Avalanche warning issued for Kashmir Valley and Ladakh

On January 25, Indian soldiers lost their lives in two separate avalanches in Gurez and Sonmarg.

Srinagar: The minimum temperature here on Saturday rose above freezing point as the authorities sounded an avalanche warning for higher reaches of the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh region.

Divisional administration issued the high avalanche warnings for hilly areas in Baramulla, Kupwara, Kulgam, Ganderbal, Shopian, Anantnag, Leh and Kargil districts, advising people living there not to venture out of their homes till the warnings were withdrawn.

District magistrates of the districts were asked to supervise all relief and rescue operations in avalanche-prone areas.

Twenty-one people, including 15 Army soldiers, died in snow-triggered tragedies, including avalanches, roof collapses etc since Tuesday in Jammu and Kashmir.

The weather office said the minimum temperature on Saturday here was 0.8 degrees Celsius.

Pahalgam and Gulmarg recorded minus 0.1 and minus 6.6, respectively, while Leh recorded minus 10.1 degrees Celsius.

Jammu city was at 8.6, Katra at 7.6, Batote at 4.2, Bannihal at 0.5 and Bhaderwah at minus 0.3 degrees Celsius, an official of the MET department said.

The 40-day long period of harsh winter called the `Chillai Kalan` that started on December 21 will end on January 30.