The famous tourist destinations including Gulmarg and Doodhpathri experienced fresh snowfall on Thursday while rains lashed plains, bringing the mercury down.

Reports said that several areas of Kashmir received fresh snowfall, which include Gulmarg and Doodhpatri as well.

The weatherman has predicted light to moderate rainfall at most places and light snowfall over middle and higher reaches today.

Also Read: NIT Srinagar and Islamia College suspend all academic activities for today

Meanwhile, the night temperature improved across Kashmir with Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir recording a minimum temperature of 5.3 degree Celsius.

The mercury in Qazigund settled at 5.0 degree Celsius while in Pahalgam it settled at 1.5 degree Celsius.

According to data, Konibal and Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 1.0 degree Celsius each.

National Institute of Technology Dargah Hazratbal and Islamia College of Science and Commerce Hawal, Srinagar have suspended all academic activities for the day.

According to a communique issued by Principal, Islamia College, “The classwork of all the semesters and internal examinations, including T-series shall remain off today (30-11-2023) and will be rescheduled w.e.f tomorrow 01-12-2023.”

However, backlog examinations of 3rd semester shall be conducted as per schedule, reads the communique.

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Soon after the announcement of Islamia College, the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar also announced the suspension of classwork for today.

According to a communique issued by Prof. Atikur Rehman, Incharge Registrar, NIT Srinagar, “This is to inform you that the Institute will observe a holiday on Thursday, November 30, 2023.”

All academic activities, including classes, examinations, and administrative work, shall remain suspended on 30/11/2023,” reads the communique.

Unscheduled power outages in Kashmir pose a serious threat to the well-being of patients relying on oxygen support at home.

In Srinagar City, unreliable power supply has left patients in perilous situations, while those living in rural areas face many more challenges.

Patients across various areas of Srinagar expressed anguish, saying that the frequent and unscheduled power disruptions have transformed their lifeline—oxygen supply—into a source of anxiety and suffering.

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Shakeel Ahmad, the son of a patient from the Barzulla area in Srinagar, said continuous power is crucial for oxygen concentrators which are vital for supporting those with respiratory conditions.

Despite the city setting, Ahmad said he faces hurdles in ensuring a constant oxygen supply for his father. “I have to travel to Batamaloo every alternate day to fill an oxygen cylinder, which costs around Rs 500 including fare,” he said.

Another patient from Wantpora, Srinagar, echoed similar concerns, saying there is an imperative need for a 24×7 oxygen supply, which becomes unattainable due to power outages.

Highlighting the severity of the situation, the patient said any disruption exceeding half an hour can lead to deterioration in their health.

Patients and their families in other areas of Srinagar said they are grappling with the challenge of managing power backup solutions and ensuring the safety of their loved ones. While some have resorted to alternative power sources, these solutions come with their own set of challenges, and not everyone can afford generators or backups, they said.

Expressing the financial constraints faced by many, they revealed that patients from financially weaker sections rely on concentrators provided by NGOs, but managing daily refills for oxygen cylinders remains a daunting task.

If such is the condition of patients in Srinagar City, then one can understand what will be the condition of patients in rural areas who have to come to Srinagar or visit hospitals here to fill cylinders on a daily basis, they said.

The patients and their families urged the government to address the matter and ensure, at the very least, a scheduled power supply.