February 2022

Authorities on Wednesday said that electricity will be restored in all district headquarters except Kulgam by today evening.

Chief Engineer, Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL) distribution said 85% power supply will be restored in Srinagar by today evening.

“The restoration work on electric Tower at Kulgam is likely to take more time,” the official said.

Power supply to southern district Kulgam shall remain effected for next few days as two transmission towers have collapsed due to snowfall, officials said.

“Two towers of 132 KV Mirbazar Kulgam transmission line feeding Grid station got collapsed due to heavy snowfall. Power supply to entire Kulgam district shall remain effected for few days”, reads a tweet by Executive Engineer ED Kulgam.

A senior officer of the department told GNS that emergency restoration system has been requisition for and it also takes couple of days. He said while all other grid station stands restored. He said that electricity poles have collapsed at community transmission level and are being restored. “Where the network is intact, the electricity has been or will be restored by today evening,” he said. (GNS)

A lady was injured after a shed collapsed due to heavy snowfall in Achan village of Litter Tehsil in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

Locals told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that a lady namely Arifa Banoo (45) wife of Mohammad Shafi Dar was cooking in a shed when it collapsed resulting in injuries to the said lady.

They said due to accumulation of snow on the road, they were unable to take her to hospital following which a JCB was called in to take her to the hospital.

Locals have requested administration to clear main roads at an earliest so that people won’t face any problems.

An official has confirmed to incident to KNO and said that lady is being treated at district hospital Pulwama and roads are being cleared in the area—(KNO)

Janta Dal United Leader Vivek Bali State Secretary have demanded earliest development in Nowgam Shangus of District Anantnag. The concerned departments seems dilly dallying tactics.

The urgently required infrastructure being the people of area most peace loving, who always dislike protests for mitigation of their sufferings and due to these facts of the people are not heard sincerely.

The demands put forth are as under:
1.Removal of encroachment on Kacharir land adjacent to Shahi Hamdan Sports Stadium to complete its establishment as Sports Stadium with release of adequate funds for construction and renovation with boundary walling of the sports stadium so as to cater the long pending demand on this account.
2.They have demanded that power supply improvement desires upgradation from 6.2 to 10.3. This has been approved but still not being installed since long.
3. Upgradation of Gopalpura Grid Station is the burning demand to overcome the power supply deficiency in the area.
4. Replacement of old poles and wires both HT and LT 5. Installation of transformers for Chanmoahala and Kharbat at an earliest to avoid their low standard power supply.
6. Upgradation of Agriculture Department and Sheep/Animal Husbandry with construction of New Buildings have to be initiated at an earliest to modernise these departmental projects.
7. Opening of four new Angenwadi Centres in Nowgam, Shangus area is the earnest requirement for healthy welfare of infants in the area.
8. The leader have demanded opening of Naibat, Girdawer Circle, and Patwar Halqua in Bandi to cater the requirements of the public.
9. Irrigation Projects of Kullo Laad are still pending since last eight years and it needs to be completed and construction of new canals is the earnest demand for getting rid from the irrigation problems by the people in the area. The State Secretary has urged the Lieutenant Governor, Chief Secretary, Principal Secretaries of Concerned departments to accede to the demands demanded above so that the Public of Shangus Nowgam of Anantnag district may feel themselves as good citizens, as this area was visited by Late Smt Indira Gandhi on becoming her Prime Minister of India during seventies as a first visit to Kashmir had landed in Shangus, but since her departure from universe no development was heeded up-to-date.

Many Shikaras got submerged at the world famous Dal Lake amid heavy snowfall in Srinagar on Wednesday.

Reports reaching the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that at least half a dozen Shikaras got submerged at Dal Lake due to heavy snowfall in Srinagar.

In the incident, no loss of life or injury has been reported, they said, adding that the locals as well as officials are on job to dewater the Shikaras—(KNO)

The overnight heavy snowfall across Kashmir has cut the power supply to majority of areas in the Valley including Srinagar as transmission lines and poles have got damaged extensively.

Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Chief Engineer of Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL), Aijaz Ahmad Dar said that at least 60 per cent damage has occurred across Kashmir due to fresh snowfall.

He said that the men and machinery has been pressed to restore the electricity. However, he said that the restoration process is likely to be completed till 02:00 PM.

Dar further said that the restoration would take a bit longer in southern areas due to the huge damage by snowfall.

“We have started the restoration process and have set target to restore the electricity by 02:00 PM,” he said.

Pertinently, Kashmir areas including Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir is reeling under darkness since this morning.

Kashmir parts received fresh snowfall since late Tuesday evening, bringing down the mercury across the Valley.

The fresh snowfall has also resulted in closure of Srinagar-Jammu highway and cancellation of flights to and from Srinagar international airport—(KNO)

Amid ongoing snowfall, a Power Development Department (PDD) transmission tower collapsed at Balhama in central Kashmir’s Srinagar district this morning.

Reports reaching said that a transmission tower of PDD collapsed at village Balhama resulting in damage to a tipper dumper bearing registration number JK02AP 2513 and a platform vehicle bearing number JK02AL 1648, parked on the roadside.

The damaged transmission tower has also lead to blockade of road leading from Sempora to Khrew.

Local sources told GNS that no official from the department concerned or district administration has reached the spot yet. (GNS)

Kashmir Valley received snowfall, leading to closure of Jammu Srinagar national highway besides delay in flights to and fro the Srinagar ‘international’ airport and suspension of Baramulla—Banihal Train train service on Wednesday.

Jammu Srinagar national highway closed for vehicular movement due to landslides/shooting stones at many places on highway and snow accumulation around the NVYUG Tunnel, traffic officials told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO)

Train service from Baramulla to Banihal has been suspended following heavy snowfall in the valley, Railway officials said.

