SRINAGAR: The weather department in Jammu and Kashmir issued an avalanche warning after “moderate to heavy snowfall” in the region. The snowfall, which started on Wednesday, is expected to continue till January 8, according to Meteorological Department.
“The higher reaches of J&K have received moderate to heavy snowfall and have become vulnerable to avalanches,” the MeT department said in its advisory.
“People residing in these areas are requested to take precautions and avoid venturing out in the avalanche prone areas,” it further said.
Heavy rainfall in plains and snowfall in upper reaches have intensified cold wave conditions across Jammu region and thrown normal life out of gear.
Traffic movement on 278-km-long Jammu-Srinagar national highway has also been suspended. There were reports of shooting stones and mudslides from the hills overlooking the highway from various places, including Karol, Samroli, Digdole and Ramsu.
The MeT said in its forecast on Wednesday that the western disturbances are likely to leave the northern region of the country on January 8 or 9, leading to improvement of weather conditions.
“There is no other western disturbance from 9 January onwards in our monitoring. After that, the weather will improve,” news agency ANI quoted senior MeT Scientist RK Jenamani as having said.
