Srinagar, May 05: After two days of cloudy weather, the Meteorological Department (MeT) on Friday predicted intermittent widespread rain, snowfall over upper reaches during the next two days in the Himalayan region.
Director Meteorological Centre Kashmir, Sonam Lotus told Rising Kashmir as expected light rains occurred at some places and hailstorm lashed south Kashmir parts on Friday.
He said during the 6th to 8th May onward, there will be intermittent rain over plains, light snowfall over higher reaches and hailstorm accompanied by strong gusty winds at isolated places.
Lotus advised farmers to suspend irrigation in field crops and chemical spraying of Orchards during the next few days. Travel after confirming road status from concerned traffic police, he said.
On late Friday afternoon, a hailstorm accompanied with gusty winds lashed parts of Handwara in north Kashmir.
Following the cloudy weather, in various parts of Kashmir on Friday, Kashmir witnessed a drop in night temperatures, Srinagar recorded 23.3 degrees Celsius as the maximum temperature and 9.6 °C as the minimum temperature.
Health resort Pahalgam in south Kashmir settled at 17.2 °C degrees and 3.6 °C as minimum temperatures. Ski-resort Gulmarg recorded minus 11.9°C as the maximum temperature and 2,2°C as the minimum temperature.
A traffic police department spokesman from the past 24 hours, Jammu-Srinagar highway remained blocked due to a Truck breakdown in the middle of the road at Dalwas, filling of potholes at Meher.
“C-N Tunnel closed for 01 hour 10 mins and NAVYUG Tunnel closed for 02 hour 26 mins by Tunnel authorities, making the total blockage of 04 hours 44 mins. There was a slowdown on NH-44 due to the breakdown of 09 HMVs and movement of 13 nomadic flocks between Nashri and NAVYUG Tunnel,” he said.
The spokesman said on Saturday subject to fair weather and road clearance, LMVs Passenger/Private Cars shall be allowed from both sides on Jammu-Srinagar NHW viz Jammu towards Srinagar and vice-versa. TCU Jammu/Srinagar shall liaise with TCU Ramban before releasing the traffic, it said.
Similarly, on Srinagar-Leh road, only one way traffic from Srinagar towards Kargil shall be allowed on Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri road. These vehicles shall be allowed from Sonamarg, LMVs at 0630 hrs. to 0730 hrs followed by HMVs upto 0930 hrs. No vehicle shall be allowed after cut off timing, he said.
