Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Dec 9 : Upper reaches of Kashmir including Gulmarg received light snowfall today forcing authorities to close Mughal Road and Srinagar-Leh National Highway for traffic.
A Meteorological department official said there is already a forecast for light snowfall of 1-2 inches in the Valley and around 10 inches over upper reaches during the December 9 evening to December 10.
The official said Gulmarg received 0.6cm of snowfall and Leh 0.5cm. There are reports of snowfall from Sonamarg and some upper reaches of the Valley.
The MeT official said that Pahalgam received 2.0 mm of rainfall while Kokernag had traces this morning.
Mughal Road, connecting twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri with Shopian, remained closed overnight while authorities today also shut Srinagar-Leh highway after fresh snowfall.
A Traffic Department official here, however, said that traffic was plying on Jammu-Srinagar highway, the only surface link connecting Kashmir valley with outside world. “Mughal Road and SSG road closed for vehicular movement due to fresh snowfall,” the official said.
Meanwhile, authorities in Anantnag have urged people of Larnoo and tourists to refrain from venturing out in landslide and shooting stone prone areas as well as from travelling on Sinthan Pass and Margan Pass roads from till December 11.
“In view of predictions by the Meteorological Department for widespread rains, snowfall and bad weather conditions, people of Tehsil Larnoo and tourists are advised to refrain from venturing in landslide and shooting stone prone areas,” Tehsildar Larnoo said in an advisory.
“Moreover rainfall/thunderstorm/snowfall may lead to disruption of traffic on Sinthan pass and Margan pass roads. People are advised to refrain from travelling on these two roads from (till) 11th of December 2022.”
Also in compliance to the directions of SDM Kokernag, he said, SHO Larnoo and Naib Tehsildar Larnoo are directed to setup naka at Daksum and Gowran and restrict all kinds of vehicular traffic on Sinthan Pass and Margan Pass roads till December 11. “Moreover, Assistant Tourist Officer Kokernag shall place 4 tourist guards at Daksum naka and Range officer Daksum shall place 4 Forest guards at Gowran naka from 4 pm to 9 am on the days when the aforementioned roads are closed.”
Meanwhile, there was rise in minimum temperature amid cloud cover last night. Srinagar recorded a minimum of 1.0°C against minus 2.8°C the previous night. The temperature was 1.6°C above the normal for this time of the year in Srinagar.
Qazigund recorded a low of 0.2°C against minus 3.0°C the previous night. The temperature was 1.0°C above normal for the town.
Pahalgam recorded a low of 0.7°C against season’s minus 3.6°C previous night and it was 3.9°C above normal for the famous tourist resort.
Kokernag recorded a low of 1.1°C against minus 1.8°C the previous night and it was 1.8°C above normal for the place.
Gulmarg recorded a low of 3.0°C against minus 2.8°C the previous night. It was 0.7°C above normal for the skiing resort.
In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at 1.0°C against minus 2.5°C the previous night. It was 2.8°C above normal for the place.
Leh recorded minus 4.8°C, Kargil minus 5.6°C and Drass recorded a low of 5.6°C.
“Intermittent light to moderate rain at many places of Jammu and plains of Kashmir is expected on December 9-10. Light snow (1-2 inches) likely (50% chance) in plains of Kashmir during 9th Night-10th forenoon whereas higher reaches may receive 9-10 inches of snow,” the official said.
While there is no forecast of any major snow during this spell, the MeT official said that there may be temporary disruption in surface transportation over Sinthan Top, Mughal Road, Razdan Pass, Bandipora-Gurez and Zojila during December 9 -10th.
“A feeble WD is also expected to hit J&K on the night of December 12 and 13. There is a possibility of snowfall over higher reaches under its influence in Kupwara, Bandipora and Ganderbal, he said. Dry weather is expected thereafter till November 18,” he added.
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