Weatherman predicts improvement from Sunday afternoon
Srinagar/Jammu Tawi, Jan 23: Kashmir valley and upper reaches of Jammu division on Saturday received fresh snowfall while the minimum temperature increased slightly across the Valley. The weatherman, however, predicted improvement in the weather conditions from Sunday afternoon.
The Valley received light to moderate snowfall from the intervening night of Friday-Saturday while Gulmarg, the world famous ski-resort has received moderate to heavy snowfall till 05:30 PM.
Officials in the local Meteorological department (MeT) informed that Gulmarg received one foot snow till 05:30 PM while Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir received 11.4 cm snow till the same period.
The officials further added that Qazigund, Kokernag and Pahalgam in southern districts received 1 cm, 15.0 cm and 19.4 cm snow respectively, adding that Kupwara in north Kashmir received 5.6 cm snow till 05:30 PM.
With the fresh snowfall across Kashmir, the minimum temperature has started increasing with officials in MeT informing that the mercury settled at minus 2.0 degrees Celsius last as compared to minus 6 degrees Celsius previous night.
He also informed that the minimum temperature in Gulmarg was recorded at minus 4.8 degrees Celsius last night.
The fresh spell of snowfall on Saturday affected both air and surface link connecting Kashmir Valley with the rest of the world.
The morning flights were delayed at the Srinagar airport after fresh spell of snow in parts of Kashmir valley.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P K Pole said that due to snow no flight operations have taken place at Srinagar Airport today.
The Srinagar-Jammu Highway also remained cut-off due to the fresh snowfall in the valley.
Earlier in the day, traffic was allowed on Srinagar Jammu Highway from Jammu towards Srinagar, but due to continuous snowfall at both sides of Jawhar Tunnel traffic was suspended on the highway, officials said.
ADGP Traffic T.Namgyal told that the traffic was suspended on the Highway in view of continuous snowfall.
“No vehicle was allowed to move on the highway today after the intensity of snowfall increased,” Namgyal said.
“The Traffic will remain also suspended on 24 January as well,” he told KNO.
Fresh communiqué by Traffic Police for 24-01-2020 read, “No vehicular movement shall be allowed on Jammu-Srinagar NHW from either side in view of shooting stones/mudslides at several places on NHW, snow accumulation around the Jawahar Tunnel and inclement weather prediction issued by MeT department.”
Mughal Road continues to remain closed due to heavy snow accumulation.
Kashmir Valley's tourist destinations Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonemarg also received fresh snowfall.
Meanwhile with the fresh snowfall life has badly got affected in Srinagar where many roads saw the accumulation of snow and slippery conditions of roads.
Massive traffic jams across the city were also witnessed today and it took hours for people to reach their destinations.
Despite timely prediction of snowfall by Meteorological Department in Kashmir, authorities yet again failed to clear all the roads in most parts of Kashmir following fresh spell of snowfall.
People across the valley had to face huge inconvenience at greater levels as the authorities failed to clear the snow which made the roads slippery.
Massive traffic jams across the city were witnessed today and it took hours for people to reach their destinations.
“Due to slippery conditions, vehicles are unable to ply on the roads, where is administration, where is SMC”, a commuter questioned,
