Avalanche threat subsidises, people return to homes in Srinagar

With no fresh snowfall or rains, the authorities in Jammu and Kashmir today said the threat of avalanche in high altitude areas has reduced considerably as hundreds of people who were shifted to safer places have started returning to their homes.

"The avalanche threat has considerably reduced today and there is no warning of avalanches at the moment," officer on special Duty with divisional commissioner and in charge Disaster management Amir Ali said.
     
The authorities had issued avalanche warning on February 6, a day after heavy snowfall started in the upper reaches and extended it subsequently although the snowfall stopped on February 9, but not before covering the region with a layer of
five to 10 feet of snow.

In view of the possibility of avalanches, authorities had yesterday shifted hundreds of people in the avalanche-prone areas of Anantnag, Kupwara, Baramulla and Bandipora districts to safer places as a precautionary measure.
   
However, the displaced persons were allowed to return to their homes this morning as the snow settled down, vanishing the threat.

"We are monitoring the weather conditions and in case there is fresh snowfall, necessary steps would be taken to ensure safety of the people," Ali said.

There was no report of fresh snowfall or rains from anywhere.