Srinagar, Dec 20: The Mechanical & Hospital Engineering Department Subdivision Tangmarg is fully prepared for snow clearance operations to ensure renowned tourist destination Gulmarg remains accessible to tourists and visitors throughout the winter season.
Shabir Ahmad, Assistant Executive Engineer for the Snow Clearance Control Room of the Mechanical and Hospital Engineering Department in the Tangmarg subdivision, informed Rising Kashmir that the action plan for this year includes clearing snow from roads stretching from Narbal to Gulmarg, as well as the surrounding area of Tangmarg and Pattan that connect to the Gulmarg road.
“The snow clearance operations across the Kashmir Valley commence in November each year and continue until March. However, the control room operates continuously, 24 hours a day,” he said. “In case a snowfall is getting started at any time, the snow clearance machines are deployed to all main roads that are coming under the jurisdiction of the Mechanical Engineering Department of Kashmir.”
Ahmad said that in December, both Gulmarg and Tangmarg experienced light snowfall, which was promptly cleared from the roads within a short timeframe. “The Tangmarg snow clearance control room is fully prepared to ensure that the tourist destination of Gulmarg remains accessible to visitors throughout the winter season. Our manpower and machinery are on standby in the event of snowfall in the Gulmarg and Tangmarg areas,” he said.
AEE further added that the control room in Tangmarg is equipped with over 20 machines dedicated to snow clearance operations, including six snow cats, eight snow ploughs, two heavy loaders and three snow cutters. “The snow cutters are specifically utilized in areas that receive heavy snowfall. In the event of significant snowfall, the loaders and snow cutter machines are deployed as needed,” Ahmad added.
