In view of unabated snowing across the valley, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan today convened a high-level meeting to review the preparedness of all district administrations of the Kashmir Division.The Deputy Commissioners (DCs) informed the chair that the snow had been cleared from all the priority one and inter district roads by various engineering agencies. Rescue Teams were already deployed at avalanche prone areas. All the health institutions are functioning normally with proper heating arrangements and patients are being attended by the doctors and paramedics besides hassle free ambulance services in their respective districts. There is sufficient stocking of Essential Commodities and medicines across all districts of the valley. District and departmental control rooms are working 24x7. Government had made zone and location wise action and management plan across the valley to prevent interruption in services due to the bad weather. Zonal teams from concerned departments have been constituted to meet any exigency during the inclement weather period. Joint control rooms have been set up in every zone which is monitored by main control room at every Deputy Commissioner’s office to review daily operations. Men and machinery were already on job.The Divisional Commissioner directed all Deputy Commissioners to publicize all contact numbers of control rooms in the different media networks for prompt redressal of public grievances.
He directed SMC to press all men and machinery on the job of snow clearance and work throughout the night to clear all lanes and by-lanes so that commuters do not face any inconvenience in the morning besides BRO Engineers were directed to speed up the pace of snow clearance work and press additional men and machinery on the job so that National Highway as well as far flung areas of the valley will be connected as an earliest.To address inundation problem in low lying areas of the Srinagar city, Div Com directed SMC to deploy adequate number of de-watering pumps along with fire and emergency machines immediately besides drainage department will clear chocked drains immediately so that water logging shall not take place.To curb black marketing, profiteering and hoarding, All DCs ensure to conduct regular intense market checking and take strict action against the offenders.All DCs were directed to monitor all arrangements and preparedness personally and send hourly report of their respective districts to the Divisional Commissioner.The Divisional Commissioner stressed upon all concerned departments to be prepared and keep their men and machinery in ready mode to tackle any situation arising due to inclement weather conditions and ensure prompt restoration.Chief Engineers of PDD, PHE, R&B, Deputy Director Health Services, SSP Traffic, Joint Director FCS&CA, RTO Kashmir, Director Urban Local Bodies, Commissioner SMC, Director MET, GMC Principal, Medical Superintendent of SKIMS and other concerned officers were present in this meeting whereas all Deputy Commissioners of the valley including Leh and Kargil districts participated the meeting through video conferencing.