Srinagar, Mar 4: Even as weather showed signs of improvement this afternoon, the Srinagar-Jammu highway remained closed for the third consecutive day Friday. Authorities have sounded snow avalanche alert in upper reaches of the Valley as one person was killed and 4 houses collapsed in Kishtwar district due to landslides triggered by the incessant rains.
 After continuous rain and snowfall for the past three days in Jammu and Kashmir, weather started to  improve from this afternoon, as no fresh rainfall was recorded in plains including Srinagar city.
 Talking to Greater Kashmir, Director Meteorology, Sonam Lotus said that weather is overall improving.
 “Weather system is improving and we expect light to moderate rainfall in plains and snow in upper reaches tonight. There would be gradual improvement from tomorrow,” he said.
 Srinagar received 1.4 mm, Qazigund 4.6 mm, Pahalgam 8.6 mm, Kokernag 10.0 mm, Jammu 1.4 mm, Banihal 13.8 mm, Batote 22.4 mm,Katra 10.4 mm and Bhaderwah 4.6 millimetres of rainfall during past 24 hours.
 Meanwhile, temperature has plummeted owing to the inclement weather for the past two weeks. Srinagar city recorded maximum temperature of 9.3 degree Celsius and minimum temperature of 0.8 degree Celsius.
 Kargil was coldest place in entire state recording minimum temperature of minus 11 degree Celsius. Authorities today issued high and medium avalanche alert for several areas of the state.
 Coordinator Disaster Management Cell, Amir Ali, said that a high danger avalanche warning exists for Chowkibal, Tangdhar, Potkha, Gugaldara, Bandipora, Gurez, Kargil, Batalik and Drass sectors.
 “A medium danger avalanche alert has been sounded for Gulmarg, Keran, Machil, Gagangir, Sonamarg, Zojilla and Gummite. People residing in these areas have been advised to avoid movement during snowfall and also not to venture close to steep slopes,” he said.
 The Srinagar-Jammu highway remained closed for the 3rd consecutive day today owing to landslides and snowfall.
 “The passenger vehicles from Jammu have to cross Nagrota by 1200 hours tomorrow. There are more problems owing to landslides in Nashri region,” SSP Traffic, Rural Kashmir, G.M. Wadoo said.
 More than 700 vehicles are stranded at Udhampur, Batote and Ramban.
 The Batote-Doda-Kishtwar road has also been blocked due to landslides at several places.

ONE KILLED, 4 HOUSES COLLAPSE IN KISHTWAR:
 One person was killed and four houses were damaged when a landslide triggered by rains hit a village in Kishtwar district.
 A landslide carrying big boulders triggered by heavy rains hit Srawan village in Kishtwar district last night in which four houses were damaged and one person was killed. The deceased has been identified as Imran Rather. His brother Imam Hussain was injured and later hospitalised.

WATER-LOGGING PROBLEMS:
 With incessant rains over the past three days, the people are complaining about water-logging in several parts of the city.
 People residing in low lying areas especially Bemina and Mehjoor Nagar had tough time in moving out as lanes and by-lanes were inundated. The water logging was a common sight in areas of Baramulla, Sopore, Shopain, Pulwama and other towns.
 The whole stretch of our street has turned into cesspool. There is nobody from the Government to provide us respite,” said Nazir Ahmed of Noorbagh Sopore.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 4 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 4 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 5 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST