Heavy rain, snow likely from tomorrow; CM asks administration to remain alert

SRINAGAR: The State is likely to witness moderate to heavy rain and snow at widespread places of Jammu and also at Kashmir region, which is expecting an end to the five-month long dry spell with the Meteorological department forecasting four days rain and snowfall from Monday.
Since the snowfall may disrupt basic amenities and connectivity in the province, the government is bracing for the challenge, having put its men and machinery alert.
Director Meteorological department Sonam Lotus said that a fresh Western disturbance is most likely to affect the State from December 11 to 15.
"Moderate to heavy rain and snow is expected at widespread places of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions and is likely to occur between 12 and 13 December and gradual decrease thereafter," Lotus told The News Now.
He said the weather system may lead to disruption of surface and air transportation like National Highways-Srinagar-Leh, Srinagar-Jammu and Mughal Road.
With the snow likely to disrupt life in the state, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti directed Divisional Administration of Kashmir to be in a state of preparedness and responsive to any crisis thrown up by the inclement weather.
An official spokesman said the chief minister has directed all the concerned Departments like PDD, R&B, MED, ULB, PHE, Health and other Departments to gear up in view of the weather forecast and deploy their men and machinery on the ground beforehand.
The CM directed that there should be no delay in snow clearance operations and, as soon as it starts to accumulate, snow clearance machines should be pressed into service so that people do not face any inconvenience. For this, she directed positioning of snow clearance machines at critical spots beforehand so that snow is cleared in a minimum time.
Mehbooba directed the management of SKIMS and SMHS hospitals to have sufficient stocks of medicine available with them and also at all the district, secondary and tertiary care hospitals besides all the requisite doctors and paramedical staff are deployed at their respective places of working.
The Chief Minister has also directed the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu to put similar measures in place in the areas in the region where heavy rains and snow have been predicted.
Acting upon the directions, Divisional Administration Kashmir, Baseer Khan, has asked all deputy commissioners of Kashmir division to take all precautionary measures in their respective districts.
"It is enjoined upon all deputy commissioners, all heads of departments concerned and district superintendents of police to activate their manpower and machinery and to be in a state of preparedness so as to minimise disruption of essential services, and ensure road connectivity at the earliest," reads the advisory issued by divisional commissioner Kashmir.
In this regard, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Dr Mandeep K Bhandari also directed all the Deputy Commissioners, all concerned Heads of Departments and District Superintendents of Police of Jammu division to activate their men and machinery for minimize disruption of essential services, restoration of road connectivity, restoration of electricity, water supply and healthcare services etc. for the convenience of general masses.
Meanwhile, in Valley, the Mechanical Engineering Department (MED) today said it has put all the arrangements in place to ensure speedy snow clearance and dewatering.
"Mechanical Engineering Department, Kashmir is fully prepared for timely clearance of snow and all the preparations have been done to keep men and machinery ready to respond to any situation in view of the weather advisory from December 11,"said Vijay Kumar Raina, Chief Engineer Mechanical Engineering Department Kashmir.
"We have activated our control rooms including 10 in South Kashmir, 5 in North Kashmir and 3 in Central Kashmir. We have also created one provincial level control room which will keep track of every development across the region as far as the weather changes are concerned," he said.
Meanwhile, as the clouds are hovering over the valley, temperature rose night by a few notches today while cold wave gripped the Ladakh region.
The MeT officials said Leh recorded a temperature of minus 13.0 degrees Celsius on Friday night compared to minus 12.3 degrees Celsius the previous night.
Kargil recorded minus 8.4 degrees Celsius-over a degree less from the previous night's minus 7. 2 degrees Celsius, the official said.
Srinagar recorded a low of minus 0.2 degree Celsius, Qazigund in south Kashmir settled at a low of minus 1.9 degrees Celsius, Kokernag minus 0.8 degree Celsius, Kupwara minus 2.2 degrees Celsius. The picturesque resorts of Gulmarg recorded a low of zero degrees Celsius and Pahalgam recorded minus 1.5 degrees Celsius temperature.