Weather Improves, Link Roads Still Blocked
Srinagar Kashmir received season’s first major snowfall, weather situation improved on Friday as sun played hide and seek resulting in slight increase of temperature. Though weatherman forecast snowfall and rains at isolated places, conditions in plains is expected to remain dry. Air traffic to and from the Valley resumed day after it was suspended due to bad weather.People got a breather from heavy downpour which had hit normal life on Thursday and cut the Valley from outside world apart from hitting essential services including power, road communication and water supply to many villages and towns.As sun came out occasionally during the day, the accumulated snow on the roadsides started to melt causing water logging at different places. It was a common sight at various places in the summer capital, Srinagar Kashmir even as the authorities asserted to have geared up men and machinery to improve the power scenario.“We have not seen any electric supply for last two days,” said Muzaffar Ahmad, a resident of South Kashmir ’s Kulgam district.Reports reaching here said traffic movement continued to remain disrupted for second day to scores of villages across the Valley as authorities were yet to clear the snow from the roads.People from different places in Islamabad Kashmir including Shopian which had received major snowfall along with Pulwama and Kulgam. Water logging was a common scene at many places in Islamabad North Kashmir which witnessed a sunny day today. However Sadna Top, Furkiyaan and Z-Gali which connect different border areas including Machil, Tangdhar Karen with Valley remained snow bound. “The thickness of the snow is more than 2 feet on the roads,” said Disaster Management head in Divisional Commissioner’s office, Amir Ali.He said almost 65 percent of all roads have been cleared of snow and it is expected that by tomorrow evening all roads will be cleared. The weather department had forecast moderate to heavy snowfall across the Valley till January I.
Srinagar, Dec 30: The month of December has brought snow after a decade in the Valley. Since Wednesday it’s snowing heavily in Srinagar and rest of the Valley. It has also led to closure of streets, snapping of electricity, telecommunications and other symbols of modern age.
The meteorologists said they have registered precipitation in the month of December but mainly in the form of rain in the past one decade.
“There used to be rain. It used to be less,” a meteorologist said. “This was after a long time we had moderate to heavy snowfall in December.”
With Srinagar and other districts of Kashmir plunging into darkness, the wick lamps, lanterns and Chinese bulbs are illuminating the households. The snowfall also prevented people from going for their daily tasks.
“The days of emperor’s stories and fairy tales are back,” noted poet Zareef Ahmad Zareef said. “It has been years after snow returned this December. The snowflakes have taken us to our past. During those days winters would be fun rather than a cause of worry.”
As snow brought Valley to a virtual stand still, Zareef said he observed that younger generation has become keen enough to know about Chillai-Kalan especially when earlier it snowed in December.
“In my home also some younger wards came, huddled around me and listened to tales under the orange light of kerosene lantern,” he said.
Zareef said earlier it used to snow during the first week of Chillai-Kalan.
“Everything used to get frozen. The icicles would be hanging from thatched roofs. We would make merry by skating on the frozen mounds of snow. With trembling cold hands we used to make snowballs and throw at each other,” he said. “During evening, we would gather in one room. Then we would take Kangri beneath our gowns and listen to never ending tales from our elders. Those words would fill our imagination with exciting stories of queens and emperors.”
He said after December snow, life would come to halt for months.
“The markets, roads and life would get halted,” he said. “We used to eat dry vegetables, pulses and other non-perishable food. We used cow-dung, wood and saw dust for fuel.”
Unlike now, Zareef said the people would work very hard.
“The economy was run by artisans. So the artisans like carpet and shawl weavers would work hard during these six months. They would not come out till next spring,” he said. “Kashmir used to be self sufficient.”
“We have modern gadgetry, less severe winter these days. But we are becoming lethargic. More complaining which makes us more dependent, which ultimately eats on our independence.”
Srinagar, Dec 29: Snowfall and intermittent rains on Wednesday ended the 3-month long dry spell in Kashmir, much to the delight of the people. While the upper reaches received moderate snowfall, a sporadic downpour brought respite in plains, breaking the prolonged chill period. Weatherman meanwhile forecast more snowfall in coming days.
Light to heavy snowfall was reported from higher reaches including entire Pirpanchal range, said the weatherman. “There will be more snowfall this night and tomorrow,” said Director Meteorological Department, Srinagar, Sonam Lotus.
Light snowfall was reported from different districts especially in south Kashmir. Famous tourist resorts including Gulmarg and Yusmarg received two to three inches snowfall and the places are expected to receive more snowfall in coming days—likely to attract more tourists for winter sports.
