Snowfall expected in Kashmir

The MET office has predicted moderate to heavy snowfall over hilly areas and light to moderate snowfall at many places in the Kashmir division for one week beginning today, which is likely to intensify on December 13 and 14.

The Divisional Administration in Kashmir put the disaster management grid on stand by to meet any eventuality due to snowfall expected in the next 24 hours across the Valley.

Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Samoon directed all District Development Commissioners, heads of departments and district Superintendents of Police to activate their men and machinery to be in a state of preparedness, so as to ensure minimum disruption of essential services in the Valley due to snowfall.

"As many as 101 Snow clearance machines of Mechanical Engineering Department which include 71 snow ploughs, 19 snow cats, 10 snow cutters and one dozer are available for snow clearance operations on major black topped roads of Valley," Aamir Ali, an official of the Natural Disaster Management Cell, said.

The snow clearance machines have already been placed at various headquarters in North, South and Central Kashmir, Ali said, adding, 35 machines have been kept at Central Snow Control Room for Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal districts and 30 machines have been deployed for Anantnag, Shopian, Kulgam and Pulwama.

Civil Defence Volunteers have been asked to assist the administration in snow clearance wherever required, Ali said, adding, Director CAPD Kashmir has been asked to ensure adequate essential supplies of LPG and Kerosene Oil.