Fayaz Bukhari/
Gopal Sharma
SRINAGAR/ JAMMU, Feb 12: Heavy rain across J&K and fresh snowfall in Valley and at the higher reaches of Jammu region including Patnitop and Trikuta hills of Mata Vaishnodevi since last night, today brought sharp fall in temperature, three persons were killed in lightning during thunderstorm in Reasi and Rajouri while Jammu-Srinagar National Highway has been closed due to land slides at several places between Ramban and Banihal.
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The air traffic to Kashmir remained suspended today due to snowfall and bad weather while 20 people were rescued from Kulgam district of Kashmir from Avalanche prone area by the authorities.
Reports said that due to blockage of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and heavy snowfall at Jawahar tunnel, over 2000 vehicles have been stranded at Nagrota Bypass, Udhampur- Dhar Road and Manwal-Mansar Road since last night. The Traffic police authorities have restricted the movement of Kashmir bound vehicles at Sitlee- Nagrota Check Post and also at TCP Udhampur. However, the movement of vehicles towards Doda and Kishtwar was allowed via Nashri Tunnel. The road at Patnitop was slippery due to fresh snowfall, therefore, the movement of fuel / LPG tankers was also stopped on this road.
People of Kashmir this morning woke to a thick blanket of snow ending a long dry spell. A MeT official said that Srinagar city recorded 16 cm of snowfall till evening, Qazigund recorded 17 cm, Pahalgam 13 cm, Kokernag 11 cm, Banihal 13 cm, and Bhaderwah 15 cm of snow.
Gulmarg recorded 32 cm of snow as the minimum temperature was recorded at minus 2.1 degree Celsius. Pahalgam, in south Kashmir recorded minimum temperature of 2.1 degree Celsius.
The continuous snowfall and poor visibility led to the cancellation of all flights to and from Srinagar Airport. The snowfall also prompted the authorities to close Srinagar-Jammu National Highway for traffic as it has led to slippery road conditions and land slides at Digdol, Khooni Nallah and Panthal. The BRO made hectic efforts to clear the highway. The closure of the highway left scores of vehicles, including passenger vehicles and load carriers stranded on the highway.
A Traffic official said: “We have suspended traffic on the highway due to heavy snowfall last night. We have been able to clear most of the stranded vehicles, however, over a dozen vehicles, including passenger buses were stopped at Ramban due to landslides triggered by incessant rains and snow. Efforts are on to clear them,” he added.
Inspector General of Traffic, Basant Rath, told Excelsior that no traffic will be allowed on the highway for next two days. He said efforts are on to clear the highway of snow, slides and shooting stones.
After heavy snowfall in the hills, authorities have issued high danger avalanche warning for the hills of Baramulla, Gulmarg, Kupwara, Chowkibal, Tangdhar, Phurkian, Zad Gali, Bandipora, Kanzalwan, Gurez sector. The Medium danger warning has been issued for Poonch, Rajouri, Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Ganderbal, Kargil. Low danger warning for Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and higher reaches of Anantnag, Kulgam, Budgam, Leh, Reasi and Udhampur districts. People living in these areas have been advised to avoid these routes and avalanche prone areas.
Authorities this afternoon rescued 20 people including six children from avalanche prone area of Waltengo Nar in Kulgam district.
The snowfall in Srinagar led to deluging of almost all roads in Srinagar. However, in some parts of Srinagar, Srinagar Municipal Corporation had deployed pumps for de-watering.
The snowfall also disrupted electricity in many parts of Kashmir. Many areas of Srinagar were without power during the day. However, in the evening the electricity supply was restored to majority of the areas.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological department has forecast more rains and snow across Jammu and Kashmir for the next 24 hours. “Moderate to rather heavy rain/ snow will occur at most places over the state,” an official of the Met department said.
A Traffic police official said that land slides took place atleast at four places between Ramban and Banihal but due to continuous rain, the restoration work could not be initiated smoothly. Some vehicles had been stranded at Ramban, Chanderkote and Banihal.
Reports from Reasi said that 30-year old Mehndia, son of Ali Mohd resident of Lencha and his -3-year -old son, Shabir Ahmed were killed when they were standing in the Veranda of their house this afternoon. It was raining heavily with thunderstorm and both father and son were watching the rainfall. Suddenly, a strong beam of flash light from the sky hit both killing on the spot and causing partial damage to the house as well.
In yet another similar incident, 18-year-old Shabnam Waqar, son of Gulzar Ahmed, resident of Jallas village near Chingus in Rajouri was killed in this evening. He was returning home when the lightning hit him during rain. He was rushed to DH Rajouri, where doctors declared him as brought dead.
Meanwhile, cold wave has gripped the Jammu region with the fresh snowfall at higher reaches of Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Rajouri, Reasi and Poonch. Some hilly areas of Kathua including Bani and Billawar have also experienced fresh snowfall after a long dry spell of over one and half month. The reports of fresh snowfall have also been reported from Natha Top, Patnitop, Sanasar Bhaderwah, Lati, Dudu, Basantgarh, Mahore, Gool, Budhal, Bafliaz, Dera Gali, and parts of Loran and Mandi in Poonch .
The Helicopter service from Katra base camp to Mata Vaishnodevi shrine remain suspended due to bad weather. However, the yatra remained uninterrupted throughout the day today despite rain and light snowfall at the Bhawan.
A MeT spokesman said that Jammu recorded a maximum temperature of 15.1 Degree C and minimum 10.5 degree C, showing steep fall in the temperature during past 24 hours, Bhaderwah recorded a maximum temperature of minus 0.8 degree C and maximum 0.4 degree C, Katra maximum 10,8 degree C and minimum 7.5 degree C while Batote maximum 2.9 degree C and minimum 1.3 degree C temperature. Jammu recorded a rain fall of 9.2 mm till 5.30 pm since morning while Srinagar 16.4 mm during the day today. The weather will improve in the afternoon on Tuesday, the spokesman said.
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