‘Fresh spell of chill likely for a few days’
Protests erupt after two youths die under mysterious circumstances; cold unlikely to be the reason, says doctor
Parts of north and central India will experience a fresh spell of chill during the next three-four days with “cold” to “severe cold wave” conditions likely over the plains, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday. With the movement of the western disturbance further northeastwards on Sunday from Jammu and Kashmir, dry northwesterly winds are likely to pick up from afternoon of January 25 and persist in the next three-four days over plains of north and adjoining parts of central and western India. Under its influence, the current spell of dense to very dense fog in some pockets over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, north Rajasthan and Delhi is likely to persist over these areas till Jan 26 and decrease thereafter. “Cold wave to severe cold wave conditions are very likely...” IMD said.
SRINAGAR: Air traffic resumed in Kashmir and Srinagar-Jammu National Highway reopened as weather improved on Sunday following a day of moderate to heavy snowfall. However, death of two Kashmiri men stranded in a vehicle on the highway at Ramban’s Banihal on Saturday night triggered protests.
Shabir Ahmed Mir, 22, and Majid Gulzar Mir, 30, of Kupwara were found dead mysteriously inside a carrier. Stranded passengers alleged that they died of cold owing to the “failure” of authorities to clear the highway “on time”. However, the authorities rebuffed the possibility that the duo could have died of cold and said the cause of death was being ascertained.
Traffic was suspended on the highway on Saturday.
Ramban chief medical officer Dr Fareed Ahmad said the youths were brought dead to the hospital on Sunday morning.
“The cause of death will be confirmed after autopsy. They were young and the cold was also not that intense. Besides, there were hundreds stranded on the highway,” he said.
According to the meteorological department, the minimum temperature on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday in Banihal was minus 1.6 degrees Celsius. Ramban DC Mussaratul Islam said they suspected suffocation as the cause of death. “They had parked the vehicle near railway parking and covered it with a tarpaulin as it was snowing. They had lit coal in kangris,” he added.
On Sunday afternoon, the stranded vehicles from Jhakhani to Banihal were allowed to move towards Kashmir after the highway was cleared of snow as well as a landslide near Magarkote.
“We have allowed the vehicles which were stranded to move towards Kashmir. First, we cleared the 50-60 vehicles which were inside the tunnel,” said Manzoor Ahmad Mir, SP, traffic (rural), Kashmir. There was no fresh snowfall on Sunday and flights resumed at the Srinagar airport in the afternoon. “The runway was made ready by the noon. Some flights were delayed, but the operations started in the afternoon,” said an official of the airport.“The weather is gradually improving… There will be mainly dry weather from January 25 till the end of the month,” said director meteorological centre, Sonam Lotus.
Cold wave tightens grip in Himachal
DHARAMSHALA: Himachal Pradesh reeled under bone-chilling cold as the upper reaches experienced overnight spell of snow while rains lashed lower hills.
Pangi in Chamba reportedly experienced 45cm of snow, cutting off the valley from rest of the state. Gondla in Lahaul and Spiti saw 31cm of snow, while Bharmaur in Chamba witnessed 30 cm of snow. Various rural roads have been blocked for traffic in the remote areas of the state due to heavy snowfall. Dalhousie also received mild snow, while the peaks of Dhauladhar wore a thick white blanket. Famous trekkers’ destination Triund and Kareri also experienced heavy snow, just like high altitudes of Mandi, Kullu, Shimla and Sirmaur. Meanwhile, moderate to heavy rains lashed the lower hills in the state. Director of Shimla meteorological centre Manmohan Singh said the minimum temperatures dropped by two degrees in the state. However, the maximum temperatures were up to two degrees above normal. MeT department has forecast dry weather Monday onwards. Meanwhile, a 42-year-old man was killed in a lightning strike in Kangra district, police said on Sunday.