With the local meteorological department predicting moderate to heavy snowfall and rain in Kashmir in next five days, all eyes are on the state administration’s preparedness to deal with any arising eventuality.
Light to moderate snowfall started across Kashmir, including Srinagar, Friday evening. Met officials said moderate snowfall started at higher reaches at about 6 p.m. “In most of the plains, it is light snowfall so far,” they said.
The divisional administration Friday said it was ready to deal with any eventuality arising out of the inclement weather conditions in Kashmir.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, divisional commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan said in view of the meteorological department’s prediction of five-day-long spell of snowfall and rain across Kashmir, the deputy commissioners have been put on alert to deal with any resultant situation.
“The administration tackled the situation during the last two spells of snow quite well, but we will try to do better this time,” Khan said.
The weather forecast has also prompted the divisional administration to prepare zone and location-wise action and management plans to prevent interruption in services during the inclement weather situations.
A divisional administration officer said zonal teams comprising officials from different line departments have been formed as part of the plan to “ensure timely and coordinated redress of problems and eventualities during the bad weather period”.
Joint control rooms have been established in deputy commissioners’ offices to oversee show clearance operations and ensure coordination among various agencies in case of any eventuality, he said.
An official in the mechanical engineering division Kashmir told Greater Kashmir that 155 snow clearance machines have been deployed across the Valley and round-the-clock control rooms have been established.
On Thursday, deputy commissioners of Kashmir division including Leh and Kargil districts were asked to advise people not to venture in avalanche prone areas during the bad weather period (from January 19 to January 25). The concerned deputy commissioners were also directed to activate their control rooms and ensure that the snow clearance equipment is placed at proper places for snow clearance in respect of their districts as per the snow clearance plan.
The Met department yesterday said an active western disturbance is likely to affect Jammu and Kashmir and its adjoining areas from 19 to 25 January, with main activity during 20 to 23 January and gradual decrease thereafter.
The Met department has warned that the snowfall is likely to cause disruption of surface and air traffic, and may lead to avalanches and landslides in higher reaches, and water logging in the low-lying areas.
The authorities have issued avalanche warning for avalanche-prone areas of Anantnag, Kulgam, Budgam, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Kargil and Leh districts.
Officials at the Srinagar Airport Friday said four flights to New Delhi were cancelled following bad weather and low visibility in New Delhi.
These included Delhi Indigo 6E2187/2148; Spicejet SG 160/161; Air Asia I5 715/716 and Vistara UK611, he said.
Meanwhile, Kashmir continued to reel under cold wave conditions, with temperatures dropping below freezing point, the Met official said.
Srinagar recorded a low of minus 0.7 degree Celsius, while tourist resort of Pahalgam in southern Kashmir recorded a low of minus 10.3 degree Celsius. The mercury in famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in northern Kashmir dipped to minus 10 degree Celsius, while it settled at minus 0.7 degree Celsius in Qazigund, the gateway town to the Valley in southern Kashmir.
Jammu was warmer than other parts of the state where the temperature was 5.3 degree Celsius, followed by Udhampur at 1.5 degree Celsius.
Leh shivered at minus 15.6 degree Celsius, while Kargil was the coldest recorded place in the state at minus 19.2 degree Celsius.