NH remains shut, fresh snowfall predicted Murmu reviews situation; All major Valley roads cleared of snow

Avalanche sweeps 2 Army porters

SRINAGAR/JAMMU: Two Army porters are believed to have been killed after a snow avalanche hit the Line of Control (LoC) in Baramulla district, even as efforts continued on Monday to clear the debris of a massive landslide that blocked the strategic Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Ramban district, while the weather office predicted a fresh spell of snow and rains later this week.
Cold wave conditions prevailed in most parts of Jammu and Kashmir with Srinagar's maximum temperature settling at 3.4 degrees Celsius-- 14.5 degrees below normal during this part of the season, while Jammu recording a drop of 4.7 degrees in the day temperature which settled at 23.5 degrees Celsius.
Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu reviewed the situation arising due to heavy snowfall in Kashmir and was informed that all major roads and over 95 per cent of internal roads in the Kashmir region have been cleared for traffic, while electricity supply in Srinagar district has also been restored almost fully.
On Monday, two civilians working with the Indian army as porters are believed to have been killed after a snow Avalanche hits them at famous ski resort Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Officials told that the avalanche hit Indian Army’s Himmat post near the Line of Control (LoC) in the district, burying the duo under snow on Saturday night.
While police earlier in the day said that efforts were underway to rescue them, credible sources informed that the dead bodies of the duo have been recovered on late Monday evening.
“We have recovered the dead bodies of the civilians from the area. The slain are the residents of Bonyar in Uri tehsil in Baramulla district,” official sources said.
The fresh snowfall had earlier killed seven people in different parts of Kashmir including two army men in north Kashmir. The authorities have asked people living in the vulnerable areas to stay alert as avalanches and landslides may occur in several mountainous areas.
Meanwhile, efforts continued on Monday to clear the debris of a massive landslide that blocked the strategic Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Ramban district, officials said, even as the weather office predicted a fresh spell of snow and rains later this week.
A massive landslide struck the highway at Digdole on Sunday afternoon, covering around 150 metres of the arterial road, leaving thousands of commuters stranded.
"Despite hectic efforts by the road clearing agencies, the highway is unlikely to open for traffic today (Monday)," Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Traffic, National Highway Ramban, Suresh Sharma told.
He said men and machines are on the job and efforts are going on to restore the highway as soon as possible.
"It was a massive landslide and the area where it struck is narrow, allowing only a couple of machines to operate," he said, adding that once the clearance operation gets completed, the road position and the condition of the retaining wall will be reviewed before allowing the traffic.
He said over 2,500 light motor vehicles and trucks are stranded on both sides of the highway and clearance would be given to these vehicles first once the road is made traffic-worthy.
The 270-km highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with rest of the country, was closed for traffic on Thursday after most parts of Kashmir and high altitude areas of the Jammu region, including the Jawahar Tunnel -- the gateway to the valley -- experienced the first major snowfall of the season.
However, the highway was opened for traffic on Saturday but multiple landslides triggered by heavy rains in Ramban sector frequently disrupted the movement of vehicles.
The Mughal Road, which connects the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu region with south Kashmir's Shopian district, remained closed for the sixth day on Monday, they said.
Meanwhile, the weather office has predicted another spell of light to moderate snowfall at most places in Jammu and Kashmir, and Kargil in the Union Territory of Ladakh between November 14 and 16.
"Weather to remain partly to generally cloudy in both the Union Territories till November 13. Another spell of light to moderate snowfall is likely at most places of J-K and Kargil district of Ladakh from November 14 night to November 16," Director State Meteorological Department Sonam Lotus said.
He said the inclement weather might lead to landslide, temporary disruptions of surface transportation on Leh-Srinagar and Srinagar-Jammu highways.
However, he said there was no forecast of heavy spell like the previous one.
Cold wave conditions prevailed in most parts of Jammu and Kashmir with Srinagar's maximum temperature settling at 3.4 degrees Celsius-- 14.5 degrees below normal during this part of the season, a MET department official said.
Jammu, the winter capital of the Union Territory, also recorded a drop of 4.7 degrees in the day temperature which settled at 23.5 degrees Celsius, the official said.
The famous ski resort of Gulmarg, which recorded several feet of snowfall last week, was the hottest in the valley with a maximum temperature of 8.4 degrees Celsius.
However, Gulmarg's minimum temperature was minus 4.8 degrees Celsius- the lowest in the valley.
The hill resort of Pahalgam, border town of Kupwara and south Kashmir township of Kokernag also recorded sub-zero night temperature of minus 1.3, minus 1.6 and minus 0.9 degrees celsius, respectively, the official said.
He said the maximum and minimum temperatures in most parts of Jammu region also stayed several degrees below normal.
The night temperature recorded in Jammu was 12.8 degrees Celsius, which was 1.4 notches below normal.
Katra, the famous town which serves as the base camp for the pilgrims visiting Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district, recorded a high of 21.3 degrees Celsius and a low of 11.2 degrees Celsius which was 3.8 and 0.6 degrees below normal during this part of the season.
On late Monday evening, Lt Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu reviewed the situation arising due to heavy snowfall in Kashmir and issued directions to the concerned officers for prompt action to alleviate miseries of people due to heavy snowfall in the Valley.
Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam and other top level officials briefed the LG on the situation, an official spokesman said.
Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Baseer Khan informed the LG that all major roads and over 95 per cent of internal roads in the Kashmir region have been cleared for traffic.
He said 95 per cent of electricity supply in Srinagar district, 78 per cent in Pulwama, 73 per cent in Kulgam and 70 per cent each in Shopian and Ganderbal has been restored.
The Divisional Commissioner informed that machines have been put in place for snow clearance.
It was informed that 602 winter dumping stations have been established in inaccessible areas of Kashmir with all the basic necessities stocked for 6 months. These areas are mostly situated in the districts of Kupwara, Bandipora, Baramulla, Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag and a few areas in Budgam district, the spokesman said.
The Divisional Commissioner informed that winter control rooms have been established at district and sub divisional level and their telephone numbers have been widely publicized.
He further informed that 64,700 candidates appeared for 10th class examination on Monday and adequate heating and lighting facilities were available at all test centres.
He said that teams have also been constituted to check overcharging and hoarding of essential items by the traders.
The Chief Secretary informed that Rs 20 crore for Kashmir and Rs 10 crore for Jammu have been provided and asked both the Divisional Commissioners to utilize the funds.
While reviewing the traffic management, Lt. Governor directed deployment of adequate traffic personnel with provision of uninterrupted communication channels for smooth flow of traffic particularly along the Jammu-Srinagar Highway.
Lt. Governor directed Divisional Commissioner Jammu to identify land for facilitating passengers who get stranded due to landslides on the Jammu-Srinagar Highway and create facilities for provision of food, water, toilets, tents and medicines.
Lt. Governor directed the administration to put in added efforts in mitigating the difficulties of the people and meeting their requirements. He advised constant monitoring and all out efforts for ensuring public convenience. He directed for providing immediate relief for damaged structures and in cases of death and those injured.