STATE TIMES NEWS
BHADARWAH: As predicted by Met Department plains of whole Chenab Valley were lashed by torrential rains while higher reaches received fresh snowfall due to which normal life went out of gear.
An official said that due to snowfall and rains several roads of Chenab Valley remained closed which include Sinthan Top Road, while Doda-Bhadarwah was blocked at Sanai , Doda-Kishtwar at Jangalwar and Doda-Batote Road at Assar due to heavy landslides.
In the wake of the Met Department issuing an avalanche warning and heavy rainfall, the district administration Doda on Saturday ordered the closure of all schools and sounded alert in the district today.
Due to shooting stones and landslides at several places, 110 Km long Batote – Kishtawar NH1B has also been closed for the vehicular traffic.
The Batote-Kishtwar National Highway was blocked at half-a-dozen places due to land slides and shooting stones at Assar, Kora Pani, Dansal Gatsu, Prem Nagar and Kandini. Giving details, Chief Education Officer Doda Mohd Ashraf Rather said, “The MeT Department has predicted heavy rainfall and also issued avalanche warning in the district on Saturday and Sunday. Holiday has been declared in schools so that children don’t face inconvenience.”
“Examinations for the academic arrangements which were scheduled to be held on 12th and 13th of this month have also been postponed till further orders,” officer added.
In wake of inclement weather predictions by the Meteorological Department from 11th March, District Deputy Commissioner (DDC), Bhupinder Kumar has appealed to general public not to venture in slide prone areas.
“As a precautionary move and due to heavy rainfall for the past 48 hours and avalanche warning by the Meteorological Department we have been forced to declare high alert in areas close to river Chenab and it’s tributaries and also people living on slopes and slide prone areas of Doda District,” said DDC. He also directed all the officers to remain present at their respective headquarters and in contact with district administration to deal with any emergent situation.
He has informed that people can contact Police Control Room on the phone No. 01996-233250 in case of any emergency.
