Tuesday, December 29, 2009

New Research Report: Gardening & Outdoor Living in the United States

PR Log (Press Release) – Dec 29, 2009 – Datamonitor's Gardening & Outdoor Living in the United States industry profile is an essential resource for top-level data and analysis covering the Gardening & Outdoor Living industry. It includes detailed data on market size and segmentation, plus textual and graphical analysis of the key trends and competitive landscape, leading companies and demographic information.
Scope
* Contains an executive summary and data on value, volume and/or segmentation
* Provides textual analysis of the industry's recent performance and future prospects
* Incorporates in-depth five forces competitive environment analysis and scorecards
* Includes a five-year forecast of the industry
* The leading companies are profiled with supporting key financial metrics
* Supported by the key macroeconomic and demographic data affecting the market
Highlights
* Detailed information is included on market size, measured by value and/or volume
* Five forces scorecards provide an accessible yet in depth view of the market's competitive landscape
Market Definition
The gardening and outdoor living market consists of the plants, shrubs, and growing media, buildings, tools, utensils, outdoor living, and plants, shrubs, and growing media segments. The plants, shrubs, and growing media segmnet covers bulbs, compost, domestic fertilizer, flowering plants, seeds, shrubs and trees. Garden buildings cover gazebos, greenhouses, pergolas, sheds, and related items such as fencing, paving, etc. The garden tools segment covers manual and electric tools. Garden utensils covers garden hoses, plant containers, water butts, waterng cans, and other similar items like sprayers and automatic watering systems. Outdoor living includes accessories, barbecues, furniture, and ornaments. Market values are calculated at retail selling price (RSP). Any currency conversions used in the creation of this report have been calculated using constant annual average 2008 exchange rates.
For the purpose of this report the global figure is deemed to comprise of the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe.
The Americas comprises Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, and the US.
Europe comprises Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, the Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
Asia-Pacific comprises Australia, China, Japan, India, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan.
For more information or to purchase this report, go to:
-  http://www.fastmr.com/prod/41483_gardening_outdoor_livin ...
Report Table of Contents:
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
CHAPTER 1 Market Overview
1.1 Market Definition
1.2 Research Highlights
1.3 Market Analysis
CHAPTER 2 Market Value
CHAPTER 3 Market Segmentation I
CHAPTER 4 Market Segmentation II
CHAPTER 5 Five Forces Analysis
5.1 Summary
5.2 Buyer Power
5.3 Supplier Power
5.4 New Entrants
5.5 Substitutes
5.6 Rivalry
CHAPTER 6 Leading Companies
6.1 Lowe''s Companies Inc
6.2 Home Depot
6.3 Ace Hardware Corporation
CHAPTER 7 Market Forecasts
7.1 Market Value Forecast
CHAPTER 8 Macroeconomic Indicators
CHAPTER 9 Appendix
9.1 Methodology
9.2 Industry Associations
9.3 Related Datamonitor Research
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: United States Gardening & Outdoor Living Market Value: $ billion, 2004-2008
Table 2: United States Gardening & Outdoor Living Market Segmentation I: % Share, by Value, 2008
Table 3: United States Gardening & Outdoor Living Market Segmentation II: % Share, by Value, 2008
Table 4: Key Facts: Lowe''s Companies Inc
Table 5: Key Financials: Lowe''s Companies Inc
Table 6: Key Facts: Home Depot
Table 7: Key Financials: Home Depot
Table 8: Key Facts: Ace Hardware Corporation
Table 9: United States Gardening & Outdoor Living Market Value Forecast: $ billion, 2008-2013
Table 10: United States Size of Population (million) , 2004-2008
Table 11: United States GDP (Constant 2000 Prices, $ billion), 2004-2008
Table 12: United States Inflation, 2004-2008
About Datamonitor
The Datamonitor Group is a world-leading provider of premium global business information, delivering independent data, analysis and opinion across the Automotive, Consumer Markets, Energy & Utilities, Financial Services, Logistics & Express, Pharmaceutical & Healthcare, Retail, Technology and Telecoms industries. Datamonitor's market intelligence products and services ensure that you will achieve your desired commercial goals by giving you the insight you need to best respond to your competitive environment.  View more research from Datamonitor at http://www.fastmr.com/catalog/publishers.aspx?pubid=1002
About Fast Market Research
Fast Market Research is an online aggregator and distributor of market research and business information. We represent the world's top research publishers and analysts and provide quick and easy access to the best competitive intelligence available.
For more information about these or related research reports, please visit our website at http://www.fastmr.com or call us at 1.800.844.8156.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

