| Bar'fe Nav' Uftaad, Saa'd Mubarak Baa'd | | Fresh snowfall in Valley | |  early times report
Srinagar, Dec 14: Many parts of Kashmir Valley experienced the first snowfall of the season, bringing a cheer to everyone.
Chief Engineer, Mechanical Engineering Department Kashmir started snow clearance operation in many areas of the Valley, where snow depth exceeded 4 inches, including Gulmarg-Tangmarg Road, Verinag, Pahalgam, Kulgam, Shopian-Sedow, Ganderbal-Babanagri, Kupwara. The Gulmarg-Tangmarg road has been re-opened for vehicular traffic, but only vehicles with 4x4 or anti-skid chains fitted on tyres are being allowed to ply between Tangmarg and Gulmarg.
Srinagar-Jammu National Highway is closed due to snowfall at Jawahar Tunnel and enroute. Efforts are being made by Chief Engineer, Project Beacon, to clear the snow and re-open the road, if weather improves.
The depth of snow recorded at various places at 6.30 am today, (in inches) is: Jawahar Tunnel 10", Verinag 4" to 5", Kokernag 3" to 5", Pahalgam 5", Anantnag ½" to 1", Kulgam 3",, DH Pora 10" to 12", Shopian 12", Sedow 12" to 18", Gulmarg 18", Tangmarg 5" to 6", Kupwara 3", Lolab 4" to 5", Gund 6", Gagangir 7" to 8", Sonamarg 7", Ganderbal ½", Baramulla 2", Rafiabad 5", Srinagar ½" to 1", Bandipora 2", Handwara 2 and Pulwama 3".
Hundred's of vehicles including carrying passengers and tourists stuck on both sides of Jawahar Tunnel after the vital Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was closed for traffic after heavy snowfall along the arterial route.
Due to cold weather conditions stranded tourists in South Kashmir's Qazigund area and nearer to Jawahar Tunnel have left them in difficult conditions as no help was provided to them by the administration.Tourists as well as local passengers and drivers stranded on the National Highway are anguished over the incorporation showed by the local administration.
They alleged that the local administration including traffic department is not providing them the information about the reopening of National Highway.
Bipendra , from Neapal said, "it is amazing, if the Metrological department has already given prediction about snowfall why didn't traffic department prevented us to travel", adding that it is difficult for us to wait here in this harsh cold season especially for small children.
The 294-km long highway was closed after Himalayan bounded valley witnessed snowfall since late last night.Traffic control unit established in Ramban confirmed that about 50 passenger vehicles were stranded on the National High way at Ramban while as Traffic Control Room Srinagar didn't confirmed the actual figure of vehicles stranded on National Highway.
Meanwhile, due to this snowfall South Kashmir's rural areas are reeling under darkness from last night and the road connectivity to these rural areas haven't been assured by the concerned agencies. A number of Villages in South Kashmir's Kulgam district including Yaroo, Singura, K B Pora, Bangiward, Magam, Halan and other areas witnessed heavy snowfall and are still cut off from the district headquarter. |
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