Gopal Sharma
-Excelsior/Younis Khaliq
Winter is here: A man carries ‘Kangris’ to his house to keep the family warm at Achabal in Anantnag on Thursday. -Excelsior/Sajad DarJAMMU/SRINAGAR, Nov 5: With the continuous rain in Jammu region and snowfall on the higher reaches, the day’s temperature in Jammu has witnessed nearly 6 degree fall below normal while many vehicles have been stranded at different parts of the National Highway between Udhampur and Banihal.
Due to rains since last night, the normal life in Jammu and several areas was partially affected while there has been sharp fall in day’s temperature in Jammu and adjoining districts. The people have started wearing woolen clothes with the onset of almost full winters with the heavy snowfall on Pir Panjal Ranges.
The Mughal Road continued to remain closed on the third consecutive day due to heavy snowfall. The Mughal Road Project authorities however, have engaged men and machines to clear the road. They said if the weather improved, the road is likely to be opened within 3-4 days.
Though movement of traffic on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway continued throughout the day despite minor suspension due to shooting stones between Ramban and Banihal, yet the Traffic police authorities stopped movement of many heavy vehicles at some places due to slippery conditions in Jawahar Tunnel area this afternoon. About 200 vehicles are said to have stranded between Batote and Banihal.
A Met spokesman said that there has been nearly 6 to 7 degree fall in the temperature below normal in Jammu in last 48 hours. Jammu witnessed day temperature of 21.8 degree C which is nearly 6 degree below normal. The normal temperature is 28 degree C. The minimum temperature in Jammu was 14.2 degree C and at Katra the maximum temperature remained 19.1 degree C and minimum 11.9 degree C.
Dr Meenakshi, Chief Scientist from SKUAST-Jammu said that these rains have been caused due to western disturbances. She said that in next 24 hours the weather will remain like this and there will be some improvement after Friday evening. She disclosed that due to advance heavy snowfall Jammu’s temperature has gone nearly 6 degree C below normal.
Despite rain, the Mata Vaishnodevi Yatra continued uninterrupted. However, chopper service to the Holy cave from Katra base camp remained affected due to bad weather.
Meanwhile, Srinagar-Leh highway and several other border roads remained closed for second consecutive day today.
A Traffic official said that Srinagar-Leh National Highway and Mughal road that were closed yesterday morning due to snowfall at Zojila and Peer Ki Gali respectively remained closed today due to continuous snowfall in these areas.
The official said that over one feet snow had accumulated at Zojila while over 2 feet snow had accumulated at Peer Ki Gali. The Mughal road in Shopian, South Kashmir linked Kashmir valley with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region. The Shopian town also witnessed season’s first snowfall today.
The snowfall along the Line of Control (LoC) in North Kashmir continued today. Gulmarg, Kongdoori and Affarwat also received fresh snowfall.
A Meteorological department official said that weather has improved and it will be sunny tomorrow and the temperature will rise.
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