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Jammu and Kashmir hit by heavy snowfall

     Srinagar: Municipal authorities in Srinagar are working on a war-footing to clear the roads two days after heavy snowfall cut it cut off from the rest of the country. The road was blocked for the second day in a row, as the main highway connecting Srinagar to winter capital Jammu remained closed due to heavy snowfall. At least 2,000 men of the municipal corporation have been pressed into service to clear the snow. Civic authorities said that though 80 per cent of the roads have been cleared, they are facing problems at night due to low temperatures. "This has happened all of a sudden. Until two days back it was raining and then there was heavy snowfall. We have engaged over 2,000 workers for clearing the roads and till now, we have completed over 80 percent of the roads.

   With the night temperature getting low, it was getting difficult to clear the roads," said M.S Rather, Municipal Commissioner of Srinagar. The Jammu-Srinagar high way including the Jawahar Tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir was closed after heavy snowfall on Tuesday. The 300- km-long highway connects the valley to the rest of India. On the other hand the locals, who have remained indoors for more than 48 hours, are unhappy with the arrangements. "There is water and snow on the roads. There is no programme to clear the roads, it looks as though the administration is sleeping," said Ghani Nabi, a local. People have also complained about the rising prices of essential commodities due to snowfall. "The condition is better today as power supply has been restored. But we are not getting any LPG (cooking gas) or firewood, and if we get them somewhere, then they are very expensive," said Bashir Ahmed, another resident. Officials said it was snowing heavily in the upper reaches and looked as though the weather was going to deteriorate further. Over three feet snow has accumulated at the hill resort of Patnitop and over 3.5 feet at Banihal and on both sides of the Jawahar tunnel.
-Jan 4, 2006

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