Avalanche Warning Issued For 12 Districts Of Jammu And Kashmir, People Urged To Take Precautions

Jammu and Kashmir State Disaster Management Authority issued an avalanche warning on Thursday.

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Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Authority Thursday issued avalanche warning in twelve districts for the next 24 hours, reported news agency ANI.

The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) issued a ‘medium danger’ category warning above 2000 to 2500 metres over Anantnag, Bandipore, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Kulgam, Doda, Kishtwar and Poonch districts.

The authority also expressed apprehension of ‘low danger’ level avalanche occurrence above 2000 to 2500 metres over Reasi, Rajouri and Ramban districts.

Residents in these locations have been advised to take precautions and refrain from venturing in the avalanche-prone areas, reported ANI.

Meanwhile, the plains of J&K were lashed by widespread rains while fresh snowfall was reported from the upper reaches of Kashmir including Gulmarg and Sonamarg on Thursday. The snowfall and rains continued for the entire day intermittently throughout the state. The Meteorological Department (MeT) has predicted more precipitation on Friday.

The snowfall in the higher reaches started late Wednesday night while rains poured since Thursday morning.

The highest snowfall of over 12 inches has been recorded at ski-resort of Gulmarg and Sadhna Top while Kargil witnessed over five inches of snowfall. Some upper reaches of Bandipora including Razdan Top also received yet another spell of fresh moderate snowfall.

Mountainous passes of Pir Panjal Range in south Kashmir also experienced fresh snowfall.

The MeT officials said Srinagar recorded a low of 0.8 degrees Celsius on Thursday against minus 0.1 degree Celsius the previous night and 1.2 degrees Celsius above normal.

Earlier on February 1, two Polish tourists were killed and 19 others were rescued when a major avalanche hit north Kashmir’s famous tourist hotspot of Gulmarg.

Snow avalanches are frequent in higher reaches of Kashmir during January and February, especially after fresh snowfall.

The last big avalanche in Gulmarg was on February 8, 2010 when 17 soldiers in an army camp were killed.

(With inputs from ANI)