Higher reaches experience fresh snowfall, rains lash plains

Sajid Raina

Srinagar, Jan 21 (KNO): As the higher reaches of Kashmir experienced fresh snowfall on Friday afternoon and rains lashed plains in parts of the Valley, the Meteorological department (MeT) here has predicted more snowfall during the next 24 hours.

Officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the higher reaches of Qazigund, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Gurez received fresh snowfall from Friday afternoon while rains lashed plains in parts of the Valley, which continued intermittently till evening.

Amid active western disturbance, the local meteorological department of Kashmir has predicted another widespread snowfall, which may affect surface and air transportation in J&K during the next 24 hours.

The MeT department said that a fresh active WD is most likely to affect J&K and adjoining areas from 22nd January. “Under the influence of this system, widespread rain/snow most likely to occur during 22nd and 23rd January. The system will most likely concentrate over Jammu Division, Pir Panjal Range and South Kashmir.”

“Moderate rain in plains with snow over higher reaches (heavy rain/snow at isolated places) of Jammu Division is expected during the above period,” it said.

“Light snow over plains and moderate snow over middle and higher reaches of Kashmir division is expected particularly over Northwestern, Northern and central parts of Kashmir,” it said.

“Moderate snow over plains of South Kashmir with heavy snow at isolated places over higher reaches of South Kashmir is expected during the above period,” the MeT said.

“It also may temporarily disrupt surface & air transportation on 22-23rd. (Probability of occurrence as of today 75%) . Landslides in vulnerable spots of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and other major hilly roads,” the MeT added.

Meanwhile, Srinagar, the summer capital of Kashmir, recorded 2.8 degrees Celsius against last night’s 2.2 °C while South Kashmir’s Pahalgam recorded minus 2.4 against last night’s 0.6°C.

Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 7.5 degrees Celsius while the minimum temperature at Qazigund—the gateway town to the Valley in South Kashmir settled at a low of 1.6 degrees Celsius.

Pertinently, the Kashmir valley is under the 40-day long period of harsh winter cold known locally as the 'Chillai Kalan', which started on December 21, will end on January 31—(KNO)
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KNO Correspondent

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[9:30 PM, 1/21/2022] Saleem Sir: Continuous closure of Jama Masjid painful: Anjuman Auqaf

Srinagar, Jan 21 (KNO): State authorities today, once again for the 25th consecutive Friday, did not allow Muslims to perform mandatory Friday prayers at Jama Masjid Srinagar, the largest place of worship in Kashmir and the great centre of da'wah and preaching, Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Srinagar said.

“By doing so, the administration continues to hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims and denying them their fundamental right to practice religion which is reprehensible,” Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Srinagar said in a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

Anjuman Auqaf said that keeping the historic Jama Masjid continuously closed seems to be done intentionally as part of an  agenda. The statement said that the Anjuman-e-Awqaf had taken all SOPs and precautionary measures in view of the growing Pandemic yet prayers were disallowed.

The Anjuman also termed it extremely painful and distressing that its head Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who is also the topmost religious leader of the people, has been kept under constant surveillance and house arrest since August 5, 2019 incapacitating him from reaching out to people.

Anjuman once again asked the authorities to open Jama Masjid for Friday prayers and ensure the release of Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir—(KNO)