Srinagar: Kashmir was draped in white on Tuesday after the valley received fresh snowfall, which led to the closure of the Srinagar-Jammu national highway and disrupted flight operations.
Most parts of Kashmir received fresh overnight snowfall as a western disturbance affected the region. The plains of the valley, including Srinagar, recorded light to moderate snow, while the higher reaches received moderate to heavy falls.
The snowfall turned tourists resorts of Sonamarg, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam into winter wonderlands, the officials said.
Snowfall has been recorded across the districts in central, north and south Kashmir.
However, the snowfall led to disruption of road, rail, and air traffic.
The Srinagar-Jammu national highway was closed for traffic in view of the accumulation of snow between the Qazigund and Banihal stretches, the officials said.
They said no traffic is being allowed to ply on the highway even as snow clearance operations were being undertaken.
Rail services have also been affected as a few trains between Banihal and Budgam were cancelled due to the accumulation of snow along the track, the officials said.
The air traffic to and fro the Kashmir valley was also disrupted as flight operations at the Srinagar airport here could not take place due to the accumulation of snow on the runway, the officials said.
Airport officials said as many as 50 flights — 25 inbound and 25 outbound — have been cancelled so far.
“Due to adverse weather and prevailing conditions at Srinagar Airport, all IndiGo and Air India flights to/from Srinagar have been cancelled for today. Passengers are requested to contact their respective airlines for the latest updates and alternate arrangements,” they added.
The disruption in the road and aerial traffic has left many people, especially tourists, stranded.
Police and district administrations in the respective districts have set up control rooms and issued helpline numbers to assist the public amid the inclement weather conditions.
The Meteorological Department has said light to moderate rain or snow is likely at most places with the possibility of moderate to heavy rain or snow with thunder or gusty winds at a few places till Tuesday evening.
Light rain or snow is also possible at a few places on Wednesday, it said.
The Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory Disaster Management Authority (JKUTDMA) on Monday issued high and medium intensity avalanche warnings for eleven districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
The JKUTDMA had said an avalanche with high danger is likely to occur above 2,000 metres over Ganderbal district, while an avalanche with medium danger level is likely to occur above 2,000 metres over the districts of Anantnag, Bandipora, Baramula, Kulgam, and Kupwara in Kashmir, and Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, Rajouri, and Ramban in Jammu.
The warning is effective till Tuesday evening, the JKUTDMA added.
All flights to and from Srinagar cancelled
All flights to and from Srinagar International Airport were cancelled on Tuesday due to snowfall in Kashmir, officials said.
“Due to adverse weather conditions and continuous snowfall in Srinagar, the runway is currently not available for safe aircraft operations. In the interest of passenger safety, all flight operations to and from Srinagar have been cancelled for the day,” an Airport Authority of India official said here.
He said the airlines and airport authorities are closely monitoring the weather situation, and the flight operations will resume as soon as the weather conditions improve to a level where the runway is declared safe for operations.
As many as 58 flights — 29 inbound and 29 outbound — have been cancelled due to the ongoing snowfall.
“Passengers have been advised to stay in touch with their respective airlines for the latest updates and alternate arrangements,” the official said.
The cancellation of flights has left hundreds of tourists, who were scheduled to return home after spending the weekend and Republic Day holiday in the Valley, stranded. (PTI)
