Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 24: After heavy snowfall in Kashmir and forecast of more snow for at least two more days, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was this evening closed for traffic.
Srinagar and parts of Kashmir this morning woke up to fresh blanket of snow and it was intermittently snowing throughout Kashmir during the day. The North Kashmir experienced heavy snowfall while the Central and South Kashmir had moderate snowfall.
Gulmarg had fresh snowfall of 2 feet today, Baramulla town one feet, Kreeri one feet, Tangmarg around 2 feet, Chandoosa around 2 feet, Kunzar over one feet, Boniyar over one feet, Keran over one feet, Sadna Top around 4 feet, Macchil over 2 feet, Z-Gali over 3 feet, Karnah around 2 feet, Furkiyan around 3 feet, Lolab over one feet, Kupwara town around one inches, Sopore around one feet, Panzalla over one feet, Dangiwacha over one feet, upper reaches of Sopore over 2 feet, Handwara around one feet, Nowgam over 2 feet, Bangus 4 feet, Zachaldara one feet, Wudur Bala 2 feet, Gurez around 3 feet, Sadna Top around 4 feet, Bandipora 7 inches, Shopian around six inches, Keller 7 inches, Anantnag 3 inches, Pahalgam 5 inches, Jawahar Tunnel six inches, Kulgam 8 inches and Aharbal six inches, Srinagar and its adjoining areas had around 2 inches of snowfall.
The fresh snowfall disrupted air-traffic at the airport as all flights today were cancelled owing to bad weather.
An airport official said that no flight operations took place at Srinagar airport today because of bad weather.
The Traffic Police this evening closed the Jammu-Srinagar for traffic. “In view of fresh rain/snowfall at various places of NHW especially Ramsoo, Banihal, Jawahar Tunnel, Zig and Qazigund coupled with slippery condition of the road, no movement of traffic either from Jammu or Srinagar shall be allowed on Jammu-Srinagar NHW tomorrow on 25.01.2017 keeping in view the security/ safety of drivers/passengers”, said a traffic police official.
“People are requested to contact TCU Srinagar (01942450022, 2485386), TCU Ramban (9419993745) and TCU Jammu (01912459048) and officers of Traffic wing to get the status of the road”, the official informed.
The official said that despite rains and snowfall along the NH around 2500 vehicles crossed the Jawahar Tunnel towards Banihal today. These include 732 LMVs, 1138 HMVs, 317 Oil tankers, 8 buses and 237 other vehicles. However, in the morning the commuters in Srinagar were told that the Highway is closed and they were not allowed to proceed towards the Qazigund.
The MeT office has forecast widespread rains or snowfall in the Valley for two more days, after which, it said, there is possibility of isolated to fairly widespread rains or snowfall over the next two days.
In the meantime, Srinagar settled at a low of minus 0.6 degree Celsius, Qazigund in South registered a low of minus 0.4 degree Celsius, Pahalgam in South Kashmir registered a low of minus 1.3 and Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 5.4 degrees. Kupwara, in North Kashmir recorded a low of minus 0.9 degree Celsius, while the mercury in Kokernag town in South Kashmir a low of minus 1.7 degree Celsius, Leh at a low of minus 6.1 degree Celsius and Kargil at minus 8.4 degree Celsius.
Jammu recorded 11.3 degree Celsius, Katra 11.8 degree Celsius, Banihal 3.2 degree Celsius, Bhaderwah 6.9 degree Celsius and Batote 3.0 degree Celsius as the minimum temperatures.
Srinagar recorded a maximum of 2.2 degree Celsius, Qazigund 1.7 degree Celsius, Pahalgam 1.0 degree Celsius, Kokernag 3.2 degree Celsius, Kupwara 1.7 degree Celsius, Gulmarg minus 1.4 degree Celsius, Leh 5.1 degree Celsius and Kargil 1.2 degree Celsius.
Jammu recorded a maximum of 15.7 degree Celsius, Katra 14.1 degree Celsius, Banihal 7.5 degree Celsius, Batote 6.5 degree Celsius and Bhaderwah 8.1 degree Celsius.
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