Day after heavy snowfall, air & road traffic restored partially in Valley

A day after heavy snowfall disrupted normal life and severed air and surface connectivity between Kashmir and the rest of the country, signs of normalcy began to return on Sunday as vehicular movement resumed on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, and air traffic operations were restored.

Officials reported that air traffic from Srinagar Airport resumed a day after all flights were cancelled due to inclement weather conditions. Snow clearance on the runways made way for flights to land and take off, restoring vital air connectivity.

Meanwhile, different surface links to the Valley were also restored following continuous efforts of the administration and the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) along with other agencies. The J&K Traffic Police informed that passenger traffic had started moving on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. “Commuters are advised to follow lane discipline, as overtaking will cause congestion. Please drive with caution, as the road remains slippery between Banihal and Qazigund,” the Traffic Police advised.However, the Mughal Road, Sinthan Road, Sonamarg-Kargil Road and Bhaderwah-Chamba Road remained closed due to significant snow accumulation.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a comprehensive video conference meeting on Sunday with Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and Deputy Commissioners (DCs) from the Kashmir Division. The meeting was held to review the status of essential services, including snow clearance, power and water supply, health facilities, and other critical services.The DCs provided updates on the current situation and the measures taken to restore normalcy, particularly in challenging weather conditions.

The CM emphasised the need to prioritise snow clearance on link roads, inner lanes, and by-lanes to ensure accessibility for residents. He directed the Jal Shakti Department (PHE) to address water supply issues promptly and enhance the deployment of water tankers in affected areas.

In addition, Omar instructed Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and other concerned departments to implement measures to prevent waterlogging in low-lying areas.

Shopian DC Mohammad Shahid Saleem Dar reported that snow clearance would be completed up to Peer Ki Gali on the Mughal Road by Monday, provided weather conditions remained favourable.

Ganderbal DC Shyambir assessed the situation and ordered the mobilisation of additional manpower and machinery to clear all major and link roads on a war footing.

He also instructed departments to submit tehsil-wise updates on the progress of snow clearance and restoration of services to his office for effective monitoring.

The R&B Division of Ganderbal reported that out of 449 km of roads under its jurisdiction, 418 km had been cleared. The PMGSY department stated that 106 km out of 135 km of roads under its jurisdiction had been cleared.