that the influence of the disturbance would remain upto the morning of February 14. He said the western disturbance would affect the weather system in the State and adjoining areas.

Lotus said some places along Pir Panjal range may receive heavy rain/snowfall, adding that light snowfall is also likely at few places in the Ladakh region particularly along Drass, Kargil and Zanskar regions.

"The disturbance in the weather system is likely to disrupt surface and air transport systems of the State. During these days the day temperature will fall by four to five degrees while as the night temperature will rise by two degrees. This system is likely to move in a South-East ward direction of Jammu and Kashmir," said Sonam.

A Met official said here that Srinagar recorded the day temperature of 11 degrees Celsius while as the night temperature was recorded as minus 1.8 degrees Celsius. He said Jammu recorded the maximum temperature of 21.1 degrees Celsius while as the minimum temperature was recorded as 5.2 degrees Celsius.

Kargil was the coldest place in the State with the mercury plummeting to minus 18.1 degrees Celsius during the preceding night. It was closely followed by Leh where the minimum temperature was recorded as minus 16.6 degrees Celsius. In the Kashmir valley, Gulmarg was the coldest place as the minimum temperature was recorded as minus 9.5 degrees Celsius.

The world famous health resort of Pahalgam Hotels recorded the minimum temperature of minus 5.5 degrees Celsius while as Qazigund recorded the minimum temperature of minus five degrees Celsius. Kokernag recorded the minimum temperature of minus 4.3 degrees Celsius while as Kupwara recorded the minimum temperature of minus 2.4 degrees Celsius.

Banihal was the coldest place in the Jammu division with the minimum temperature being recorded as minus 1.8 degrees Celsius. It was closely followed by Bhaderwah that recorded the minimum temperature of minus 1.4 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, after some days of sunshine the weather remained cloudy in Srinagar on Saturday. Although, Sun tried its best to break the shackles from the clouds the sky turned overcast as the day passed on. By evening the whole sky was covered with clouds and this led to the increase in the chill.

JandK celebrates Eid I Milad with fervour

Eid-I-Milad, the birthday of the revered Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), was today observed with religious fervour across places Kashmir valley.

Despite the cold weather, devotees from across the Valley thronged Aasar-e-Sharif Hazratbal, housing holy relic of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), and joined the congregational prayers throughout the day.  The holy relic was displayed after all five prayers amidst recitation of Daroods and Naats, and the practice would continue tomorrow also.

A large gathering of men and women offered nightlong prayers at Hazratbal while many more joined them during the early morning prayers, Fajar.

The traffic department had made arrangements for smooth arrival of devotees at Hazratbal. Apart from the private and public transport, the State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) had made special arrangements for devotees. Around 90 of its buses were deployed for ferrying devotees to shrine.

Elsewhere in the summer capital, congregational prayers were held throughout the day.The important places included Jenab Sahib Soura, Asar-i-Sharif Shahri Kalashpora, Lal Bazar, Khanqah-i-Maulla, Ziarat Hazrat Dastgeer Sahib (RA), Syed Yaqoob Sahab (RA) Sonwar, Khawaja Naqashband Sahab and Ziarat Makhdoom Sahib (RA).The clerics highlighted the importance of the day in Islam and urged the Muslims to follow the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

South Kashmir

Seeking blessings from Almighty on the day, a large gathering of people offered prayers at Masjids and shrines in Anantnag. The rush of devotees was seen mostly at Jamia Masjid Reshi Sahab, Khiram Sirhama, Kaba Marg, Dooru and Seer Hamdan.

Apart from Masjids and shrines, people had also decorated the marketplaces in the main town Ananatnag.

Prayers were held throughout the day at Ziayarat of Hazrat Syed Husain Simnani (RA), Asar-i-Sharif Pinjura in Shopian district, and Charar-e-Sharief, Budgam.

