Fresh Snow Blankets Heights, Rain Dances in Plains
Sgr-Jmu highway, SSG, Mughal road closed, KU postpones exams
Suhail Khan
SRINAGAR, Feb 19: World famous ski resort of Gulmarg and other upper reaches in the Kashmir valley experienced fresh snowfall while plains, including summer capital, Srinagar, were lashed by rain, disrupting normal life.
Reports reaching Kashmir Despatch said the second consecutive day of rain in the plains and snowfall in the higher reaches of Kashmir disrupted normal life on Monday.
As per reports the continue weather led to the closure of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and the University of Kashmir postponing exams for two days.
An official at the Meteorological Department Srinagar told Kashmir Despatch that already predicted a three-day wet weather spell from February 18-20. He said since Sunday, the plains have experienced rain, while the upper reaches received snowfall.
The official said that Gulmarg, slated to host the fourth ‘Khelo India’ winter games from Wednesday, witnessed over a foot of fresh snowfall in the past 24 hours, recording a temperature of minus 2.8 degrees Celsius during the previous night.
He said Gulmarg has made extensive preparations for the event, with athletes arriving from across the country.
The official said that the recent heavy snowfall, considered a fortunate occurrence leading up to the Khelo India Games, has not only delighted athletes but also brought joy to tourists from India and abroad.
The weather official said that Sonamarg in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal and Pahalgam in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district also received heavy snowfall, delighting numerous tourists.
Meanwhile, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar was spotted enjoying the snowfall with his family in Pahalgam, later in the day as per reports was seen in world famous health resort Gulmarg.
National Highway Closed
The closure of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was due to a mudslide at Mehad-Cafteria, Ramban, and a landslide at Tabela Chamalwass, Banihal.
An official told Kashmir Despatch that to clear stranding hundreds of vehicles, workers and machinery were deployed to clear the affected areas.
He said Traffic Department has already advised people to avoid traveling on NH-44 until weather conditions improve and the road is cleared.
The official said that due to the snowfall, several roads, including the Bhaderwah-Chamba Road, Mughal Road, and SSG Road, were also closed for vehicular movement.
Roads in Kupwara district including Keran, Machil, Gure, Tangdar, and Zojilla Pass in Sonmarg were also shut, However, the air traffic plied normally he said.
Meanwhile, as per reports gusty winds damaged several residential structures in the summary capital city Srinagar on Monday, while heavy rains damaged house in Kulgam.
As per reports two residential houses were damaged in Rainawari, while another was damaged in Harwan area.
The reports further said that due to heavy rains one residential house was also damaged in southern district Kulgam, how’ver no loss of life or injury was reported in anywhere reports further added.
Meanwhile, the University of Kashmir postponed exams scheduled for February 19 and 20 due to adverse weather conditions.
As per the KU statement issued to Kashmir Despatch reads “Fresh dates for the postponed papers will be communicated separately,” an official said.However, exams at Cluster University Srinagar proceeded as scheduled on Monday.
Meanwhile, The Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Authority has issued an avalanche warning for 10 districts, indicating low and medium danger levels.
Meanwhile, as per independent weather forecaster Kashmir Weather, Heavy to very heavy snowfall likely to continue for another 24hrs over higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir , Sonamarg, Gulmarg, Gurez, Zojila pass , Sinthan pass, Peer ki Gali and Razdan pass the snowfall accumulation may go upto 6-7 Feet till tomorrow evening.
The forecaster said that Moderate to heavy rainfall are expected over most plains with possibility of Snowfall over many plains of Kashmir during next 24hrs.
Further said that Maximum chances of Snowfall tonight and tomorrow morning over Kashmir plains. Moderate / heavy rainfall are expected over plains of Jammu with thundershowers lighting and thunderstorms over some parts during above period further said.
