Faizan Arif
Srinagar, Jan 05: A thick blanket of snow covered Kashmir on Tuesday as most areas received heavy snowfall. The snowfall started late last evening which was still going on in both plains and higher reaches of Kashmir valley.
South Kashmir districts were most-affected with snow accumulation between 2 to 6 feet. Snow depth at Shopian town was more than 3.5 feet till 1730 hrs, same was the case with Kulgam town.
Roof of two residential houses at Manigam Kulgam collapsed due to heavy snowfall. However, no one was injured in the incident.
In north Kashmir, snow began early in the morning which continued till late afternoon. Snow depth reported was between 1 – 4 feet.
Central Kashmir plains received more than 10inches of snow since last night even as areas at higher elevation received more than 2 – 3 feet of snowfall. Snow depth in Srinagar was around 11 inches at 1730 hrs.
A residential house belonging to Nazir Ahmad Bhat at Noor Nagar Zoonimar Srinagar was damaged due to heavy snowfall in the area. However, all the family members were reported to be safe in the incident.
Snow was cleared by Mechanical Engineering Department (MED) from all major roads across Kashmir. While Srinagar Municipal Corporation(SMC) also played a major role in clearing the snowfall from major and minor roads in Srinagar.
Power supply in some areas of Srinagar was disrupted due to heavy snowfall, however, efforts were on to resotre it at the earliest. While in most parts of Srinagar power supppy continued as per the normal schedule.
Disaster Management Authority of Jammu and Kashmir issued a fresh avalanche warning for Jammu and Kashmir.
Medium Level (Yellow Alert) avalanche warning was issued for higher reaches of Poonch, Rajouri, Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Anantnag, Kulgam, Kupwara and Bandipora districts, besides Waltengu Nad, South & North portals of Jawahar Tunnel, Verinag, Kapran, Chowkibal-NC Pass, Gurez, Dawar and Neeru. While, Low Level (Yellow Alert) avalanche warning was issued for upper reaches of Udhmapur, Baramulla, Ganderbal and Kargil districts besides Sonamarg – Zojila, Z-Gali- Kalaroose, Kanzalwan, Tangmarg and Gulmarg.
As per Kashmir Weather, an independent weather forecaster, snowfall is likely to continue till tomorrow morning.
“Moderate to heavy snowfall will continue at most places of Kashmir till tomorrow morning. There will be significant improvement from tomorrow afternoon, however, few places may continue to receive snow till tomorrow evening. The latest forecast suggests a spell of light snowfall on 8th night,” the weather forecaster said.
“Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 2.6 degrees Celsius which is the lowest of the season so far,” the forecaster said.
Qazigund, Pahalgam and Kokernag in south Kashmir recorded maximum temperatures of 1.6°C, 2.5°C and 4.2°C respectively.
Kupwara and Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded 1.8°C and minus 1.4°C as day’s maximum temperatures respectively.
Banihal, coldest in Jammu region, recorded a high temperature of 2.2 degrees Celsius. While Jammu, Katra, Batote and Bhaderwah recorded 16.9°C, 14.2°C, 4.7°C and 5.6°C as maximum temperatures respectively.
