Jammu-Sgr-Leh NHs, Mughal Road closed after fresh snowfall
People take out woolens as Jammu registers 10 deg fall in temp
Gopal Sharma/
Fayaz Bukhari
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Oct 16: The Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing an early onset of winter as the higher reaches received another spell of snowfall today while rains lashed the plains, forcing people to opt for warm clothes.
In view of the fresh snowfall, Jammu-Leh highway, historic Mughal Road connecting Rajouri-Poonch with Kashmir valley via Shopian and Kishtwar- Kokernag road, have been closed while Jammu -Srinagar National Highway, that was blocked due to landslides near Banihal was restored within an hour.
However, late tonight, the highway was again blocked at Cafeteria Morh in Ramban.
Jammu recorded nearly 10 degrees Celsius fall in temperature today forcing people of the region to wear woolen clothes. The City of Temples experienced 20.4 deg C day temperature today as compared to 30.3 deg C yesterday. It was raining continuously across the region since early morning today.
Kashmir valley was lashed by rains and the hills had fresh snowfall today leading to significant dip in temperatures across the region and the closure of several hilly roads.
Under the influence of Western Disturbance (WD), rains lashed plains of Kashmir since the wee hours of this morning. It was raining throughout the day in Kashmir and chilly winds were also blowing, making people shiver with cold.
The higher reaches of Kashmir including Afarwat area of Gulmarg, Sinthan Top, Pir Ki Gali, Gurez in Bandipora and other places received fresh snowfall today. It was snowing in hills this evening as well as raining in the plains of Kashmir.
As per the details, six inches of snowfall was recorded at Sinthan Top and Afarwat area of Gulmarg till this evening.
With the fresh precipitation, the temperature has plummeted across the region with Srinagar recording 12.8 degree Celsius temperature today compared to 22.0 degree Celsius yesterday.
In Pahalgam, the mercury settled at 9.3 degree Celsius today compared to 15.9 degree Celsius yesterday while Kokernag recorded 10.4 degree Celsius compared to 21.2 degree Celsius today. In Kupwara and Anantnag, there was a dip of 11 degree Celsius compared to yesterday.
Deputy Director of Meteorological department, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad told Excelsior that the intermittent rainfall and snowfall is expected till late night while the overall improvement in the weather conditions is expected from tomorrow afternoon.
“There is no forecast of any major wet spell across J&K so far. From tomorrow afternoon, the weather will remain dry till October 24,” he said.
The fresh wet spell has led to the closure of many roads as the fresh precipitation triggered slippery conditions of the roads at different places.
In wake of the fresh snowfall, the authorities decided to suspend vehicular movement along Bandipora-Gurez road as a precautionary measure.
Kishtwar–Kokernag road has been closed for the movement of traffic after the fresh snowfall at Sinthan Top led to slippery road conditions. Margan Road has also been closed by the authorities after the fresh precipitation today. Srinagar-Leh highway has been closed for traffic due to snowfall at Zojila.
Traffic on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was suspended for about 40 minutes after landslides at Sherghari near Banihal today. It was raining in the area since morning. The highway was, however, restored by the Highway authorities.
Late this evening, the highway was blocked at Cafeteria Morh in Ramban due to landslides.
The MeT department also issued an advisory for farmers asking them to postpone harvesting of crops till tomorrow. It added that the fresh wet spell would also temporarily disrupt transportation especially at vulnerable places like Zojila, Mughal Road, Sinthan Top, Sadnatop and other places.
The MeT official further said that early snowfall has been happening in the Kashmir valley for the last three to four years now. “Last year, we had snowfall in the last week of October, but there is no such prediction for this year. While light snowfall is expected in the higher reaches, there would not be much of an activity in the plains,” he added.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Kupwara has issued a fresh advisory, asking people living in Keran, Karnah, Machil, Budnamal, Jumugund, Nowgam, Kumkadi and those living near the periphery of different Nallahs, rivers, which are prone to sliding and flash floods, not to venture in these areas till the improvement in weather conditions.
Dy Commissioner Ramban said that in view of weather advisory issued by IMD predicting more rains and sniowfall during next 24-36 hours in the region, the people of Banihal, Gool, Rajgarh, Khari and Batote areas are advised to take all precautions and stay away from landslide prone area and over flowing rivers and Nallahs.
Meanwhile, reports from Poonch said that Mughal Road connecting Rajouri-Poonch districts with Kashmir valley was temporarily closed after fresh snowfall at Peer Ki Gali and its adjoining area this morning
Official sources said that as predicted by the Meteorological department snowfall occurred in the higher reaches including Peer Ki Gali on Mughal Road which is the border of Poonch and Shopian districts after which authorities didn’t allow the traffic movement on this road.
DTI Traffic Mughal Road, Kapil Manhas said that keeping in view the safety of passengers, traffic movement was stopped today in the morning and it will be allowed only after the clearance of road, we request commuters to not travel till then.
Xen Mughal Road Division, Shoket Ali said that though after the fresh snowfall at Peer Ki Gali, machinery was deployed to clear the snow but the weather was not allowing to clear it with continuous snowfall. He said snow clearance work on this road will be immediately started after snowfall will stop.
Reports from Doda said amid rains and fresh snowfall in the higher reaches of the district, Deputy Commissioner Doda Vishesh Mahajan, along with SSP Doda, Abdul Qayoom visited Guldanda- tourist destination in Bhaderwah to review the status of tourist amenities and other basic essential services in the area.
Bhaderwah and its adjoining tourist destinations received seasons’ first snowfall of this winter, attracting adventure and other tourists from across the country. Administration, last year, had ensured opening of all the roads and all the amenities in place for the convenience of the visitors.
The Deputy Commissioner instructed PWD Division Bhaderwah and 118 RCC (GREF) authorities to keep the men and machinery ready and ensure the road clearance during the winter so that tourists enjoy the snowfall and beauty of the Bhaderwah Valley with least inconvenience. PDD and PHE departments have been ordered to provide uninterrupted power and water supply to the residents and hotels of the area.
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