* Avalanche hits Gurez, 200 cattle buried alive in Reasi
Gopal Sharma/Fayaz Bukhari
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Mar 2: While the Kashmir valley and many parts of Jammu region experienced season’s heavy snowfall, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, Batote-Kishtwar and many other roads have been closed due to continuous rain, landslides and snowfall, whereas, Pantoon bridge over Tawi in Jammu was washed away due to flood in the river early today.
Kashmir remained cut off from rest of the country as all the flights to Srinagar were cancelled due to heavy snow on the airport and the entire run-way. The chopper service to Mata Vaishnodevi shrine from base camp Katra was also suspended due to bad weather today. The continuous rain and increasing cold conditions paralysed the normal life of the people in the region. The Divisional Administration Kashmir has issued fresh avalanche warnings in view of heavy snowfall.
A 72-year-old Mata Vaishnodevi pilgrim, hailing from Delhi died of severe cold at Hathi Matha on the track to shrine this morning and nearly 200 cattle including three horses and 120 goats were buried alive due to landslides in Arnas area of district Reasi last night. A major portion of approach roads to an Army bridge over Poonch river also got washed away in flash flood last night snapping connectivity to many areas.
Following heavy snowfall, the authorities issued an avalanche warning in the hills of Kashmir valley while at least 15 structures were damaged in an avalanche in Gurez areas of Bandipora district today.
Kashmir valley today woke up to season’s heaviest snowfall with Srinagar recording 7 inches of snow, Qazigund 8 inches, Pahalgam 8 inches, Keran, Kupwara and Kokernag one ft, Gulmarg two ft, Afarwat 3 ft and Santhantop 2.5 ft.
The snow clearance machines were pressed into service and the snow was cleared from the main roads. However, the traffic was moving at snail’s pace due to slippery road conditions. The hilly roads are still under snow and those areas are disconnected.
The snowfall caused water-logging at many places in Srinagar city and other places. There was also power breakdown, however, in the afternoon power supply to the majority areas was restored.
Inspector General of Police Traffic, Muneer Ahmad Khan told the Excelsior that highway remained closed for traffic following heavy snowfall in Pir Panjal sector of the highway and landslides at many places.
Mr Khan said that around 2.5 ft snow accumulated in Jawahar Tuneel area and nearly one to 1.5 ft near Qazigund and Banihal. He said that the snow was cleared several times but continuous snow and rains lashed along the highway. He said that mudslides and shooting stones blocked the highway at Kheri, Samroli, Nashri, Seri near Ramban, Panthal, Magarkote, Hingni and Gangroo.
The IGP said that there was no stranded traffic on the highway and tomorrow the highway will be cleared and if the weather improved some light motor vehicles may be allowed to ply from Jammu towards Srinagar.
The air traffic to Kashmir valley also remained suspended due to snowfall as no flight landed or took off from Srinagar International Airport today.
Authorities today issued fresh avalanche warning in hills of Kashmir. People living in these areas have been asked not to venture out. Kulgam police and Army evacuated 27 families from Waltengo Nard in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district from avalanche prone areas.
“In view of the avalanche warning, Kulgam Police and Army have evacuated 27 families consisting of 58 souls from Waltengo Nard and shifted them to Girls High School Nowbugh”, police said.
The officials said that at least 15 structures including six residential houses were completely and eight other partially damaged due to a snow avalanche in village Sardab of Tulail in the Bandipora district today.
Meanwhile, the upper reaches of Trikuta hills of Mata Vaishno Devi and the tourist resorts of Patnitop, Bhaderwah, Dudu-Basantgarh and Poonch also experienced snowfall over night while many roads were closed for traffic. A large number of vehicles have been stranded at several places due to blockades. Jawahar Tunnel area has experienced over 1.5 to 2 ft snow and Banihal town about 6-8 inch while Partnitop also nearly 6-7 inch snowfall today.
Reports from Ramban said that landslides took place at Nashri near Batote, Gangru, Magarkote and Seri between Ramban and Banihal. Shooting stones continued at Panthal since yesterday. Near Gangroo in Ramsoo area, about 50 meter portion of road has sunk as a retaining wall has been partially collapsed. On Sunday, there was down convoy and most of the vehicles had crossed Ramban area. The road was closed last evening.
Many vehicles have been stranded between Banihal, Ramban, Batote and Udhampur. Batote-Kishtwar road was also blocked due to land-slides at 2-3 locations between Batote and Doda. Ramban -Gool, Magarkote-Ukheral, Neel-Mahu Mangat roads have also been closed. Reasi-Mahore, Mahore-Chasana-Budhal, Mahore-Gulabgarh and Mahore-Gool roads in Reasi, Ramnagar-Dudu Basantgarh-Lati-Sudhmahadev, Udhampur-Chenani-Kud and Udhampur- Pancheri-Landhar and Moungri and Udhampur-Ghordi-Bharmeen roads have also closed. Billawar-Katli and Machhedi roads, and Basohli-Bani roads in Kathua district have also closed due to landslides at several places.
While Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch highway was through till this evening, but several link roads have been closed due to rain for the last more than 24 hours. Due to closure of Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and Batote-Doda-Kishtwar road, a large number of passengers have been stranded at Jammu Bus Stand which witnessed heavy rush this evening. There is no hope of road opening by tomorrow.
A senior police official said that due to flash flood in river Tawi during early hours today, the Pantoon bridge constructed by Army connecting near Satwari was washed away, snapping connectivity with more than three dozen island villages including Phalain-Mandal and Suhanjana. Some of the boats which were tied with the help of large ropes could be saved.
Reports from Reasi said that due to landslides at Raskeen Morha Bani, nearly 200 cattle including three horses were buried alive. Two cattle shed belonging to Abdul Hamid, son of Mahabali and Samar Singh came under landslides. The police party from Arnas was sent to the site but due to rain the buried animals could not be retrieved.
A police spokesman said that 72-year-old Sarwaswati, wife of Budhi Ram, resident of Delhi who had gone to Mata Vaishnodevi, died while returning from shrine near Hathi Matha due to severe cold and snowfall. Her body has been dispatched to her home by police after completion of legal formalities.
The continuous rain has restricted the movement of people outside and the attendance in most of the schools and offices remained thin. The power supply to many areas has been snapped and roads have been washed away. A sharp fall in the temperature has been witnessed in Jammu in last two–three days. The weatherman has predicted snowfall at higher reaches and rain across the region in next 24 hours. The weather may improve on Wednesday but again till Friday, there are chances of rain.
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