Srinagar/Jammu: Major highways were closed and villages in high-altitude areas cut off due to heavy overnight snowfall and rains in Jammu and Kashmir, with authorities closing schools for Monday in some districts as a precautionary measure.
While traffic movement was suspended on the Srinagar-Leh highway due to snowfall in Sonamarg and adjoining areas, the Jammu-Srinagar highway was closed after heavy rains triggered shooting stones and mudslides between Chanderkot and Banihal in Ramban district, officials said. However, later in the day the highway was opened for traffic after authorities cleared debris from it.
The Mughal road, an alternative link between Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu region and south Kashmir’s Shopian district, was closed following accumulation of snow at Pir Ki Gali and adjoining areas, they said, adding that the Bandipora-Gurez road was also shut due to prevailing weather conditions.
Snowfall was reported at many places, including Handwara, Kralpora, Pazipora and Tangdhar areas of Kupwara district, Tangmarg in Baramulla district of north Kashmir, and for the first time this season in Khansahib area of central Kashmir’s Budgam, the officials said.
Most high-altitude areas of Jammu and Kashmir received heavy snowfall. Around six inches of snow was recorded in the ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla while Gurez and Machil have received over 12 inches of snow, they said.
The heavy snowfall has resulted in many far-flung areas in the higher reaches being cut off from district headquarters, the officials said
From Tuesday till Friday, the weather will be partly cloudy, after which there is a possibility of light to moderate rain or snow on Saturday. However, there is no forecast of any major snow spell till November 20, the meteorological office said.
Reports of snowfall were also received from the high-altitude areas of Ramban, Udhampur, Kishtwar, Doda and Kathua districts and hill resorts of Patnitop, Sinthan and Banihal, while the plains, including Jammu, were lashed by rains early Monday.
“Weather is overcast in most parts of Jammu and Kashmir with snowfall over higher reaches and rains in plains. Same weather is likely to prevail most of the day,” an official of the meteorological department said.
Srinagar and other areas in the plains of the Kashmir Valley were also lashed by the rains
The officials said all schools up to middle standard were closed for the day in Kishtwar and Doda district as a precautionary measure due to the prevailing weather conditions.
This is how Sonamarg vicinity looked on Monday following a fresh spell of snow. Photo/Javed Khan
