NEW DELHI: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah will return to Srinagar Sunday to address the ongoing power and water supply issues caused by a severe cold wave.
The valley experienced its lowest temperature in over 30 years on Saturday, reaching -8.5 degrees Celsius.
This extreme cold has been worsened by frequent power cuts.
Abdullah cancelled his scheduled events in Jammu to personally oversee the power department and other essential services in Srinagar for the next week. He was attending the GST council meeting in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
“In light of the severe cold spell in the Kashmir valley & the resultant difficulties with water & electricity supply, I have decided to cancel my forthcoming programmes in Jammu & station myself in Srinagar for the next week to personally monitor the functioning of the Power department & other important departments,” Abdullah posted on X.
He apologized for any inconvenience caused by the cancellations, stating: “I do appreciate that cancelling my programmes in Jammu will cause some inconvenience to the organisers & I regret the same. However under the circumstances this is the right thing to do & I will make it up to the people/organisations whose programmes have been affected.” He expects to arrive in Srinagar Sunday morning.
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