SRINAGAR/JAMMU : Heavy snowfall has shut the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway for traffic, leaving over 150 vehicles stranded today, meanwhile the summer capital, Srinagar, turned white due to fresh snowfall early this morning while heavy to very heavy snowfall was being experienced in the upper reaches since last night..
The highway has been closed following heavy snowfall in Patnitop and Jawahir tunnel areas and mudslides in other places, police said.
Due to closure of the highway, over 150 vehicles have been stranded at various places.
The men and machines of Border Road Organisation (BRO) have started clearing operation but continuous snowfall is making the task difficult.
According to Met department spokesman, the weather will improve from tonight in the region, where a Western Disturbance (WD) was active since yesterday.
Roof and tree tops, open fields and electric poles had turned white when people woke up here this morning.
After heavy rains during the night, snowfall started this morning, resulting in drop in the temperature.
However, snowfall followed by rains, disrupting normal life as all roads were waterlodged due to overflowing drains.
The pedestrian and traffic movement was disrupted due to faulty drainage system and damaged roads in almost all parts of the city.
Met spokesman said that due to rains and snowfall, the minimum temperature in Srinagar dropped to 0.2 degree, a notch below normal and four degree colder than yesterday’s 4.4 degrees.
On the upper reaches of the Kashmir valley, particularly in Pirpanchal range, including Srinagar-Jammu national highway, moderate to very heavy snowfall was recorded since last night.
The Holy Amarnath cave shrine and its periphery received several feet fresh snowfall since yesterday while it was still snowing. Sheshnag, Mahaguns, Pisso top, Panjterni and Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on traditional Pahalgam yatra route also received moderate to heavy snowfall. Though the minimum temperature dropped slightly at Pahalgam but it was still five notches above normal.
Mughal road, Shopian, Kulgam and other heights in south Kashmir also received fresh snowfall, disrupting normal life and traffic movement.
The world famous ski resort of Gulmarg also received fresh snowfall on ski slopes, which are already under more than three feet of snow, attracting skiers, adventure lovers and tourists from different parts of the country and abroad.
The upper heights, including Khilanmarg, Kongdori and Afarwat, the highest ski point, connected by cable car, also received moderate to heavy snowfall resulting in one degree drop in the minimum temperature. Against yesterday’s minus five degree, it was minus 6 degree, Met spokesman said.
The night temperature in other parts of the valley, including Qazigund, gateway of Kashmir, Kokernag and Kupwara also dropped due to fresh snowfall.
Reports said that fresh snowfall was recorded at Machill, Keran, Karnah, Teetwal, Dawar and Neeru besides other areas near the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmnir.
Reports of fresh snowfall were also received from upper reaches in central Kashmir districts of Badgam and Ganderbal.
Kargil, a border town on Srinagar-Leh national highway, closed since December due to snowfall, was coldest in the Ladakh region with minus 9.2 degree minimum temperature, a drop of seven notches against yesterday when it was minus 2.6 degree.
Leh also witnessed a drop of one degree in the mininmum temperature. Against minus 2.8 degree minimum temperature yesterday, it was minus 3.6 degree, Met spokesman said. (agencies)
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