Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan today said that the essential services disrupted at some places due to the heavy snowfall across the Kashmir division were restored within hours as the administration worked round the clock.The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir was speaking at meeting convened to review the restoration of electricity and water supply, snow clearance on roads, Health Services, supply of essentials commodities, like rice, atta, sugar, K. Oil and LPG and other arrangements put in place in the Kashmir Division including Leh and Kargil districts at a high-level meeting.All District Development Commissioners (DDCs) informed that all essential services were restored and there is no shortage of essential commodities in their respective districts.The DDCs further informed that all the highways and roads of the districts have been cleared by the engineering wings. The roads to Pahalgam and Gulmarg tourist resorts are also open for traffic. Two rescue teams have been already deployed at Waltengo-Naar in case of an eventuality. Alone in Srinagar city, 25 snow clearance machines on the job, the officials informed.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. District and departmental control rooms are working 24x7 and their contact numbers have been publicised in media for prompt redressal of public grievances. Regarding National Highway which is clear upto Qazigund and beyond that, adequate Men and Machinery were deployed to clear snow so that valley will be connected to the rest of the country as soon as possible.The Divisional Commissioner directed BRO Engineers 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.
For mitigation of public problems, all DDCs were directed to use SDRF amount liberally and also send hourly report of post snowfall scenario in their respective districts to the Divisional Commissioner.The Divisional Commissioner directed all newly elected counsellors, Sarpanchs and Panchs to visit in their respective wards and villages and redress grievances of the public on priority basis.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 during present frost conditions. They have also been directed to hire tractors for snow clearance in lanes and pathways.SRTC were directed to start bus services on hospital and airport routes immediately so that patients and passengers do not face inconvenience besides RTO Kashmir ensure proper transportation on all routes across the valley immediately. 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. They have also been directed to depute one officer at Police Control room for prompt action against any eventuality.The Divisional Commissioner issued directions to all all newly elected Counsellors, Sarpanchs and Panchs to visit in their respective wards and villages and redress grievances of the public on priority basis.Chief Engineers of PDD, PHE, R&B, Director Health Services, SSP Traffic, Director FCS&CA, RTO Kashmir, Director Urban Local Bodies,Commissioner SMC, GM JKSRTC, Medical Superintendent of SKIMS and other concerned officers were present in this meeting.