The untimely snowfall in Jammu & Kashmir claimed 17 lives and left nearly 2,000 houses damaged in Kashmir division, a high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was informed on Thursday. The meeting, convened to brief the CM about the situation following the recent heavy snowfall in State, was also told that 57 cattle perished in the calamity, a spokesman said. The chief minister directed officials to arrange helicopter sorties to evacuate people from snow-bound areas. Omar was informed that 80 to 90 per cent power supply had been restored in most of the areas, barring a few where severe damage had been caused to the installations.