India Metrological Department (IMD) report
According to the IMD report, the Western disturbance which affected the northern parts of the country from 16th to 20th February,2005 causing widespread snowfall over Jammu & Kashmir has moved away eastwards. In view of its eastward movement, clear weather conditions have set in over Jammu & Kashmir which are likely to continue for next 48 hours. Due to accumulation of snow and the prevailing clear weather conditions, the danger of avalanches still remains.
2. Cold and dry northwesterly/northerly winds have set in over plains of northwest and west central India resulting in cold wave conditions in these areas. However, the cold wave conditions are likely to abate after 48 hours.
Event:
3. As per IMD, snowfall upto 2m has occurred at some places during 16-20th February,2005. Highest snowfall recorded in the last 30 years in J & K region has been 4.5 m in February-1996 in Banihal and 8.4 m in February-1967 in Gulmarg. As per the reports received from the State Government, 230 persons have lost their lives and more than 19 persons are missing due to snowfall and avalanches. 308 persons have been rescued so far including 40 foreigners. Anantnag and Poonch are the worst affected districts.
4. About 300 search and rescue personnel including Army and Para Military Forces have taken shelter inside the tunnel for safety reasons. About 1000 people have been held up near Ramban and 70 loaded carriers are stranded at Batote.
Relief measures taken by the State Government
5.The State Government has take necessary rescue and relief operations which include ex-gratia relief of Rs.50,000 to the next of kin of the deceased, Rs.25,000 to the persons severely injured and Rs.5,000 for minor injuries. Relief is also being provided at the rate of Rs.10, 000 for fully damaged houses and Rs.6, 000 for partially damaged houses.
6. Deputy Commissioners of the affected districts have been provided Rs.10 lakh for taking immediate relief operations.
Setting up of Control Room:
7. State Government was requested to set up State Disaster Management Control Room in Jammu and Divisional Control Room in Srinagar to be operationalised for 24x7 operations. State Control Room is in constant touch with Ministry of Home Affairs Control Room to exchange information on the rescue and relief operations. State Government has also been advised to organize Inter-Departmental coordination meeting under Divisional Commissioner, Srinagar. The representatives of concerned Ministries of Government of India located in Sringar/Jammu will be invited to attend the meetings. State Government will send daily situation report including information on search and rescue, position of stock of essential items, number of persons died, persons injured, persons missing and assistance required from the GOI if any.
Coordination:
8. MHA is coordinating rescue and relief in association with all the concerned Ministries/ Departments of Government of India and the State Government. An Inter-Ministerial Core Group under Secretary (BM) (MHA) is reviewing the situation and coordination meetings are being held twice daily.
Sector/Department-wise situation
9. Sector wise situation is as under:
i) Power:
a) 220 KV Kishanpur-Wanpoh line (State owned):
- 4 Towers have been collapsed and Conductor snapping at 1 or 2 spots reported so for.
Action Taken: Action plan is being chalked out by the State Government with the assistance of Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCI)/Ministry of Power, for immediate restoration.
b) 132 KV Udhampur-Wanpoh Line (State owned)
- Trees have fallen at 2 spots – Trees removed. Line was charged but could not hold it.
- Conductor snapping at 2-3 places- Further patrolling of line being organised.
c) Distribution Network: Survey and immediate restoration work being taken by the State Government. PGCI will assist the State Government in restoration of power in entire valley.
Ministry of Power will be deputing a Technical Team in the affected areas tomorrow the 23rd February,2005 to assess the situation and assist in early restoration of supply of power. In order to quickly detect the fault in the T & D systems, the Ministry of Power has requested for one helicopter for air recce and Ministry of Defence has been requested to provide one helicopter ex-Jammu on 24 February, 2005.
ii) Telecom:
I) OFC route between Udhampur and Srinagar washed away due to land slide/snow. These have been restored using gensets.
II) E/A at Srinagar fault causing mobile service failure. It has been restored using gensets and mobile services are operational.
iii) Civil Aviation: The material lying at Air Port/ Tarmac area at Srinagar Airport has been cleared and all the three bays are now operational.
9 Civil flights against 5 scheduled have been operated by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. For 23rd Feb, 10 flights (4 Indian Airlines, 4 Jet Airlines and 2 Sahara ) are planned to airlift the stranded persons. This will clear the entire backlog in Srinagar.
