KPDCL gears up amidst heavy snowfall, 115 (96%) out of 120 (33 kV) feeders up

Srinagar, Feb 20 (KNO): Managing Director, Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL), Mussarat Islam, Tuesday said that KPDCLs frontline workers are fully geared up in post-snow restoration works, even as heavy snow has caused disruptions especially in North Kashmir districts and some parts of South Kashmir.

In a statement released to the press today afternoon, the MD said five 33 kV feeders out of 120 are presently under fault, while 76 out of 1118 HT 11 kV feeders are down, in view of heavy snowfall in parts of Electric Divisions Handwara, Baramulla & Kupwara, where damage to power infrastructure due to heavy snowfall has also been reported.

“Five 33 kV feeders under fault have been reported from North Kashmir districts of Kupwara and Baramulla. Efforts are on to restore the feeders under fault, but the same would require road connectivity especially in those districts where upper reaches have been cut off due to snow,” he said, urging consumers residing in these areas to exercise patience.

The statement added that 33 kV Gurez line has been charged partially while as 33 kV tap lines Keran, Machhil and Tangdar is under fault. Similarly, 33 kV Wanpoh-Qazigund line is also charged partially.

In 11 kV category, 39 out of the 76 feeders are under fault in Baramulla and Kupwara Districts, while as 12 in Budgam, 08 in Shopian-Pulwama. 05 feeders each are under fault in Srinagar and Anantnag-Pulwama districts, the statement added.

He further stated that all feeders in capital city Srinagar are operational, along with majority of the 11 kV feeders in other districts like Ganderbal, Anantnag, Pulwama, Budgam and Shopian.

MD KPDCL also directed SEs of O&M Circles and Executive Engineers of all Electric & STD Divisions to personally monitor restoration measures following heavy snowfall. He also emphasized upon the Subdivisional Officers to ensure that the field workers take all safety measures by using safety gadgets (PPE) like helmets, gloves, harness belts, and using earthing roads while restoring power supply.

Presently, all Executive Engineers of Sub Transmission Division in Srinagar, Ganderbal, Sopore, Bijbehara are monitoring the status of Receiving Stations across Kashmir Division, the statement added.

MD urged the consumers to follow KPDCL’s official media handles to get regular updates about restoration works currently underway. He said the figures will be updated in the evening and shared on its official social media platforms—(KNO)

Weather Update 8:30 p.m

As predicted, most places of higher reaches received heavy to very heavy Snowfall while Kashmir plains also received Good Snowfall with heavy rainfall.

Now there is nothing major is expected, however during next 12hrs intermittent light/moderate intensity Snowfall expected over some parts of Kashmir especially south Kashmir & light to moderate snow over higher reaches of Jammu.

Overall improvement in weather are expected from tomorrow.

Regards: Kashmir Weather Forecast

India’s longest rail tunnel opens in Jammu on Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramula Rail Link

Srinagar, Feb 20: The longest railway tunnel of the country on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) was opened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday as he flagged off the first electrified trains of the Kashmir valley.

“Prime Minister Modi was present in Jammu and he virtually flagged off two electrified trains simultaneously — one from Srinagar to Sangaldan in the down direction and the other from Sangaldan to Srinagar in the up direction,” a railway official said.

He added that the prime minister also inaugurated the 48.1-km-long Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangaldan section. “This longest tunnel, which is 12.77-km long and known as T-50, falls between the Khari-Sumber section,” the official said.

According to the Northern Railway (NR), trains can now run from Baramulla to Sangaldan via Banihal, which used to be the last or originating station earlier.

T-50 is supposed to be the most challenging of the 11 tunnels in the Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangadal section.

According to railway officials associated with the project, the tunnel work started around 2010 and it took almost 14 years to operationalise it.

“All safety measures have been taken inside the tunnel to meet emergency situations. An escape tunnel has been constructed parallel to T-50 to evacuate passengers in case of any emergency,” an official said.

“At every 375 metres, a connecting passage between the escape tunnel and T-50 has been made so that the passengers can be brought to the escape tunnel and then, carried to their desired destinations in vehicles,” he added.

