Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 3: Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) today reopened for traffic after it was closed yesterday due to snowfall in Jawahar Tunnel area while Mughal road continue to remain shut.
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was re-opened this morning after the snow clearance was conducted by the Border Roads Organization (BRO). The traffic was allowed from Jammu to Srinagar today and majority of the vehicles had crossed the Banihal tunnel this evening.
A traffic official said that the traffic will be allowed to ply from Srinagar to Jammu tomorrow. He said that there is wet weather forecast tomorrow afternoon and by then they will push maximum vehicles beyond Banihal pass.
The Meteorological department has predicted light snow and rainfall over the State for next 24 hours due to Western Disturbance. He said there will be isolated to widespread rain and snow on 4th and 5th of this month.
He said that during this time temperatures will hover around 8 degree Celsius to minus 3 degree Celsius during day and night respectively.
As per the forecast, Jammu region will also experience light rainfall with minimum and maximum temperatures hover at 20 degree Celsius and 10 degree Celsius respectively. Mercury will dip to -12 degree Celsius tomorrow in Leh, as per the report.
And due to overcast conditions in Kashmir, there was relief from intense cold wave conditions. The Dal and other water bodies which remained frozen for last few weeks didn’t freeze today and so were the water tapes and pipes, giving big relief to the people as they were suffering from water crisis.
Srinagar recorded a low of 0.2 degree Celsius while the mercury in Qazigund in South Kashmir settled at a low of minus 0.4 degrees Celsius. The maximum day temperature at these two places was recorded at 8.6 degrees Celsius and 9.0 degrees Celsius respectively.
Gulmarg, the famous skiing resort in North Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 8.5 degrees Celsius and the maximum day temperature of the place settled at minus 2.5 degrees Celsius.
The night temperature in Pahalgam settled at a low of minus 7.3 degrees and the maximum day temperature of the place was recorded at 6.7 degrees Celsius.
Kokernag town recorded a low of minus 2.3 degrees Celsius while Kupwara town in North Kashmir registered a low of minus 3.4 degrees Celsius last night. The maximum day temperature at these two places was recorded at 6.3 degrees Celsius and 7.2 degrees Celsius respectively.
Kargil recorded the night’s lowest temperature at minus 17.6 degrees Celsius while neighbouring Leh recorded a minimum temperature of minus 13.3 degrees Celsius. The maximum day temperature at these two places was recorded at minus 0.2 degrees Celsius and 2.8 degrees Celsius respectively.