Kashmir remains cut off for third day Snow, rain forecast for HP till Jan 20
SNOW STRUCK Flights cancelled; 3,000 vehicles stuck on Jammu-srinagar NH; Pahalgam shivers at -9.5°C
SRINAGAR/JAMMU: Normal life was thrown out of gear in Kashmir on Tuesday as overnight sub-zero temperatures led to the formation of a thick layer of ice on roads and resulting in cancellation of several flights to Srinagar.
The minimum temperature in Srinagar settled at minus 2.7°C. The Valley has witnessed heavy snowfall and sleet over the past two days. The knee-deep snow on roads has created problems for commuters and also created conditions that can result in accidents.to prevent such accidents, the Srinagar municipal corporation has deployed scores of workers to carry out snow clearance operations on frozen roads and footpaths.
An official of the Airports Authority of India said early morning flights had to be cancelled due to slippery conditions on the runway. “Flight operations resumed in the afternoon,” he said.
The official said a Srinagarbound flight was cancelled, while two other flights scheduled from Delhi to Jammu and vice versa could not fly due to “poor visibility”.
Pahalgam was the coldest recorded place in the Valley at minus 9.5°C, followed by Gulmarg at minus 7.6°C. Bhaderwah in Doda district recorded minus 0.5°C, followed by Batote in Ramban district at minus 0.2°C.
SNOWFALL CONTINUES IN HIGHER REACHES FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE DAY, PLAINS RECEIVE WIDESPREAD RAIN
JAMMU SRINAGAR NH REMAINS SHUT
The Jammu-srinagar national highway remained shut for the third consecutive day on Tuesday, officials said. The closure of the highway has left over 3,000 vehicles stranded.
The highway was closed on
Sundayafter it was blocked due to snowfall at Nowgam-jawahar Tunnel-qazigund sector and landslides triggered by heavy rains in Ramban district.
While one feet of snow was recorded in Banihal, the accumulation in Jawahar Tunnel area was over two feet. Landslides and shooting stones triggered by heavy downpour have also blocked the highway at Digdole, Panthyal and Mompassi near Ramban.
“No vehicular movement was possible on the highway on Tuesday. We are monitoring the situation and the restoration work can only commence after improvement in the weather. As and when the highway reopens, our priority will be to allow stranded vehicles,” said Ajay Anand, deputy superintendent of police (traffic), Ramban.
SHIMLA/MANDI: Cold wave continued to grip Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday with higher reaches experiencing more snowfall for a second consecutive day.
There was widespread rain in low and mid hills, said an official.
Heavy snowfall and rain will continue in the state for at least a week, said director, state’s meteorological department Manmohan Singh. He said “Current weather conditions are very likely to continue throughout the state till January 20.”
Precipitation occurred at isolated places throughout the state during the last 24 hours.
Pooh in Kinnaur district and Kothi in Kullu district received 30cm snow each while 12cm snowfall occurred in Keylong in Lahaul-spiti district. Kalpa in Kinnaur district witnessed 22cm snow and recorded -1.2 degree minimum temperature. Khadrala in Shimla district received 15.2cm snowfall while Nagrota, a town in Kangra district, received 49.2mm rain. Kasauli in Solan district received 35.0 mm rainfall.
Shimla witnessed 1.3 degrees minimum temperature while Manali recorded-1.6 degrees minimum temperature. Minimum temperature in Kufri, 14 kilometres away from Shimla was -2.0 degree Celsius.
Dharamshala and Dalhousie recorded 2.2 degrees Celsius and -0.2 degree minimum temperatures, respectively. Minimum temperatures in Solan was 7 degrees Celsius; 7.3 degrees Celsius in Mandi; 8.3 degrees Celsius in Nahan in district Sirmaur and 8.6 degrees Celsius in Hamirpur.
NH-3 NEAR AUT REOPENS AFTER LANDSLIDES
The movement of vehicular traffic on National Highway-3 near Aut in Mandi district was restored on Tuesday morning after it was suspended on Monday due to continuous landslides.
As many as 609 roads, including five national highways, are still closed.
GLACIERS BLOCK CHANDRABHAGA FOR FIVE HOURS
As heavy snowfall continued to throw life out of gear in the state, a glacier blocked the flow of Chandrabhaga river, a tributary of Chenab, on Monday for at least five hours in tribal district Lahaul and Spiti. The river was blocked at various points in Dimru nallah near Thirot.
TWO KILLED IN CHAMBA LANDSLIDE
Two people were killed and two injured in a landslide at Gagla about 10 kilometres from Chamba town, on Tuesday. Deceased were identified as Tilak Raj of village Panela Bhariyan and Radha, wife of Kaku Ram, resident of Tanui village in Chamba district. Injured Kajal, wife of Tilak Raj, was admitted to a Chamba hospital. Chamba SP Monika Bhutungru said the trio was going on foot when the landslide struck them.