Srinagar, Feb 09: Several parts of Kashmir witnessed heavy snowfall and rain on Thursday throwing life out of gear across the entire valley while traffic movement on the 270 kilometerSrinagar-Jammu highway remained disrupted due to shooting stones, landslides along multiple places, officials said.
Some parts of north Kashmir witnessed heavy snowfall and most of the link roads remained disconnected with the major highways, while Srinagar along with south Kashmir received light snowfall, rains throughout the day.
Director Meteorological Department, Kashmir Sonam Lotus said heavy snowfall occurred at most places of J&K with higher reaches reporting 1-2 feet of snow.
He said in Kupwara, Baramulla, Rafiabad, and Gulmarg, the depth of snow was recorded as over 1-3 feet, which hampered pedestrian movement.
In Srinagar light snowfall, rain started on Thursday morning. While the intensity and distribution of the snowfall picked up in north Kashmir early morning and continued till late evening.
As per MeT officials, Srinagar city received 5 inches of snowfall, ski-resort Gulmarg in Baramulla recorded a fresh spell of 2 feet of snowfall, Tangmarg 1 feet, Pahalgam 08 inches, Sonamarg 2 feet, Qazigund, 5 inches, Shopian 4 inches.
Peer ki Galli also witnessed heavy snowfall and recorded more than 1 feet, Marwah in Kishtwar received 9 inches. Sinton Top, Minimarg, Sadhna Top, Zojila Pass. Karna, Keran and Machil sector in Kupwara and Drass also received heavy snowfall till late evening.
The Meteorological Department has predicted significant improvement in prevailing weather conditions from Friday afternoon onward.
“We expect overall improvement in prevailing weather conditions from Friday afternoon onward. There will be a gradual decrease in precipitation from later tonight, he said.
Lotus said, on Friday, the weather will remain cloudy with light snowfall, and rain at isolated to scattered places in the region.
Meanwhile, the Jammu Srinagar national highway remained blocked for 02 hours 32 minutes due to shooting stones at Cafeteria. C-N Tunnel closed by Tunnel authority for 01 hour 03 minutes, making the total blockage of 03 hours 35 minutes.
A spokesman at the traffic department said there was slow vehicular movement on NH-44 due to the breakdown of 07 HMVs between Nashri and NAVYUG Tunnel.
“MeT department has predicted heavy rainfall and snowfall for the next few days. There are chances of blockade of NH-44. People are advised not to travel on Jammu Srinagar NHW without confirmation from TCUs,” he said.
On Friday, subject to fair weather and road clearance, LMVs Passenger/Private Cars shall be allowed from both sides on Jammu-Srinagar highway. TCU Jammu, Srinagar shall liaise with TCU Ramban before releasing the traffic.
“TCU Jammu and TCU Srinagar will inform all concerned about the traffic advisory and cut off timings. No vehicle shall be allowed to move before and after cut off timings,” the spokesman said.
Chief Area Manager (CAM) Kashmir, Saqib Yousuf Yatoo (IRTS) that rail operations continued normally on Thursday and if heavy snowfall will occur, then rail services will remain suspended on Friday.
Meanwhile, Director Srinagar International Airport Kuldeep Singh told Rising Kashmir that all to-and-fro flights at the airport operated normally. No flight was canceled or suspended due to bad weather, he said.
Following heavy snowfall, the Jammu & Kashmir Disaster Management Authority issued an avalanche warning for at least twelve districts for next 24 hours.
The JKDMA Spokesperson said, “An avalanche with medium danger level likely to occur above 2000 to 2500 meters over Anantnag, Bandipore, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Kulgam, Doda, Kishtwar &Poonch districts in next 24 hours.”
“An avalanche with medium danger level is likely to occur above 2000 to 2500 meters over Reasi, Rajouri &Ramban district in next 24 hours”, he said.
He said that people living in the notified areas have been advised to take precautions and avoid venturing into the avalanche-prone areas.
