Mughal Road shut, NH open
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Apr 27: Rains lashed the Valley whereas the famous ski-resort Gulmarg, Machil and other places had snowfall with the Weather Department today forecasting more rains in the next few days.
It has been raining in Kashmir since last night. The heavy rains during the day led to waterlogging of roads at few places in Srinagar while in low lying areas some roads have been submerged.
Several areas including Zojila, Sadhna Top, Razdan Pass, Dawar Gurez, Tulail Gurez, Machil, Kangdori, main Gulmarg, Sinthan Top and Mughal Road experienced fresh snowfall, bringing down the mercury across the Valley.
Director Meteorological department (MeT), Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, said that the weather would remain generally cloudy with possibility of light to moderate rain, snow (light snow over higher reaches) at most places with thunder, lightning, hailstorm, gusty winds at few places with possibility of heavy rain over isolated places of Jammu & Kashmir division particularly on April 28 and 29.
Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
“From April 29-30, weather is expected to be generally cloudy with light rain and thunder at scattered places. Generally dry weather is expected from May 1-5,” he said.
In a detailed advisory, the MeT has advised the farmers to suspend farm operations till 30th April.
“Temporary disruption of traffic over higher reaches of Zojila, Sinthan Pass, Mughal Road, Razdan pass etc is expected while waterlogging in low lying areas is also possible, the advisory read, adding that there is a possibility of landslides and shooting stones and also temporary increase in water level in Jhelum and tributaries and other local streams and Nallahas can also be witnessed,” the advisory reads.
Srinagar recorded a minimum of 10.5°C, same as the previous night and it was 1.2°C above normal for the city for this time of the year.
Qazigund recorded a minimum of 8.4°C against 7.8°C the previous night and it 0.6°C above normal for the town of Kashmir.
Pahalgam recorded a low of 6.3°C against 5.2°C the previous night and it was 1.9°C above normal for the resort.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a minimum of 7.9°C against 9.3°C the previous night and it was 0.2°C below normal.
Kupwara town recorded a low of 8.1°C against 8.5°C the previous night and it was 0.3°C above normal there.
Gulmarg recorded a low of 2.4°C against 4.8°C the previous night and it was below normal by 1.8°C for the skiing resort.
Meanwhile, the Mughal Road was closed for vehicular traffic today following fresh snowfall in the higher reaches, including Peer Ki Gali, along the alternative route connecting Poonch and Rajouri districts to south Kashmir’s Shopian district, officials said.
More than six inches of fresh snow has been recorded at the 11,433-feet high Peer Ki Gali, also known as the Pir Panjal pass, on the Mughal Road, prompting authorities to suspend vehicular traffic as a precautionary measure, they said.
It is still snowing from Dubjan to Peer Ki Gali, a distance of 45 kilometres, and there is apprehension of landslides and shooting stones from the hillock overlooking the road, they said.
No vehicular traffic will be allowed on the road till the weather improves and the road is cleared, the officials said.
A Traffic department official said the 270-kilometre Jammu-Srinagar National Highway — the only all weather-road connecting Kashmir with rest of the country — was lashed by moderate to heavy rain, resulting in mudslides at several places, including Dalwas, Mahar, Gangroo and Hingani in Ramban district.
“The highway is open for traffic on both ways in a regulated manner in the affected areas due to a single-lane stretch and slippery conditions of the road,” the official said and advised commuters to temporarily avoid travel on the highway.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
