Kashmir received another spell of snowfall on Wednesday, even as Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was closed for vehicular traffic late in the evening.
Pertinently, on 7 November Kashmir received season’s firstsnowfall, heaviest during the past four decades in the November month.
As per MeT data, during November 2019 Kashmir saw almost 200per cent more snow and rain compared to the precipitation witnessed in November2018. In November 2018, rain and snowfall in Kashmir was 132 per cent abovenormal precipitation. However, in November, 2019 precipitation has been morethan 313 per cent above normal, said official data.
As per Meteorological Department officials, Srinagarrecorded 17 millimetre rainfall till 5:30 pm. Rain along with thunder whichstarted on Tuesday night lashed Kashmir, bringing down the temperature, MeTofficials said.
It started snowing in Srinagar late in the evening while higher reaches, including famousski-resort Gulmarg in Baramulla district recorded more than 9 inches of snow,said MeT officials. High altitude Zojila, Sonamarg received 5 to 6 inches ofsnow, while upper reaches of Kupwara district including Karnah and Sadhna Passalso received more than 5 inches of snow till evening.
However, officials of the Meteorological Departmentpredicted improvement in weather from Thursday.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, Director MeT, Sonam Lotus saidthe weather is likely to remain dry till 10 December.
“We expect significant improvement in weather from Thursday.Weather is likely to remain dry till 10 December,” said Lotus.
SRINAGAR-JAMMU HIGHWAY CLOSED
Meanwhile, the 270-kilometre Srinagar-Jammu highway wasclosed for traffic on Wednesday evening due to landslides at several places.
Superintendent of Police Traffic (Rural), Muzaffar AhmadShah said that traffic plied on the highway during the day despite inclementweather.
Another official said, “There were incidents of shooting ofstones from the hillocks overlooking the highway at various places betweenRamban and Ramsu including Moumpassi, Digdole and Panthiyal. Most of thetraffic was cleared but there are still 1,200 Kashmir-bound trucks and about400 light motor vehicles which are stranded at various places on the highway,”he said. “The highway is closed for traffic. We are monitoring the situationand a decision to resume traffic depends on the improvement in the weather andclearance of the road.”
He said there is a threat of landslides and the strandedvehicles were shifted to safer places.
The official said that Mughal Road – connecting the Valleywith Pir Panchal – and Srinagar-Leh National Highway remained closed fortraffic. “After snow avalanches had blocked Zojila Pass, it had been clearedfully. But now after fresh snow, we need to evaluate the road condition,” theofficial added.
FLIGHTS OPERATE SMOOTHLY
Despite inclement weather, Srinagar International Airportsaw all the daily flights operate smoothly, said Director Airports Authority ofIndia, Srinagar Airport, Santosh Dhoke. “The runway visibility met standardsrequired for landing and take-off of aircrafts. This helped in smooth flightoperations,” said Dhoke.