Omar Abdullah cancels Jammu meetings in wake of harsh cold wave in Kashmir valley

People burst firecrackers near the Dal lake as they mark the start of 40 coldest days of winter weather locally known as ‘Chillai Kalan’ in Srinagar, on December 22, 2024
| Photo Credit: Imran Nisar

J&K Chief Minister on Sunday (December 22, 2024) cancelled all the meetings scheduled in winter capital Jammu in the wake of a harsh cold wave and growing power crisis in the Kashmir valley.

After attending the national level meeting of the 55th GST Council in Rajasthan on Saturday, Mr. Abdullah on Sunday announced that he would station himself in Srinagar for the next week “to personally oversee the functioning of the Power Department and other critical services”.

“In light of the severe cold spell in the Kashmir valley and the resultant difficulties with water and electricity supply, I have decided to cancel my forthcoming programmes in Jammu and station myself in Srinagar for the next week to personally monitor the functioning of the Power department and other important departments,” Mr. Abdullah said, in a post on X.

At present, the Kashmir Valley is reeling under the coldest winters in recent years, as the temperatures plummeted to record-breaking lows in many places. Srinagar hit minus 8.5 degree Celsius, the coldest December night in over 50 years, on Saturday. On Sunday night, Srinagar recorded a minimum of minus 4.6 degree Celsius. All weather stations in north and south Kashmir registered sub-zero temperature in the Valley.

The intense cold spell has severely disrupted water supply and electricity. “Under the circumstances, this is the right thing to do and I will make it up to the people/organisations whose programmes have been affected,” he added.

There is growing criticism of the government in Kashmir over poor handling of electricity and water crisis. “The administration has failed to mobilise resources to alleviate the struggles of the people. Power and water shortages, along with skyrocketing prices, have pushed life to the brink, especially in far-flung areas like Khag, Khansahib, and Doodhpathri,” Hakim Yaseen, a former legislator from central Kashmir, said.