Normal life disrupted by fresh snowfall in Kashmir

 Normal life disrupted by fresh snowfall in Kashmir

68 flights cancelled, intends to operate tomorrow if weather improves, Dir Airport; Train services suspended, exams postponed; NHW blocked; People advised to avoid travel; Electric supply in valley disrupted; Helpline numbers issued; Weather to remain cloudy and dry till 4th February; officials

Rehan Qayoom Mir 

Srinagar, Jan 30: The fresh snowfall across the Kashmir valley has disrupted normal life. All flights for today have been cancelled, with train services completely suspended and exams at both Cluster University and Kashmir University postponed for today and tomorrow.

The director of Srinagar International Airport, Kuldeep Singh, told Kashmir Bulletin--(KB), that poor visibility led to the flight cancellations. “We intend to operate all flights tomorrow if the weather improves,” he said. Passengers of cancelled flights will be accommodated on the next available flight without extra charge and have the option of a full refund.

“The train services were suspended early in the morning and have not resumed. The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway is also closed due to snowfall in the Banihal sector and rain in the Ramban and Udhampur sectors. Travel on NH-44 is advised against without confirmation from traffic control units.”

The deputy director of the meteorological department in Srinagar, Mukhtar Ahmad, as per KB said the weather will remain cloudy and dry until February 4th, with some improvement expected in South Kashmir, Doda, Kishtwar, Batote, and Baderwah late tonight.

Further, KPDCL J&K as per a statement said, due to heavy snowfall during the intervening night of 30th Jan, electric supply to many areas of Kashmir Valley got disrupted. The load of the whole valley dipped below 850 MWs during the early morning hours of 30th Jan, 2022.

“Out of total 33 KV feeders, 14 were under fault along with 4 No. 33 KV Taplines which affected the power supply mainly to Sopore, Kupwara and Handwara area of District Baramullah of Kashmir Valley. Few portions of District Budgam and of District Anantnag were also affected due to an outage of 4 No. of 33 KV lines out of 14. In addition to that, around 215 11 KV feeders were under fault due to heavy snowfall.”

“From early Morning, Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Ltd. field teams under the able guidance of MD, KPDCL Yasin.M.Choudhary were mobilized to rectify the faults. Despite the continuous snowfall in the region and braving the extreme freezing temperature, the field teams of KPDCL started patrolling the faulty lines and were able to bring up the load of Kashmir Valley to around 1590 MWs by 3 PM,” reads the statement.

“It is pertinent to mention that at present only four 33 KV lines which are specially fed to the Sopore area of District Baramullah and few areas of Bijbehera are under fault and by evening all the 33 KV lines will be charged. Out of all the 11 KV feeders only 154 feeders remain out due to the faulty status of four 33KV lines,” it reads.

“MD, KPDCL is himself closely monitoring the situation and assures the public that all the feeders will be up and live. This is the first time that such a quick restoration has happened since the incorporation of KPDCL.”

“The Managing Director has also praised the patience shown by the public towards the corporation, that may have been affected by the disrupted electric lines that were under faulty this morning and assures the public that the field team of KPDCL wont rest till all the feeders are up and running.”