THE CRUELTY OF CIARA
Two killed as storm leaves trail of chaos across country
TWO people have died as Storm Ciara raged across the UK.
One man was fatally injured after falling in icy conditions, while another was killed when a tree blew over and crushed his car.
As the storm continued to cause chaos and devastation around the country, four people were branded ‘idiots’ after climbing Ben Nevis in trainers.
The first death happened shortly before 11am on Sunday when a 77-year-old slipped on ice in Clydebank, Dunbartonshire.
A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesman said an ambulance and a paramedic unit were sent to the scene in Kilbowie Road, but the man, who had hit his head, could not be saved.
Later the same day, a 58-year-old man was killed when a falling tree crushed the car he was driving on the A33 in Hampshire.
Blizzards forecast to last almost three days swept in yesterday amid thunder, lightning and strong winds.
Battling ‘horrendous’ conditions, rescuers on Ben Nevis brought four walkers – three of whom were found to be wearing trainers – to safety in a four-hour operation.
Lochaber Mountain Rescue team leader John Stevenson criticised the group as ‘absolute idiots’.
He said they were poorly equipped ‘for any weather’, adding: ‘As far as stupidity goes, this is right up there for the rescues we have ever carried out.’
The four – thought to be in their 20s and foreign but based in Glasgow – were treated in Belford Hospital, Fort William, for the effects of cold. Their condition was unknown.
With snow and ice causing traffic chaos across the country, the Queensferry Crossing near Edinburgh was shut last night after slush falling from cables hit eight vehicles. The closure resulted in a long detour via Kincardine for motorists.
Bridge bosses said the decision was taken on safety grounds and warned the bridge was expected to remain closed this morning.
Elsewhere, there were six-mile tailbacks on the M74 in Lanarkshire after an accident in which a woman was injured.
There were also difficulties for drivers on the M80, M9, M77, and A83 in Argyll. BEAR North West Trunk Roads had 41 gritters out during the morning.
The Scottish Government set up a response team, based at the Traffic Scotland National Control Centre.
Meanwhile, rail services on
the West Coast Main Line were suspended between Carlisle and Glasgow due to flooding. Scot-Rail services in the south of Scotland were also affected.
In addition, for the second day in a row, all trains were off on the West Highland line from Glasgow to Oban and Mallaig.
Airlines operating to and from UK airports also cancelled more than 100 flights.
In Glasgow, pedestrians were warned to keep away from a walkway at the city’s King George V Bridge, after the Clyde burst its banks. In Dundee, dozens of parked cars remained submerged next to the A85 after the Firth of Tay flooded a riverside car park.
Heavy snow is expected to continue today and tomorrow morning, leading to what the Met
Office says may be falls up to eight inches (20cm) deep.
Temperatures could fall as low as -5C by Thursday.
South of the Border, 107 flood warnings and 252 flood alerts were in place in England and Wales.
More than 20,000 homes across the West Midlands, East Midlands, the south-west and south Wales were without power overnight as the storm damaged power cables.
Downpours and wind also saw a huge sinkhole open up in a garden in Rochdale, Lancashire.
Another opened in Brentwood, Essex, and six properties in the area had to be evacuated because of unstable ground.
Network Rail said thousands of its engineers ‘battled horrendous conditions’ to clear tracks of debris and repair damage. Today, CalMac ferry sailings from Oban to Barra have been called off, with many other routes facing delay or cancellation.
Met Office warnings for snow, wind and ice are in place in Scotland until lunchtime tomorrow, while a yellow warning of snow and ice is in force for north-west England today.
Bonnie Diamond of the Met Office said: ‘It’s looking like a hazardous couple of days ahead. We are seeing frequent showers of snow or sleet, even to low levels.’
‘Hazardous couple of days ahead’