Top News Report
JAMMU, Jan 4: Several areas in Kashmir Valley received fresh snowfall leading to closures of some roads, while authorities cancelled 34 flights to and fro at Srinagar International airport due to poor visibility caused by widespread snowfall and rains.
A meteorological department official said while it was snowing, Srinagar recorded rain and snowfall of 7.1 mm since overnight till 0830 hours today.
The summer capital of J&K recorded a low of 0.6°C against previous night’s 3.0°C. It was 2.7°C above normal for this time of the year, he said.
Kashmir is presently under the grip of 40-day long harshest period of winter, known locally as “Chilai Kalan”, which started from December 21. It isfollowed by 20-day long “Chilai Khurd “ and ten -day long “Chilai Bacha”.
Gulmarg, the world famous hill resort, received (21cm) of fresh snowfall during the time and the mercury settled at minus 5.0°C against minus 5.8°C on the previous night, he said.
Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, had 4.0mm of rain and snow during the time while as it recorded a low of 0.6°C against 1.4°C on the previous night, he said.
Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, had 13.5 cms of snowfall and recorded a low of minus 1.2°C against minus 3.0°C on previous night, he said.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, had 1mm of rain or snow even as it recorded a low of minus 0.4°C against 0.6°C on previous night, the official said, adding Kupwara town in north Kashmir, had 5cms of snowfall and recorded a minimum of 0.2°C against 2.0°C on the previous night.
Reports reaching here said that Bandipora-Gurez road was closed due to fresh and continuing snowfall. 5 inches of snow had already accumulated at Gurez, 9 inches at Razdan top, 5 inches at Tulail and 4 inches at Dawar, they said.
Reports said that there were 6 inches of snowfall recorded at Sonamarg to Bajri Nallaj in Ganderbal.
Also Machil, Karna and Keran roads have been closed as higher reaches of Kupwara received 1.5 ft snow amid continuing snowfall.
Jammu recorded a low of 11.8°C, up by 4.5°C from the precious night and normal of 7.3°C for the J&K’s winter capital during this time of the year, he said.
Ladakh’s Leh recorded a low of minus 7.2°C against last night’s minus 9.1°C while Kargil automatic station recorded a minimum of minus 9.0°C and Drass recorded a low of 7.5°C, the official added.
Reports also said that Srinagar-Jammu highway was open hitherto amid continuous snowfall.
“We have already issued an advisory about moderate to heavy snowfall in Kashmir division and rain in the Jammu division. Inclement weather is expected to continue till January 9 (forenoon)”, an official of the MeT Department said.
As authorities at Srinagar Airport cancelled 34 flights to and fro due to poor visibility caused by the prevalent rains and snowfall in Kashmir, officials said that a call on the remaining 10 flights will be taken by the airlines depending on the prevailing weather conditions during the day.
The Srinagar office of the Meteorological Department issued an ‘orange alert’ in Kashmir saying the prevalent rains and snowfall are expected to intensify in coming days.
In view of the impending bad weather, the MET office urged people not to venture out on avalanche and landslide prone areas, unless extremely necessary.
“Keep power/light back up in case of power failure),” the MET office said in the handout while urging motorists to drive “very slowly and in low gear while driving on snow bound area, ” the MET office said.
Meanwhile, former Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah scoffed at the cancellation of flights due to poor visibility at Srinagar International Airport.
“Our international airport has no landing aids that enable runway to remain open when visibility dips. We make such a big deal about tourism and investment promotion now and imagine the plight of those tourists who have sat all day outside the terminal and watched their flights get cancelled” Omar tweeted.
‘not to mention the locals who will have their tickets cancelled & and be told to buy fresh ones with fares that touch the stratosphere .Travel in to and out from the valley in winter is not a pleasant experience “, he said in another tweet.
