Srinagar, Jan 20: Kashmir on Friday received fresh snowfall; rain on Friday lead to closure of the Srinagar-Jammu national highway for vehicular traffic. The MeT has predicted four day inclement weather in region from Saturday, officials said.
A traffic police spokesman said traffic movement on both sides of the Srinagar-Jammu highway was stopped due to snowfall and shooting stones between Ramban and Banihal.
SSP Ramban and SSP Traffic NHW, Mohita Sharma said there has been a respite in rain and shooting stones. National Highway opened for traffic after clearance. There are slippery road conditions and advised travellers to travel with caution, she said.
“Subject to fair weather and road clearance, LMVs Passenge, Private Cars shall be allowed from both sides the highway. TCU Jammu, Srinagar shall liaise with TCU Ramban before releasing the traffic,” she said.
Director MeT, Sonam Lotus told Rising Kashmir that light snowfall, and rain occurred at places in the plains of J&K. From 21-24th January, there will be generally cloudy weather with light to moderate Snowfall, rain in plains of Jammu over scattered places, he said.
Lotus said from 24 to 26th January onward, they were expecting moderate to heavy snowfall over higher reaches(60% chance) in Kashmir and rain in Jammu.
He said overall, weather is very likely to remain erratic with cloudy, intermittent rainfall, snow during the 20-26th in the whole J&K.
Minimum temperatures rose in Kashmir but still settled below the freezing point across the Valley. Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 0.1 degrees Celsius on Thursday night — up from minus 1.4 degrees Celsius the night before.
Ski resort Gulmarg in Baramulla was minus 7.6 degrees Celsius. Qazigund, the gateway to the Valley, registered a low of minus 0.6 degrees Celsius.
Kashmir is currently under the grip of ‘Chillai Kalan’, the 40-day harshest weather period when chances of snowfall are maximum and most frequent. Chillai Kalan begins on December 21 and ends on January 30.
Moreover, flight operations at the Srinagar airport were delayed due to snowfall and low visibility.
Director Srinagar International Airport, Kuldeep Singh said due to low visibility flight operations were delayed due to snowfall and low visibility.
“After morning delay, all to-fro flights operated normally at the airport,” he said.
Meanwhile, State Disaster Management Authority on Friday issued an avalanche warning in several districts of Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of heavy snowfall, and rain in the region.
Avalanche with Medium Danger Level is likely to occur above 2500 metres over Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, and Ramban districts in next 24 hours.
While Low Danger level avalanche warning is likely to occur above 2500 metres over Bandipore, Baramulla, Ganderbal & Kupwara and areas above 2000 metres over Anantnag, And Kulgam districts in next 24 hours.
