Qazigund/ Srinagar, January 17 (Scoop News) – Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon alongwith Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, Kifayat Hussain Rizvi and DIG Traffic Vijay Kumar visited Qazigund to oversee the snow clearance operation. He directed Beacon authorities to speed up the snow clearance so that the National Highway (NHW) can be reopened for traffic. He observed that there has been heavy snowfall from Qazigund upto Jawahar tunnel and beyond. It was informed that many snow slides including one a few kilometres short of Banihal have blocked the highway. Div Com was assured by Beacon authorities that by Tuesday late evening or early morning Wednesday the highway would be cleared of snow. Div Com directed that no passenger vehicles should be allowed on this road from either side, till the stranded trucks enroute are cleared. Moreover priority will be given to the trucks carrying supplies from Jammu towards the Valley, especially LPG.
Meanwhile, a rescue team headed by Tehsildar Dooru, Ghulam Mohammed Hajam alongwith SHO Qazigund and other members evacuated around 300 drivers and conductors who were stranded in 150 trucks at Zig near Lower Munda, Qazigund. The Disaster Management had issue a Medium Danger Avalanche warning in the area. As a precautionary measure the drivers were moved to safer locations on Monday evening.