NH restored after 16 hrs
Gopal Sharma/ Fayaz Bukhari
JAMMU/ SRINAGAR, Feb 26: Heavy rain, snowfall, hail and wind-storm lashed many parts of J&K during past 24 hours while Jammu-Srinagar National Highway which was blocked after landslides at 7-8 places between Ramban sector for about 16 hours, was restored late this evening.
Official sources said that National Highway was blocked at Mehar, Seri, Cafeteria Morh, Kela Morh, Magarkote, Maroog and Manthyal area in Ramban sector during early hours today. After 3 am, the movement of all the vehicles was stalled in the sector after sudden shooting stones and mudslides amidst heavy rain overnight. Many vehicles were trapped at several places and remained stranded for about 16 hours.
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After long efforts by the National Highway authorities and road widening agencies, the highway for one way traffic could be restored at around 7 pm today. The stranded vehicles were allowed to move after reopening of the road but it was raining in the area even during evening hours.
Meanwhile, Natha Top, Patni Top and many hilly areas of Bhaderwah, Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Reasi, Udhampur and Poonch in Jammu region received fresh snowfall today. The chopper and battery car services to Mata Vaishnodevi shrine remained suspended today due to rain and bad weather. There was fresh snowfall at the shrine yesterday while on-foot pilgrimage continued.
In Reasi town, due to rain and windstorm, an old wall collapsed last night causing extensive damage to a parked Maruti car. Mahore-Gool and Mahore-Gulabgarh roads were closed due to landslides and snowfall while Reasi-Mahore road was restored after brief closure.
Meanwhile, heavy rain and hailstorm lashed many parts of Jammu, Samba and Kathua areas, paralyzing normal life. The heavy hailstorm during this evening around Jammu, R S Pura, Akhnoor and Samba caused damages to the crops.
There was sharp fall in temperature due to fresh snowfall and hailstorm in the region. Jammu experienced a minimum temperature of 8.8 deg C, Katra 6.7 degree C, Bhaderwah town 0.1 deg C, Batote -1.9 deg C while Banihal town -0.4 degree C temperature. The MeT office has predicted clear weather in Jammu region tomorrow.
Meanwhile, weather conditions improved across Kashmir today while Meteorological (MeT) department forecast two-day wet spell in higher reaches on March 2.
The official said that the light to moderate rainfall occurred at maximum places in the Valley till late Friday night.
“There is no forecast of major rain or snowfall till March 5,” MeT officials said, adding that the weather would remain mostly cloudy and during Mar 2-3, there is possibility of light rain or snowfall in the higher reaches of Kashmir.
Kashmir received major snowfall on Wednesday, bringing down the mercury here and also causing extensive damage to the power infrastructure in the Valley.
Kashmir received fresh snowfall and rains last night even as night temperature recorded rise.
Srinagar received 4.6 mm of rain in the last 24 hours till 0830 hours. The minimum temperature recorded a rise of 0.2 degree Celsius with mercury settling at 1.8 degree Celsius against last night’s 1.6 degree Celsius.
Qazigund had 6.5 centimeters of fresh snowfall during the time and recorded a low of minus 0.2 degree Celsius against 0.6 degree Celsius the previous night.
Kokernag also received 4.0 cms of snowfall and had a low of minus 0.8 degree Celsius against minus 1.5 degree Celsius the previous night.
Pahalgam received 16 centimeters of fresh snowfall and recorded a low of minus 0.8 degree Celsius against minus 1.8 degree Celsius last night.
Gulmarg received 15.2 centimeters fresh snowfall and recorded a low of minus 7.5 degree Celsius against minus 5.5 degree Celsius the previous night. The temperature was 1.7 degree Celsius below normal for this time of the year at the resort.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir had 2 cms of snowfall and recorded a low of 0.2 degree Celsius against 2.2 degree Celsius the previous night.
While ‘Chillai Kalan’, the 40-day long harshest period of winter ended on January 30, and 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ culminated on February 19, Kashmir is presently under the grip of 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’.
Leh recorded a low of minus 6.6 degree Celsius against last night minus 7.0 degree Celsius the previous night. Drass recorded a low of minus 7.9 degree Celsius, against 18.0 degree Celsius the previous night.
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