North Kashmir

Hundreds of people offered night and daylong prayers in different Masjids and shrines across north Kashmir. Biggest congregation was held at Dargah-i-Aaliya at Khawaja Sahib Mohalla here.

Prayers were held at Jamia Masjid, Ganderbal, Bandipore, Sopur, Kupwara, Handwara and other places. People took out processions reciting Naats and Manqabats after prayers.

In the morning, Milad procession was staged from shrine Janbaz Wali at Khanpora to Asar-e-Sahrief Baramulla. Thousands of people participated in the procession.

Education Scholarship Scam

ZEO denied bail, HC asks police to arrest Pahari Board member

The High Court has deferred hearing in a bail plea of a Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) allegedly involved in misappropriation of scholarship money amounting one crore rupees allotted for educational development of Gujjar and Bakerwal communities of border district Kupwara.

Justice Husnain Masoodi who deferred hearing in the bail matter of the ZEO, directed the police to arrest Zinda Dil, another accused in the scholarship fraud. Dil, who is the member of the Pahari board, had allegedly identified the students from his community who according to him deserved the scholarships.

Muhammad Akbar Mir the accused ZEO (Zone Khumriyal) and his senior assistant, Muhammad Amin Lone, presently under arrest, had filed bail application before the High Court which was vehemently opposed by the Additional Advocate General Aijaz Ahmad Chisti.

Notably, police station Kupwara has registered a case (FIR 403/2011) under various criminal sections of RPC against the accused.

The statements of five “beneficiaries” (shown by the accused) was recorded under section 164-A of Cr.P.C before Judicial Magistrate 1st Class Kupwara and statement of 12 “beneficiaries” of Government Middle School Moori have revealed that they were actually not paid any scholarships, the vigilance objections have said adding: “But the Acquaintance roll was manipulated and it was shown that the scholarships was disbursed in their favor.”

The accused have shown 4855 beneficiaries having received the scholarships although the names have not been recommended by the Pay Center Officers.

The two accused were arrested by Kupwara police for alleged misappropriation of more than One Crore rupees supposed to be disbursed among deserving Gujjar, Bakerwal and Pahari communities in Khumriyal zone for their educational needs.

However, as the matter came up for hearing on February 3, 2012, Justice Masoodi asked the Additional Advocate General Aijaz Ahmad Chisti to get the main accused arrested within a week. Although, Imtiyaz Sofi, the counsel for the arrested ZEO had pleaded that his client had issued payees account cheques to the recommended candidates, he should not have been involved into the “controversy” of scholarship scam.

Sofi had vehemently argued that his client was made scapegoat while as the police was yet to probe as how the payees account cheques were enchased by a person with the help of bank officials. Justice Masoodi later deferred the hearing in the bail plea of the ZEO.

Earlier the bail application has been rejected by the Kupwara session’s court on the grounds that investigation into the matter was on, so, no merit for their bail. Sofi had later challenged the session’s court order but the High Court rejected the revision petition on the grounds that it was not maintainable.

Additional Advocate General, Ajaz Chisti who had filed objections to the bail plea made by the two accused said the two arrested educational officials have committed a serious crime. Their arrest, Chisti has argued, is bound to hamper the investigations.

The preliminary investigations into the matter have so far revealed that state government had allotted a sizeable chunk of money to educational zone Khumriyal for scholarships for the students earmarked for the year 2009-10 and 2010-11. But these funds according to police have been embezzled by the ZEO and other accused in the matter.

The Vigilance Organization Kashmir while objecting to the bail plea of the two accused had noticed certain misdeeds/ irregularities in the disbursement of the scholarships among the beneficiaries and had asked the ZEO Khumriyal to produce the records before the organization.

“But, the ZEO in connivance with his senior assistant set ablaze the records under a well knit conspiracy after the records were put in a vehicle( Spark Chevrolet) bearing registration no JK09-6805 which belonged to the accused senior assistant,” the vigilance objections reads.

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.