Snowfall cuts off Kashmir

ibune News Service

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Srinagar, January 21

Snowfall in several parts of Kashmir on Monday led to the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, snapping the only surface link between the Valley and the rest of the country. The snowfall also caused disruption in air traffic.

The snowfall on the third consecutive day of the ongoing wet spell was received in parts of south, central and north Kashmir and along the mountainous stretches of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway. Srinagar city witnessed no snowfall but received light rain.

An official of the traffic department said the Jammu-Srinagar highway was closed for vehicular traffic due to accumulation of snow along the mountainous Nowgam-Jawahar Tunnel-Qazigund sector.

The closure of the highway snapped all surface connectivity between the Valley and the rest of the country as the two other roads, which link it with the Jammu and Ladakh regions, are already shut for traffic.

The Srinagar-Leh highway and Mughal Road were shut for traffic earlier this month. They will be restored once the snow melts in early summer.

Several flights were cancelled and some were delayed due to bad weather and low visibility, said an official at Srinagar International Airport.

The snowfall in the region is part of the seventh such spell this winter, which has witnessed freezing weather and abundant precipitation.

According to the meteorological department forecast last week, the current wet spell is one of the most threatening and is likely to cause widespread snowfall and disruptions.

The spell — caused by an intense western disturbance cyclonic storm — is expected to cause more snow and rain over the next two days. The weather is expected to improve after Wednesday.

The department warned that there is a “very likely” possibility of heavy to very heavy rain and snow at isolated places in the state in the next 24 hours.

Weather may improve on Wednesday

• Road and air traffic was disrupted due to accumulation of snow along the  Nowgam-Jawahar Tunnel-Qazigund sector
• The spell — caused by an intense western disturbance cyclonic storm — is expected to cause more snow and rain over the next two days 
• The weather is expected to improve after Wednesday