Ministry of Civil Aviation has requested for extending the Watchhours at Srinagar so that more flights can be made operational . Ministry of Defence has been requested to take necessary action .
iv) Health: Ministry of Health is taking action to provide essential medicines required by the State Government. Hypothermia is the most common disease in such situations. 198 Cartons carrying about 3 Tons of essential medicines are being airlifted on 23rd February, 2005 to Srinagar by Indian Airlines. Divisional Commissioner, Srinagar has been informed to make necessary arrangements.
v) Petroleum products:
The status of POL stocks in Srinagar as on 21.02.2005 is as under:
PRODUCT STOCK
MS (Petrol) 285 KLSKO (Kerosene) 1227 KL
HSD (Diesel) 1975 KL
LPG (MT) 345 MT
MS and SKO are at minimum stock level. Ministry of Petroleum have arranged MS & SKO stocks ex-Pathankot and arrangements are being made to airlift 100 KL MS and 50 KL SKO per day from Pathankot in IAF transport planes with effect from 23rd February,2005.
Bottling of 5814 LPG cylinders was done on 20 & 21 February. Bottling plant has been restored at Srinagar. Ministry of Petroleum has been advised to monitor the bottling of LPG cylinders at Srinagar to ensure that there is no shortfall.
vi) Transport Aircraft: State Government has requested for 2 small helicopters viz Chetak or one big helicopter viz M-8/M-17 at the disposal of Divisional Commissioner at Srinagar for rescue and relief operations in the remote areas of the affected districts in the division. Ministry of Defence has again been requested to make at least one Helicopter to the Divisional Commissioner, Srinagar immediately.
vii) Clearance of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway [294 km] {refer map attached}: Jammu-Ramban stretch is open to traffic. Srinagar-Loharmunda is also open for one-way traffic. Out of total 294 km length between Jammu and Srinagar, 70 km of this highway between Ramban-Banihal-Jawahar Tunnel-Loharmunda is blocked at different places and BRO along with armed forces and state administration is making all efforts for road clearance at three places viz. Ramban, Banihal and Lohar Munda. About 300 persons and 14 equipments are engaged in the road clearing operation. Six more dozers will be pressed into service from 23rd February, 2005. BRO will be able to clear the National Highway by 28th February, 2005.
4 dozers and 6 snow-ploughs are being airlifted on 23 February from Leh to Avantipur. Two dozers are being moved by road from Jammu to Ramban. The State Government has also been requested to mobilize some dozers ex-Jammu for BRO so that clearance operation could further be expedited.
viii) Snow Cutters: State Government has also requested for some snow cutters. BRO suggested that the exact location of the requirement may be intimated so that they can organize the JCB/ Dozer instead of snow cutters. BRO informed that snow-cutters are not available with their units at Himachal Pradesh and Uttranchal.
ix) Requirements of essential items: The State Government requested for essential items like milk powder, vegetables etc. It was advised that State Government may procure such items of their own from Delhi or any other nearest place out of funds available in the State Calamity Relief Fund.
X) Supply of foodgrains: The Department of Food and Public Distribution has informed that as on 21st February 2005, at Jammu Division, 14,484 MT wheat, 18,634 MT rice and 6552 MT sugar is available. At Srinagar Division, 5257 MT wheat, 13568 MT rice and 118 MT sugar is available. State Government has requested for enhancement of the sugar stock at Srinagar. In case the stock position of sugar at Srinagar becomes critical, this will be airlifted from Jammu Division, where adequate stocks are available.
Xi) Gensets: The State Government requested for gensets for making operational the essential services like water supply, health sector etc. It was advised that gensets may be procured by the State Government and necessary assistance will be extended by GOI, if needed.
xii) Satellite phones: MHA has provided five Satellite phones for use of officers engaged in the rescue and relief operations. State has requested some more such Satellite phones. It was advised to procure them from the funds of the CRF, as it is an approved item under the CRF guidelines.
xii) Immediate requirement of Rs. 50.00 crore: State Government has requested for release of Rs.50.00 crore for taking rescue and relief operations. It was mentioned that an amount of Rs. 42.43 crore has been allocated in the CRF for the year 2004-05 comprising of Rs. 31.82 crore as Central share and Rs. 10.61 crore as State share. Entire amount of Central share has already been released. The State Government was advised to send the details of expenditure from the CRF so that their request of Rs. 50.00 crore can be considered. The request of the State Government is being processed.