ISLAMABAD – Authorities on Saturday issued a medium-danger avalanche alert in several parts of Kashmir in view of moderate to heavy snowfall forecast over the next three days. “A medium-danger avalanche warning has been sounded by Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) for Gurez, Gugladara, Keran, Machil, Chowkibal and Tangdar in north Kashmir areas close to the Line of Control,” said Amar Ali, Disaster Management Cell coordinator.
He said the warning will be in force until 5pm tomorrow. “People living in the higher reaches of these areas have been advised to curtail their movement during snowfall and not to venture into avalanche-prone areas,” he said. With fresh western disturbance approaching the state, Ali said fairly widespread snowfall may occur at many places from tomorrow to Tuesday.
Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Asgar Hassan Samoon has directed all deputy commissioners of the districts there and other officials concerned to ensure that necessary measures should be taken to ensure minimum disruption of services, he said. Samoon also asked the Traffic Department to announce one-way traffic on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway from today (Sunday) until February 8 so that passengers are not put to inconvenience due to snowfall.
The Public Health Engineering Department chief engineer has been directed to ensure uninterrupted water supply at tourist resort Gulmarg, where tourists and schoolchildren have gone for skiing courses, Ali said. “Instructions were also given that no vehicle will be allowed beyond Tangmarg towards Gulmarg unless it has 4×4 facility or the tyres are fitted with chains,” he added.