Remote areas of Bandipora district including Gurez sector in north Kashmir and places falling on the Srinagar-Jammu highway, like Qazigund in South Kashmir, and hilly areas of Kangan in central Kashmir received light snowfall.
“It has started snowing in Gurez and Machil sector,” said Coordinator of the Natural Disaster Management Cell, Amir Ali. These areas near the Line of Control usually remain cut off from outside world for more than five months as roads leading to them remain blocked due to snowfall. Intermittent rains with light snowfall ended the dry spell in the summer capital Srinagar as people especially youth and children were seen enjoying the change in weather.
As skyline was covered by thick clouds since yesterday night, weatherman predicted improvement in temperature. “The chill factor will lessen,” Lotus said, adding the advancing Western Disturbances towards Jammu and Kashmir were reason for change in weather conditions.
To meet any weather related eventuality in case of heavy snowfall, the state Government asserted it has geared up the men and machinery.
“Heads of administration in every district have been instructed to activate the snow control-rooms to meet any eventuality,” said Ali.
The machinery including 75 snow clearance machines have been kept ready across the Valley to ensure that road links are not snapped in case of heavy snowfall, he said.
Meanwhile, Kashmir got some respite from the cold wave as the night temperature across the Valley improved. A Met official on duty said the minimum temperature recorded here was minus 3.2 degrees Celsius, which was 2.7 degrees higher compared to last night.
Kashmir Valley had received season’s first snowfall in upper reaches during October this year while light drizzle was received in plain areas. The pro-longed dry and chill weather spell had compounded problems for the Valleyites. While the dry spell had given rise to many cold-related diseases especially among children, the dip in the night temperature had resulted in freezing of water bodies including famous Dal Lake and often freezing of water taps in different parts of the Valley besides reducing the discharge in water bodies.
“Sheena Pyeto Pyeto , Maama Iytto Iytto ”
“O Snow keep Falling and Let my Mother’s brother Visit us . ”
Mother’s brother is known as MAMA in this subcontinent . Mama has a very important role in upbringing of the children of his sister . Not always does he financially support their upbringing but yes the emotional chord of the children with their Mama is so strong that sometimes it outflows the father’s role . This applies to kashmiris as well. You have a marriage , birth , happiness or any gloom in the family , Mama is there to stand and offer more than his share of support.
Crushed under the burden of poverty coupled with joint family system that existed in Kashmir , every women would send her children to her parental house for a change . She had no time to attend to them for she was never free from the daily chores .Mama was the person who was there to take care of children's fancies . He would bring new clothes , take them to the bazar and give them time and attention to cheer them up . I remember most of the children telling their mothers in olden days :
“Maam kar Iyee . Me Chhu Matammal Gachhun ”“When is Mama coming ? I have to go to his house .”
Mama’s mention lies in Kashmiri folk songs as well . The mother sings lullaby to the infant saying
“Maam Laal Oai Tai Diyiyo Dilaaas , Paartho Gilaas Kulinai Tal ”
"Your Mama shall come and put courage in thee my sibbling. let me dress you up under a cherry tree "
When kashmiris Quarrel they say
“Tse Kyaa Maam Chhukhaa ”
“ Hey Shut up ! You are not my Mama ”
I also heard many Punjabis saying
"Tu Ki Mama Lagdhaa hai "
" Don't think yourself to be my Mama and take liberties "
Noted kashmiri poet Dina nath Naadim wrote
"Ghaam Peuth Yechkaaley Vothmut
Treil Heith Zun Maam Hue
Assi wattan Rut Ghaam Hue "
(As if Mama has come from the village after a long time ,
Bringing with him Treil ( Late autumn fruit of kashmir )
This country of ours is like a beautiful village .)
Mama would also come to his sister’s house bringing with him a bags full ofdry vegetables for the winter . That added to the respect and dignity of his sister in her inlaw’s house . Whenever Mama would come , for children it meant happiness and fun. Mama may not be there as prominently as he used to be in good olden days but the dry vegetables continue to be a part of kashmiri households . Dry Brinjal , Tomato , Gourd , Turnip, Vopal Haak ( Dry Leafy vegetable consumed by kashmiris in before the arrival of vegetables from plains ) , Boombh ( Long green grass like vegetable cooked with dry Fish ) and many other dry vegetables continue to be sold in plenty during winter season even when the fresh vegetable supply continues to pour in almost daily from plains . Kashmiri Pandits have also not abandoned them . Many shops in Jammu and Delhi sell this stuff .Enjoy latest views of dry vegetables being sold in srinagar.I have seen even the younger generation enjoying the dry vegetables cooked in the family. The tradition has been beautifully carried down by our ladies . Let it continue .
