Srinagar: There was some improvement in the night temperature due to overcast conditions though it remained below normal across Kashmir valley, where there is prediction of fresh snowfall at some places during the next 24 hours.

The mercury during the day also remained chilly due to overcast conditions coupled with ice-cold winds in the valley.

All water-bodies remained frozen due to extreme chilly weather conditions in Ladakh region, where people are dependent on hot water springs during winter months. Border town of Drass was the coldest place in the region at minus 24 followed by Leh, where the mercury settled at minus 22.4 degree Celsius.

A Meteorological  department spokesperson said that rain or snow would occur at some places in the valley under the influence of a Western Disturbance (WD), which is active in the region. ”The WD has phased off and will have very less impact in the valley,” he said, adding on Wednesday, snow could occur at isolated places.

He said the weather will again turn dry from Thursday onwards, which would result in dip in the night temperature though mercury during the day is expected to improve.

Despite an improvement of about a degree in the night temperature, world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, was the coldest place in the valley at minus 10.1 degree. ”Despite chilly weather conditions due to overcast conditions on Tuesday in Gulmarg, which is famous for its ski slopes and quality of snow, tourists, including foreigners, are out on ski slopes enjoying different activities,” a hotelier said.

The night temperature at world famous health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, improved about 6 degree from Monday and settled at minus 6.6 degree.

After witnessing improvement of about 2 degree in the night temperature, people woke up to a cloudy and chilly Tuesday morning in the summer capital, Srinagar. Chill further intensified as the day progressed due to overcast conditions, coupled with ice cold winds in the city.

The night temperature in the city improved and settled at minus 3 degree, against minus 5 degree recorded on Monday.

During this 40-day-long Chilai Kalan, which ended on Wednesday, Srinagar received heavy snowfall, breaking about 30 year old record.

The night temperature at Qazigund, Kupwara in north Kashmir and tourist resort of Kokernag improved and settled at minus 6.3 degree, minus 3.9 degree and minus 4.8 degree, respectively.

Srinagar: Expressing deep shock and grief over the death of a civilian in mortar shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir’s Kupwara district, former Finance Minster Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Tuesday appealed the Centre to sanction funds for immediate construction of underground bunkers in forward areas where bunkers have not been constructed.

In a statement issued, Bukhari while echoing the concerns of former Legislators Raja Manzoor Khan and Javed Ahmad Mirchal, expressed solidarity with the bereaved family of Saleem Ahmed, a 60-year-old civilian, who was killed in the Tadd village of the Karnah sector in Kupwara district on Monday evening.

The former Legislators, while expressing sympathies to the family of another civilian who sustained injury in the incident, prayed for his early recovery. “It is unfortunate that there is no let up in shelling even during the winters, causing more worries to the civilian population living in the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir,” they remarked.

Referring to a Defence Ministry report indicating an increase in the incidents of ceasefire violations along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir since August 2019, Bukhari said that in view of the heightened cross-border shelling, the Centre must sanction and order speedy construction of concrete, underground bunkers for all the left out border areas in the Union Territory, especially in Kupwara, Baramulla and Bandipora districts.

He said that the bunkers have been found to be an effective response to cross-LoC shelling, providing the residents a safe place to save themselves during the shelling incidents.

“The residents of border/LoC areas of Jammu and Kashmir have been the worst victims of hostilities on the India-Pakistan border and along LoC. So all of them should be treated equitably without any feel of discrimination vis-a-vis measures taken for their safety and security,” said the former finance minister.

He added that amid escalated tensions between India and Pakistan, it is incumbent upon the Government of India to provide safe shelters to its citizens, especially living in the border areas.

“People living near the LoC in Kupwara, Baramulla and Bandipora districts and their fellow citizens living in border areas of Jammu province live in constant fear and agony. They have no option, but to run for safe shelter. People have suffered injuries and loss of property amid intense firing and mortar shelling. The Ministry of Home Affairs in Government of India must ensure availability of sufficient funds to district administration for construction of additional bunkers in the left out areas,” Bukhari demanded.

He urged the Union Home Minister to sanction the requisite funds for the construction of underground bunkers for the left out areas in Teetwal, Tanghdar, Keran in the Kupwara district, Gurez area of Bandipora district and various places in Baramulla districts.

Islamabad: Pakistan on Tuesday summoned a senior diplomat from the Indian High Commission and registered a strong protest at the alleged ceasefire violations by Indian forces along the Line of Control (LoC).

In a statement, the Foreign Office said that four persons, including two women and a child, suffered “serious injuries” due to “indiscriminate and unprovoked firing” in Danna Sector of LoC on February 3.

“…it was underscored that such senseless Indian acts…further vitiate the tense atmosphere along the LoC and pose a threat to regional peace and stability,” the statement said.

It was also emphasized that by raising tensions along the LoC and the Working Boundary (WB), India cannot divert attention from Kashmir, FO said.

Pakistan called upon the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding; investigate this and other incidents of deliberate ceasefire violations and maintain peace along the LoC and the WB, it said.

New Power Schedule To Be Announced Once Transmission Line Is Made Operational: CE PDD

BY: Owais Gul

Srinagar: The power crisis in Kashmir would likely come to an end by the end of next week as the much-hyped Alesteng grid station is all set to be commissioned after a week, officials said on Tuesday.

Officials in Power Development Department (PDD) said that the work over the Alesteng grid station is in final stage.

Notably, the grid station that is set to be commissioned was constructed at the cost of around Rs 109 crore. The Alesteng transmission line would provide additional 280 MW electricity to the Valley which would play a significant role in minimizing the wide gap between the region’s demand and supply, officials said.

Chief Engineer Power Development Department (PDD), Transmission, Hashmat Qazi told KNO that it would take almost a week now to commission the Alesteng grid station, saying that they are currently going ahead with the testing of line.

He said that the power shortage in Kashmir will come to an end soon after the transmission line is commissioned.

The people across Kashmir at present have been complaining about erratic power supply while the PDD Chief Engineer, Aijaz Ahmad Dar said that the frequent power cuts are the outcome of the overloading by the consumers.

Asked about change in power schedule in Kashmir, Dar said that a new power schedule will be announced in Kashmir once the Alesteng grid station is commissioned after one week. It is worth to mention here that completion of Alesteng grid station missed multiple deadlines so far.

Earlier on December 01, 2019, the Jammu and Kashmir administration had stated that Alesteng grid station will be commissioned by the need of December 2019.

However, the completion time was extended with officials, saying the grid station will be commissioned by the end of January this year or up to February 10, 2020.