Rains lash Kashmir, roads inundated

Srinagar: Rain lash Kashmir Valley yet again on Friday while some parts in upper reaches received fresh snowfall. Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti has directed the Divisional Administration of Kashmir to be in a state of preparedness
Reports said that Kashmir Valley on Friday received rainfall resulting in the dip in day temperatures. Besides, rainfall in plains, the upper reaches received snowfall. Snowfall was also recorded at tourist destinations including Gulmarg and Sonmarg.
The fresh snowfall at Mughal Road prompted authorities to close it down for vehicular movement. Srinagar-Leh road was also closed due to fresh snowfall at Zajila and Gumri.
A police official said that Jammu-Srinagar highway remained open throughout the day despite rains.
Majority roads were under one to two feet of rain water in the summer capital of Srinagar, where people remained confined to their homes.
A Met department official said the weather will improve from Saturday.
Majority roads in the city, including at Regal Chowk, historic Lal Chowk, Magarmal Bagh, Lal Ded Hospital Road, Karan Nagar, Firdous Abad Batamaloo, Exhibition and Samandar Bagh road were under twofeet of rain water due to faulty drainage system. However, streets wore a deserted look while shop keepers closed their shops before evening.
Due to heavy rains and windstorm some poplar trees at Uttersoo Achabal were uprooted on the interior link roads which had completely blocked the Shangus Chattergul road and other link roads.
Police parties from Police Station Achabal and Police Station Utersoo swung into action and launched a massive road clearing operation under the supervision of SDPO Achabal Shri Tanveer Ahmed. The trees lying on the roads were cut and removed by using chain saw and axes. All the link roads were cleared and made through for traffic.
In view of the heavy downpour in plains and snowfall in higher reaches of the State, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti has directed the Divisional Administration of Kashmir to be in a state of preparedness and reach out to people to minimise the level of disruption caused to people due to bad weather conditions.
The Chief Minister has directed all the concerned Departments like PDD, I&FC, PHE and other Departments to gear up in view of the inclement weather and deploy their men and machinery on the ground to meet the situation arising out of heavy rainfall.
The Chief Minister has directed the Srinagar Municipal Corporation and Urban Local Bodies to ensure that dewatering process is initiated quickly in all the low lying and water logged areas and roads of Srinagar city and other towns.
She also directed the PDD authorities to ensure immediate repair and replacement of infrastructure damaged due to strong winds in many parts of the Valley.
Expressing concern over the losses caused to orchards and other property in Anantnag, Kulgam and Shopian district and parts of Chenab Valley due to hail and strong winds, Mehbooba Mufti has directed the Divisional administrations of both provinces to provide all relief and assistance at the earliest to people in need of it. The Chief Minister has also directed the Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir to supervise early reopening of major Highways connecting Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh regions and till then the stranded passengers be taken care of by the administration properly. She also directed the Deputy Commissioners of hilly districts to keep a watch on the civilian movement in areas for which avalanche warnings have been issued by the Met Department.