Srinagar, Dec 27: The cry for having a civil airport in Kashmir seems to be getting shriller, with stakeholders now approaching the Prime Minster’s Expert Group on job avenues in Jammu and Kashmir, headed by Dr C Rangarajan, with the demand.
In its set of demands submitted to Dr Rangarjan, the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Alliance (JKTA), has underscored the need to have an ‘exclusive civil airport’ for Kashmir. “Unlike other cities, Srinagar has an airport which is owned and managed by the Indian Air Force including operation of the Air Traffic Control (ATC) and access to runways, except the terminal building which is managed by Airport Authority of India. The Air Force have many a times closed this airport for civil aviation operations for weeks together because of their need, which has brought tourist inflow by air to a grinding halt besides immense hardships to other sections of air travellers,” writes the JKTA chairman, G M Dug, in its letter to Dr Rangarajan.
Dug mentions the ‘troubles’ they face in absence of the civil aerodrome. “Air Force starts its aerial exercises usually in the morning and evening hours during which movement of civilian aircrafts is totally disallowed at Srinagar International Airport by the Air Force Authorities. It is therefore high time that a decision to equip Srinagar with an airport, owned and managed by civil authorities like AAI, is taken,” the letter, copy of which is with Greater Kashmir, reads.
Earlier this year, the IAF closed down the airport for 12 days, shifting the flight operation to its base in Awantipora, 25 kms from here. The decision drew flak from many quarters associated with Kashmir tourism and also triggered the demand of having a civil airport in Kashmir “devoid of any interference from IAF.”
In September this year, when the airport was closed, the stakeholders had urged the state government to consider a civil airport for the Valley to ease their sufferings. “If the Srinagar airport is run by the Airport Authority of India like others airports in India, then we may possibly not have the problems like flights blackout in future. Such drastic steps affect people in general and the stakeholders in particular. It has become imperative that the Valley must have a civil airport,” Siraj Ahmad, who heads the Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHRA), had told this newspaper.
According to airline officials, the bar on timing was yet something drastically affecting them.
This time the IAF has asked the airlines to operate their aircraft between 9 AM to 4.30 PM. This, the officials believe, was hampering operation of more flights to and from Srinagar, and also the prospect of night landing facility.
“We are just at the beck and call of IAF this time because they man the runway of the Srinagar airport. That impedes the possibility of operating more flights to Kashmir even though there is a dire need of that,” said an airline official, insisting not to be named.
OFFICIALS SPEAK
According to officials at the Srinagar airport, it was not difficult for the AAI to man the Srinagar airport. “The AAI mans around 126 aerodromes in India. They are capable of handling the Srinagar airport also. But because it is defence enclave, the call to allow AAI to man it has to be taken at the highest levels in the central government,” said an airport official, insisting not to be named.
He said there were some technical issues also involved. “As per the norms of the International Civil Aviation Organization, there has to be a radius of 200 meters incase an alternate airport is to be established anywhere. This is precisely to avoid the conflict between their navigational aids. So if an alternate civil airport is to be established in Kashmir, this aspect has to be looked into,” the official said.
In its set of demands submitted to Dr Rangarjan, the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Alliance (JKTA), has underscored the need to have an ‘exclusive civil airport’ for Kashmir. “Unlike other cities, Srinagar has an airport which is owned and managed by the Indian Air Force including operation of the Air Traffic Control (ATC) and access to runways, except the terminal building which is managed by Airport Authority of India. The Air Force have many a times closed this airport for civil aviation operations for weeks together because of their need, which has brought tourist inflow by air to a grinding halt besides immense hardships to other sections of air travellers,” writes the JKTA chairman, G M Dug, in its letter to Dr Rangarajan.
Dug mentions the ‘troubles’ they face in absence of the civil aerodrome. “Air Force starts its aerial exercises usually in the morning and evening hours during which movement of civilian aircrafts is totally disallowed at Srinagar International Airport by the Air Force Authorities. It is therefore high time that a decision to equip Srinagar with an airport, owned and managed by civil authorities like AAI, is taken,” the letter, copy of which is with Greater Kashmir, reads.
