Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Fresh snowfall shuts highway, disrupts traffic in Jammu & Kashmir

Last updated on: February 02, 2015 18:48 IST

Kashmir Railway police personnel patrolling on the snow covered Srinagar Banihal railway track during heavy snowfall at Anantnag District. Photograph: Umar Ganie

Intermittent snowfall continued for second day on Monday in Kashmir with the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg recording more than one-and-a-half feet snow.

The meteorological department has forecast more snow over the next 24 hours across Kashmir valley.

Gulmarg received about 45.7 cms of snow till 8.30 am on Monday morning, a meteorological department spokeswoman said.

Auto rickshaws drive through snow in Srinagar. Temperatures in Srinagar on Monday dipped to -1 degree Celsius (30.2 degree Fahrenheit), according to India's meteorological department website. Photograph: Danish Ismail/ Reuters

She said the minimum temperature in the resort, the star attraction for tourists especially skiers from abroad, registered an increase of about two degrees from minus 6.0 degrees Celsius to settle at minus 4.2 degrees Celsius.

A Kashmiri man carries his daughter as he walks on a snow-covered road closed due to heavy snowfall at Qazigund in Anantnag district on Sunday. Photograph: PTI

Pahalgam hill resort in south Kashmir, which serves as the base camp during the annual Amarnath yatra, recorded a jump of nearly three degrees in the mercury from the previous night's low of minus 3.4 degrees Celsius to settle at minus 0.6 degrees Celsius, she said.

Kashmiris take a walk during heavy snowfall at the Residence Road in Srinagar. Photograph: Umar Ganie

Pahalgam received 8.6 cms of snowfall during the night, she added.

Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded 2.5 cms of snow and the minimum temperature in the city settled at a low of minus 1.0 degrees Celsius, about a notch below Sunday's minus 0.2 degrees Celsius, the spokeswoman said.

She said Kupwara received 5.2 cms of snowfall and the mercury there settled at a low of 0.2 degrees Celsius, as against minus 0.1 degrees Celsius on Sunday.

A horse cart driver drives his cart on a snow-covered road closed due to heavy snowfall at Qazigund in Anantnag district on Sunday. Photograph: PTI

Kokernag hill resort in south Kashmir recorded a minimum of minus 0.5 degrees Celsius, compared to Sunday's minus 1.2 degrees Celsius, she said, adding the town recorded 2 cms of snow.

The spokeswoman said Qazigund on Srinagar-Jammu national highway recorded a low of zero degrees Celsius, one notch higher as compared to the previous night's minus 1.0 degrees Celsius.

A senior traffic police officer stops a truck at Qazigund as Srinagar Jammu National Highway closes due to heavy snowfall in Anantnag district on Sunday. Photograph: PTI

Kargil in Ladakh region was the coldest recorded place in Jammu and Kashmir as the night temperature was recorded at a low of minus 11.4 degrees Celsius, up by nearly three degrees from minus 14.0 degrees Celsius the previous night, she said.

A view of snow covered houseboats after fresh heavy snowfall on the banks of the River Jehlum in Srinagar. Photograph: Umar Ganie

She said Leh, also in Ladakh, registered a low of minus 5.2 degrees Celsius -- an increase of over six degrees from Sunday's minus 11.6 degrees Celsius.

Houseboats and residential houses covered with snow around the Dal Lake after heavy snowfall in Srinagar. Photograph: Umar Ganie

The meteorological department has said there would be widespread rains or snow over the state over the next 24 hours, while warning of heavy snowfall at some places in the higher reaches of the state.

The divisional administration has already geared up the men and machinery to tackle any eventuality in the wake of the possible heavy snowfall.

A senior traffic police officer stops a truck at Qazigund as Srinagar Jammu National Highway closes due to heavy snowfall in Anantnag district on Sunday. Photograph: PTI

Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Rohit Kansal said a three-tier plan has been prepared to ensure least disruption to movement of traffic in the valley in case of heavy snowfall.

A train moves on the Srinagar-Banihal railway track during heavy snowfall at the Anantnag district. Photograph: Umar Ganie

"The first priority will be to keep the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway motorable followed by inter-district roads in the valley," he said.

The divisional commissioner said there was enough stock of essential commodities in the valley in case of the Srinagar-Jammu road getting closed due to snowfall.

Security personnel walk on a snow covered road after heavy snowfall in Srinagar. Photograph: Umar Ganie

The authorities have also issued an avalanche warning to people living in areas above 2,500 metres altitude in the valley.

The residents of these areas have been asked not to venture in avalanche prone areas especially in mountainous areas close to the Line of Control.

With inputs from Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

© Copyright 2024 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.