Fresh snowfall, rains hit normal life in J&K
The fresh snowfall in higher reaches and rains in plain across Jammu and Kashmir affected the normal life as several flight bound for Srinagar airport were cancelled while vehicular traffic along Jammu -Srinagar highway disrupted due accumulation of snow.
Moreover, MeT has issued an “orange alert” in the Kashmir Valley saying the prevailing rain and snowfall are expected to intensify in the coming days while the administration has reviewed and pressed machinery for addressing the grievances of people.
Light to moderate snowfall was experienced in most of the high altitude areas, while the plains, including Jammu city were lashed by intermittent rains since the early hours.
Amid continuous snowfall, 42 flights that were scheduled to operate to and fro from Srinagar international airport were cancelled on Tuesday due to poor visibility in Kashmir Valley.
Though the highway is through till the Jawahar Tunnel from Jammu and local traffic is plying. However, heavy snowfall on the other side of tunnel in Kashmir valley and Qazigund section had blocked the highway for Valley-bound vehicles.
Srinagar-based Airport Authority of India stated that continuous snowfall and poor visibility resulted in 42 cancellations today across all airlines. “The visibility has now improved and the flights are operating”, authorities tweeted.
“The passengers of the cancelled flights shall be rescheduled in the next available flight of the concerned airlines. There will be no extra charges for rescheduling. The passengers may also opt for a full refund at their convenience,”, authorities informed in another tweet.
The former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said the Srinagar International Airport lacks landing aids that enable runways to remain open when visibility dips.
“Our “international airport” has no landing aids that enable the runway to remain open when visibility dips. We make such a big deal about tourism and investment promotion now imagine the plight of those tourists who’ve sat all day outside the terminal &watched their flights get cancelled”, Omar tweeted.
“Not to mention the locals who will have their tickets cancelled and be told to buy fresh ones with fares that touch the stratosphere. Travel in and out from the Valley in winter is not a pleasant experience”, he stated in another tweet.
A fresh western disturbance hit the region on Tuesday bringing rain and snow in many parts of J&K. The MeT has issued an “orange alert” in the Kashmir Valley saying the prevailing rain and snowfall are expected to intensify in the coming days.
As per the advisory, there will be rain and snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir till January 9 and the weather system will likely cause disruptions to surface and air traffic and even trigger avalanches.
“As expected, weather is overcast in both J&K with widespread light rain/snow and moderate snow over higher reaches,” an official of the MeT office said.
Present weather is likely to intensify as the day progresses. Expect moderate snowfall and rain in plains and heavy snowfall over higher reaches with main activity later tonight and tomorrow in both Jammu and Kashmir, weather department forecasted.
Heath authorities on Tuesday directed all the Chief Medical Officers (CMOs), Medical Superintendents (MS), and Block Medical Officers (BMOs) not to leave their station without seeking prior permission to make sure that health care facilities don’t get hampered due to snowfall.
“In order to meet out any emergency situation that may arise due to heavy snow fall in Kashmir Division, all the Chief Medical Officers / Medical Superintendents / Block Medical Officers are hereby directed not to leave their station without seeking prior permission from this office, so as to make sure that health care facilities don’t get hampered due to snowfall,” reads an order by Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad Rather, Director Health Services Kashmir.
Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta today chaired a meeting to review the winter preparedness, supply, and stocking of essential commodities across the Kashmir Division and snowbound districts of Jammu province including
It was informed that the divisional and district administrations have taken all precautionary measures and preparedness for the winter season with a special focus on inclement weather situations in all snow-bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, the Agrometeorological center has issued advisories for farmers while divisional administration Jammu set-up control rooms at every district.
Following the predictions, the Agrometeorological Research Centre, which is based in Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu and working on specific need of agriculturists and farmers has issued an advisory. The Agro division asked farmers to make elaborate arrangements for darning out excess water.
“Due to the possibility of light to heavy rains in the next 5 days, farmers are advised to make arrangements to drain excess rain water from wheat, mustard, oilseeds, vegetable and flower fields,” said Dr. Mahender Singh, Senior Scientist & Incharge, Agrometeorological Research Centre, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu.
Earlier, Divisional Administration Jammu has issued list of Important Helpline Numbers of Jammu Division in public interests following Weather Advisory from 03 to 09 January, 2022.
As per communiqué various divisional as well as district control rooms have been established by various key line departments for receiving calls for prompt actions.
As per communiqué the details of control rooms are Divisional Control Room JPDCL (PDD Department): 1912/ 0191-2479122/ 18001807183; Divisional Control Room PW (R&B) Department: 9419108480/ 9419174248;SDRF Control Room: 01912435285; Divisional Control Room Jal Shakti (PHE Department):0191-2547586/ 18001807045/ 9419205732/ 7006982500; Divisional Control Room Irrigation &Flood Control Department:0191-2582164/ 18001807169; Jammu Municipal Corporation Control Room: 0191-2520448/ 0191-2520428; Divisional Control Room Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department: 9419143700/ 7006997062; Divisional Control Room Mechanical Engineering Department: 9419187739/ 7889400931/ 9419232787; Centralized Health Helpline: 104; Civil Defence Control Room Jammu: 0191-2549100; District Control Rooms.
The helpline numbers of districts are as under Jammu 0191-2571912/ 9622011623/ 0191-2571616/(DEOC), PCR 0191-2542000/ 0191-2560401; Samba: 01923-246915/ 01923-241004/(DEOC),PCR 01923-293777/ 9622071045; Udhampur 01992-272728/ 8717086503 (DEOC),PCR 01991-276915/ 9622205553; Kathua: 9018725999(DEOC), 01922-234311/ 9858034100 PCR
Rajouri: 01962-264544 DCEO, 01962-262515 PCR: Reasi, 9419839557/ 01991-245763 (DEOC), 01991-244956/ 01991-245076 PCR; Poonch 01965-222012(DEOC), 01965-220258/ 9086253188, PCR; Ramban 9419615662/ 700621489 (DEOC), 01998-266384/ 9906925595, PCR; Doda 01996-233337/18001807122 (DEOC), 01996-233530/ 7298923100 PCR; Kishtwar: 01995-259555 (DEOC), 01995-259193/ 9906154100 PCR.
People can contact concerned department in their respective districts in case of any exigency.
Pertinently, a statement issued by the local MeT office said that two successive Western Disturbances (WDs) are most likely to affect Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and adjoining areas from January 3rd (Late Night) to January 9th (Forenoon).”
“Under the influence of these weather systems widespread moderate rain and snow is expected in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions,” the statement reads.
Light rain/snow would commence at a few places of Kashmir from January 3 evening and thereafter increase in intensity and distribution, reads the statement.
