Tourist dies as snowfall badly hits electricity supply, surface, air traffic in Kashmir
The J&K administration on Saturday (December 28, 2024) grappled with electricity outages, air and surface traffic disruptions and stranded tourists in the wake of a spell of heavy snowfall in the past 24 hours. One tourist died after a boulder hit a vehicle on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway.
The normal life in the Valley was badly impacted as snowfall, which continued intermittently for the second day on Saturday, made roads slippery and enforced closure of many highways, including the Srinagar-Jammu, Srinagar-Poonch, Srinagar-Gurez, Srinagar-Kishtwar and Srinagar-Tangdhar highways.
A female tourist was killed after a boulder rolled down and smashed a mini bus at Mehar area of Ramban district. The boulder caused “severe head injuries to the victim”.
Hundreds of travellers remained stranded on the Srinagar-Jammu highway where around 500 vehicles, including 350 heavy motor vehicles and 150 light motor vehicles, are unable to move since Friday afternoon. “Snow clearance operations are underway on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway on a war-footing basis,” Senior Superintendent of Police Traffic (Rural) Ravinder Pal Singh said.
According to the police, around 16 stranded passengers were rescued in the past 24 hours from south and north Kashmir. Locals opened up their houses and mosques in Ganderbal and Budgam districts to accommodate scores of stranded tourists, including kids, mostly from Punjab and Hyderabad.
Meanwhile, all flights at the Srinagar Airport were cancelled, officials said. The rail services, which were suspended in the morning, resumed on Saturday afternoon. All the examinations to be held by the Kashmir University on Saturday were postponed
Locals living in several villages of Kulgam, Anantnag, Ganderbal and Pulwama districts complained of major power outages and snapped water supply after the snowfall. J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said around 41 feeders of 33 KV level and 739 feeders of 11KV were down in the Kashmir division. “Restoration work is underway and more than 90% feeders are expected to be up and functional be evening today,” Mr. Abdullah said.
CM Abdullah, who took stock of the situation in Ganderbal, chaired a meeting with Divisional and District Administration in Srinagar. All Deputy Commissioners were directed to review snow clearance, power, and water supply scenarios. “I have directed swift action to ensure uninterrupted essential services after the snowfall,” Mr. Abdullah said.
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