Traffic suspended on NH, Gurez road closed
Fayaz Bukhari/
Gopal Sharma
SRINAGAR/ JAMMU, Apr 17: The higher reaches of Kashmir including the world famous ski-resort Gulmarg, received fresh snowfall while J&K received rainfall today, plummeting temperature at many places.
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Traffic on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was suspended for about five hours today after landslides in Ramban area while authorities closed Bandipora-Gurez road following fresh snowfall at Razdan Top in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district.
Gulmarg, Gurez and other higher reaches in northern Kashmir experienced fresh snowfall last night.
The overnight incessant rainfall, however, drenched the plains of Kashmir thus bringing down the temperature further in the Valley.
After fresh snowfall at Razdan Pass, authorities ordered closure of Bandipora-Gurez road. The road was closed this morning after Razdan Top along the road received at least six inches of fresh snowfall.
The road was thrown open for one way traffic just a week ago after hectic efforts by the authorities. The road usually remains closed during winter months due to heavy snowfall in the area.
The Meteorological Department (MeT) had predicted moderate rainfall across Jammu and Kashmir till late this evening.
“There may be some occasional breaks in between and heavy rainfall at one or two places can’t be ruled out. Higher reaches may receive snowfall ranging between one inch and one feet,” a MeT official said.
He added that another spell of rain is expected tomorrow, particularly towards afternoon and evening. “Possibility of a few more spells around 21-23 April and 26-28 April,” he added.
The minimum temperature at Srinagar recorded a low of 7.2 degree Celsius against 7.8 degree Celsius the previous night. Qazigund recorded a low of 6.2 degree Celsius against previous night’s 7.4 degree Celsius. Pahalgam recorded a low of 5.3 degree Celsius against 3.4 degree Celsius the previous night.
Kokernag recorded a low of 4.8 degree Celsius against previous night’s 6.0 degree Celsius. Kupwara recorded a low of 6.0 degree Celsius against 6.3 degree Celsius the previous night.
Gulmarg recorded a low of 0.5 degree Celsius against 1.0 degree Celsius the previous night which was below 1.8 degree Celsius than the normal for the area.
Meanwhile, with the rain for the last two days and cloudy weather conditions in the region, Jammu’s temperature recorded 8.4 degree Celsius fall within two days while traffic on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was disrupted for about five hours today due to landslides in Ramban sector.
Official sources said that several parts of Jammu region experienced rain during last 24 hours. Even during this afternoon, several parts of Jammu, Samba, Udhampur, Reasi and Kathua area witnessed light to moderate rain. In Jammu City’s some plain areas water logging affected smooth movement of traffic.
A MeT spokesman has predicted light rain with medium range wind-storm having a speed of 30-40 kms per hour in some isolated areas of Jammu region during next 24 hours. However, he has predicted fair weather on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
He said with the rain for the last two days, Jammu’s night temperature has recorded a sharp fall of over 8.4 degree Celsius. Jammu City which had recorded minimum temperature of 24.5 degree C on April 15, today (on April 17) recorded a night temperature of 16.1 degree C. The day temperature in Jammu remained 26.5 degree C today. The sky in Jammu would remain partially cloudy tomorrow, the spokesman added.
The Holy township of Mata Vashnodevi today recorded a minimum temperature of 13.7 degree C, tourist resort Bhaderwah 8.5 degree C, Batote town 7.9 degree C and Banihal 7.4 degree C.
Kargil town recorded a maximum temperature of 15.2 degree C and minimum 2.0 degree c while Leh maximum 10.7 degree C and minimum 1.7 Degree C temperature.
Meanwhile, traffic on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained suspended for about five hours after landslides occurred at Mehar and Cafeteria Morh near Ramban at around 1 pm today.
A senior Traffic police official said that the men and machinery of the National Highway authorities and a private construction company were pressed into service but frequent falling of boulders and mudslide disrupted the restoration operation. However, the road was cleared at around 5.45 pm and then the stranded vehicles from Kashmir to Jammu side were allowed to move. A large number of vehicles were stranded on both sides of the highway and they were being cleared, he added.
Meanwhile, a loaded truck suffered partial damage when a boulder hit it at Panthyal during this afternoon. However, the driver and helper of the vehicle had miraculous escape, a police spokesman said.
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