Umar Raina/Shafat Malik
Ganderbal/Bandipora,Jan 14: Two avalanches on Saturday hit Sarbal area of Sonamarg in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district and the upper reaches of Journiyal village of Gurez valley in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district.
However, no loss of life or damage to property has been reported in both the incidents.
This was the second avalanche in same place during the last 48 hour’s earlier a massive avalanche occurred on Thursday in SarbalSonamarg in which two workers of Mega Engineering infrastructure Limited buried alive.
Officials sources said another Minor Snow Slide occurred near Sarbal today however, there was no loss of life or damage has been reported in the incident, they said.
Mega Engineering infrastructure Limited (MEIL) have already suspended work on Zojila Tunnel temporarily and over 767 workers working in the project were discharged by the officials of (MEIL) due to bad weather conditions and heavy snowfall till further orders.
Senior Manager Mega Engineering Infrastructure Limited (MEIL) BurhanAndrabi told Rising Kashmir that today a minor snow slide occurred near Sarbal area However, there is no loss of life or injuries happened.
He said the company is already active so that no one has to face problems. He added that company has mobilized men and missionary rescue teams to the said place.
Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir on issued an avalanche warning for 12 districts which have witnessed moderate to heavy snowfall over the past 48 hours.
According to Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Authority(JKDMA)
Avalanche with medium danger level is likely to occur above 2000 metres over Chamba, Kinnaur, Kullu, Bandipore, Baramulla, Doda, Ganderbal, Kishtwar, Punch, Ramban, Reasi in next 24 hours.Public is advised to avoid venturing along these areas.
Meanwhile, the police stated a low intensity avalanche has hit at Sarbal area where Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL) is having workshop. As reported by the Company Officials, everyone is safe. No loss of life and property is reported as of now. Police and SDRF are monitoring the situation closely. Media groups are advised not to post any unverified news, police added.
Meanwhile, an official told Rising Kashmir that the slide impacted the upper reaches of the Journiyal village of Gurez. However, no fatalities or damage was reported.He said that an advisory was already issued to people residing in Gurez valley not to venture out unnecessarily.
The Deputy Commissioner of Bandipora, Dr Owais Ahmed while briefing press said that the advisory had already been issued to several avalanche-prone areas in the district and teams were asked to remain alert. He said the control room was vigilantly keeping an eye on those areas.
“The team acted immediately after the snow slide hit the upper parts of Journiyal village in Gurez and the situation was carefully examined,” he said.
He added, , there were no losses or harm reported, The locals were advised and instructed not to venture out unnecessarily.”
Earlier, the State Disaster Management Authority issued a ‘high danger’ avalanche warning for the Bandipora and Kupwara districts of north Kashmir and a ‘medium danger’ warning for the Baramulla and Ganderbal districts.
