E-Paper
Snowfall shuts Jammu-Srinagar highway
Kashmir's capital Srinagar witnessed a flurry of snowfall for a short period today while upper reaches received heavy snowfall. The meteorological department forecast rainfall and snowfall for the next 24 hours in the valley.
Kashmir's capital Srinagar witnessed a flurry of snowfall for a short period on Friday while upper reaches received heavy snowfall. The meteorological department forecast rainfall and snowfall for the next 24 hours in the valley.
The vital Srinagar-Jammu highway, which connects the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country was closed due to snowfall. "Snow clearance will start once snow stops in the highway," said an official of the Beacon, the road organization maintain the highway.
Tourist destination of Gulmarg received around one foot snowfall. "The Tangmarg-Gulmarg road is open for vehicles with anti-skid chains and four by four facility. The mechanical engineering department has started snow clearance at Gulmarg in north and Pahalgam in south Kashmir," said Amir Ali, a spokesman of disaster management cell of Kashmir valley.
The minimum temperature in Srinagar was 0.8 degrees, while it was minus 1.8 in Pahalgam and minus 8 in Gulmarg.
Kashmir's North-east district of Kargil, 200 km away from Srinagar, received season's first snowfall. Kargil town recorded two inches of snowfall while Drass recorded 3.5 inches. The snowfall has raised the minimum temperature from - 17 degree to -12 due the cloudy nights.
"The administration has requested the people living or traveling through avalanche-prone areas to take precautionary steps," said a government spokesman.
The weather office forecast more light to moderate rain or snowfall across the valley. "Snowfall could be heavy at a few places in the higher reaches," said a MeT official.
