SASE issues avalanches threat warning

As the upper reaches of Jammu and Kashmir experienced snowfall for the third straight day, Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) of the army today issued an avalanche threat warning. Medium avalanche danger exists in Jammu and Kashmir as the snow has not frozen. We have issued a precautionary warning,” a spokesman of the SASE said. About one feet to four feet of snow has accumulated in the upper reaches of the state since Friday. The spokesman said SASE has advised people staying above 2500 metres in avalanche prone areas of Tangdhar, Kupwara, Baramula, Sopore, Islamabad, Kargil, Gurez, Naugam, Banihal, Uri sector and Rajouri district not to venture in avalanche prone areas in the next 24 hours. ”There is a danger of avalanche activity in these areas of the state,” he said, adding, the avalanche sites have been marked and people asked to remain cautious. The SASE was established to provide precision avalanche forecasting support to the services including advice on avalanche control measures, enhance avalanche forecasting capability through systematic data ciollection in snow bound areas and creation of snow cover information system. Owing to the prevailing weather conditions more snowfall may take place in the upper reaches of the State in the next 24 hours, the spokesman said. He said SASE has issued an advisory for the movement of vehicles on the Jawahar Tunnel on Srinagar-Jammu National highway, the only road linking Kashmir with rest of the country. ”The vehicles should maintain a distance of 50 meters for afety,” he said.