Kashmir braces up for another snowfall: Srinagar, Feb 1: With Kashmir witnessing a slight respite from cold wave on Saturday, Meteorological Department has predicted fresh snowfall during the night of February 2 and 3. The authorities Saturday reviewed preparedness for the fresh precipitation and said that around 236 snow cutters are ready for clearing the roads. Director MeT Department, Sonam Lotus, said a fresh western disturbance is likely to affect J&K from Sunday evening and it will continue till February 7 with its main activity from the night of February 2. “There would be moderate to heavy snowfall till January 5,” Lotus said adding that from February 5 onwards there are chances of intermittent snowfall. He said that snowfall will affect most of the places in Kashmir, particularly South Kashmir and Pir Panchal Mountain Range. Keeping the latest prediction into consideration, authorities have issued an avalanche warning for the next week. The authorities have directed all the concerned officials to remain vigilant and be present at their respective places of postings to meet any eventuality. The warning has been issued for the people living in avalanche-prone areas around Pir Panchal Mountain Range in south Kashmir; Bandipora, Baramulla and Kupwara in north Kashmir. The residents living in these areas have been asked not to venture out during the snowfall. This would be third snowfall in Kashmir plains during this winter and first after the end of Chilai Kalan. The two earlier snowfalls added to the woes of people as the administration was caught napping. MeT officials said that there was a slight relief from cold on Saturday and Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 3.3 degrees Celsius, same as the previous night. They said temperature in the tourist resort of Pahalgam recorded a minimum of minus 10 degrees Celsius, over a degree up from minus 11.2 degrees Celsius the previous night while as the temperature at ski-resort of Gulmarg also witnessed upward trend. “There was over a degree rise in temperature and it was recorded minus 4.8 degrees Celsius as compared to minus 6.4 degrees Celsius the previous night,” officials said.
Posted on: Sun, 02 Feb 2014 05:46:03 +0000