Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Dec 10: Srinagar-Leh National Highway, connecting Ladakh region with Kashmir, was closed today for traffic for winter months.
A Traffic official said that Srinagar-Leh National Highway was closed for winter months for traffic this morning. “We have withdrawn all our personnel deployed on the highway between Sonamarg and Drass, on other side of the Zojila pass to regulate traffic,” he added.
The official said that traffic police and local administration on both sides of Zojila had made all efforts to clear vehicles to their respective destinations before closing it officially from today. The Highway remains closed between Sonamarg to Meenmarg Drass because of heavy snowfall during winter.
The highway was closed following forecast of heavy snow on the highway for next five days from Monday.
Meanwhile, authorities across the Kashmir valley have geared up all resources to meet any challenge following prediction of moderate to heavy rain and snow in the from Monday for next few days.
In the meantime, ,minimum temperatures throughout Kashmir improved today due to a cloud cover. The minimum temperature in Srinagar was minus 1.2 degrees Celsius while the day temperature settled at 11.1 degrees Celsius.
Qazigund recorded 12.2 degree Celsius maximum temperature while minimum temperature settled at minus 2.1 degree Celsius. Pahalgam recorded 9.9 degrees Celsius day temperature and night temperature was minus 2.1 degree Celsius. Kokernag in South Kashmir recorded 11.2 degree Celsius maximum temperature and 0.8 degree Celsius minimum temperature. The day temperature in Kupwara was 13.0 degrees Celsius while the minimum temperature settled at -2.4 degrees Celsius.
Leh recorded a minimum temperature of minus 9.7 degree Celsius and Kargil recorded a minimum of minus 9.7 degree Celsius.
Meanwhile, India Meteorol-ogical Department and Meteorological Centre, Srinagar has intimated that a fresh Western Disturbance is most likely to affect the J&K State from December 11 to December 15 with moisture feeding taking place from the Arabian Sea. Under the influence of this system, moderate to heavy rain and snow is expected at widespread places of Jammu and also at Kashmir region.
The main activity of this system is likely to occur during December 12 to December 13 and gradually decrease thereafter. This will be the first “major wet spell” during the current season for J&K.
In this regard, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Dr Mandeep K Bhandari has directed all the Deputy Commissioners, all concerned Heads of Departments and District Superintendents of Police of Jammu division to activate their men and machinery for minimize disruption of essential services, restoration of road connectivity, restoration of electricity, water supply and healthcare services etc. for the convenience of general masses.
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