Srinagar
Fresh snowfall led to plenty of problems to commuters even as all flights to and fro were cancelled at Srinagar airport on Wednesday.
At the same time, Srinagar-Jammu highway, the only road link connecting Kashmir with the rest of the world, remained open for one-way traffic.
Fresh snowfall began around 11: AM at many places of the Valley including this summer capital the state. As snow started to accumulate, the commuting becomes difficult and transport including public buses started to thin out from the roads. Traffic department also urged drivers to take precautions and among others included driving slow due to slippery road conditions.
Reports from Ganderbal, the central Kashmir district which saw snowfall of about four to six inches, said that most of the transport was off the roads and commuters faced tremendous difficulties in reach home back.
Srinagar Airport authorities said in a tweet that “due to bad weather/ heavy snowfall, all flights have been cancelled.
Meanwhile, the 300-km long Srinagar-Jammu highway was open for one-way traffic as there was little or no snowfall in south Kashmir parts on Wednesday.
“Road Status: #Srinagar-Jammu highway open, Traffic plying from Srinagar to #Jammu; Srinagar-Kargil road Closed; Anantnag-Kishtwar road Closed; Mughal Road closed; Bandipora-Gurez road closed; Kupwara-Karnah, Kupwara-Keran, Kupwara-Machail roads closed. @JmuKmrPolice,” Police tweeted.
Meanwhile, the day temperatures across the Kashmir Valley nosedived amid fresh snowfall.
A meteorological department official said that Srinagar recorded a maximum of 1.0 degree Celsius, more than six degrees below normal for this time of the year. The capital city saw 5.4 mm of snow (when converted into rain) from 0830 to 1730 hours.
The famous hill resort of Pahalgam recorded a maximum of minus 1.6 degree Celsius and saw snowfall of 8.5mm.
Qazginund, the gateway town of Kashmir, saw a maximum of 2.2 degrees Celsius while Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a maximum of 1.1 degrees Celsius. Both these places saw zero or traces of snowfall.
The MeT official said the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir saw a maximum of minus 2.4 degrees Celsius and it had a snowfall of 15.2 mm during the day.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir registered a maximum of 0.8 degrees Celsius, the official said.
“The (present weather) system is moving slowly towards east and morning will be very cold,” a weather official said. However, he said, tomorrow will be sunny.
He said another weather system was likely to hit the state and under its influence, another snow spell of stronger intensity was expected around January 19 to 23 peaking on January 22. (GNS)