"Jewelry & Watches in China" now available at Fast Market Research

PR Log (Press Release) – Dec 24, 2009 – Datamonitor's Jewelry & Watches in China industry profile is an essential resource for top-level data and analysis covering the Jewelry & Watches industry. It includes detailed data on market size and segmentation, plus textual and graphical analysis of the key trends and competitive landscape, leading companies and demographic information.
Scope
* Contains an executive summary and data on value, volume and/or segmentation
* Provides textual analysis of the industry's recent performance and future prospects
* Incorporates in-depth five forces competitive environment analysis and scorecards
* Includes a five-year forecast of the industry
* The leading companies are profiled with supporting key financial metrics
* Supported by the key macroeconomic and demographic data affecting the market
Market Definition
The jewelry and watches market includes gold, silver and other precious jewelry such as diamonds, platinum, precious stones (sapphires, emeralds and rubies), pearls (natural and cultured) and semi-precious stones (e.g. quartz, opal, topaz, amethyst, coral etc.). Costume jewelry is excluded. All watches for men, women and children are included. The market is valued at retail prices, and all currency conversions are performed using constant average 2008 exchange rates.
For the purpose of this report Asia-Pacific is deemed to comprise of Australia, China, Japan, India, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan.
For more information or to purchase this report, go to:
-  http://www.fastmr.com/prod/41360_jewelry_watches_in_chin ...
Report Table of Contents:
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
CHAPTER 1 Market Overview
1.1 Market Definition
1.2 Research Highlights
1.3 Market Analysis
CHAPTER 2 Market Value
CHAPTER 3 Market Segmentation I
CHAPTER 4 Market Segmentation II
CHAPTER 5 Five Forces Analysis
5.1 Summary
5.2 Buyer Power
5.3 Supplier Power
5.4 New Entrants
5.5 Substitutes
5.6 Rivalry
CHAPTER 6 Leading Companies
6.1 Shanghai Lao Miao Jewelry Co Ltd
6.2 Shanghai Laofengxiang Group
6.3 Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Co Ltd
CHAPTER 7 Market Forecasts
7.1 Market Value Forecast
CHAPTER 8 Macroeconomic Indicators
CHAPTER 9 Appendix
9.1 Methodology
9.2 Industry Associations
9.3 Related Datamonitor Research
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: China Jewelry & Watches Market Value: $ billion, 2004-2008
Table 2: China Jewelry & Watches Market Segmentation I: % Share, by Value, 2008
Table 3: China Jewelry & Watches Market Segmentation II: % Share, by Value, 2008
Table 4: Key Facts: Shanghai Lao Miao Jewelry Co Ltd
Table 5: Key Facts: Shanghai Laofengxiang Group
Table 6: Key Facts: Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Co Ltd
Table 7: China Jewelry & Watches Market Value Forecast: $ billion, 2008-2013
Table 8: China Size of Population (million) , 2004-2008
Table 9: China GDP (Constant 2000 Prices, $ billion), 2004-2008
Table 10: China Inflation, 2004-2008
Table 11: China Exchange Rate, 2004-2008
About Datamonitor
The Datamonitor Group is a world-leading provider of premium global business information, delivering independent data, analysis and opinion across the Automotive, Consumer Markets, Energy & Utilities, Financial Services, Logistics & Express, Pharmaceutical & Healthcare, Retail, Technology and Telecoms industries. Datamonitor's market intelligence products and services ensure that you will achieve your desired commercial goals by giving you the insight you need to best respond to your competitive environment.  View more research from Datamonitor at http://www.fastmr.com/catalog/publishers.aspx?pubid=1002
About Fast Market Research
Fast Market Research is an online aggregator and distributor of market research and business information. We represent the world's top research publishers and analysts and provide quick and easy access to the best competitive intelligence available.
For more information about these or related research reports, please visit our website at http://www.fastmr.com or call us at 1.800.844.8156.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

