Another spell of Rain in plains and snowfall over higher reaches of Jammu, Kashmir & parts of Ladakh region most likely during 13-15th Feb. This spell will be of lower intensity than the previous one. Light snow on western parts of Jammu & Kashmir would commence on 12th Feb late night or 13th Feb early morning & will increase in intensity & distribution as the day progresses: Sonam Lotus, Dir MET Deptt

Srinagar, Feb 10 : Hundreds of Kashmir bound passengers were left high and dry after the air India flight scheduled to leave from Delhi for Srinagar announced a sudden cancellation with the passengers alleging Rs 20,000 each passenger as a travel fare. Many passengers termed the sudden steep hike in the passenger fair from Delhi- Srinagar as an open loot and sought reasons from the air-India officials as to why they cancelled the flight without any solid reason.
A group of Srinagar-bound passengers including those who were returning home after performing Umrah, told news agency over phone that the flight A14825 of air India cancelled the flight scheduled to take off from Delhi to Srinagar announced its cancellation leaving at least 180 passengers high and dry.
“After cancelling the flight, now the same Air India officials are charging Rs 20,000 as the airfare for booking a ticket from Delhi to Srinagar, this is an open loot, nothing else,” said Aijaz Rasool, who had reached Delhi after performing Umrah. “Many Kashmiris who were about to board the flight to reach Srinagar were asked that they can’t board the plane as the flight stands cancelled. Many of us don’t have that much of money with them. Charging Rs 20,000 for travelling from Delhi to Srinagar is about fleecing the common people of Kashmir.”

News agency also received scores of calls from the Srinagar-bound passengers who alleged that the officials of air-India were playing tricks with them and charging a hefty sum for booking a ticket to travel to Srinagar from Delhi.
“They know that we are under duress and are left with no choice to travel to Kashmir by air as the road stretch from Jammu to Srinagar stands closed. Now they are resorting to open loot by charging RS 20,000 from us,” said Rashida, a female passenger. “I am travelling along with my two daughters and son. How can Rs 80,000 for four tickets. Is this the way they treat Kashmiris.
The passengers appealed the Governor S P Malik to immediately intervene to resolve the issues and to mitigate the sufferings of thousands of passengers stranded in Delhi intending to reach Srinagar. (KNS)

Srinagar, February 10:Two cops and a woman were injured after suspected militants lobbed a grenade on police party near Paladium Cinema in Lal chowk area of Srinagar district in Sunday evening.

Reports said that some unknown persons hurled a grenade on police party near Paladium.

A police officer while confirming the incident said that two policemen and pedestrian suffered splinter injuries in the blast.(GNS)

Srinagar, February 10: Expressing serious concern over plight of stranded passengers due to the continuous closure of Jammu-Srinagar highway, former finance minister Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Sunday urged the Governor to seek help of Indian Air Force for evacuation of thousands of passengers who are desperate to reach to their respective destinations.

In a statement issued here, Bukhari said the official reports suggest that there are thousands of passengers who are stuck at various places on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and are distressed to reach their destination without any further delay.

“I solicit the personal intervention of the Hon’ble Governor Shri. Satya Pal Malik Ji to seek help from Indian Air Force to airlift these stranded passengers that include elderly persons, women, children and the students,” the former finance minister demanded.

He emphasized on formulation of a robust plan by the governor administration to deal with the crisis like situation that has surfaced because of heavy snowfall and occurrence of landslides at various locations on National Highway.

“I don’t think the authorities manning National Highway can facilitate its smooth opening very soon. The bad weather conditions coupled with frequent landslides and shooting stones have created difficulties for them to keep it open for smooth vehicular traffic. So in such a situation the administration must come up with a robust plan to deal with the crisis of stranded passengers and shortage of ration,” Bukhari observed.    

He remarked that till the additional flights especially the Globemaster aircrafts of Indian Air Force are pressed into service for evacuation, the governor led administration must arrange free accommodation, food and medicines for the stranded passengers.  

The former public works minister also urged the authorities to expedite work on national highway especially from Banihal to Ramban stretch which often remains closed due to landslides and shooting stones. 

The cold wave continued in the Kashmir Valley and the Ladakh region on Sunday as the weather office said same weather conditions were likely to prevail for two more days.

“We are not expecting any major change in the weather conditions during the next two days till February 13 when a spell of light rain and snow is expected in the state,” an official of the MET Department said.

Srinagar recorded minus 3.4 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature on Sunday, while Pahalgam and Gulmarg it was minus 8.0 and minus 10.0, respectively.

Most water taps were frozen in Srinagar.People lit small fires around the water pipes to defrost them.
In the Ladakh division, Leh town recorded minus 6.6 degrees Celsius and Kargil minus 21.0.

Drass town was coldest in the state with minus 21.5 degrees Celsius..
Meanwhile, Jammu recorded 7.1 degrees Celsius, Katra 6.5, Batote minus 0.6, Bannihal minus 1.0 and Bhaderwah minus 1.8 as the night’s lowest temperatures.(IANS)