Director Srinagar Airport told KNO that it is continuously snowing at the airport following which all flights of all airlines are delayed due to low visibility.

“We are having continuous snowfall at our airport. Our Snow Clearing operations are also in continuous progress on runway and Apron.
However the visibility is only 400M,” he said.

He said that all the flights of all airlines are delayed. “We will continuously update the status of flights in this thread. Please standby for the next update at 0930,” he further said.

The University of Kashmir has postponed all UG/PG/Professional examinations of the University scheduled to be held on February 23, 2022 (Wednesday) in view of the inclement weather conditions.

Controller of Examinations Dr Majid Zaman said fresh dates for the postponed papers will be notified separately.

“All the examinations of Cluster University Srinagar scheduled on 23rd February,2022 have been postponed due to inclement weather. Fresh dates for postponed papers shall be notified separately.” Controller of Examinations Cluster University Srinagar said.

Meanwhile controller examination SKIMS also informed that all scheduled exams have been postponed and fresh dates will be notified separately.

“All the Examinations of the SKIMS Medical University scheduled for today 23rd February, 2022 have been postponed due to inclement weather. Fresh dates will be notified separately.” Controller Examinations SKIMS said.

The office of Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir today issued an official communiqué informing that a helpline has been established in the office in view of the snowfall.

According to the communiqué, the helpline numbers are Divisional Control Room Mechanical Engineering Department: 9419149538, 9469793219, 7006209053, Divisional Control Room KPDCL (PDD Department): 6006613056, 6006613057, 6006613058, 6006613059, 6006613060, Divisional Control Room PW (R&B) Department:
0194-2313751, SDRF Control Room: 1800-180-7159 (Toll Free), NDRF Control Room:
7341128523, Divisional Control Room PHE (Jal Shakti) Department: 0194-2452047, Divisional Control Room Irrigation & Flood Control Department:0194-2502946, 0194-2502947, Srinagar Municipal Corporation Control Room: 0194-2474499, 0194-2470465, 6006433309, 9906807794, 1800-180-7038 (Toll Free), Divisional Control Room Urban Local Bodies Kashmir: 0194-2490757, 0194-2952350, 8803390200, 9419088961, Divisional Control Room Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Deptt:
1800-180-7011 (Toll Free), Divisional Control Room Health Services Kashmir: 9419093475 (Assistant Director), Divisional Police Control Room Kashmir:
0194-2506504, 0194-2506508 and State Emergency Operation Centre Srinagar: 1070 (Toll free), 0194-2303399.

“SMC has initiated clearance of snow from lanes and by-lanes across the city” SMC authorities said. “MED has initiated clearance of main roads and link roads, ” SMC’s S&D Division (Dewatering Wing) has been mobilized preemptively to deal with any eventual localized water-logging.

Notably, weather man had predicted snowfall and rains in Jammu and Kashmir on February 22 and 23 and had said that the inclement weather may affect road and air traffic in the Union territory—(KNO)

The University of Kashmir has postponed all UG/PG/Professional examinations of the University scheduled to be held on February 23, 2022 (Wednesday) in view of the inclement weather conditions.

Controller of Examinations Dr Majid Zaman said fresh dates for the postponed papers will be notified separately.

A 21-year-old BSC student was found dead in Saida Kadal area of Srinagar on Tuesday evening.

Official sources told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a 21-year-old BSC nursing student identified as Adil Aziz Khan of Kulgam was found unconscious at his rented accommodation in Saidakadal area of Srinagar.

They said he was rushed to JLNM Hospital Rainawari, where, doctors declared him brought dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, local police has reached the spot and started investigations into the matter—(KNO)

The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Mohammad Aijaz Asad today finalized the Action Plan and arrangements put in place in the district for smooth conduct of Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization Programme (IPPI) -2022 scheduled for February 27, in a meeting held here.

On the occasion, the DC was apprised that as many as 198984 children of the district in the age group of 0-5 years will be administered polio vaccines on February 27 across the district for which adequate arrangements have been put in place.

The DC was informed that 668 vaccination booths have been established in five medical zones of the district with deployment of 3154 officials, besides, 19 Transit vaccination booths operated by CMO/Dy CMO, Block and Zone level have been set up to facilitate the people.

It was given out that 10 Transit Vaccination Booths will be set up at JVC, SKIMS, Bemina, G B Panth, LD & SMHS Hospitals, CMO Office, DC Office, Directorate of Health Services, Batamaloo Bus Stand, Ganta Ghar, B.B Cant hospital, Dy CMO office, Soura, Jehangir Chowk, TRC, near Mughal Darbar, JLNM Hospital and PHC Khanyar.

While 9 Transit Booths to be operated at Block/Zone levels have also been arranged at Batamaloo Bus Stand, Parimpora Bus Stand, Panth Chowk Bus Stand, HMT Crossing, Nowgam Railway Crossing, Qamerwari Chowk, LD Hospital Gate, Harwan and Nishat areas.

Similarly, 6 special vaccination Booths will be established at ITBP, Pantha Chowk, Police Hospital, Trans Muslim University, Kashmir Tibbia College, Police Housing Colony and Composite Hospital Srinagar.

Speaking on the occasion, the DC said that it is the collective responsibility of all stakeholders to achieve the fixed targets to keep the district polio free. He stressed for wide publicity of the program through mass media so that no child is left out especially in the far-flung areas of the district.

The DC directed the CMO to set up special sites at construction sites, Brick kilns and areas under Nomadic Populations.

The meeting among others was attended by Chief Medical Officer, Dr Jameel, Deputy CMO, Dr Nighat and all Zonal Medical Officers.