Gopal Sharma/ Fayaz Bukhari
JAMMU/ SRINAGAR, Feb 6: With the continuous rain and snowfall in Kashmir valley and higher reaches of Jammu region, the Jammu- Srinagar National Highway was closed this evening while Jammu’s temperature has suddenly gone 5.3 degree Celsius below normal with the spell of chilling cold wave in the entire northern region.
Entire region has come under the grip of cold wave while the higher reaches of Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Udhampur, Poonch, Rajouri, Reasi and Kathua besides Trikuta hills of Mata Vaishnodevi have experienced fresh snowfall. The one way traffic from Jammu to Srinagar continued throughout the day today and over 3500 vehicles crossed over to Valley via Jawahar tunnel but after the spell of fresh snowfall at Pir Panjal and Patnitop, the traffic was stooped and highway closed at around 5 pm.
Inspector General of Police (Traffic), Muneer Ahmad Khan told the Excelsior that the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was closed for traffic this evening following heavy snowfall in the Jawahar Tunnel area in Banihal sector. He said that around six inches of snow had accumulated on both the sides of the Tunnel. “We closed the highway for traffic as it was slippery in Jawahar Tunnel area and it was snowing heavily. Around 120 Srinagar bound vehicles including 20 passenger vehicles are now stranded on the highway between Banihal and Ramsu”, he added.
Mr Khan said today traffic plied from Jammu to Srinagar and around 3500 vehicles including 1600 load carriers, crossed the Banihal Tunnel. He said traffic will ply from Srinagar to Jammu tomorrow if weather permits. He, however, said that chances of re-opening the highway for fresh traffic tomorrow is bleak as weatherman has forecast freak weather. He said that first priority will be to clear the Srinagar bound stranded passenger vehicles from the highway.
Meanwhile, entire Kashmir was lashed by rain today and since evening, it was snowing heavily. Fresh snowfall has been reported from the hilly areas and more snow is likely in next 24 hours. Anantnag in South Kashmir received around 3 inches of snowfall, Srinagar two inch, Sopore, Baramulla, Handwara and other areas of North Kashmir around 5-6 inches of snowfall.
Director, Meteorological Department, Srinagar, Sonum Lotus said that after around a week long freak weather, there would be no rains and snow from February 8. He said that dry weather is expected after this weekend.
A MeT official said that Kargil continued to freeze at minus 16.8 degree Celsius and the maximum day temperature settled at minus 2 degree Celsius. He said Leh witnessed about nine degree drop in the night temperatures and froze at minus 12.4 degree Celsius against yesterday’s minus 3.9 degree Celsius and the maximum day temperature settled at minus 0.3 degree Celsius.
The minimum temperature in Srinagar was recorded at 0.6 degree Celsius while the maximum day temperature settled at 5.7 degree Celsius. Gulmarg was coldest place in the Kashmir valley with minimum temperature settling at minus 8 degree Celsius, night temperature in Pahalgam settled at minus 6.7 degree Celsius and in Kokernag, it settled at minus 3.3 degree Celsius.
Meanwhile, entire Jammu region has come under the grip of cold wave and the higher reaches of Doda, Ramban, Poonch, Rajouri, Kathua and Reasi besides Trikuta Hills of Katra Mata Vaishnodevi have experienced fresh snowfall. The traffic on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was stopped at around 5 pm after fresh snowfall and slippery conditions in Jawahar Tunnel area and at Patnitop.
Chief Scientist and Head, Meteorological Deptt of SKUAST Jammu Prof B C Sharma said that Jammu today experienced the day temperature of 15.6 degree Celsius, which is about 5.3 degree C below normal. The normal temperature is 20.9 degree C while it was 20.5 degree C yesterday. City’s minimum temperature remained 8.5 degree C, whereas, yesterday it was 12 degree C.
The SKUAST Scientist further disclosed that Udhampur recorded the maximum temperature of 13.3 degree Celsius and minimum 5.7 degree C while Ramban maximum 10.1 degree and minimum 4.8 degree C today. At Katra Mata Vaishnodevi, the temperature has gone down considerably while fresh snowfall was going on this evening.
He said Jammu recorded 2.5 mm rain up to 5 pm today while it was expected to go up as it continued drizzling for the past several hours. In some areas of Kathua, Udhampur and Samba, good rain has been experienced. He disclosed that in next 24 hours the rain and snowfall would continue in the region while climate will start improving thereafter.
Issuing advisory for the farmers, Prof Sharma said farmers should not allow stagnation of water in their fields under such climatic conditions as the supply of Nitrogen to the roots of pulses or other wheat plants get affected. The yellow rust disease also affects wheat crop under such weather conditions. The farmers should closely monitor their crop and if needed should spray Propaconazole (Liquid medicine) in the affected area of crop in their fields.
A senior Traffic Police official said that traffic on Udhampur- Batote- Doda-Kishtwar and Bhaderwah road was stopped at around 5 pm after fresh snowfall in Patnitop area this afternoon. It was raining continuously and the vehicles have been stopped at Udhampur and also in Batote area. The movement of traffic towards Srinagar from Ramban and Banihal onwards was also stopped this evening after bad weather conditions and fresh snowfall at Jawahar Tunnel. In the hilly areas of Basohli, Bani, Machhedi and Lohai Malhar in district Kathua fresh snowfall has been reported while several link roads have been closed.
The Jammu-Poonch highway via Bhimber Gali was through but Rajouri-Thannamandi-Dera Gali-Bufliaz -Poonch road was closed. Mahore-Gool road besides Chenani-Lati-Dudu Basantgarh and Ramnagar-Majori-Gandh Top and Basantgarh roads were also blocked this evening. A large number of vehicles have been stranded at various places due to road blockade. In Ramban area mud-slash and shooting stones affected smooth movement of traffic this afternoon but GREF men and machinery were on the job to clear slides continuously.
SP Airport Ashok Sharma said due to poor weather conditions, a few flights were delayed but all the flights operated today. The visibility was not so poor today and all the flights operated however, some of the flights were rescheduled.
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