After snow and rains, weather improves in Kashmir

Jammu-Srinagar, Srinagar-Leh and some other highways in Jammu and Kashmir were closed on Thursday following heavy rains and fresh snowfall in the area.

A senior traffic police official said due to rainfall triggering landslides at various places including at Sherbibi near work site of HCC, traffic movement was suspended on both sides. “We cleared nearly all the vehicles which were stranded on the way”. However, the stranded vehicles will be allowed to move towards their respective destinations first before allowing fresh traffic from Jammu or Srinagar, ” the official said.

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Light showers were received in Jammu.

The Metrological department has forecasted that weather would improve from today (Friday). The Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region also remained closed since December previous year due to heavy snowfall.

Kashmir had witnessed a dry weather since last month and caused concern among the residents in valley with many complaining about the absent snow and apparent climate change. “Only fruit-laden heavy vehicles will be allowed upto 3 pm”, the personnel said.

“The snow was much-awaited and is bound to attract tourists across the globe for skiing experience”, said Tourism Department Deputy Director Peerzada Zahoor.

He said with minus 4.5 degrees Celsius as the night’s lowest temperature, Gulmarg Ski resort was the coldest in the Valley.

Jammu city recorded 10.6 degrees as the minimum temperature while it was 8.5 in Mata Vaishno Devi base camp town of Katra, 2.1 in Batote, 0.2 in Bannihal, 1.1 in Bhaderwah and 9.1 Udhampur towns of Jammu region.

He, however, said the resort was the coldest recorded place in the state.