New Report Now Available: Homewares in China

PR Log (Press Release) – Dec 22, 2009 – Datamonitor's Homewares in China industry profile is an essential resource for top-level data and analysis covering the Homewares industry. It includes detailed data on market size and segmentation, plus textual and graphical analysis of the key trends and competitive landscape, leading companies and demographic information.
Scope
* Contains an executive summary and data on value, volume and/or segmentation
* Provides textual analysis of the industry's recent performance and future prospects
* Incorporates in-depth five forces competitive environment analysis and scorecards
* Includes a five-year forecast of the industry
* The leading companies are profiled with supporting key financial metrics
* Supported by the key macroeconomic and demographic data affecting the market
Market Definition
The homeware market includes the sales of home hardware (crockery, cutlery, glassware, home cleaning, home storage ironing boards, kitchen utensils, rubbish bins and other home hardware like household scales and other mechanical devices), lighting (lamp shades, light/lamp stands, light bulbs, table and desk lamps), textiles and soft furnishings (bathroom textiles, beddings, cushions, futons, hammocks, mattresses, table linen and other textile and soft furnishings like clothing and furniture coverings, door mats, laundry bags, parasols, shoe bags and shopping bags) and window dressings (blinds, curtain poles, rails, curtains and hooks). The market is valued at retail selling price with any currency conversions calculated using constant annual average 2008 exchange rates.
For the purpose of this report Asia-Pacific is deemed to comprise of Australia, China, Japan, India, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan.
For more information or to purchase this report, go to:
-  http://www.fastmr.com/prod/41363_homewares_in_china.aspx
Report Table of Contents:
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
CHAPTER 1 Market Overview
1.1 Market Definition
1.2 Research Highlights
1.3 Market Analysis
CHAPTER 2 Market Value
CHAPTER 3 Market Segmentation I
CHAPTER 4 Market Segmentation II
CHAPTER 5 Five Forces Analysis
5.1 Summary
5.2 Buyer Power
5.3 Supplier Power
5.4 New Entrants
5.5 Substitutes
5.6 Rivalry
CHAPTER 6 Leading Companies
6.1 Pricerite Group
6.2 IKEA Group
6.3 HK Royal Furniture Holding Ltd.
CHAPTER 7 Market Forecasts
7.1 Market Value Forecast
CHAPTER 8 Macroeconomic Indicators
CHAPTER 9 Appendix
9.1 Methodology
9.2 Industry Associations
9.3 Related Datamonitor Research
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: China Homewares Market Value: $ billion, 2004-2008
Table 2: China Homewares Market Segmentation I: % Share, by Value, 2008
Table 3: China Homewares Market Segmentation II: % Share, by Value, 2008
Table 4: Key Facts: Pricerite Group
Table 5: Key Facts: IKEA Group
Table 6: Key Facts: HK Royal Furniture Holding Ltd.
Table 7: China Homewares Market Value Forecast: $ billion, 2008-2013
Table 8: China Size of Population (million) , 2004-2008
Table 9: China GDP (Constant 2000 Prices, $ billion), 2004-2008
Table 10: China Inflation, 2004-2008
Table 11: China Exchange Rate, 2004-2008
About Datamonitor
The Datamonitor Group is a world-leading provider of premium global business information, delivering independent data, analysis and opinion across the Automotive, Consumer Markets, Energy & Utilities, Financial Services, Logistics & Express, Pharmaceutical & Healthcare, Retail, Technology and Telecoms industries. Datamonitor's market intelligence products and services ensure that you will achieve your desired commercial goals by giving you the insight you need to best respond to your competitive environment.  View more research from Datamonitor at http://www.fastmr.com/catalog/publishers.aspx?pubid=1002
About Fast Market Research
Fast Market Research is an online aggregator and distributor of market research and business information. We represent the world's top research publishers and analysts and provide quick and easy access to the best competitive intelligence available.
For more information about these or related research reports, please visit our website at http://www.fastmr.com or call us at 1.800.844.8156.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Recently released market study: Electricity in Germany