The official told PTI that in order to tackle a fire incident, water pipes have been laid on both sides of the tunnel with an opening valve provided at every 375 metres so that water can be sprayed on a train from both sides to douse the flames.

“Escape tunnels have been created for other bigger tunnels too,” he said.

According to NR officials, the opening up of the Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangaldan section has brought them a step closer to achieving the dream of running a train from the Kasmir valley in the north to Kanyakumari on the southern tip of the country.

“Earlier, eight diesel trains (four each from one side) were operating between Baramulla and Banihal. Today, Prime Minister Modi not only inaugurated the extension of the Banihal route to Sangaldan via Khari and Samber, but also flagged off the first electrified trains on the whole route from Baramulla to Sangaldan,” the official said.

Now, eight electrified trains have started running between Baramulla and Banihal and four of those have been extended to Sangaldan.

“The four other trains will also be extended up to Sangaldan after a couple of months,” the official added.

According to experts associated with the project, the first section of the USBRL — the Quazigund-Baramulla section — was operationalised by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in 2009. In July 2013, the Banihal-Quazigund section, which included the operationalisation of the 11.2-km-long T-80 Pir Panjal tunnel, was opened.

“Once the complete USBRL opens in the coming months, passengers will enjoy infrastructural marvels, such as the Chenab bridge, the highest railway bridge in the world, and the Anji bridge, which is the first cable-stayed bridge of the Indian Railways,” an NR official said, adding that the total length of the USBRL is 272 km and the cost of the project is Rs 41,119 crore.–(PTI)

Hartal calendars replaced by University, School calendars in J&K: LG Manoj Sinha at MA Stadium Jammu

Showers praises on PM Modi for making J&K a peaceful region; PM Modi has ended 70 years of injustice, every section happy: MoS Dr Jitendera Singh

Jammu, Feb 20 (KNO): Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Tuesday while showering praises on the Prime Minister Narendera Modi said that gone are the days when hartal calendars would be issued from the neighbouring country as J&K is following the calendars issued by schools and Universities now.

Addressing the massive crowd at Moulana Azad Stadium Jammu, where PM Modi was on the stage, the LG as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that J&K is touching new heights under the leadership of PM Modi and gone are the days, when people from the neighbour country would issue protest and hartal calendars.

“Today, people including youth and children are following the calendars of Universities and Schools,” the LG said.

He said that post August 5, 2019, terrorism, separatism and injustice has ended forever. “For the first time, West Pakistan Refugees, PoK displaced people and downtrodden people got their share. Panchayat polls would have been done but there was a reservation pending for the Pahari community. Pahari community people have been given their rights without touching the rights and reservation of Gujjar and Bakerwal community,” he said as per KNO.

The LG said that Panchayat elections will be held in time and efforts are afoot in that direction.

“Today with the active support of PM Modi, J&K is on the path of peace and development. There is 75 per cent decline in the terrorism related incidents, stone pelting is a history, local terrorist recruitment is at an all-time low. Nightlife has returned to Kashmir and Cinemas are functional. People are spending time late at night on Jehlum river fronts and time is not far when people of Jammu will spend time on the River Tawi,” the LG said.

Speaking on the occasion, MoS in the PMO Dr Jitendera Singh said that it was due to PM Modi’s efforts, 70 years of injustice ended in J&K. “Every section of society, be that Gujjars, Bakerwals, Paharis, Valmikis and KPs are living a dignified life,” he said. “Today, we have the world’s highest rail bridge over Chenab and Asia’s longest tunnel on the highway. Modi hai to mumkin hai…”—(KNO)

Fresh Weather Update For Today

▪️Moderate to heavy snowfall expected over upper reaches of J&K for today.

▪️Snowfall also expected over plains of Kashmir Valley Maximum chances South Kashmir & Some parts of central & North Kashmir.

▪️Moderate intensity rainfall also expected over Jammu plains For Today.

▪️Overall improvement in weather are expected from tomorrow morning.

Regards: Kashmir Weather Forecast

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