Fresh snowfall throws life out of gear in Kashmir

The fresh snowfall on Tuesday threw life out of gear in Kashmir and the Valley’s surface and air-link remained suspended

SRINAGAR: The fresh snowfall on Tuesday threw life out of gear in Kashmir and the Valley’s surface and air-link remained suspended while the Metrological department has predicted more snowfall in next 24 hours.

The plains including Srinagar received light to moderate snowfall from last evening while upper reaches including Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, Yousmarg, Khilanmarg, Keran, Karnah, Machil, Tanghdar received moderate to heavy snowfall.

The intermittent snowfall continued throughout the day affecting normal life in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley.

Due to the continuous snowfall, there was less movement of traffic on the roads.

Due to the continuous snowfall, Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the only road link connecting Kashmir with rest of the country remained closed for the second continuous day today.

A police official said about six feet of snow has accumulated at Jawahir Tunnel on the Srinagar-Jammu highway.

He said the continuous snowfall has triggered landslides on the highway due to which no vehicular movement was allowed on Srinagar-Jammu road for the second consecutive day today.

The official said the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which is looking after the maintenance of the highway, will press its men into service after the weather condition improves and snowfall stop.

The traffic on the highways was suspended yesterday after the snowfall.

About 1500 vehicles, mostly trucks, are stranded on Qazigund stretch on the highway, the police official said adding, “Some passenger vehicles and trucks are also stranded from Jammu side of the highway”.

He said once the road is made traffic worthy, they will allow the stranded vehicles to move to their respective destinations.

The Valley’s air link was also disrupted by the fresh snowfall.

According to officials, only one flight from Jammu could land at the Srinagar airport today while 19 other to and fro flights were cancelled due to heavy snowfall and poor visibility.

He said the flights will operate tomorrow if the weather conditions and visibility improves.

Meanwhile, an official of Metrological department predicted more moderate to heavy snowfall at most places of the Valley in next 24 hours.

In view of continuous snowfall, Kashmir University has postponed examinations scheduled to be held on January 18 (Wednesday) and January 19 (Thursday).

“Fresh dates for the deferred examinations shall be notified separately,” a spokesman of University said.  

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