PR Log (Press Release) – Dec 12, 2009 – Datamonitor's Electricity in Germany industry profile is an essential resource for top-level data and analysis covering the Electricity industry. It includes detailed data on market size and segmentation, plus textual and graphical analysis of the key trends and competitive landscape, leading companies and demographic information.
Scope
* Contains an executive summary and data on value, volume and/or segmentation
* Provides textual analysis of the industry’s recent performance and future prospects
* Incorporates in-depth five forces competitive environment analysis and scorecards
* Includes a five-year forecast of the industry
* The leading companies are profiled with supporting key financial metrics
* Supported by the key macroeconomic and demographic data affecting the market
Market Definition
The electricity market consists of the sale of electricity to industrial, commercial, household, transportation, and other end-users, including agricultural users. The volume of the market is calculated as the total amount of electrical energy consumed in TWh, and the market value has been calculated according to average annual electricity prices. Any currency conversions used in the creation of this report have been calculated using constant 2008 annual average exchange rates.
Note that in this profile, the units of energy are Watt-hours (Wh). Power (the rate at which energy is generated or consumed) is measured in units of Watts (W). To deal with wide ranges of values, it also uses the standard multipliers: kilo (k) = 1,000; mega (M) = 1,000,000; giga (G) = 1,000,000,000; and tera (T) = 1,000,000,000,000. For example, 1 TWh is identical to 1 billion kWh.
For the purpose of this report Europe is deemed to comprise of Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, the Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
Report Table of Contents:
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
CHAPTER 1 Market Overview
1.1 Market Definition
1.2 Research Highlights
1.3 Market Analysis
CHAPTER 2 Market Value
CHAPTER 3 Market Volume
CHAPTER 4 Market Segmentation I
CHAPTER 5 Market Segmentation II
CHAPTER 6 Market Share
CHAPTER 7 Five Forces Analysis
7.1 Summary
7.2 Buyer Power
7.3 Supplier Power
7.4 New Entrants
7.5 Substitutes
7.6 Rivalry
CHAPTER 8 Leading Companies
8.1 E.ON AG
8.2 RWE
8.3 EnBW Energie Baden-Wuerttenberg AG (EnBW)
8.4 Vattenfall
CHAPTER 9 Market Forecasts
9.1 Market Value Forecast
9.2 Market Volume Forecast
CHAPTER 10 Macroeconomic Indicators
CHAPTER 11 Appendix
11.1 Methodology
11.2 Industry Associations
11.3 Related Datamonitor Research
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Germany Electricity Market Value: $ billion, 2004-2008
Table 2: Germany Electricity Market Volume: TWh, 2004-2008
Table 3: Germany Electricity Market Segmentation I: % Share, by Value, 2008
Table 4: Germany Electricity Market Segmentation II: % Share, by Value, 2008
Table 5: Germany Electricity Market Share: % Share, by Volume, 2008
Table 6: Key Facts: E.ON AG
Table 7: Key Financials: E.ON AG
Table 8: Key Facts: RWE
Table 9: Key Financials: RWE
Table 10: Key Facts: EnBW Energie Baden-Wuerttenberg AG (EnBW)
Table 11: Key Financials: EnBW Energie Baden-Wuerttenberg AG (EnBW)
Table 12: Key Facts: Vattenfall
Table 13: Key Financials: Vattenfall
Table 14: Germany Electricity Market Value Forecast: $ billion, 2008-2013
Table 15: Germany Electricity Market Volume Forecast: TWh, 2008-2013
Table 16: Germany Size of Population (million) , 2004-2008
Table 17: Germany GDP (Constant 2000 Prices, $ billion), 2004-2008
Table 18: Germany Inflation, 2004-2008
Table 19: Germany Exchange Rate, 2004-2008
For more information or to purchase this report, go to http://www.fastmr.com/catalog/product.aspx?productid=41062
About Datamonitor
The Datamonitor Group is a world-leading provider of premium global business information, delivering independent data, analysis and opinion across the Automotive, Consumer Markets, Energy & Utilities, Financial Services, Logistics & Express, Pharmaceutical & Healthcare, Retail, Technology and Telecoms industries. Datamonitor's market intelligence products and services ensure that you will achieve your desired commercial goals by giving you the insight you need to best respond to your competitive environment.  View more research from Datamonitor at http://www.fastmr.com/catalog/publishers.aspx?pubid=1002
About Fast Market Research
Fast Market Research is an online aggregator and distributor of market research and business information. We represent the world's top research publishers and analysts and provide quick and easy access to the best competitive intelligence available.
For more information about these or related research reports, please visit our website at http://www.fastmr.com or call us at 1.800.844.8156.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Chinese Antitumor Drug Market Scale Will Reach RMB 42 Billion (USD 6.16 Billion) in 2010

