Gopal Sharma/Fayaz Bukhari
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Jan 22: Most of the parts of Kashmir valley and hilly areas of Jammu region, experienced heavy rain and snowfall last night, resulting into the closure of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway while traffic on Jammu-Doda-Kishtwar also remained suspended today due to snowfall and slippery road conditions at hill resort of Patnitop.
Due to overnight snowfall in Jawahar Tunnel area of Pir Panjal, the authorities closed the movement of traffic on both sides of the tunnel last night. From Jammu onwards, the vehicles for Srinagar, Ramban, Doda and Kishwtar were not allowed by the Traffic Police authorities. Many goods carriers were stopped at Nagrota-Byepass, Udhampur Jakheni Bypass, Mansar-Battal road and even at Chanderkote and Ramban areas. A large number of light motor vehicles were also stranded at various places on the highway.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Rohit Kansal along with Deputy Commissioner Anantnag and SSP visited Jawahar Tunnel area during the day and supervised snow clearance work. He directed the Traffic Police authorities to clear all the stranded passenger vehicles on both sides.
Inspector General of Police, Traffic, Muneer Khan told the Excelsior that National Highway was closed for traffic due to snowfall in the Jawahar Tunnel, Banihal and Patnitop areas. He, however, said that the highway was cleared by the BRO by afternoon and over 400 stranded vehicles were cleared.
Khan said that at Chanderkote and Banihal nearly 70 Kashmir bound trucks and equal number of them stranded at Udhampur were cleared towards Srinagar. He said that 250 Jammu bound light motor and passenger vehicles stranded at Qazigund were also cleared.
The IGP said that in the evening the highway was closed for traffic due to slippery road conditions. He said that since the freak weather will continue till end of this month, there will be one-way traffic on the highway from tomorrow onwards.
“This has been necessitated in view of slippery conditions of NH-1A coupled with rain, snowfall, poor road condition and triggering of landslides in Jawahar Tunnel-Lower Munda, Jawahar Tunnel-Banihal, Ramsoo-Ramban and Patnitop sectors”, Khan said.
The IGP said that the decision has been taken to ensure safety and security of passengers and hassle free movement of load carriers. “Under this system, one way traffic from Jammu to Srinagar and vice versa will be allowed on the highway on alternate days”, he added.
“All kinds of passenger service vehicles and Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) (bound for valley from Jammu side) are required to cross TCP Nagrota by 11 am and TCP Udhampur upto 12.30 pm only. Similarly, cut off timing for heavy vehicles and load carriers (Valley bound) shall be 10 am at Nagrota and 12 noon at TCP Udhampur, beyond which no vehicle shall be allowed to proceed for onwards journey towards Kashmir valley”, Khan said.
The IGP said: “On Down traffic days all kinds of passenger service vehicles and LMVs (bound for Jammu) are required to cross TCP Pantha Chowk by 10 am, Lower Munda (Qazigund) upto 12 noon and Jawahar Tunnel upto 12.30 pm only for onward journey towards Jammu. Similarly, the cut off timing for heavy vehicles and load carries (bound for Jammu) shall be 9 am at Pantha Chowk, 11.30 am at Levdora (Qazigund) and 1 pm at Jawahar Tunnel beyond which no vehicle, whatsoever, shall be allowed to proceed beyond lower Munda and Jawahar Tunnel for onward journey.”
Gulmarg and other upper reaches in the Kashmir valley experienced first major snowfall while plains were lashed by rains, leading to chilly conditions. Around one feet snow accumulated in Gulmarg and locals were happy that this will bring tourists back to the resort.
Moderate to heavy snowfall was received at upper reaches, including Kongdori, Khilanmarg and Affarwat, the highest skiing point connected by Cable Car.
Srinagar, received just 3.3 mm rainfall with Sun playing hide and seek. However, hills surrounding Srinagar, were engulfed in a thick blanket of snow.
Over six inches to one feet of snowfall was also received at Keran, Karnah, Machil, Sadhna Top, Neeru, Razdan Top and other mountain tops in North Kashmir. A number of roads to far flung and remote areas were closed for traffic due to snowfall and slippery road conditions.
Pahalgam also received snowfall. Shopian, Qazigund and Kulgam also received fresh snowfall. Kangan and other heights in Ganderbal district, including Sonamarg, Gund and Gagangeet also received moderate to heavy snowfall.
There was also considerable improvement in the minimum temperature at Leh and Kargil, where traces of rain were recorded, Met spokesman said. The minimum temperature at Leh was minus 6.2 degrees whereas at Kargil it was minus 5 degrees.
The Deputy Inspector General of Traffic Police Jammu, Nisar Ahmed said that most of the light passenger vehicles in Ramban and Udhampur areas were cleared this afternoon as the GREF authorities cleared snow from Jawahar Tunnel area. He disclosed that around 200 goods carriers/ trucks were stranded near Ban Talab (NH) nearly 200 between Battal Morh and Udhampur (Dhar Road) while nearly 150 at Udhampur-Jakheni Bypass road. Besides this some vehicles had been stopped in Chanderkote and Ramban areas last night after heavy snowfall started in Jawahar Tunnel area.
The DIG further disclosed that snow has also been cleared in Pantnitop area and the movement of light motor vehicles was allowed this afternoon. But movement of heavy vehicles will be allowed from tomorrow morning. He said there will be one way movement of vehicles from Jammu to Srinagar (Up convoy) tomorrow, subject to clear whether conditions. He said from Nagrota and Udhampur onwards there are restrictions for the Valley bound vehicles but there will not be any restriction for the vehicles bound for Ramban, Doda, Bhaderwah and Kishtwar.
The temperature in Jammu has witnessed some improvement as compared to yesterday. The maximum temperature was 19.2 degree C while minimum 9.5 degree C today. Though weather remained partially cloudy in Jammu areas but the Met official has predicted rain and further snowfall in some areas of the State during next 24 hours.
The movement of traffic on Jammu-Poonch highway was also affected for some time during morning hours due to fresh snowfall and slippery road conditions at Bhimber Gali but as the GREF machine removed the snow, the movement of vehicles was allowed. Dera Gali also experienced snowfall but the traffic movement continued there. However, Mughal road has been closed for traffic for indefinite period, a senior police official said.
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