Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Feb 15: The hills of Kashmir valley today received fresh snowfall while plains were lashed by rains leading to disruption of the traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
Inspector General of Police Traffic, Muneer Ahmad Khan, told Excelsior that due to fresh snowfall in Patnitop area of the National Highway traffic remained disrupted for several hours.
Khan said that around 3500 vehicles left Srinagar this morning for Jammu despite freak weather conditions. He said that there was fresh snowfall on both the sides of the National Highway in the morning but traffic was allowed to ply from Srinagar to Jammu.
The IGP said that around 1500 vehicles had crossed Patnitop by 4 p.m. but around 6 inches snow that accumulated at the Patnitop forced Traffic Police to stop traffic at Batote between 4 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. He said that snow was cleared from the highway by Border Roads Organization (BRO) and traffic was thrown open in this sector of the Highway by 6:30 p.m. He said that around 600 more vehicles crossed Patnitop by tonight and around 1500 more vehicles were on way to Patnitop amid fresh snowfall.
Khan said that fresh snowfall has been reported from Jawahar Tunnel as well but by then all Jammu bound vehicles had crossed the Jawahar Tunnel.
Reports reaching here said that huge traffic jams were witnessed along the National Highway due to freak weather conditions. Majority of the vehicles took around 12 hours to reach Jammu.
IGP said that traffic will be allowed to ply from Jammu to Srinagar tomorrow. He, however, said that first Jammu bound stranded vehicles will be cleared first.
The Director Meteorological Department Srinagar, Sonam Lotus, told Excelsior that light snowfall is expected in Pirpanjal and Patnitop areas while rains in Jammu tonight. He, however, said that weather will improve by tomorrow morning. Lotus said that light snowfall was also recorded in Leh.
The rains and snowfall in the hills led to drop in the day temperature and icy winds were blowing in Kashmir.
Continuous rain since yesterday and fresh snowfall has also affected normal life in the region Jammu while avalanche claimed one life in Gandoh area of district Doda today.
The higher reaches of Trikuta hills of Katra Mata Vaishnodevi also experienced fresh snowfall last night but yatra continued smoothly. The normal chopper service to Sanji Chhat from Katra base camp was however, affected with the bad weather. With the rain and snowfall, there has been sharp fall in the temperature in the region.
In mountainous Gandoh area of Doda, one Ghulam Qadir (27), son of Ali Mohd , resident of Changa was trapped in avalanche at Goel Dhar in Piddi area last evening. He went missing while another villager Saddar Din, son of Sanaullah Bhat of Changa was injured but managed to escape. He narrated the whole matter to the villagers. Later, the villagers of the area, Army and police moved to the site today and managed to trace and remove the dead body of Qadir from the avalanche. After performing legal formalities it was handed over to the family by police.
Reports said that due to fresh snowfall and rain several link roads in Kishtwar, Bhaderwah, Doda and Ramban area were closed. Thannamandi-Dera Gali-Bafliaz and Surankote road was also closed last night. The traffic on Basohli-Bani road also came to half with the closure of road in Magiar area today. The power supply in many remote areas of Bani and Billawar has been affected due to rain and snowfall.
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