Srinagar, Nov 13 (KNO): With snowfall likely to cut off several remote areas of Kashmir from the rest of the Valley, the administration has set December 1 as the deadline for operationalising winter air sorties in Bandipora and Kupwara, while directing departments to complete advance stocking of essential commodities within a week.
The directions, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), were issued by Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir Anshul Garg during a high-level meeting on Friday to review winter preparedness across the Valley, with a focus on maintaining access to essential supplies, healthcare and emergency services in snowbound areas.
Officials directed the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department to ensure advance stocking of LPG, petroleum products, rice and wheat in vulnerable areas, particularly Gurez and the Karnah-Machil-Keran belt, within seven days to prevent shortages during prolonged road closures.
Taking note of delays in the commencement of winter air sorties in Bandipora and Kupwara, the Div Com asked the Civil Aviation Department to operationalise the facility by December 1 to facilitate emergency transportation from remote and inaccessible areas.
Healthcare access during heavy snowfall was another key focus.
Divi Com Garg directed the Health Department to prepare a comprehensive list of expectant mothers and critically ill patients in vulnerable areas and make arrangements for their advance shifting to temporary shelters wherever necessary. He directed the National Health Mission to provide 4x4 ambulances to the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir for distribution among districts, in addition to the SANJY ambulances, to strengthen emergency medical response in difficult terrain.
Reviewing snow clearance arrangements, he asked the Mechanical Engineering Department, Roads and Buildings Department, PMGSY, Urban Local Bodies, Srinagar Municipal Corporation and Border Roads Organisation to ensure prompt clearance of highways, major roads and interior lanes following snowfall. Garg called for clear demarcation of jurisdictional responsibilities among agencies, optimal deployment of machinery and manpower, and completion of pending stage contracts.
On power preparedness, officials informed the meeting that the Valley's average winter electricity demand stands at around 1,700 MW against an average supply of 1,300 MW, with peak demand touching 2,400 MW. All districts have adequate stocks of transformers, and around 80 per cent of branch-cutting work has been completed.
The Divisional Commissioner directed the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited to complete the remaining branch-cutting work, adhere to scheduled power curtailment timings, augment workshop capacity wherever required and ensure prompt repair of damaged transformers.
The administration also reviewed drinking water arrangements, with the Jal Shakti Department directed to ensure uninterrupted functioning of water supply schemes, including lift schemes, and maintain adequate water tankers for areas where supplies may be disrupted. The Forest Department was asked to ensure adequate availability of firewood at depots across the Valley.
To strengthen emergency coordination, all district administrations and departments were directed to keep their control rooms, including the Integrated Command and Control Centre, functional round the clock and appoint nodal officers whose contact details would be shared for public assistance.
The Div Com directed departments to promptly disseminate weather and avalanche advisories to the public, and the Srinagar Municipal Corporation was asked to identify waterlogging-prone areas and deploy adequate dewatering pumps—(KNO)