Kashmir remains cut-off; Vacations extended, schools, Colleges to re-open on Monday
Srinagar: Eleven people were killed including two army troopers, dozens injured and hundreds of houses damaged due to fresh snowfall across the Valley, even as majors towns and district of the Valley continued to remain under darkness.
Yesterday, a septuagenarian woman, Fazi wife of Jalal-Ud-Din, had died after her residential house collapsed at Kansoo village of Imam Sahab in south Kashmir’s Shopian district. Meanwhile, the vital Srinagar-Jammu highway also remained out of bounds, while the air traffic resumed after improvement in weather.
Reports reaching GNS said that an avalanche hit Baalsaran area of Damhal Hanjipora in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district burying at least eleven people who were in sleep. While 12 people who were injured and rescued by the locals police and army, 3 other were found dead. They have been identified as Abdur Rashid, Talib Hussain, and Altaf Hussain. The injured were removed to the nearby hospital for treatment. 8 houses also suffered massive damage in the avalanche. At least 30 houses in the district were damaged partially due to the snowfall.
In Anantnag district, where officials said, forty residential houses suffered damages, a woman died when she was collecting firewood from her store that collapsed due to the weight of snow. The deceased has been identified as Rehti Begum, wife of Abdul Rashid Lone of Qazigund.
A 48-year-old woman, Jana wife of Abdullah Ahad Dar died after a Tin-shed collapsed under snow at Wadipora Chadoora. Jana, sources said, had gone to collect firewood from the shed adjacent to her house. While as Gulzar Ahmad Bhat son of Abdul Aziz resident of Alamdar Colony Char-i-Sharief got injured near his house in Budgam area.
In another incident, 37-year-old Manzoor Ahmad Mir son of Ghulam Rasool of Kadalibal Pampore died after he was swept away by an avalanche near Ramsoo in Ramban on Srinagar-Jammu highway. His body has been retrieved.
In Pulwama, four people suffered injuries while clearing snow from the roof of their houses this morning. The injured were removed to the hospital by police. The injured have been identified as Mushtaq Bhat, son of Ghulam Mohammad Bhat resident of Prichoo, Farooq Lone, son of Abdul Gani Lone, resident of Muchipora, Adil Mir, son of Farooq resident of of Gundipora, and Fayaz Ganai, son of Ghulam Mohiuddin, resident of Sarnaw. In Lehjura, 2 shops and a cowshed were damaged. A godown belonging to Abdul Ahmad Hafiz of Dailpora also suffered damages. A residential house was also partially damaged in Kareemabad area.
Two army men and three Nepali labourers were killed in two avalanches that hit Batra, Drass and Kaksar areas of Kargil. The slain army men have been identified as constable Vijay Prasad and constable Dharminder of 288 Medium Regiment.
Eight people were injured in Ganderbal district, where 20 houses suffered damages. Fayaz Ahmad Guroo, son of Abdur Rehman resident of Badergund and Firdous Ahmad Ganai, son of Abdul Ahad resident of Saloora were injured when a tree fell upon a tin shed in the house of Ghulam Rasoo Wani in Gadoora area.
Four people, whose identity is not known, were injured when residential houses of Mohammad Rafiq Khayee, and Abdul Hamid Wani collapsed in Hayan village of Palpora area of the district. Two more houses belonging to Mushtaq Ahmad Ganai and Mehboob Sheikh were damaged in Kangan. In Lar, Mohammad Amin Shah was injured after a
branch of Chinar tree fell upon his house this morning. At least 20 houses have suffered damaged due to fresh snowfall in the district. Meanwhile, traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu highway remained suspended for the third day today due to the landslides of accumulation of snow at several places. No vehicles were allowed to move towards the either side as the administration was making efforts to make road motorable.
Similarly, the train service also remained suspended for the second running day. However, one flight operated from Srinagar International airport.
The Director, School Education, Kashmir, on Tuesday announced that all the schools from Primary to Higher Secondary level (both Government and recognized Private schools) shall remain closed till March 15, 2014 in view of heavy snowfall in Kashmir Valley. “Violation in this regard shall be reviewed seriously,” an official spokesman said.
A Government official in a statement issued to GNS said that all Colleges to remain closed upto 15th March.
According to a order issued by Higher Education Department, all the Government and Private Degree Colleges of Kashmir Division shall remain closed till 15thMarch 2014, the statement said.
Meanwhile, a police spokesman in a statement issued to GNS said that 7 people, including two army men were killed and 9 others injured in house collapse and avalanches. (GNS)