NH sinks near Banihal, one-way traffic allowed
Sonamarg coldest with -11.2 deg C
Suhail Bhat/Gopal Sharma
SRINAGAR/ JAMMU, Jan 29: While a portion of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway has sunk near Banihal, forcing movement of one- way traffic (HMV), Kashmir continued to reel under cold weather conditions with night temperatures dipping below freezing at most places, even as Srinagar recorded a slightly warmer-than-expected minimum with the coldest 40-day period of winter, Chillai-Kalan, nearing its end.
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The weather in the winter capital- Jammu has improved with sunny days being experienced during last two days. The night temperatures, however, in Bhaderwah, Banihal, Kishtwar, Poonch and Rajouri have remained about 3 to 4 degrees below normal.
A Traffic police official said that nearly 40 to 50 meters stretch of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway has sunk at Kishtwari Pathar, between Ramsu and Banihal due to the impact of recent rains. Some more points along the highway have turned narrow due to slides in Ramban sector. Shooting stones also continued at certain sites. Therefore, it was decided to allow one way movement of heavy and medium vehicles. The movement of light motor vehicles, has however, allowed on both sides, the official added.
He further said that the area had become problematic with long traffic jams and slow movement of vehicles. Therefore, one way traffic movement was allowed till this bottle-neck is cleared. Today, the movement of traffic from Jammu towards Kashmir was allowed. A large number of petrol/diesel/ LPG tankers were allowed to move towards Kashmir today. Tomorrow (On Friday), the movement of vehicles from Kashmir towards Jammu will be allowed, he added.
Meanwhile, an official from Meteorological Department (MeT) said that the summer capital (Srinagar) recorded a minimum temperature of minus 0.6 degrees Celsius overnight, down from 0.1 degrees the previous night but still about 0.3 degrees above the seasonal average. He, however, attributed Srinagar’s relative warmth to patchy cloud cover and light winds.
Sonamarg emerged as the coldest place in Jammu and Kashmir, with temperature plunging to minus 11.2 degrees Celsius, compared with minus 9.8 degrees a night earlier.
The ski-resort of Gulmarg, in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, recorded a low of minus 9 degrees, while Pahalgam in south Kashmir saw fall in temperature to minus 4.5 degrees.
Other parts of the Valley also remained in the grip of cold. Qazigund recorded a minimum of 0 degrees, while Kokernag settled at minus 0.6 degrees and Kupwara at minus 3.5 degrees Celsius.
Jammu region, however, recorded comparatively higher temperatures, with Jammu city recording a minimum of around 7.2 degrees Celsius. The day temperature in Jammu was 20.3 degrees C on Thursday with good sunshine throughout the day.
Tourist destination- Bhaderwah in Jammu region, recorded a night temperature of minus 3.4 degrees Celsius, and the day temperature of 14.8 degrees.
Highway township of Banihal recorded a minimum temperature of minus 2.6 deg C, Batote 0.2 deg C, Kishtwar 0.6 degrees, Rajouri 1.8 deg C, Doda 2.6 deg and Kathua 7.6 deg C on Thursday.
Holy township of Katra Mata Vaishnodevi experienced a night temperature of 6.4 degrees Celsius and day temperature of 18.6 degrees, Reasi maximum temperature of 19.2 deg C, Ramban 17.5 deg while Poonch registered 15.5 deg C temperature today.
The prolonged cold spell coincides with the final days of Chillai-Kalan, which began on December 21 and is marked by intense cold, frequent sub-zero nights and a higher likelihood of snowfall. The period is set to end on January 30.
Cold conditions are expected to persist beyond that, with Chillai-Kalan followed by Chillai-Khurd, a 20-day phase of milder cold, and then Chilla-i-Bachha, a 10-day spell indicating a gradual transition towards spring.
The Meteorological Department said the weather is likely to remain mostly cloudy but dry across the region till January 31. A fresh western disturbance is expected from February 1, raising the possibility of another spell of rain or snowfall in the region.
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