IrfanYattoo/ Younus Rashid
Srinagar, Mar 02: Gusty winds accompanied by rainfall, wreaked havoc and caused damage over 250 residential rooftops in southern Kashmir and Ramban districts on Saturday. The meteorological department has forecasted improvement in weather conditions from Sunday afternoon.
As predicted by the MeT department, gusty winds ranging from 35 to 45 kmph wreak havoc in south Kashmir districts including Kulgam, Anantnag, Shopian and Ramban districts. The gusty winds caused substantial damage to rooftops, posing challenges for residents amid the inclement weather. Many areas in Kulgam, district witnessed huge damage to rooftops of residential houses in Nandimarg, Yarikah, Manzgam, DK Marg, and Hallan. Similarly, in Qazigund, the winds caused damage to a local government school and several residential rooftops.
Similarly, in Anantnag, significant damage occurred to school buildings in NowgamVerinag and Shahabad Dooru due to fast-moving gusty winds.
TehsildarDamhalHanjiporaZahid Ahmad told Rising Kashmir that around 95 residential houses in Kulgam suffered minor or partial damage to rooftops. Immediate relief efforts are being coordinated, with support being provided to affected families falling within the ambit of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).
“We also provided relief to one of the fire victims in Lagowpora, whose residential house was partially damaged due to fire incidents. Immediate assistance, in terms of blankets and food kits, was provided to the victim’s family,” he added.
Similarly, gusty winds damaged Receiving Station building in DamhalHanjipora due to the heavy windstorm, causing disruption to station functioning. “Restoration efforts are currently underway,” officials said.
In Ramban district, DC Raman Baseer-ul-Haq stated that approximately 150 houses and government buildings have been reported to be either fully or partially damaged due to the severe weather conditions. Efforts are underway to assess the extent of the damage and provide assistance to affected families.
As per local reports, strong gusts of wind wreaked havoc in numerous areas of Banihal and Ramsoo sub-divisions within Ramban district since last night. The High School KumlaTrigam in Khari tehsil bore the brunt of these powerful winds, with its rooftop torn off.
Additionally, in Chaka Sarbagni in Ramsoo, several houses suffered roof damage due to the forceful winds. Further, the residential properties of Nazir Ahmad Zargar and NasrullahKatoch were severely impacted by the storm, experiencing significant damage.
Gustry winds were also reported in Pogal-Paristan, Narad, Maligam, Neel, Mahu-MangitBanihal ,Khari, Trigam ,Chaknarwa ,Chamalwas, Amkote, Thachi, Hainjhal,Nowgam ,Tethar, Sarachi including the Gool, Ramban and Batote areas of Ramban district remained the worst affected areas.
The impact of the storm extended to parked vehicles on roads in Khari tehsil, where falling trees caused substantial damage.InNarad hamlet in Maligam alone, five houses belonging to members of the ST Community have been severely damaged by the destructive forces of the wind storm and heavy rainfall.
Director MeT Srinagar, Dr.Mukhtar Ahmad told Rising Kashmir that gusty winds also were reported in south Kashmir and Ramban district on Saturday.
“Till late Saturday, there are reports of gusty winds in Srinagar, Ganderbal, Baramulla, Pulwama, Anantnag and Kulgam during next 2-3 hours. The intense showers accompanied by gusty winds, thunderstorm, lightning/Hailstorm also occurred over Jammu, RS Pura, Nagrota, Reasi, Samba, Akhnoor and parts of Udhampur,” he said.
In view of weather emergency, district police Ramban has issued helplines to facilitate the general public and to avoid any untoward incident.
“People are requested to contact following helpline numbers in case of any exigency related to present weather conditions or any distress especially in far flung areas of the district.
Meanwhile following a dip in temperatures, higher reaches of Kashmir witnessed substantial snowfall, while continuous rain lash plains for the second consecutive day on Saturday.
This is the third widespread wet spell in Kashmir valley following the 2 month long dry spell. Prevailing weather conditions will continue to prevail till March 03 afternoon in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Few places experienced heavy to very heavy snow particularly over higher reaches of north, central & south Kashmir &PirPanjal range of Jammu Division,” he said.
Dr.Mukhtar said that plains of Kashmir division may receive moderate rain, snow while plains of Jammu may receive moderate rain with possibility of heavy Rain over Ramban, Udhampur&Reasi districts.
“There will be improvement in weather conditions from Sunday afternoon and there is no significant weather activity till 10th March with possibility of light rain, snow at scattered places during night of 6th March to 7th March,” he said.
As per MeT official, Srinagar city received 12 mm of rainfall till 8pm on Saturday, ski-resort Gulmarg in Baramulla recorded fresh spell of 2 feet of snowfall, Tangmarg 11 inches, Pahalgam 5 inches, Sonamarg 2 feet, Qazigund 3-4 inches, Shopian 11 inches.
Sadhna Top 2 feet, Machil 1 ft, Kishtwar 2 inches, Baramulla 8 inches, Sopore 6 inches, Tral 2 inches, , BaflliazPoonch 2 inches, Gurez ft, Karnah lower reaches 1 feet, MoveraPahalgam 2 inches. Peer kiGalli also witnessed heavy snowfall and recorded more than 2 feet and Minimarg, Zojila Pass, and Drass also received heavy snowfall till Saturday evening.
Meanwhile, traffic remained suspended along 270 kilometres of Jammu-Srinagar national highway on Saturday after heavy rainfall triggered multiple landslides and shooting stones in the Ramban district, officials said.
The highway was blocked at over half a dozen places between Nashri and Banihal. Following which National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) have mobilised men and machines to clear the highway for one-way traffic.
Traffic on the highway has been restricted to one-way since February 26 and was being used alternatively from Jammu and Srinagar after heavy rains and snowfall damaged the arterial road at several places last week.
A traffic police spokesman said traffic movement stopped due to shooting stones, landslides at more than 13 places along the highway, Men and machinery are on the job to restore the highway.
“On Sunday, there is no possibility of re-opening of the road, how after the weather improves, the highway will be restored,” he said.
Meanwhile, following the fresh snowfall along Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri Road and Mughal Road, no traffic will be allowed on these highways on Sunday.
Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Authority on Saturday issued a medium-danger level avalanche warning for nine districts in Jammu and Kashmir.
A JKDMA Spokesperson said avalanche with Medium Danger Level is likely to occur above 2200 metres above sea level over Bandipora, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Baramulla, Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, Ramban, Reasi districts in next 24 hours.”
“People living in these (specified) areas are advised to take precautions and avoid venturing in the avalanche prone areas till further orders,” he said.
