Pathankot:
A relentless cold wave is sweeping through north India, leaving people shivering and desperately hoping for some respite. There has been heavy snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. And the Meteorological Department has predicted more snowfall in these states.
Conditons have worsened particularly in Jammu and Kashmir which is shivering under sub-zero temperatures. The valley has also plunged into darkness with the collapse of the power infrastructure due to the heavy snowfall. The Jammu Srinagar highway that connects the Valley with the rest of India has also been closed for the last three days.
The highway is being cleared with fast pace. A government-run agency under border road organisation that manages the highway has been working in full strength to open the 220 km stretch. The Srinagar-Banihal stretch has been opened for one-way traffic. Ramban and Udhampur stretch has been opened too. If weather conditions remain normal the highway is expected to open by today or tomorrow.
Srinagar's Dal Lake was also frozen over. Early morning people could be seen cutting through the ice so that Shikara's could make their way through.
In Rajouri, amidst heavy snowfall and collapsing infrastructure, Army personnel saved a pregnant lady's life yesterday. The lady was critical but the Army managed to reach her house in time with doctors and ambulances. The doctor carried out the delivery in the army ambulance and saved two lives.
In Punjab, there has been snowfall as far as Pathankot which has seen snowfall after 40 years. The district normally experiences maximum temperature of up to 45 degree Celsius in summer. And that's what makes this change of weather very unusual.
Himachal has also seen heavy snowfall. Kangra has received snowfall after 35 years; the minimum temperature hovered around freezing point in most places and maximum day temperature plunged to 0.4 degree Celsius in Manali.