Flights cancelled, 5,000 vehicles stuck on Jammu-srinagar NH
FORECAST Another spell of light to moderate snow likely in Valley between Jan 21 and 23
SRINAGAR/JAMMU: Snowfall continued in the Kashmir valley for the fourth consecutive day on Wednesday, leading to cancellation of all flights at the Srinagar airport and around 5,000 vehicles remaining stranded on the Jammu-srinagar highway , officials said.
While the plains received light to moderate snowfall, the higher reaches of the Valley and Jammu and Ladakh regions experienced heavy snowfall, a MET official said.
“All flights were cancelled due to accumulation of snow on the runway,” said airport director Santosh Dhoke. flight operations have remained affected since Sunday when all flights at the airport were cancelled. The flight operations did not resume on Monday as well. However, some flights operated on Tuesday.
Fresh landslides kept the Jammu-srinagar national highway shut for the third consecutive day on Wednesday, leaving over 5,000 vehicles stranded.
“There were four fresh landslides in Digdol and Panthiyal belts on highway in Ramban district. The traffic on the highway remained closed for the third day today,” a police officer said.
On Monday, heavy rains triggered shooting of stones in Moumpassi, Digdole and Panthiyal areas, forcing suspension of the traffic, the official said.
Snowfall in Kashmir side of the highway, including Jawahar
Tunnel, since Sunday has resulted in blockade of the highway. “no fresh traffic was allowed from Nagrota in Jammu for Kashmir”, he said.
As a result of blockade of the highway, over 5,000 vehicles remained stranded at various places en route from Lakhanpur in Kathua district to Banihal belt of Ramban district and also on the Kashmir side.
The MET Office has forecast isolated to scattered snowfall across the Valley over the next few days. “Although there is no forecast of heavy snowfall, the Valley will receive scattered light to moderate snowfall during next 24 hours,” said Srinagar MET office director Sonam Lotus.
“There will be light snowfall at isolated places of J&K and Ladakh till January 19,” the director added.
He said another spell of snow of lower intensity is most likely from January 21 to 23.
Earlier, the MET office had predicted improvement in weather on Tuesday, however, fresh snowfall enveloped parts of the Valley affecting normal life. On Wednesday, Srinagar and Pahalgam received 2.5 cm of snow and Gulmarg received 14 cm snowfall. A MET official said rains lashed Banihal, Batote and Bhaderwah areas of Jammu.
ARMY ON TOES
Army has been put on high alert in north Kashmir after the region witnessed one of the heaviest snowfall in decades, in the beginning of the week.
Some places near the line of control (LOC) have even received 10-ft snow.the army’s special rescue teams which deal with avalanches are on standby in case of any untoward situation.
Teams have also been deployed at all divisional headquarters of the force.
The team members are equipped with latest equipment to save people who get trapped in avalanches. “after this season’s first snowfall in early November, the fresh spell has left most of the strategic roads leading to LOC in north Kashmir closed,” a government official said.
He also said that efforts were underway to make the routes open, however, due to intermittent snowfall at many places, clearance operation is yet to begin. defence spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia said the army mounted several search and rescue operations after the snowfall.
“Our teams rescued soldiers and many civilians in different parts of Kashmir after heavy snowfall-triggered avalanches,” he said.
Meanwhile, strategic tops which are vital for the movement of army and civilians in north Kashmir are also closed.
‘SIMILAR CONDITIONS PREVAILED IN 1984’
Efforts are underway to open Baramulla-uri Road which is also closed due to the prevailing weather conditions.
“We witnessed such kind of heavy snowfall in north Kashmir in 1984. The higher reaches of Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipore districts have received very heavy snowfall which has triggered avalanches,” an elderly citizen, Abdul Khaliq Khan, said.
“Though its good that the Valley has witnessed heavy snowfall in the perfect time of winter, but excess of everything is always bad,” he said.
The administration has issued alert, specially for the people living in upper reaches of Kashmir, due to apprehensions of more avalanches in the coming days.