Flights suspended, highway closed as snowfall continues in Kashmir Valley
What's the story
Kashmir remained cut off from the rest of the country for the fourth consecutive day on Wednesday as the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and the Mughal Road remained closed, while air traffic was suspended due to heavy snowfall. The snowfall began on Sunday and continued in many areas, even as the MeT office said the weather is likely to improve later on Wednesday.
Road and highway blocked
No traffic was allowed on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway
"No traffic was allowed on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway due to accumulation of snow and landslides at many places," an official of the traffic control room said. "The highway was blocked due to snow accumulation at Jawahar Tunnel and landslides/mudslides/shooting stones at Samroli, Nagarkot, Panthyal, Marog, Cafeteria Mor, Dhalwas and Nashri," he added.
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Snow clearance operations and efforts on to restore vehicle movement
"Snow clearance operations are in full swing and efforts to restore movement of stranded vehicles along the 260-kilometer road are on. Mughal Road, which connects the Valley to Jammu division, has been closed for several days due to heavy snowfall," officials said.
Snowfall
Areas that have received heavy snowfall
"South Kashmir's Kulgam district received the highest snowfall with five to six feet of snow accumulated at some places. Anantnag district has also received heavy snowfall," officials said. "The areas in south Kashmir, followed by central, received heavy snowfall compared to areas in the north of the Valley," they informed. Meanwhile, Srinagar city has been witnessing heavy snowfall for the past three days.
Effect
Heavy snowfall has affected essential services in many areas
"While the administration has ensured that essential services are least affected, the heavy snowfall has resulted in snapping of electricity in many areas across the Valley," the officials said. Slippery roads also led to less movement of traffic. "The flight operations to and from Srinagar remained suspended for the fourth consecutive day due to poor visibility and accumulation of snow," the officials added.
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Weather is improving gradually and movement is expected from Wednesday
"Weather is improving gradually and a significant improvement is expected from today afternoon onwards," a MeT official said. "Light rain/ snow may occur at scattered places in Jammu and Kashmir over the next 24 hours," he further added.
Temperature
Minimum temperature improved but still stayed below the freezing point
"The minimum temperature improved in most places in the Valley but still stayed below the freezing point," the officials said. Srinagar city recorded a low of minus 0.9 degree Celsius. Pahalgam tourist resort in south Kashmir recorded a low of minus 1.2 degree Celsius. Qazigund recorded a minimum of minus 0.2 degree Celsius, Kupwara, minus 0.7 degree Celsius and Kokernag, minus 1.0 degree Celsius.
Information
Kashmir is currently under the grip of 'Chillai-Kalan'
Kashmir is currently under the grip of Chillai-Kalan which began on December 21 and will end on January 31. However, the cold wave continues even after that in Kashmir with a 20-day-long Chillai-Khurd (small cold) and a 10-day-long Chillai-Bachha (baby cold).