Earlier this year, the IAF closed down the airport for 12 days, shifting the flight operation to its base in Awantipora, 25 kms from here. The decision drew flak from many quarters associated with Kashmir tourism and also triggered the demand of having a civil airport in Kashmir “devoid of any interference from IAF.”
In September this year, when the airport was closed, the stakeholders had urged the state government to consider a civil airport for the Valley to ease their sufferings. “If the Srinagar airport is run by the Airport Authority of India like others airports in India, then we may possibly not have the problems like flights blackout in future. Such drastic steps affect people in general and the stakeholders in particular. It has become imperative that the Valley must have a civil airport,” Siraj Ahmad, who heads the Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHRA), had told this newspaper.
According to airline officials, the bar on timing was yet something drastically affecting them.
This time the IAF has asked the airlines to operate their aircraft between 9 AM to 4.30 PM. This, the officials believe, was hampering operation of more flights to and from Srinagar, and also the prospect of night landing facility.
“We are just at the beck and call of IAF this time because they man the runway of the Srinagar airport. That impedes the possibility of operating more flights to Kashmir even though there is a dire need of that,” said an airline official, insisting not to be named.
OFFICIALS SPEAK
According to officials at the Srinagar airport, it was not difficult for the AAI to man the Srinagar airport. “The AAI mans around 126 aerodromes in India. They are capable of handling the Srinagar airport also. But because it is defence enclave, the call to allow AAI to man it has to be taken at the highest levels in the central government,” said an airport official, insisting not to be named.
He said there were some technical issues also involved. “As per the norms of the International Civil Aviation Organization, there has to be a radius of 200 meters incase an alternate airport is to be established anywhere. This is precisely to avoid the conflict between their navigational aids. So if an alternate civil airport is to be established in Kashmir, this aspect has to be looked into,” the official said.
Mirwaiz for talks; Curbs continue on Geelani, Shabir Shah
Ishfaq Ahmad Shah
Srinagar, Dec 24: Hurriyat (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who was allowed to lead Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid after 14 weeks, today vowed to propagate his religious as well as political activities from the pulpit of the historic mosque. It was after the 15 weeks that Friday passed off peacefully at Jamia without any clashes. However, curbs continued to Syed Ali Geelani and Shabir Shah.
“The government is living in a fool’s paradise if they think I will succumb to their pressure. I will continue to discuss religious and politics at Jamia Masjid. Politics is a part of Islam and Jamia Masjid has been a center for political and religious activities from centuries. The siege of Jamia is a ploy to undermine the importance of this platform,” Mirwaiz said while addressing the Friday congregation at Jamia.
He was reacting to government and IGP Kashmir S M Sahai’s statement that he was using the Jamia Masjid for political activities.
Authorities had placed Mirwaiz under house arrest after he led a rally on Eid-ul-Fitr. He was barred from 14 consecutive weeks from offering Friday prayers in Jamia. It was for the first time in past 250 years that Mirwaiz of Kashmir was not allowed to lead Eid-ul Zuha congregational prayers this year.
“I am not among those people, who read out government scripts in mosques. As Mirwaiz and a representative of aspirations of Kashmiri people, I will raise my voice against 112 civilian killings and the atrocities committed by State government on advice of New Delhi during last five months of unrest in the Valley,” Hurriyat (M) chairman said.
Asking GoI to come out of the “denial mode”, Mirwaiz said, “New Delhi should accept ground realities in Kashmir. It has failed to crush aspirations of people even though countless atrocities were committed on hapless people. It is high time for India either to talk to Pakistan and people of Kashmir or implement the United Nations resolutions on Kashmir calling for plebiscite”.
“India cannot delay the resolution of the issue further as the whole world is pressurizing it (Delhi) to resolve the long-pending dispute,” he said.
Taking a dig at Omar Abdullah government for its role during the unrest, Mirwaiz said, “The government surpassed the forces of Hitler and other notorious leaders in committing grave atrocities on Kashmiris. The regime of Hitler and other notorious leaders would not have committed such atrocities as committed by J&K government. Innocents were killed, crackdown on youth and Hurriyat leaders is on and people are being barred from offering prayers and performing other religious duties”.
He demanded immediate release of all the political prisoners and youth, who were arrested during the unrest.
After finishing the Friday prayers, Mirwaiz was accompanied by scores of people to the front gate of Jamia amidst chanting of pro-freedom and pro-Islamic slogans.
The processionists were intercepted by police and CRPF personnel, who were deployed in strength in Nowhatta area. The processionists without clashing with the cops dispersed off peacefully.
