• 2000 vehicles stranded on highway
• Met Dept predicts heavy snowfall on Feb 23-25
Heavy snowfall disconnected Kashmir’s surface and air link with rest of the world on Thursday.
The plains including Srinagar and upper reaches of the Valley experienced moderate to heavy snowfall from the morning.
Officials of Meteorological Department said Gulmarg recorded 3 feet of snowfall. “Pahalgam received 21 cm snow and 23.2 mm of rainfall while Sonamarg received 1 ft of fresh snowfall”.
“Kupwara experienced 14.1 mm rainfall, Qazigund 11.2 mm and Kokernag 24.2mm rain and 10 cm of snowfall,” they said.
Officials said over 2 feet of snow had accumulated around Jawahar Tunnel, the gateway to Kashmir.
“Due to snowfall and landslide at several places on highway, the traffic on Srinagar-Jammu road was suspended for the precautionary measures,” said IGP Traffic, Muneer Khan.
He said in the morning around 750 vehicles were cleared from Jammu to Srinagar but after landslide at several places, the highway was closed for traffic.
Khan said about 2 feet snow had got accumulated place at Banihal tunnel. “Heavy snowfall was going on from Lower Munda to Banihal. Besides, there were landslides in Panthal area”.
He said no traffic would be allowed tomorrow on either side of the highway.
“Around 2000 vehicles are stranded near Batote and Banihal. Our first priority will be to clear the stranded vehicles. No fresh vehicles will be allowed to ply tomorrow,” said Khan.
Director Airport R N Shinde said due to inclement weather 14 of the 16 flights were cancelled.
“We received only two flights in the morning and rest of the flights was cancelled due to bad weather,” he said.
Shinde said if weather permits, all flights will operate as per schedule on Friday.
The passengers complained that airlines are refusing to reschedule their tickets for the next day.
“I was travelling via Jet airways from Delhi to Srinagar but our flights returned from halfway due to bad weather. Now, officials of Jet airways are saying that the next flight available is after 15 days,” said a traveller Tanveer Ajsi of Bandipora.
However, the train service remained unaffected by the snowfall.
Chief Controller Railways, Vikramjeet Singh said train services operated remained unaffected.
An official of Meteorological Department said light to moderate rain and snowfall will continue in the Valley during next 24 hours.
He said there is a possibility of heavy snowfall in upper reaches and light snowfall and rain in plains from February 23 to Feb 25.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Sarmad Hafeez warned of snow avalanches and advised people living in upper areas of the district to take precautions while venturing out of their homes.
