Srinagar: With the season’s first mild snowfall in the plains and heavy downpour in the hilly areas, the valley remained cut off from rest of the world as the road links remained suspended owing to the snowfall. The snowfall also led to disruption in some flights also.

All the roads connecting the valley to the outside world remained closed due to heavy snowfall. The 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the only road linking the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, remained closed for the second day on Tuesday due to heavy snowfall. The highway was closed for traffic on Monday afternoon after incidents of shooting stones were reported at several places.

Official sources said that the traffic on the 86-km-long historic Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region, also remained suspended due to snowfall. However, traffic on all district roads was operational, the sources said.

The 434-km Srinagar-Leh highway, connecting Kashmir valley with Ladakh, was officially closed for winter months on Sunday.

The summer capital of the state Srinagar recorded two-inches of snow since last night till 0830 hours. District authorities were put on high alert by the administration in view of heavy snowfall. The traffic on all district roads was operational. However, in the city Srinagar Municipal Corporation was on toes to tackle any situation.

“There was water logging at three places in the city. It was near the corporate office of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, Sempora, and in Regal Chowk. Our men were on the job from early hours of the Tuesday and the situation was addressed immediately,” Reyaz Wani, SMC Commissioner told ‘Kashmir Vision’.

Police sources said that the highway connecting Kargil with the Valley remained closed due to the fresh snowfall. Police sources said that 3.5 ft snow has accumulated in Sonamarg -Kangan belt. The sources said that 3.5 ft snow was recorded at Sonamarg while as 2.5 feet snow was recorded at Gund, one feet at Babanagriand and around 4 inches of snow was recorded in Kangan town.

In north Kashmir, the snowfall has led to the closure of Bandipora-Gurez road. In Kupwara, authorities closed down Kupwara -Machil road due to heavy snowfall. Kupwara-Karnah, Kupwara-Keran roads were also closed due to the heavy snowfall, a police official said.

Gulmarg, the famous ski-resort in north Kashmir, recorded about 2 feet of fresh snowfall since yesterday. The adjacent Khilanmarg, Kongdoori and Apperwath also recorded around three feet of snow.

In Jammu division, the highway leading to the Doda and Kishtwar districts was closed by the authorities following the heavy snowfall in the area. They also closed the road leading to the Mahore from Arnas. The road from Bani to Basholi was also closed by the authorities following heavy snowfall in the area.

Pertinently, in southern Kashmir, areas including Kokernag recorded 4 inch of snow, Larnoo 5 inch, Pahalgam 7 inch, Achabal  3 inch, DH Pora 8 inch, Kund Qazigund 4 inch,  Pulwama 3 inch,  Sangarbani 6 inch,  Heerpora 10 inch,  Kellar 6 inch and Tral recorded 1, 1/2  inch of snow.

Meanwhile, the MeT department has predicted more rains and snow for today and tomorrow, “there will be more rains and snow in coming two days,” Met official said.

Meanwhile, the Flight operations at Srinagar airport were also suspended on Tuesday morning due to heavy snowfall causing low visibility, airport director Sharad Kumar said.

“Two morning flights were suspended due to low visibility,” he told ‘Kashmir Vision’ over the phone.

He said that as the situation improved towards afternoon, flight operations were resumed at 1 PM.

“Flights from the Srinagar Airport were running normally for the day thereafter,” he added.

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