Meanwhile, Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani and senior Hurriyat (M) leader Shabir Shah were not allowed to offer Friday prayers for 15th and 7th week respectively.
He was reacting to government and IGP Kashmir S M Sahai’s statement that he was using the Jamia Masjid for political activities.
Authorities had placed Mirwaiz under house arrest after he led a rally on Eid-ul-Fitr. He was barred from 14 consecutive weeks from offering Friday prayers in Jamia. It was for the first time in past 250 years that Mirwaiz of Kashmir was not allowed to lead Eid-ul Zuha congregational prayers this year.
“I am not among those people, who read out government scripts in mosques. As Mirwaiz and a representative of aspirations of Kashmiri people, I will raise my voice against 112 civilian killings and the atrocities committed by State government on advice of New Delhi during last five months of unrest in the Valley,” Hurriyat (M) chairman said.
Asking GoI to come out of the “denial mode”, Mirwaiz said, “New Delhi should accept ground realities in Kashmir. It has failed to crush aspirations of people even though countless atrocities were committed on hapless people. It is high time for India either to talk to Pakistan and people of Kashmir or implement the United Nations resolutions on Kashmir calling for plebiscite”.
“India cannot delay the resolution of the issue further as the whole world is pressurizing it (Delhi) to resolve the long-pending dispute,” he said.
Taking a dig at Omar Abdullah government for its role during the unrest, Mirwaiz said, “The government surpassed the forces of Hitler and other notorious leaders in committing grave atrocities on Kashmiris. The regime of Hitler and other notorious leaders would not have committed such atrocities as committed by J&K government. Innocents were killed, crackdown on youth and Hurriyat leaders is on and people are being barred from offering prayers and performing other religious duties”.
He demanded immediate release of all the political prisoners and youth, who were arrested during the unrest.
After finishing the Friday prayers, Mirwaiz was accompanied by scores of people to the front gate of Jamia amidst chanting of pro-freedom and pro-Islamic slogans.
The processionists were intercepted by police and CRPF personnel, who were deployed in strength in Nowhatta area. The processionists without clashing with the cops dispersed off peacefully.
Meanwhile, Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani and senior Hurriyat (M) leader Shabir Shah were not allowed to offer Friday prayers for 15th and 7th week respectively.
Jammu, Dec 24: The school education department is likely to review its decision of winter schooling in the Kashmir valley following public outcry and unrelenting freezing cold. A simmering tussle between the finance and the education departments over the issue is also seen as one of the reasons for the government to review the decision.
The education department now mulls closure of schools “for few weeks” in case there is no respite from the prevailing harsh weather conditions in the Valley.
According to informed sources senior functionaries of the department have decided to monitor the situation till December 31, following which the winter schooling decision will be reviewed.
Sources said the department may announce a break for few weeks if the temperature continued to slide further. The decision was taken at a high level meeting, here on Thursday, sources added.
As snow still eludes Kashmir, the minimum temperature has fallen to minus 6 degrees Celsius making it difficult for the government to carry on with the much-hyped winter schooling with scarce heating arrangements in the schools.
“The shivering weather conditions are forcing the department to review the decision for the safety of school children,” sources said.
“Winter schooling was inevitable for securing future of lakhs of students across Valley, who lost their precious time during the summer turmoil but at the same time we are monitoring the deteriorating weather conditions”, said Naseema Lankar, Commissioner Secretary School Education.
“We have received good response from the parents in every part of the valley, but weather is creating problems. We had decided to use winter months to make students little stress free also”, she said adding, “We will consider the situation after December 31 and in case the weather conditions continue to remain same, we may go for few weeks break in the schools”.
Pertinently, Chief Education Officers (CEO)s of the respective districts have been asked to ensure effective heating arrangements in all the high and higher secondary schools in their respective jurisdiction after observing all codal formalities and procedures.
“Steps have been taken but chill this time during day is unbearable as such measures taken are not proving effective at places”, said an official.
While the education department had announced winter break for all the educational institutions in the Valley upto middle classes, it had announced to continue schooling for classes 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th. Winter schooling was started in nearly 650 educational institutions in the Valley.
Sources, preferring anonymity, further claimed that the state finance department has also shown concern over the winter schooling decision. It was learnt that the department has sent a query to the education department asking the later to explain as why it was necessary to keep the schools open in winter season when the examination of most of the classes, which were affected due to the summer turmoil, have been conducted.
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