Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Mar 8: Jam-mu-Srinagar National Highway remained closed for traffic today as fresh snowfall and rains lashed the State leading to drop in the temperatures and authorities issued avalanche warning for the hills.
The National Highway was closed for traffic today due to snowfall and rains since yesterday. An official said here that it was snowing and raining last night. He said it was snowing since last night near Jawahar Tunnel and Qazigund sector leading to slippery condition of the road in these areas.
The official said that due to incessant rains, sliding took place at Battery Chashma, Anokhi fall and Digdol besides shooting stones. He said that the Border Roads Organization was continuoulsy at work to clear slides and shooting stones from the Highway.
A traffic official said that bad weather conditions and continuous rain fall resulted in triggering of shooting stones at several places, especially at Battery Chashma, Panthyal and Digdol areas.
He said that in view of weather advisory which predicts rainfall, no movement of traffic either from Jammu or Srinagar shall be allowed on Jammu-Srinagar for the safety and security of the passengers and drivers.
Due to closure of the National Highway, hundreds of trucks are stranded in Sriangar, Anantnag and Qazigund areas of Kashmir and Nagrota and Udhampur areas of Jammu.
A Meteorological Depar-tment official said that light to moderate rains lashed Kashmir since last night and continued throughout the day. He said that higher reaches of the Valley including Jawahar Tunnel, Gulmarg and Pahalgam received fresh snowfall. The snow also occurred at Baramulla and Kupwara areas of Kashmir areas as well. He said that the rains and snowfall will continue for at least next three days.
An official said that one feet of snow had accumulated in Gulmarg, 1.6 feet in Kongdoori and Afarwat areas of Gulmarg, one feet at Sadna and nine inches at Furkiyan.
Due to the fresh snowfall, Divisional Administration Kashmir today issued an avalanche warning for next 24-hours for hilly and avalanche prone areas of Kashmir valley and Kargil district.
“Medium danger avalanche warning valid for next 24-hours from March 8 to March 9, exists for avalanche prone slopes in Kupwara, Bandipora, Anantnag, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Kulgam, Budgam and Kargil districts of Kashmir Division,” a statement of the Divisional Administration said.
The statement said that all the Deputy Commissioners have been asked to take precautionary measures in their respective districts and advise people not to venture in avalanche prone areas during the aforementioned period and monitor the situation regularly to avert any untoward incident.
The snowfall in the hills of Kashmir and rains in Valley and Jammu region led to drop in the temperatures across the State.
Srinagar recorded 5.6 degree Celsius, which is 8 degree Celsius below normal while night temperature dropped to 3.1 degree Celsius, Qazigund a maximum of 3.5 degree Celsius and minimum of 1.2 degree Celsius, Pahalgam a maximum of 2.4 degree Celsius and minimum of minus 0.2 degree Celsius, Kupwara a maximum of 4.4 degree Celsius and minimum of 1.7 degree Celsius, Kokernag a maximum of 4.8 degree Celsius and minimum of 0.1 degree Celsius, Gulmarg a maximum of 0.5 degree Celsius and minimum of minus 3.0 degree Celsius, Leh recorded a maximum of 5.3 degree Celsius and minimum of minus 6.1 degree Celsius and Kargil a maximum of 3.2 degree Celsius and minimum of minus 2.6 degree Celsius.
Jammu recorded 21.6 degree Celsius, which is 4 degree Celsius below normal while night temperature dropped to 11.2 degree Celsius which is 3 degree celisus below normal.
Banihal recorded a maximum of 4.5 degree Celsius and minimum of 0.8 degree Celsius, Batote a maximum of 6.4 degree Celsius and minimum of 3.7 degree Celsius, Katra a maximum of 16.1 degree Celsius and minimum of 10.9 degree Celsius and Bhaderwah a maximum of 8.6 degree Celsius and minimum of 2.0 degree Celsius.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
