12 injured in police action on people over power failure in Kashmir

Srinagar, Jan 13 (UNI) About a dozen persons were injured as police fired teargas shells and resorted to baton charge at Kulgam in south Kashmir to disperse people protesting against power failure even as cold wave swept the Kashmir valley.

The demonstrators alleged that after every 20 minutes there is a power failure for three to four hours.

Parts of world famous Dal Lake were again frozen this morning after the minimum temperature dipped to minus 5.9 degree.

A weather office spokesman said western disturbances from north Pakistan are hitting northern part of the valley causing snowfall on the upper reaches.

''We had snowfall last evening on the upper reaches in Gulmarg,'' he said.

He said the minimum temperature dipped to minus 5.9 degree, which was about four degree below normal and added it was because of the open sky and dry weather.

Parts of the Dal Lake in the city were again frozen this morning.

However, the frozen parts later melted as the day temperature increased. At some places water taps were also frozen disrupting water supply.

Meanwhile, despite importing 100 MW additional electricity, the people in the Kashmir valley are facing acute power shortage. The metered areas are also facing power cuts during the peak hours.

However, other areas which are not metered yet are facing more than 16 hours to 18 hours daily power curtailment.

UNI