Fresh snowfall on hills; Leh NH, Mughal Road closed

Stranded trucks amidst fresh snowfall at Zojila, Sonamarg. -Excelsior/Shakeel
Stranded trucks amidst fresh snowfall at Zojila, Sonamarg. -Excelsior/Shakeel

Sharp fall in Jammu’s temp

Fayaz Bukhari/Gopal Sharma
SRINAGAR/ JAMMU, Nov 12: While hilly areas of the State have experienced rain and fresh snowfall, the authorities closed Mughal Road, alternate road to Kashmir via Poonch- Rajouri and Srinagar -Leh highway today, whereas, Jammu’s temperature recorded a sharp fall.
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The Jammu -Srinagar National Highway remained blocked at Battery Chashma in Ramban area during the day today, as a score of relatives of three missing truck operators in landslides held protest there, alleging that district authorities were causing delay in launching full fledged operation for retrieving bodies of people who were buried under the debris/ land slides. A large number of vehicles remained stranded on highway for about an hour.
Authorities closed Srinagar-Leh highway after fresh snowfall at Zojila pass blocked road and weatherman forecast fresh snowfall and rains across the region.
Senior Superintendent of Police Traffic (Rural), Muzafar Ahmed Shah, said that the highway was closed for traffic as a precautionary measure due to fresh snowfall on Zojila pass which caused slippery road conditions.
He said that the light motor vehicles were allowed to cross the Zojila towards Kargil this morning and this was followed by heavy vehicular traffic. He said around 2000 vehicles crossed towards Kargil but no traffic was allowed on the highway towards Srinagar in the afternoon after fresh snowfall.
SSP Poonch, Rajiv Pandey said that in view of rain and fresh snowfall in Poshana and Pir Pass, Mughal Road was today closed for traffic. He said the movement of vehicles to Shopian side from Poonch has been stopped.
Pandey further said that since the MeT department has predicted rain and snowfall at higher reaches for the next two days, the Mughal Road will remain closed till November 14. It will be reopened after snow clearance work is over after next two days.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Shopian, Dr Owais Ahmed also today declared closure of Mughal Road. Owais said in view of bad weather conditions from November 12 and today’s fresh snowfall on Pir Panjal, the Mughal Road has been closed for movement of traffic.
“We have closed the road for traffic following weather advisory amid prediction of rains and snowfall,” the DC said.
He also appealed the people to avoid journey on Mughal Road and also contact Control Room established by his office at Mini-Secretariat, Arhama, Shopian.
It may be recalled that Srinagar-Leh National Highway and Mughal Road were re-opened for traffic last week after remaining closed for almost a week due to snowfall earlier this month.
The weatherman has forecast light to moderate rainfall across the State for next two days with higher reaches to experience snowfall.
Director Meteorological (MeT) department, Sonum Lotus said that there is possibility of light to moderate rainfall in the plains on Tuesday and Wednesday.
He said that the plains wouldn’t experience snowfall in between, saying that there is a forecast of light snowfall in higher reaches.
“As per the forecast, the weather would remain wet till November 14 and will improve from November 15 morning,” he said.
Lotus said that the snowfall in reaches will not be heavy as it occurred last week. The day temperatures for next two days will drop while the night temperatures will settle above freezing point.
Earlier on October 27, the higher reaches as well plains in Kashmir here experienced season’s first snowfall that led to snapping of surface and air links of Kashmir with rest of the country. The snowfall also led to major power break down across the Valley and caused heavy loss to apple crop.
With fresh snowfall on the higher reaches, the winter capital city experienced about 5 degree fall in day temperature. While Jammu had recorded 26.2 degree C temperature on Sunday, today, the Jammu experienced 21.4 degree C temperature. The night temperature of Jammu has also shown 2 degree Celsius fall during past 24 hours. The people have taken out their woolen clothes to beat the cold wave.
Meanwhile, the District Administration Ramban has said that by involving NDRF/ SDRF and seeking Army help, the operation at Battery Chashma land slide zone area has been intensified to search for the three missing truckers in landslides on early morning of November 5.
A senior officer said that a JCB has been dropped deep into the Nallah from the Digdole side and it is nearing the site after constructing passage up to the site nearly 4 kms. It is working for the last two days and is likely to reach up to the site. He said a few parts of missing truck have already been recovered by team. The terrain is very difficult and huge debris/ boulders will have to be removed to retrieve missing truck parts and persons.

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