Jammu-Srinagar Highway, Others Shut; Aerial Traffic Also Hit
Srinagar: The Kashmir Valley on Friday saw the season’s first significant snowfall, particularly in plains, bringing both cheer among the people as well as traffic disruptions, both road and aerial.
The snowfall, which started in the afternoon in most parts of the Valley came as a relief to Jammu and Kashmir as an unusually dry spell depleted glaciers that serve as a source of drinking water.
Jubilant people were seen posting selfies and messages on social networking sites celebrating the arrival of snowfall.
Plains of Srinagar, Ganderbal, Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, and Pulwama districts, received their first snowfall this season.
Snowfall was also recorded in Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam, Gurez, Zojila axis, Sadhna Top, Mughal Road, and many areas in Bandipora, Baramulla, and Kupwara districts, weather officials said.
Officials said snowfall led to the closure of the Srinagar-Jammu, Srinagar-Leh Highways and the Mughal Road among other roads.
“Traffic on the highway has been suspended in Qazigund due to slippery road conditions. Around 350 heavy motor vehicles (HMV) are stranded between Qazigund to Nayug Tunnel,” a senior traffic police officer said.
The IGP said that small vehicles are being cleared and no fresh traffic is being allowed to ply from Udhampur. “Traffic shall resume on Saturday morning, subject to road conditions,” he added.
The IGP advised the commuters to avoid travelling on the highway until weather improves and the road is cleared.
The snowfall also led to the cancellation of flight operations in Srinagar. Director Srinagar International Airport, Javed Anjum said that six flights were cancelled following the inclement weather conditions. Commuters also faced tough time reaching home as there was snowfall turned road slippery.
Across Kashmir, minimum temperatures continue to settle several degrees below the freezing point, with fractional respite though on Friday.
The minimum and maximum temperatures, both, have been staying below normal in the Union Territory — an oddity for this time of the season.
Low temperatures have led to the freezing of water supply lines and the forming of a thin layer of ice on the surface of several water bodies, including the Dal Lake.
Srinagar recorded a low of minus 7.3 degrees Celsius Thursday night, slightly down from the previous night’s minus 7 degrees Celsius, the MeT said.
Gulmarg, a town known for skiing activities in north Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 6 degrees Celsius, the same as the previous night, the department added.
Pahalgam, the base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra in south Kashmir, registered a minimum temperature of minus eight degrees Celsius, slightly up from the previous night’s minus 8.6 degrees Celsius.
Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir, logged a minimum temperature of minus 6.9 degrees Celsius, while Konibal, a hamlet in the Pampore area, was the coldest recorded place in the valley at minus 9.5 degrees Celsius.
Kupwara, in north Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 6.4 degrees Celsius, while south Kashmir’s Kokernag, registered minus 4.8 degrees Celsius.
The weather is expected to remain mainly dry from December 29-31 and light snowfall is possible at isolated places in Kashmir from January 1-5.
This weather system is expected to remain active until tomorrow afternoon. The weather will remain dry hereafter till December 31 and another spell of light snow is expected at the isolated to scattered places during January 1 to 4.
Kashmir is currently under the grip of ‘Chillai-Kalan’ — considered the harshest period of winter — which began on December 21.