Srinagar, Mar 19: Heavy rains with intermittent snowfall lashed Kashmir on Saturday, following which authorities issued an avalanche warning in the upper reaches. Incessant rainfall led to the closure of Srinagar-Jammu highway and delayed flights.
While the upper reaches of the valley including the world famous tourist resort of Gulmarg received fresh snowfall today, the plains including Srinagar were lashed by incessant rains with sporadic snowfall in the evening.
“It was heavily snowing here since early this morning,” an hotelier at Gulmarg said. Fresh snowfall and rains have resulted in severe cold, forcing people to again wear woollen and warm clothes.
The upper reaches, including Amarnath cave shrine and its periphery, also received fresh snowfall since last night. Reports of snowfall were also received from Sheshnag, Panjterni, Mahaguns and Pisso top.
An official of the Meteorological department said that Srinagar city recorded 23.2 mm, Qazigund 19.2 mm, Pahalgam 27.6 mm, Kupwara 18.4 mm and Karnah 10.2 mm of rainfall till this evening.
He said the highest rainfall of 17.6 mm rainfall was recorded at Kokernag. “Low pressure system is prevailing over the valley and it will continue tomorrow also. The weather would improve from Monday,” Director Meteorology department, Sonam Lotus, said.

HIGHWAY CLOSED
The 300-kilometre Srinagar-Jammu highway, only road connecting Kashmir valley with rest of the world, was closed for vehicular traffic this afternoon owing to landslides triggered by incessant rains. Hundreds of vehicles, according to the sources, are stranded on the highway.
“Rainfall triggered landslides at different places. We are clearing the stranded vehicles,” Senior Superintendent of Police, Traffic, G M Wadoo told Greater Kashmir.
He said that no vehicles would be allowed to either leave Jammu or Srinagar till weather improves.

FLIGHT DELAYED
One flight from Srinagar International Airport was delayed due to bad weather. “No flights were cancelled, only one flight was delayed," Director Airport, Capitan Raj Malik said.

AVALANCHE THREAT
Authorities sounded avalanche threat in wake of fresh rainfall and snow.
The Coordinator of the Disaster Management Cell Amir Ali said medium danger avalanche alert has been sounded in upper reaches of Gurez, Baruab, Chakwali, Kanzalwan, Niru, Razdan Pass, Gugladara, Keran, Machil, Chowkibal, Tanghdar Gulmarg/Khilanmarg and low danger for peaks of Drass and Kargil.
“People living in the upper reaches of these areas have been advised to curtail their movement during snowfall and not to venture into avalanche prone areas,” he added.

SHIVPORA BUND CUT WORRIES RESIDENTS
The cutting of Shivpora bund by I&FC department has triggered panic among city residents.
“The officials of I&FC have cut the bund a few days ago to facilitate the movement of trucks. God forbid, if there would be rainfall for a few more days, whole city would submerged by this negligence,” they said.

NO FLOOD THREAT
The Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) department, Ghulam Rasool Zargar told Greater Kashmir that there is no flood threat and only a few areas were inundated due to the downpour.
“Due to precipitation many areas have been inundated, but there has been no increase in the level of river Jhelum,” he said.
However, sources said that flood threat was looming large in many low lying areas. “Several parts of the city and other towns have been inundated due to incessant rainfall and several villages in Sonawari Bandipora can submerge anytime,” sources said.
The Coordinator Disaster Management Cell, Aamir Ali, ruled out any possibility about authorities declaring a flood alert.
“We have directed respective Deputy Commissioners to take precautionary measures in case of flood threat. Their can be flash floods in some parts but situation is under control at this point of time,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 19 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 19 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 20 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST