Fresh snowfall

Fresh snowfall has occurred in Kashmir. The snowfall is light to moderate in plain areas and moderate to heavy in upper reaches. In plain areas, the snowfall occurred after several days of rains.

Normal life has been affected in areas where heavy snowfall has occurred. In Srinagar the driving became difficult on link roads due to slippery conditions as the snow was not cleared. Minor mishaps also occurred at some places.

The vehicles had to move very slowly. Reports say that road connectivity has been badly hit and there is disruption in power and drinking water supply in the areas, where snowfall is heavy. Immediate steps should be taken to clear the roads to restore vehicular traffic movement and priority must be given to roads leading to hospitals so that the patients needing emergency treatment are taken there.

Wherever power supply has been affected, it should be restored. Reports say a number of villages have  plunged into darkness. Similar reports have been also received from the upper reaches in Jammu where heavy snowfall has occurred.

Disruption in power supply also affects the drinking water supply and working in hospitals. So restoration of electricity is vital. But while doing so the employees of Power Development Department  (PDD) on the ground must take all precautions during their work to avoid any mishaps.

They do a commendable work while restoring power in heavy snowfall affected areas. Even those clearing roads do so amid hostile weather conditions. Additional snow machines should be made available in the upper reaches also so that after the snow bound roads become traffic worthy at the earliest.

In Srinagar city the snow clearance machines should be pressed into service immediately. These should not only be used on major roads but on the link roads too. The officials should not wait the snowfall to become heavy. They should go for snow clearance immediately. Otherwise the traffic movement gets affected and mishaps also occur.