First Snowfall in Srinagar Disrupts Life

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, Nov 14: The Srinagar and its adjoining areas experienced the season's first snowfall on Friday, completely disrupting normal life.

Srinagar witnessed snowfall since early morning and half a feet of snow had accumulated in the summer capital by 1600 hours. Due to the snowfall, the cold wave conditions increased and the demand for woollen clothes also increased manifold.

All the plains in Kashmir also experienced heavy snowfall. Several inches of snowfall got accumulated on the roads. The authorities pressed dozens of snow clearance machines into service to clear the snow from the roads.

Scores of electricity poles were uprooted by the snowfall plunging the Kashmir into darkness. "The efforts are underway to restore the power supply," a top power official said.

Co-ordinator of the Kashmir's Disaster Management Cell Aamir Ali said that all of Kashmir received snowfall on Friday. He said that highest snowfall was recorded at Ranzdantop in North Kashmir's where 4-6 feet snow was recorded. In the Kupwara district, 2.6 feet at Sadnatop, 5 inches at the main Kupwara town, 2 inches at Handwara, 6 inches at Dumail, 3 feet at Gulmarg, 1.7 feet at Tangmarg and 1.6 inches at Babareshi shrine was recorded.

In south Kashmir's Kulgam 3.4 feet, Awantipora 1. 3 inches, Shopian 6 inches and Damhal Hanjipora in Anantnag 8 inches, Pahalgam 2 to 3 inches while Srinagar received snowfall of 4-5 inches.

"There were no reports of any loss of life or major damage to property. However electric poles and trees were uprooted at many places", he said.

This is for the first time in four years that snowfall in the city has been witnessed as early as November. The usual time for snowfall in the city is late December or early January.

"All the district routes have been cleared but it has been snowing continuously, causing some problems," he said.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.

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