Gopal Sharma & Fayaz Bukhari
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Dec 28: While most of the districts of Kashmir valley and mountainous areas of Jammu region including Poonch, Doda and Kishtwar experienced fresh snow fall and rain today, the train and air-traffic continued to be badly hit due to fog and poor visibility across the region for the fourth consecutive day today.
A senior official from Meteorological Department said that several districts of Valley besides higher reaches of Jammu region experienced fresh snow fall. About 7 to 8 inches snowfall was recorded in the tourist resort of Gulmarg, bringing cheer to the tourists and locals today. The snow clearance operation was commenced in the night and also early today by the Chief Engineer Mechanical Engineering Department. Gulmarg-Tangmarg road was cleared for movement of vehicular traffic. The inner roads of Gulmarg, hotel links and parking areas were also cleared.
Tangmarg recorded 3 to 4 inches, Baramulla Kandi nearly 4 to 7 inches while Rafiabad 5 to 9 inches of snow fall. Tangmarg-Narbal link and Pattan–Tangmarg roads were also cleared today by the men and machinery of MED. Fresh snow fall was also recorded in Pir Panjal and Jawahar tunnel area of National Highway besides Bufliaz, Krishna Ghati, Mandi- Loran (Poonch), Dera Gali, Peer Ki Gali, Mughal road and higher reaches of Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Ramban and Doda this afternoon. Reports of fresh snow fall were also received from Patnitop area this evening and the road had turned slippery due to rain. The traffic in Banihal and Jawahar tunnel area besides Patnitop was also affected this evening due to snow fall.
Disaster Management Authority of Kashmir has issued avalanche warning in some avalanche prone areas of Tangdhar, Keran, Chowkibal, Machhil, Gurez, Tuleil, Sonamarg and Drass besides higher reaches of Gulmarg and Uri. The people living in higher reaches of these areas have been advised not to venture in avalanche prone areas during next 24 hours.
The authorities said that Gurez experienced fresh snow fall of 2 to 3 feet while the snow clearance operation was in progress despite continuous bad weather conditions. Kupwara and Handwara witnessed 2 to 4 inches, Lolab, Khurhama, Vilgam, Karalpora 5 to 7 inches, Kullen and Rezan in Ganderbal about 8 to 9 inches while Sonamarg 15-18 inches snowfall today.
DIG Traffic Shakeel Beig said that Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was open for one way traffic from Jammu to Srinagar today. He said in view of fresh snowfall this evening, the traffic in some areas including Pir Panjal (Tunnel) and Patnitop area was affected. In view of slippery road conditions and precautionary measures, the traffic was suspended in these areas. He said there will be down convoy tomorrow, only if the weather condition improves.
Mr Beigh disclosed that Mughal road was still closed due to heavy snow fall while traffic in Doda-Bhaderwah, Kishtwar and Jammu- Poonch road was through. However, Thanmandi-Bufliaz-Poonch road was closed.
In plain areas of Jammu region, the dense fog and poor visibility threw normal life out of gear. Most of the flights were delayed due to fog while two of them were suspended. Air Mantra flight between Chandigarh-Jammu –Chandigarh could not operate on the fourth consecutive day today. While Indigo flight which lands at 9 am arrived here around 10.50 am, Indio and other flights were also delayed. However, out of 17 normal flights, only fifteen flights operated today.
Chopper service to Mata Vaishnodevi from Katra base camp was suspended after 11.30 am for the entire day due to bad weather. It could operate for just 2 hours from 8.30 am to 11.30 am. Yesterday also, the chopper service to Mata Vaishnodevi had remained suspended for over six hours.
Several trains arrived late at Jammu station while their departure has also been delayed for hours together. The passengers are facing hard times and have to wait at the station for hours together in chilling weather conditions due to late departure and arrival of the trains. The fog has gripped the entire northern region while in plain areas of Jammu and Punjab, the situation is grim. Pooja Express, Jhelum, Himgiri, Amarnath Express, Shalimar, Malwa and several other trains were late by two to ten hours while the departure of most of the trains was rescheduled.
The buses operating on inter-state routes are also arriving late here in view of fog and bad weather for the last several days. During the day, a little improvement in the weather was witnessed in Jammu areas but the weather condition against started worsening in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, Meteorological Department has forecast rain and snowfall at many places across the State in next 24 hours. There was a little improvement in weather in Jammu with temperature rising to 15.8 degree celsius, however, it was around 4 degree celsius below normal. The maximum temperature in Srinagar was recorded at 6 degree celsius while minimum temperature was 1.2 degree celsius. The maximum and minimum temperature in Leh were 0.5 degree celsius and -9.3 degree celsius today.
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