Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 16: The hills of Kashmir witnessed fresh snowfall while Valley and Jammu were lashed by rains that affected the movement of traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
IGP Traffic, Munir Khan told Excelsior that fresh snowfall in Patnitop and Banihal areas and rains that triggered landslides in Seri area of Ramban affected movement of the traffic on the National Highway.
The IGP said that highway was closed in the morning due to fresh snowfall in Banihal area and landslides in Seri area of Ramban. “At both the places, the highway was cleared of snow and slides and traffic was thrown open”, he added.
Khan said that around 1500 vehicles left Jammu for Kashmir with large number of load carriers carrying essential commodities. “Majority of them have crossed into Kashmir valley and around 200 passenger vehicles were allowed to ply from Srinagar towards Jammu”, he added.
The IGP said that in the evening there was again problem in Seri area as continuous rains triggered more slides. He said that the traffic near the Seri is one way and only light vehicles are being allowed to cross. He said that more snowfall in Banihal may affect the movement of the traffic.
Reports reaching here from Ramban said that there were massive traffic jams on the highway as traffic in the area is moving slowly. There are large number of trucks stranded on the highway in Ramban due to partial blockade of the traffic in view of landslides. However, the Border Roads Organization were clearing the landslides.
Khan said that traffic on the National Highway will ply in regulated manner from Srinagar to Jammu tomorrow subject to fair weather and good conditions of road. “On February 18, subject to fair weather and good conditions of road all kind of vehicles would be allowed to travel from Jammu side towards Kashmir in regulated manner”, he added.
In the meantime, the weatherman has forecast light rains and snow in Jammu and Kashmir divisions and dry weather for Ladakh region. “Srinagar will generally be cloudy with maximum and minimum temperatures around 10 degree Celsius and 3 Degree Celsius respectively tomorrow while Jammu will be partly cloudy with maximum and minimum temperatures will be around 20 degree Celsius and 11 degree Celsius respectively”, the forecast said.
World famous Ski resort of Gulmarg and Sonmarg received fresh snowfall while plains, including the summer capital, Srinagar had rains today. Around one feet fresh snowfall was recorded in Gulmarg.
Pahalgam, base camp of holy Amarnath cave shrine, also received fresh snowfall. The upper reaches in North Kashmir, including Keran, Karnah, Machil, Teetwal, Neeru and Dawar besides villages near the Line of Control (LoC), which remained cut off from their respective district headquarters since December last year, also received fresh snowfall.
Plains, including Srinagar and its outskirts, received rains. The winter capital Jammu was also lashed by heavy rains.
Srinagar recorded 3.1 degree Celsius minimum temperature against yesterday’s 2.7 degree Celsius while maximum temperature was recorded at 6.3 degree Celsius.
Jammu recorded a maximum of 16.9 degree Celsius and minimum of 12.3 degree Celsius.
Kargil recorded minus 10.2 degree Celsius against yesterday’s minus 9 degree. However, there was about 6 degree Celsius improvements in Leh where the minimum temperature was minus 6.2 degree Celsius against yesterday’s minus 10 degree Celsius.
Meanwhile, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir has issued medium danger avalanche during February 16 to 17 in snow bound areas of Naugam Kayiam, Chowkibal, Tangdhar, Keran and Gurez sectors.
The people living in these areas have been advised not to venture into steep avalanche prone slopes during next 24 hours and frequently remove snow from roof tops of their houses to avoid any causality due to house collapse.
In case of any emergencies, people in these areas may contact help line numbers of Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora 9419088899, Deputy Commi-ssioner, Kupwara 9419000227, Sub Divisional Magistrate, Gurez 9419030778 and Sub Divisional Magistrate, Karnah 9797058717.
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