PR Log (Press Release) – Dec 08, 2009 – www.shcri.com - As the first cause of Chinese residents’ death, malignant tumor occupies over 20% in all death causes. Meanwhile, cancer spectrum has gone through great changes: breast cancer and colorectal cancer rank among Top 10 most frequent malignant tumors; the incidence rates of pancreatic cancer and renal carcinoma are raised obviously; the incidence rates of gastric cancer and liver cancer remain high. In recent years, the annual growth of Chinese cancer patients is about 2 million.
By the end of 2008, there were 109.56 million people with the age of 65 and above in China, taking up 8.3% of the national total population and increasing by 0.2% YOY. The population aged 60 and above totaled 159.89 million, taking up 12% of the national total population and rising by 0.4% YOY. According to researches of some medical institutions in China, when the average age rises by one year, the incidence rate of malignant tumor grows by about 114/1000,000. The aging of population shows a positive correlation with the incidence rate of malignant tumor, leading to the increase of the incidence rate.
By the end of 2008, Chinese urbanization rate amounted to 45.7% with the urban population of 607 million. There were 655 cities with organizational structure, including 118 megalopolises with the population over 1 million. The acceleration of urbanization plays as a double-edged sword, improving residents’ income and living condition while intensifying their life pace and increasing the cancer incidence rate.
Moreover, the speed-up of urbanization aggravates Chinese environment pollution, raising the cancer incidence rate.
Chinese antitumor drug market scale maintains a high speed due to the rise of the cancer incidence rate. It is forecast that Chinese antitumor drug market scale will come up to RMB 42 billion (USD 6.16 billion) by 2010.
The high potentials on Chinese antitumor drug market attract more international pharmaceutical giants. Multinational pharmaceutical giants such as Roche have entered China.
In October 2009, a famous medical technology company of Europe put its anticancer drug – nemorubicin (in the phase II clinical research) on Chinese market for the first time, expecting to search for technology licensor in China which has the most liver cancer patients. The new drug technology sold publicly and competitively was originally researched by European largest medical R&D company to treat patients of primary carcinoma of liver. By October 2009, the new anti liver cancer drug had gone through hundreds of clinical experiments in Europe and North America. Moreover, it had entered the phase II clinical research in Chinese mainland through a Fortune 500 company.
The new drug patent holder is searching for the exclusive patent technology assignee in Chinese mainland. The rights and benefits of the assignee include: exclusive drug registration, API (active pharmaceutical ingredients) and injection production in Chinese mainland; sales permission in China and the Far East. However, the rights and benefits of the assignee subject to the final cooperation agreement.
As the new drug still stays in the phase II clinical research, the foreign side will consider the comprehensive strength of the assignee instead of the financial strength when choosing Chinese partner.
Chinese partner is expected to possess strong capacity in R&D, production and sales as well as certain international background. Namely, Chinese partner should be able to carry out market development in the Far East, especially Japan and South Korea.
For more information please visit:
http://www.shcri.com/reportdetail.asp?id=259
If you are interested in sample reading or purchase of the report, please do not hesitate to contact Eileen: Eileen@shcri.com, Tel: 86-21-6150-9706, www.shcri.com

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Mauritius Trade Deficit Is Lower This Year

PR Log (Press Release) – Dec 03, 2009 – In a good news for the Republic of Mauritius, its trade deficit slowed by about 23 percent during the first nine months of year 2009. Even though the exports declined by 6% the imports also fell by 14.5%. The biggest reason for a lower trade deficit is attributed to lower prices of fuel and food items. The trade deficit during this duration was 37.62 billion Mauritian rupees (MUR). Mauritius is extremely famous for its textile sector and supplies garments to one of the biggest chains of Europe. But since this tiny island is low on resources, it has to export a significant portion of its other resources. Although those exports shrunk slightly this year, they are expected to rebound once the economy gets better. The main trading partners are France, China, Great Britain, India and USA.
Mauritius has recorded significant foreign investment since independence largely because of its record of stable democracy. it has one of the Africa's highest per capita incomes. The island is surrounded by coral reefs and beautiful beaches which are quite popular among international tourists.
Financial services, fishing, textiles  sugar and tourism are the main sources of this tiny island. Mauritius is gearing towards becoming a duty-free island within the next four years to attract more tourists. Total population of Mauritius is about 1.2 million. Hindus, Roman Catholic and Muslims form the biggest religious groups in the island.  Mauritius claims sovereignty over the Chagos islands, which lie around 1,000 km to the north-east. Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of the cultivated land area and accounts for 25% of export earnings. Financial services, data processing, and call centers provide increasing employment, and tourism is important.
Due to the economic slowdown, Tourism has been the hardest hit sector. Mauritius has attracted more than 32,000 offshore entities.
Prepared by Linda
Independent Reporter
In collaboration with
Weightism: Weight loss forums and articles
(http://www.weightism.org, http://www.writearticles.org)

