Snowfall: Jammu-Srinagar highway closed

The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was on Sunday closed for vehicular traffic due to heavy snowfall around Jawahar Tunnel area, official sources said.

The road link between Kashmir and rest of the country was snapped following heavy snowfall across the valley which has rendered the highway unsafe.

Heavy snowfall and rainfall was recorded on either side of the Jawahar Tunnel on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, sources said, adding the 300-km arterial highway has been closed for vehicular traffic till further orders.

The airlink to and fro Kashmir valley was also suspended for the time being as all incoming flights, including the special Hajj flight, have been delayed due snowfall and poor visibility at the Srinagar airport, they said.

Snowfall began in the early hours across the valley with Gulmarg recording two feet and Tangmarg nearly one feet of snow.

Kupwara received snowfall equivalent to 17.3 mm of rainfall, followed by Qazigund at 7.0 mm, Kokernag (6.4 mm), Pahalgam (6.0 mm) and Srinagar at 3.6 mm, they said.

Heavy to moderate rainfall was recorded in Jammu division with Banihal recording 19.4 mm of rains. Batote town also recorded a high of 12.4 mm of rainfall, increasing the likelihood of landslides along the highway.