Disruptive snow blankets Kashmir

Heavy snowfall disrupted normal life in Kashmir valley on Monday forcing closure of arterial Srinagar-Jammu highway and cancellation of all Srinagar-bound flights. The snowfall also led to suspension of train service in the Valley while all examinations scheduled for the day were also postponed.
Over 2.5 feet of snow had accumulated around Jawahar Tunnel till reports last came in. Many far-flung areas of the Valley also remained cut off due to heavy snowfall.

HIGHWAY CLOSED
Inspector General of Police Traffic, Muneer Ahmad Khan said due to heavy snowfall in Banihal and landslides at several places, highway was closed for vehicular traffic.
“Due to heavy snowfall in Banihal and landslides in Lasri, Chandrakot, Seri, Ramsou and Panthal area, traffic on Srinagar-Jammu road was suspended as precautionary measure,” Khan said.
He said once the weather improves, authorities will start to clear the snow from the road. “Our team is stationed at various places to start the work immediately,” he added.
Khan said there are no stranded vehicles on the highway as all the traffic was cleared Sunday evening. He said if the highway is cleared on time and weather remains dry in the night they would allow LMVs from Jammu to Srinagar on Tuesday.
“As of now we have no such plans; it all depends upon the weather. The final decision will only be taken tomorrow morning,” Inspector General of Police Traffic said.

FLIGHTS CANCELLED
Airport officials said all incoming and outgoing flights were cancelled due to heavy snowfall and poor visibility.
“There was around 1 feet of snow on runway due to overnight snowfall. Even though the snow was cleared early in the morning but poor visibility forced authorities to cancel all the flights,” they said.
Officials said if weather permits, flights scheduled after 12 pm on Tuesday may operate, but added that the final decision in this regard would taken in the morning.

TRAIN SERVICE SUSPENDED
Chief Controller Railways, Vikramjeet Singh said train services remained suspended due to accumulation of snow on the tracks.
“We tried to run the trains in the morning but couldn’t succeed. There was around 1.5 feet of snow on the railway tracks from Bijbehara to Banihal while other routes were also under snow so the service was suspended,” Singh said.
He said they would try to run the train service as per schedule on Tuesday if the weather remains conducive.
The fresh snowfall forced authorities to postpone all the board as well as Kashmir University exams scheduled for Monday.
Kashmir University postponed all the examinations that were scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. “All the university examinations which were scheduled for March 2 and 3 were postponed due to snowfall,” Controller Examinations, Abdul Salam said, adding, “Fresh dates for these examinations will be notified separately.”
The 12th class examination scheduled for Monday was also postponed due to bad weather and fresh date will be announced separately, an official from Board of School Education said.

‘ROADS CLEARED, POWER RESTORED’
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Rohit Kansal said 90 percent of roads leading to district headquarters and tehsils have been cleared while 75 percent of electricity has also been restored across the valley.
“All the roads leading to hospitals and other important institutions have been cleared. Apart from that, 750 MW of electricity has also been restored. The situation arising from heavy snowfall is being monitored closely,” Kansal said.
He said in South Kashmir eight snow machines and three snow cutters have been pressed in service for clearance of snow from major roads.
“All the Deputy Commissioners have also been advised to be on high alert. At some places avalanche warnings have also been issued,” said Kansal.
In Bandipora district, 15 structures were damaged in Sardaab, Tulail in Gurez valley due to avalanche.
“Due to snow avalanche, six residential houses and a shop got fully damaged and eight other residential houses got partially damaged,” Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Shah Faesal said.
However, Faesal said no loss of life was reported as the families were already shifted to safer places.
Meanwhile, according to a police handout, 27 families were evacuated from Waltengo Nard in Kulgam. “In view of the avalanche warning, Police and Army has evacuated 27 families consisting of 58 souls from Waltengo Nard and shifted them to GHS Nowbugh. The administration has made adequate ration, heating and other arrangements for these families,” the statement said.

MORE RAIN, SNOW IN OFFING
Meanwhile, Meteorological Department has predicted more rain and snowfall for next 24 hours.
“Due to the western disturbance active over Jammu and Kashmir, weather conditions will remain the same. There will be more rain and snowfall on Tuesday,” Met official said.
Meanwhile, temperature dipped to 3.6 degrees Celsius, eight notches below normal in Srinagar following the fresh snowfall.
“Around 8.4 mm of snowfall was recorded in Srinagar till evening. The mercury settled at 3.6 degrees Celsius after minus 0.4 degree Celsius the previous night,” official said.
The tourist resorts of Gulmarg and Pahalgam received 3 feet and 2 feet of snow respectively. Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir Valley, received 2.5 feet of snow. Kokernag in south Kashmir recorded 11 mm of snow.
Kupwara in north Kashmir received 8.2 mm of snow and Bhaderwah 17.6 mm. The minimum temperature recorded in Pahalgam was minus 0.4 degrees Celsius. It was 4 degree Celsius in Kupwara while minus 1 degree Celsius was recorded in Sonamarg.