| Continuous snowfall snaps Kashmir's link with rest of world; road, air traffic remains suspended | | Plains experience light snowfall, higher reaches heavy snow | |  Jehangir Rashid
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Feb 3: For the second consecutive day Kashmir valley received rains and snowfall thus affecting the normal life. Due to snow and rains and also increased chill very few people ventured out of their homes in order to carry out their normal activities.
The continuous snowfall led to the closure of the 294 kilometres long Srinagar-Jammu national highway. Air traffic to and fro Srinagar also remained suspended with no flight operating at the Srinagar International Airport due to the continuous snow and rains coupled with poor visibility.
At the same time, Srinagar recorded the lowest temperature of the current winter season. The mercury settled at three degrees Celsius while as the minimum temperature was recorded as 0.6 degrees Celsius. As Sun hardly came out during the course of the day an increase in the chill was experienced by the people of summer capital of the state and other parts of the Kashmir valley.
Reports reaching here said that moderate to heavy snow was recorded at most places of the Kashmir valley including Srinagar. While the plains received light snowfall, people of the countryside and higher reaches were greeted by moderate to heavy snowfall since last evening. In some of the areas the snowfall is continuing since Monday morning.
An official of Meteorological (MeT) Department said that Srinagar received 5.2 millimeters of rain and snow mixture by this evening. The official said that Jammu, the winter capital of the state received more than 24 millimeters of rain with the day temperature being recorded as 11.8 degrees Celsius and the night temperature of 10.4 degrees Celsius.
The MeT official said that world famous health resort of Pahalgam in South Kashmir received more than one feet of snow while as one feet snow has also accumulated in the Qazigund area along the Srinagar-Jammu national highway. He said around two feet snow has accumulated in the Lower Munda area on the national highway.
Officials said that traffic on Srinagar-Jammu national highway was suspended due to the continuous snowfall. Although both men and machinery have been pressed into service for clearance of snow, the continuous snowfall is hampering this process.
The officials said that heavy snowfall ranging from three to three and half feet at several places including Jawahar Tunnel, Patnitop, Nowgam, Qazigund, Banihal and Batote is hampering the clearance process of snow on the highway. They said that heavy rainfall recorded at Ramsoo and Ramban has led to apprehension of landslides on the highway on the other side of the tunnel.
Reports reaching here said that higher reaches in South Kashmir areas like Damhal Hanjipora, Manzgam, Danew Kandimarg, Dubjan, Kokernag, Dooru, Lisser, Simthan Top, Hirpora, Shangus, Aru, Shadimarg, Keller, Kund, Ovura, Batkote and Peer Ki Gali on the Mughal Road received heavy to very snowfall since yesterday morning.
The continuous snowfall led to the snapping of power supply in these areas and these areas have been plunged into pitch darkness. As the snow has not been cleared from the roads, lanes and by-lanes of these areas the movement of the people has been restricted and most of them have confined themselves to their houses.
In the Central Kashmir, heavy to very heavy snowfall has been recorded in the areas like Yusmarg, Doodhpathri, Mujpathri, Dadompora, Pakherpora, Charar-I-Sharief, Khag, Drang, Najan and Raithan. Electricity in most of the areas has been disconnected and people have urged the district administration to remove the snow from the main roads and the link roads as well.
Reports from North Kashmir said that heavy snowfall has been recorded in some parts of the frontier district of Kupwara. Three to four feet snow has accumulated at Sadhna Top and Farkiyan Gali. Three feet snow has also been recorded at the Razdan Pass connecting Bandipora district with rest of the state. The snow is yet to be cleared from these areas thus creating problems for the common people.
At the world famous health resort of Gulmarg around three feet snow had got accumulated by this evening. The heavy snowfall at this health resort led to joy among the tourists present there. It also brought cheers for the tourist players who are hoping that more people will come and enjoy snow in the coming days. Reports of moderate to heavy snowfall have come in from Tangmarg, Magam, Abura, Keran, Machil, Teetwal, Lolab, Kralpora, Kalaroos, Dardpora, Vilgam, Zachaldara, Rajwar, Limber, Lachipora, Zandifaran, Kaloosa, Aloosa, Kreeri, Sultanpora, Wahedina and Papachan areas of North Kashmir. |
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