Anantnag, Jan 16: A fresh spell of snowfall blankets several areas of South Kashmir, especially Anantnag and Kulgam, on Thursday.
The snowfall began in the morning, intensified by the afternoon, and eased later in the day across South Kashmir.
Independent weatherman Mir Aadil said that snowfall was recorded in Qazigund, Anantnag, Pahalgam, Kulgam, Shopian, and Aharbal earlier in the morning. By the afternoon, snowfall had stopped in most areas, leaving 2-4 inches of accumulation in the plains of South Kashmir and 6-8 inches in the higher reaches.
The Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) of the Mechanical and Hospital Division Anantnag said that out of 1,551 kilometres of roads in the district, 1,075 kilometres required snow clearance.
Thirty snow-clearing machines were deployed on various routes, with rescue operations conducted in areas like Pahalgam and Kokernag.
He said that around 70% of the roads had been cleared, and work was ongoing on the remaining routes. Kokernag received 7-8 inches of snow, with similar conditions in the upper reaches of Dooru, Pahalgam, and Shangus.
Meanwhile, along the Srinagar Jammu national highway. Kulgam police and locals evacuated 11 passengers after their vehicle overturned in a minor accident. All passengers were provided shelter, and fortunately, no injuries were reported.
In the Qazigund area, police along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway assisted drivers, offering much-needed support to travellers navigating the slippery conditions caused by the snowfall.