Business Benefits From On Call Administrative Assistant

PR Log (Press Release) – Dec 03, 2009 – As another year comes to a close, many businesses are scrambling to organize for the upcoming tax season. Others are making marketing plans for the New Year. When Karen Zuk, Administrative Specialist, established her new business this year she knew she could fill a niche needed in a challenging economy.
“Many businesses have cut staff and I have found that there is a need for contract work on periodic projects.” Karen is just the “girl” for the job. Her twenty some years experience in banking, automotive, manufacturing & restaurant management is just the ticket to get the job done in any industry. She acquired her skills while working as a sales assistant, systems analyst, office supervisor, trainer & receivables coordinator “All the work I do is held in strict confidence and satisfaction is guaranteed. My goal is to help business owners by organizing paperwork and doing administrative tasks so they can get back to running their business.” Said Zuk. “I enjoy office management, word processing and data entry which can be time consuming jobs for smaller companies.”
She also can help busy owners get their newsletter, mailing, power point presentation, annual report or manual done in record time with creativity and accuracy. “Some businesses need documents scanned, I do that. Others need training in Office products and I can do that in home or offices as well.” Explained Ms. Zuk.
For more information about Go To ADMINgirl please call (734) 734-341-0113,
kzuk@goto-admingirl.com  or their new web site at www.goto-admingirl.com .

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Srinagar Leh highway closed for winter

PR Log (Press Release) – Dec 01, 2009 – The 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh national highway was closed for winter due to heavy snowfall and slippery road, while weather condition has improved in the Kashmir valley where the minimum temperature was recorded at 2.3 degree celsius, two degree above normal this morning.
However, Kokernag was the coldest in the Valley where the minimum temperature was minus 2 degree while people in Ladakh region continued to shiver due to below freezing temperature.
"We have put a total ban on any traffic movement on the Srinagar-Leh national highway, life line to Ladakh region, because of slippery road conditions and heavy snowfall, official sources said here.
The sources said due to minus temperature, snow on the highway from Sonamarg to Matayan got freezed during the night, making the traffic movement impossible. The freezing snow did not melt even during the day when the temperature remained low.
The highway was to close on November 1 for winter months. However, due to dry weather, it was decided to allow traffic movement on the highway till weather permitted.
However, on November 10, there was heavy snowfall, forcing the authorities to close the highway from both sides.
But after putting all resources together, BEACON and civil administration reopened the highway and cleared all vehicles stranded on both sides of the Zojila pass. About 1250 passengers stranded at Kargil, Drass and Leh besides Srinagar were airlifted free of cost to their respective destinations.
Since the road has became very risky following slippery conditions and snow, it had been decided to close the highway for winter and would reopen it only next year, the sources said, adding that Section 144 was imposed in the dangerous zone of the highway to thwart any attempt by anybody to travel.
The Centre and the State have already announced to construct a tunnel at Zojila to make it all weather highway, which witness 15 to 30 feet of snowfall during winter.
The authorities decided to operate helicopter service thrice in a week between Kargil and Srinagar and once between Kargil and Jammu.
Adequate stock of essential commodities, including rice, flour, sugar, kerosene oil, diesel and gas cylinders have been made in all parts of the Ladakh region for these months.
Private dealers also stocked eggs, pulses, biscuits and other essentials.
People in Leh continued to witness severe cold as the minimum temperature was recorded minus 8.4 degree this morning while it was minus 3.8 degree in Kargil.
However, temperature in hilly areas and Drass, the world’s coldest place after Siberia, was minus 5 degree to minus 18 degree.
Despite minus 20 degree, troops remained deployed on the Line of Control (LoC) to thwart any infiltration from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).
However, security forces were being provided special cloths and food to meet the weather and other challenges.
The troops, facing all odds, remained deployed on the LoC since 1999 when Pakistani intruders occupied all heights in Drass and Kargil sectors. It took more than three months to the forces to push back the intruders.
Srinagar and its adjoining areas witnessed improvement in the weather condition.
The coldest night in the summer capital was on November 20 when the minimum temperature went down to minus 3 degree.
However, there is a possibility of Western Disturbances (WD), originating from the Arabian sea, to enter the region through Afghanistan and Pakistan early next week.
Kokernag in South Kashmir was the coldest place in the Valley where the minimum temperature was minus 2 degree. However, world-famous tourist resort of Pahalgam, the base camp of holy Amarnath cave, recorded zero temperature this morning, which is again above normal.
http://www.jammu-kashmir-ladakh.com/ladakh/