KO File Photo: Abid Bhat
MeT Rules Out Possibility Of Heavy Snowfall Till Nov 4
Srinagar- The weather department on Monday forecast mainly light to moderate rain and snowfall over middle and higher reaches of Kashmir but ruled out the possibility of heavy snowfall till November 4.
Deputy Director, meteorological department in Srinagar, Mukhtar Ahmed said that precipitation is expected over the middle and higher reaches of the Union Territory from the evening of 31st October.
“But, we are not expecting any severe precipitation in this system. It will be a light spell of rain and snow,” he said.
From November 1st afternoon- November 4 evening, he said, the weather would remain partly cloudy to occasionally sunny
“From 4th November evening, an active system will impact the weather. The system is expected to bring light rain and snowfall at isolated places in Kashmir.
There’s a possibility of light snowfall in plains on 5,6 and 7 November,” Ahmed said, adding that 8th November onwards the weather is expected to stay dry till 13th November.
The official further added that the temperatures are still around normal.
“The minimum temperature on Thursday had flared up by 1-1.5 degrees in all stations. There won’t be a massive change in the minimum temperature in the coming days. Around 4, 5 and 6 November, the day temperature may dip,” he said.
He further said that Srinagar-Jammu national Highway, Srinagar-leh National Highway, Mughal road, road connecting Anantnag-Kishtwar, Sinthan Top, Sadhna Pass and hilly roads of higher reaches like Gurez, Tulail and Karnah may be affected due the weather disturbance on 5,6 and 7 November. “People should plan their travel accordingly,” Mukhtar said.
The highway is the lifeline of the Kashmir Valley and the main road link connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country. Kashmir-bound trucks laden with essential supplies and other vehicles pass through the highway and fruit carrying trucks from Kashmir head for the rest of the country through this road.
It is pertinent to mention here that the MeT department had earlier predicted snowfall and low temperatures across Kashmir valley that may lead to temporary disruption of surface transportation, mainly over Zojila, Mughal Road, Sadnatop, etc, during the first week of November.
Growers in Kashmir
Amid the prediction of wet weather in the first week of November, apple growers in Kashmir are a worried lot as they can’t pick apples and carry out pruning simultaneously.
Growers from different areas of Kashmir, mainly Shopian say their 30-40 percent produce is still on trees and it is impossible to completely pick the fruit within two or three days.
Orchardists say that the apple crop is still on trees as this year the market response has been poor.
They said usually in the upper parts, this is the peak apple picking season and most of the produce is still on trees and snowfall in coming days can prove disastrous.
“Leaves are as green as in June and plenty of fruit is yet to be plucked. At most of the places people have put the fruit on the ground in orchards, so prayers are the only way to save us,” they said.
Meteorological centre Srinagar has predicted three Western disturbances are likely to hit J&K from October 31 to 08 Nov which can bring widespread rain/snow.
In an advisory MeT has advised farmers to harvest their agricultural products, fruits etc which are prone to snowfall & low temperature.
They advised them to carry out necessary pruning of trees and drain out excess water from orchards
Adequate Stock Of Essentials Available: Admin
Meanwhile the Jammu and Kashmir administration Monday said that adequate stock of all essential supplies are available throughout the Kashmir division ahead of erratic weather prediction.
Dr Abdul Salam Mir, Director, FCS&CA Kashmir, said that adequate supply has been sent to far flung areas which remain cut off from the rest of the world due to excessive snowfall.
“For the far flung areas, the CAPD has supplied ration for over six months which has been already sent to these areas considering the inclement weather prediction issued by the MeT,” he said.
Areas like Keran, Karnah and other far flung areas have already received stock for the winter months, he said. “For many others, ration has been stocked for four months,” he said.
He said that the Department of CAPD has stocked essential supplies for the Kashmir valley and it is unlikely that the valley will face any shortage of essential supplies during the winter months.
He said that the CAPD has ensured that the prices of commodities do not shoot up during the winter months. “For this the Department will enact various market checking teams to make sure that the shopkeepers do not charge higher rates from the consumers,” he said.
Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole said that an advisory for the apple farmers has already been issued that states the farmers should harvest their apples early in view of the MeT prediction for the winters. “We do not want the farmers to suffer any losses, so we have issued an advisory to pruning of apple trees,” he added.
He said the recently inaugurated Indian Oil Corporation Limited’s LPG Bottling Plant at Vessu-Nipora, Anantnag will cater to the rise in the demand of LPG during the winter season. With inputs from KNO
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