Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Dec 14: Heavy snowfall in parts of Kashmir and along the Jammu-Srinagar National highway has closed the highway for traffic and disrupted the air-traffic to Kashmir valley today.
Inspector General of Police, Traffic, Munir Ahmad Khan, told Excelsior that heavy snowfall has forced them to close the Jammu-Srinagar national highway for traffic. He said that it was snowing heavily in Jawahar Tunnel and Patnitop areas forcing the closure of the National Highway, the life line for Kashmir valley.
He said that snowfall during last night forced the closure of the National Highway at Jawahar Tunnel and Patnitop areas. However, clearance by the Border Roads Organization (BRO) in the morning helped the traffic police to clear the passenger vehicles that were stranded on the highway overnight.
Mr Khan said 40 passenger vehicles that were stranded during the night in Banihal area were made to cross the Jawahar Tunnel despite continuous snowfall. “Sixty Jammu bound passenger vehicles stranded at Batote were made to cross Patnitop towards Jammu this afternoon”, he added.
The IGP said that 60 Srinagar bound passenger vehicles have been stopped at Ramban on the National Highway and they will be allowed to move towards Banihal if the weather improves tomorrow. He said that these passengers have been kept at safer places.
He added that efforts are on to clear the highway in the morning to clear the stranded passenger vehicles on the highway first and it would be followed by the Kashmir bound load carriers carrying essential supplies.
The IGP Traffic said that Doda-Batote highway is clear and Jammu-Poonch Highway is also open for traffic through Bhimber Gali while DK Gali has been closed due to heavy snowfall.
He appealed people to confirm the status of the National Highway at Srinagar Traffic Control and Jammu Traffic Control Rooms before travelling on the national highway.
An official handout said, Jammu-Srinagar National Highway will remain closed for traffic tomorrow.
Officials said here that the morning freak weather disrupted the air traffic at Srinagar International Airport due to poor visibility. However, air traffic resumed in the afternoon following improvement in the visibility. He said that 14 flights operated from the airport today but the last flight of Go Air scheduled to depart at 3.50 p.m. was cancelled.
Many parts of Kashmir valley experienced season’s first snowfall today and summer capital of Srinagar was also under the cover of think blanket of snow.
Heavy snowfall was recorded at the tourist spots of Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam, Kokernag and Daksum. Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, Farooq Shah, said that roads to the tourist resorts of Pahalgam, Kokernag and Daksum have been cleared early in the morning to allow tourists to make free movement. However, authorities are allowing only vehicles with 4×4 or anti-skid chains fitted on tyres between Tangmarg and Gulmarg.
The Coordinator of the Disaster Management Cell Aamir Ali said here that in Baramulla district of North Kashmir Gulmarg recorded 16 to 18 inches of snow, Rafiabad 3 to 6 inches and Tangmarg 5 to 6 inches of snow.
Ali said that in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district Bandipore town experienced around 2 to 3 inches of snow, Gurez 10 inches, while as Tuleil and Kanzalwan 2 feet and Athwatto 7 inches of snow.
The official said that in South Kashmir, Verinag recorded 4 to 5 inches, Kokernag 3 to 5 inches, Anantnag one inch, Pahalgam 7 to 8 inches, Verinag 5 to 6 inches and Kokernag 4 to 5 inches of snow.
Ali said that Shopian Town in South Kashmir experienced one feet, Sedow and Herpora over one feet of snow. He said that Pulwama experienced 2 to 3 inches of snow, Keller 7 to 8 inches. “Kulgam had 4 to 5 inches snow, whileas DH Pora 8 to 9 inches, Kund 7 to 8 inches of snow”, he added.
The officials said that Kupwara and Handwara in North Kashmir experienced 4 to 5 inches of snow, Lolab 6 to 7 inches. He said that Ganderbal experienced one inch snow, Gund 6 inches, Gagangir 8 inches, Sonamarg 7 inches, Babanagri inches of snow.
Tourist resort of Patnitop in Jammu region also experienced snowfall.
Ali said that Budgam experienced one inch snow, Kanidajan 4 to 5 inches, Phakerpora 8 to 9 inches of snow.
The official said that Chief Engineer, Mechanical Engineering Department Kashmir started snow clearance operation last night at many areas of the Kashmir valley where snow depth had exceeded 4 inches.
The heavy snowfall in the North and South Kashmir disrupted power supply in these areas. The power was, however, restored to the majority of the areas. However, it is still disrupted in Shopian in South and Tandghar in North Kashmir.
The heavy snowfall overnight forced the authorities to close the Kupwara-Tangdhar road as 4 feet snow has accumulated on the Sadna Top.
The Meteorological Department has forecast inclement weather up to Monday. Deputy Director Meteorological Department, A R Zargar, said that till then rain and snow will occur in Kashmir Valley and mountains of the Jammu region intermittently.
“We are expecting sunshine after December 17 as the western disturbance presently active here would weaken by then,” said Zargar.
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