Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Feb 2: People in Kashmir valley today woke up to a thin blanket of snow bringing cheer on the faces as it was the first snowfall of season ending a long dry spell. However, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained open for traffic despite snow.
Inspector General of Police, Traffic, Muneer Ahmad Khan, told Excelsior that snow was cleared from the National Highway in Banihal to Qazigund sector early in the morning and by 10 a.m. the vehicles started crossing the Jawahar Tunnel towards Kashmir valley.
Khan said that around 2250 vehicles crossed the Jawahar Tunnel this evening while over 100 were on the way towards Kashmir valley. He said that the Traffic Police allowed traffic upto 12.30 p.m. from Jammu and no traffic was allowed after that due to heavy snowfall in Banihal sector. He said that overnight 8-9 inches had accumulated on either side of the Jawahar Tunnel.
The IGP, Traffic said that traffic will be allowed from Srinagar to Jammu tomorrow y after assessing weather and road conditions. He said that there is forecast of heavy snowfall during the night and there are more chances of highway remaining closed on Tuesday. He said that if the weather permits Jammu bound vehicles should cross Pantha Chowk by 12 noon.
And, early in the morning Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir valley today witnessed season’s first snowfall. The snowfall ended a long dry spell as the chilliest part of the winter, 40 day Chille Kkalan from December 21 to January 31, remained dry.
Srinagar and plains of the valley received around 2 inches of snowfall with mountains in North Kashmir experience heavy snowfall.
The few inches of snowfall led to water logging and power cuts in Srinagar. Residents of Bemina, Qamarwari, Padshahbagh, Narbal, Ahmadnagar, and other areas said that there was power breakdown with the snowfall. They also said that there was water logging across Srinagar.
Gulmarg received 2 feet of snowfall, Afarwat 2.6 feet and Kangdori 3 feet and large number of locals and tourists were seen making their way to the tourist spot to witness the snowfall.
Sri Ramaya and his wife who had come from Bangalore to see the snow said that they were lucky as they were greeted by snow in Gulmarg. “It was our first trip to Kashmir and we enjoyed it”, said Ramaya.
Imtiaz Ahmad, a local tourist guide in Gulmarg, said that snowfall will bring more tourists to Kashmir. “This year lack of snowfall in December and January badly affected tourism, now we hope more and more tourists will come to see snow”, he added.
Furkiyan Top in Kupwara received 3 feet of snowfall, Sadna Top 3.5 snowfall, Z-gali 3 feet, Macchil 2.5, Tangar 1.7 feet and Gurez in Bandipora 3.7 feet.
A Met department official said that weather will improve tomorrow afternoon. The divisional administration has issued avalanche warning for the hills of Kashmir valley and asked people not to venture out in avalanche prone areas.
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