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Majority inner roads remain under snow, chill continues

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 1/18/2020 5:01:00 PM

SRINAGAR, Jan 17: Majority roads remained under snow in Kashmir valley, including summer capital, Srinagar, where there was no respite from the chill disrupting normal life.
Meanwhile, doctors have advised people, particularly elderly persons, children and those who are suffering from heart and chest diseases to avoid going out from their houses during the morning and evening hours.
People alleged shortage of essentials, particularly LPG cylinders, fresh vegetables besides frequent power failure in the valley.
Security forces continued to remain deployed in Srinagar and other parts of the valley to maintain law and order despite chilly weather conditions.
Life remained affected in summer capital, Srinagar, where almost all interior roads and lanes and by-lanes remained under snow. Neither Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) nor the Roads and Buildings (R&B) launched snow clearance operation on interior roads, people alleged. “We could not drive our vehicles to main roads from our houses as inner roads are under snow which has now frozen,” people alleged.
However, snow on main roads has been cleared. However, few inches of snow remained there which has frozen. With the result roads have become slippery, they said.
In the uptown areas, including Budshah Nagar, Natipora and Azad Basti, people said that snow has not been cleared so far. The SMC officials also could not collect garbage from houses due to snow bound roads. Residents had to take garbage to a point at a distance where SMC workers had put up their handcart. Similar reports were also received from other parts of the city.
Due to sub-zero temperature during the night (minus 0.8 degree), snow also remained on roof and tree-tops besides open fields in the city. The day chill also intensified forcing people to remain indoors.
The morning walkers were missing due to severe chilly condition in Srinagar, where heaviest snowfall was recorded in 40 years. Life in the city starts only after 1000 hrs though some vehicles and people could be seen on the streets from 0800 hrs.
Very few vehicles were seen plying on city roads. However, the number increased as the day progressed today. Drivers have been advised by police to drive their vehicles very slowly to avoid accidents due to slippery road conditions.
Majority shops and business establishments are now reopening very late in the morning. However, people in large numbers could be seen in shops selling “Hareesa” a famous winter dish made of lamb’s meat in Kashmir.
Meanwhile, students, including girls, could be seen covering the snow bound slippery roads on foot to reach their tuition and coaching centres. “The minimum temperature in Srinagar was minus 0.8 degree,” a Met department spokesman said.
Large number of roads, leading to remote villages, remained closed due to accumulation of snow in the central Kashmir district of Badgam and Ganderbal.
Similar, reports were also received from south and north Kashmir districts. However, Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla, Dr G N Ittoo admitted that due to over five feet of snow road clearance operation was affected in the district.
He said 220 priority and 630 roads were affected due to heavy or very heavy snowfall for three days from Monday. However, during the first 24 hours, snow on 150 priority roads, including hospitals, was cleared by pressing into service sophisticated machines. “We put through all the 220 priority roads by Thursday evening,” he said, adding that in some areas we had to press into service heavy snow cutters.
A report from Kargil said that dozens of roads, connecting far flung and remote areas, with district headquarter remained closed as no snow clearance operation was started so far.
The Drass, second coldest place in the world after Siberia and Suru remained cut off from Kargil due to snow.