DC Kupwara reviews winter preparedness

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19 Dec 2025

Kupwara, Dec 19: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kupwara, Shrikant Suse on Friday convened a review meeting with officers of various line departments to assess and strengthen the district’s preparedness in light of the weather advisory and snowfall prediction. The meeting was attended by ADC Kupwara, Gulzar Ahmad Khan; ADC Handwara, Javid Naseem Masoodi; ACR; SDM Lolab; OC Beacon; all Tehsildars; as well as officers from R&B, PMGSY, KPDCL, MED, Municipal Committees, Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, and the Health Department. Regarding winter stocking and essential supplies, the Food Supplies Department informed that sufficient stock of rice, sugar, atta and fuel/LPG has been ensured in the district, especially in border areas, to cater to the needs of the people during the harsh winter period. Concerning snow clearance and machinery readiness, the Mechanical, R&B, Beacon, and PMGSY departments briefed the Chair on the availability and deployment plans of snow clearance equipment and machinery at key locations to ensure road connectivity in the event of heavy snowfall. The departments were directed to ensure utmost coordination for snow clearance at the earliest. The Electric Divisions informed about the buffer stock of transformers and other key spares, ensuring rapid restoration of electricity in extreme weather conditions. The Health officials presented measures taken to ensure the availability of medical emergency response, essential medicines, and ambulance services in high-altitude and hard-to-reach areas. The DC directed that district and tehsil-level control rooms be kept operational 24×7 during winter to monitor weather developments and coordinate swift responses to public grievances and exigencies. Addressing the gathering, the DC underscored the importance of inter-departmental coordination, timely execution of action plans, and proactive steps to mitigate winter-related challenges. He urged all departments to maintain continuous readiness, particularly in sectors prone to snowfall and connectivity disruptions. He further emphasised that every stakeholder must work diligently to ensure that essential services, including transport, power, food supply, healthcare, and snow clearance, remain fully functional even under severe winter conditions. He also directed that all staff of these departments remain at their headquarters. ADC Handwara, SDM Lolab, and concerned tehsildars were directed to monitor responses from all line departments in their respective jurisdictions.