Snow leopard in Banihal

Heavy snowfall in the upper reaches of Banihal led to man animal conflict in which four persons, including three brothers, were injured. A snow leopard attacked them in Ramban district today.

The snow leopard trekked down from the hilly area into village Wanpora in Banihal and mauled four people near their houses this morning.

The villagers rushed to the spot, beat up the wild animal before capturing it and handed it over to the wildlife department.The injured identified as Ghulam Mohammad, 65, Mohammad Yousaf, 50, Mohammad Aslam, 40, sons of Abdul Aziz of Wanpora Karawa and Riyees Ahmed, 30, son of Ghulam Rasool of Zanihal were shifted to hospital.

After a few hours, the leopard died in a veterinary hospital here, wildlife department sources said.Police handout claimed that one leopard has attacked in the residential house of Ghulam Mohammad son of Abdul Aziz of Wanpora, Banihal. Getting information of the leopard attack, cops of Police Station Banihal reached on the spot and shifted the injured persons to Emergency Hospital Banihal.Later on, Wild Life Department captured the injured leopard and shifted the same to Veterinary Hospital Banihal for medical treatment, handout maintained. 

Snow paralyses system in kashmir

Four inches of snow have buried the administration…” A day after the first snowfall in Kashmir Valley, it seems the most favourite line of every Kashmiri helplessly braving the bone-chilling weather without electricity and drinking water.
The Valley has been without electricity for two complete days now even as many areas are under acute shortage of the drinking water, exposing the state government’s tall claims
of its preparedness for the winter.
Against the requirement of around
1100 MW electricity, all Kashmir is
getting at present is around 150 MW
from gas turbine, Uri-I and Lower
Jhelum Hydel projects. Of this, as
claimed by government, 25 MW are
supplied to hospitals and the rest
about 120 MW are provided on rotation—
one hour in 24 hours—to
residential areas.
“The government has failed miserably
to manage the crisis. The
snowfall is most expected thing in
winter, yet the government failed to
maintain the power supply in comparatively
less snow. It is disappointing,”
Mushtaq Ahmad Mir of old city,
an enraged common man, said while
talking to Kashmir Times.
“Just a few days ago the chief minister
(Omar Abdullah) claimed that
they have started the gas turbine
that generates 100 MW of electricity,
but today in crisis they say three
projects (including gas turbine) are
generating only around 70 MW. It
shows the government is befooling
us. How are we supposed to survive
in this chill?” he asked.
The authorities claim that the snow
has damaged Kishanpora-Wagoora
and Kishanpora-Pampore transmission
lines, causing halt in the power
supply from the northern grid.
However, without electricity the
public, especially the ailing and the
elderly, has to face acute inconveniences.
“Darkness is more or less manageable,
but we have no means to warm
the water for bathing etc… It is life
threatening situation for the elderly
and the children? But no one seems
bothered,” Mohammad Iqbal Wani
of Rambagh said.
Coincidently, the valley observed
complete shutdown, against power
shortage, on the very day snowfall
occurred. The strike was called by
the Kashmir Economic Alliance
(KEA), amalgam of trade associations,
following the killing of a youth
at Boniyar Uri in CISF firing on
protests-against-electricity-shortage.
While calling for the strike, the
KEA pointed out the surplus power
supply maintained with the same
infrastructure during the tenure of
Mufti Muhammad Syed.
The public seems sharing the
similar views.
“During the time of Mufti Sayeed
we had almost 17 feet snow at many
places closer to the Tunnel, yet he
provided us uninterrupted power
supply. If he could manage it, why
is this government NC-Congress Coalition) helpless?” asked Ghulam Muhammad, a senior citizen from Lal Bazar.
The enraged consumers took to roads at many places.
People came out at Drangbal and Namlebal Pampore people to protest the power shortage. The reports said they also attacked with Kangris a VIP vehicle passing through the area.
The residents of Sumbal Bandipora gathered at protested at press enclave here.
The government, however, is still unsure about the total restoration.
“The repair work is on and we are hopeful that the work Kishanpora-Pampore transmission line will be done by evening. We are hopeful that the power will be partially restored this evening,” head disaster management, Amir Ali, said.
Water shortage worsens situation
Besides electricity, most areas in the Valley have been without proper supply of the drinking water. On the makeshift basis, the most areas are getting drinking water for four hours in the morning and two hours in the evening.
Most old city areas like Nowpora, Khanyar and Habba kadal, and several civil lines areas including city centre Lal Chowk have been without drinking water since last evening.
The reports coming in from many areas in North and South Kashmir said the water supply has been affected for nearly two days.
The shortage of drinking water is forcing the public to utilize the unhygienic water resources.
“We are without water since last morning. We are forced to collect the water from the nearby public tap or the stream,” Mudasir of Kupwara said. The authorities said the halt was due to power shortage.
“We are facing problems at Dood ganga project due to power shortage, so the inconvenience will remain till electricity is restored fully,” Amir, who is also the office on special duty, said.
Highway closed
The Jammu-Srinagar highway was closed for traffic till last reports came due to 550 Feet avalanche at Ramban. The road link is likely to be restored tomorrow.
However, all flights and trains operated on time except the first flight of the morning that faced a delay.

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.