Avalanches hit Sarbal, Gurez areas, workshop damaged

Gurez, Jan 14: A workshop of Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited was damaged after a snow avalanche hit Sarbal area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Saturday. A separate avalanche has also hit a village in Tulail area of Gurez in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district; however, no damage has been reported.
An official said that an avalanche hit Sarbal area today, damaging a workshop near the Tunnel project being executed by MEIL.
He said the workshop has been partially damaged; however, there has been no loss of life or injury reported in the incident.
Meanwhile, Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) Ganderbal, Mushtaq Ahmad said that the workshop has suffered some minor damage and no casualty has been reported in the incident.
He also said labourers working at the construction site will be shifted to a safer place. “We have already shifted some labourers from there and the remaining will also be shifted.”
Notably, this is the second avalanche in the area in the last two days. On January 12, two labourers died after an avalanche hit near the project site.
Meanwhile, an official said that a snow avalanche hit Jurniyal village of Tulail today. However, there was no loss of life or property during this incident, he said.
He said that the avalanche incident took place a little away from the residential area, so there was no loss of life or property.
He further said the general public was advised by the administration to remain cautious and not to venture out in slopes, hilly areas, or avalanche-prone areas till the weather improves.
Meanwhile, the administration has issued a fresh avalanche warning for parts of the Kashmir Valley “Avalanche with high danger level is likely to occur above 2,000 metres of Kupwara district in the next 24 hours,” said Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Authority (JKDMA).
“Avalanche with medium danger level is likely to occur above 2000 metres over Chamba, Kinnaur, Kullu, Bandipora, Baramulla, Doda, Ganderbal, Kishtwar, Punch, Ramban, Reasi in next 24 hours. Public is advised to avoid venturing along these areas,” it added.
It also said that an avalanche with a low danger level is likely to occur above 2,000 metres over Anantnag, Kulgam, and Rajouri districts in the next 24 hours. On Thursday, an avalanche struck Baltal along the Zojila pass in the Sonamarg and left two labourers dead.
Moreover, Sub District Magistrate (SDM) Kangan has also issued an order following the avalanches, saying that the construction agencies viz MEIL, APCO shall not carry out any execution work and also advise their labourers not to venture and limit their movement.
Besides, Project Manager MEIL is directed to shift the labourers camped at Sarbal to safer locations.