Chopper service to Vaishnodevi suspended
*MeT predicts improvement in weather today
Gopal Sharma/ Fayaz Bukhari
JAMMU/ Srinagar, Nov 30: With the continuous rain across Jammu and Kashmir and snowfall on the higher reaches, a sharp fall in the temperature has been witnessed while Mughal Road and Sinthan Top Road which connect Kashmir with Jammu region, remained closed for vehicular traffic.
Helicopter service to Mata Vaishnodevi shrine from the base camp Katra and Battery car service for the pilgrims from Adh Kunwari to Bhawan also remained suspended due to bad weather. The operation of ropeway trolley at Mata Vaishnodevi shrine also remained closed, however, on-foot yatra continued despite rain.
Gulmarg and several other places of Kashmir received fresh snowfall today while the rains lashed the Valley with the weatherman forecasting improvement in weather conditions from tomorrow.
— Excelsior/Waseem
Several places including Sonamarg, Machil, Chowkibal, Tangdhar, Keran, Karnah, Gulmarg, Doodhpathri and other areas received fresh snowfall since last night, resulting closure of these roads.
Reports from Doda said that due to heavy snowfall at Chhattergalla Pass, Bhaderwah-Bani-Basohli road was also closed. Seoj Dhar and several other higher reaches in Bhaderwah including Jayee, Guldanda and Paddri experienced fresh snowfall. Some tourists reached at Guldanda and Jayee to enjoy snowfall from Bhaderwah.
It said three-week dry spell in Kashmir ended on Thursday with snowfall in the higher reaches, most of the hills in various districts in the Jammu region also received fresh snowfall while the rains lashed Jammu city and other parts of the region.
The Mughal Road, connecting Poonch-Rajouri in Jammu region with Shopian in Kashmir valley has been blocked due to snowfall in high-altitude areas between Poshana, Pir Ki Gali and Heerpur area, officials said, adding no vehicle will be allowed to move towards the Valley from Poonch and Rajouri till the weather improves.
High altitude areas of Jammu region, particularly Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Reasi, Udhampur, Poonch and Kathua districts witnessed fresh snowfall since last night.
Rains lashed Jammu city since Wednesday evening intensifying the cold. A thin attendance was witnessed in the government offices and schools due to rain and cold wave.
A MeT spokesman said that Jammu witnessed a maximum temperature of 18.8 degree Celsius which is about 5 degree below normal. The day temperature in Jammu on Wednesday remained 23.0 deg C while on Tuesday it was 26.2 deg C. About eight degrees fall in temperature has been witnessed in Jammu till this evening, during last two days.
Reports of fresh snowfall have also received from higher reaches of Dudu-Basantgarh, Latti in Udhampur, Mohu Mangit area of Banihal, Bani Sub Division of Kathua and parts of Poonch, Kishtwar and Ramban.
Meanwhile, the rains lashed the plains of Kashmir since the wee hours of this morning and continued intermittently throughout the day.
Director Meteorological department (MeT), Dr Mukhtar Ahmad said that the weather is expected to improve from tomorrow.
The weather conditions are expected to remain cloudy till December 9, he said, adding that there is no forecast of any major activity during the period. He added the cloudy weather is expected during the period, but no major activity is predicted till December 09, 2023.
Meanwhile, the night temperature improved across Kashmir with Srinagar recording a minimum temperature of 5.3 degree Celsius.
The mercury in Qazigund settled at 5.0 degree Celsius while in Pahalgam it settled at 1.5 degree Celsius. Pampora in Pulwama and Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 1.0 degree Celsius.
Prevailing weather conditions have forced the closure of several roads today. Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri Road was closed for nearly one hour today, but was thrown open for traffic immediately after the road clearance work was done.
Fresh snowfall in northern districts also led to the closure of several roads.
As a precautionary measure, the roads leading to Karnah, Keran and Machil sectors were closed this morning due to snowfall.
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