SRINAGAR: As forecast by the Met department, rain lashed plain areas while upper reaches received fresh snow in Kashmir on Thursday. The mercury dipped across the valley and the arterial Srinagar-Jammu highway stayed shut for the second consecutive day.
The mountain ranges around Srinagar were also draped with fresh snow on Thursday. Chilly winds forced people to wear warm clothes.
There will be improvement in weather in the coming days, according to the Met department. However, the Srinagar-Jammu highway is expected to remain closed in wake of landslides at several places.
The highway has been closed for vehicular traffic since Tuesday evening, when a massive landslide at Hingi Ramsoo led to its shutdown.
An official from Traffic Control Unit Ramban told Kashmir Reader that traffic movement on the Srinagar-Jammu highway was suspended for even stranded vehicles on Thursday after landslides and shooting stones from the mountains blockaded the road at several places.
“Landslides and shooting stones have occurred at various places including Panthal, Digdol, Moumpassi, Cafeteria, Keri Udhampur, and Dugi-pully, which is why the traffic movement remains suspended,” the official said, adding that men and machines have been pressed into service to clear the highway.
The official added that no fresh traffic from Jammu or Srinagar will be allowed on the highway on Friday. If the road is cleared earlier than expected, only stranded vehicles shall be allowed to move towards Srinagar, he said.
The rain and snow brought down temperatures across the valley. Snowfall was witnessed at Gulmarg, Zabarwan hills of Srinagar, hills around Uri town, and in Kupwara district. According to weather officials, the lowest day and night temperature in Kashmir was recorded in Gulmarg, where the day temperature was 2.6 degree Celsius while the night temperature was minus 2.2 degrees. Srinagar recorded 11.8 degree Celsius, almost three notches less than the normal, while the minimum touched 4.6 degrees, almost four notches below the normal.
Deputy Director of Meteorological Centre Rambagh, Mukhtar Ahmad told Kashmir Reader that the weather will improve across Kashmir Valley from Friday.
“The weather will remain dry from 13th to 19th March, though there will be cloud cover during these days,” he said.

ARIF RASHID