Amid fresh landslides at several places along the Srinagar-Jammu highway, the strategic thoroughfare, the only surface link connecting Kashmir Valley with rest of the world, remained closed for the fifth consecutive day on Friday. No fresh traffic shall be allowed on the highway tomorrow as well, authorities said.“Traffic movement disrupted continuously for 5th day due to frequently shooting stones/landslides occurred in Ramban-Banihal stretch on Jammu-Srinagar. Traffic Cops and road maintenance agencies are on job (clearing road). Therefore tomorrow on 26.01.2019, subject to fair weather/clearance of road only stranded vehicles shall be allowed,” a traffic department official said.Meanwhile, there was overnight fresh snow in many parts of the Valley even as night temperature rose across Kashmir, said a meteorological department official on Friday.He said Srinagar, the summer capital of the state, recorded two centimetres of fresh snow overnight and had a low of minus 1.3 Degrees Celsius.
Gulmarg, the world famous skiing resort, had 3 centimeters of fresh snow in 24-hours till 0830 hours while as it recorded a low of minus 10.0 degree Celsius last night and was the coldest place in the Valley.Pahalgam recorded had no rain or snow during the time and night temperature at the famous hill resort settled at minus 6.1 degree Celsius while Qazigund and Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 1.2 degrees Celsius and minus 3.0 degrees Celsius respectively. Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir had highest snowfall of 15 centimetres in Valley followed by seven centimetres of snow in Kokernag.Kupwara recorded minimum temperature of minus 3.0 degrees Celsius last night but had no snowfall overnight.Banihal and Bhaderwah in Jammu division also witnessed snowfall of 4 centimetres and 10 centimeters respectively.Kashmir is current in the grip of 'Chillai-Kalan' which ends on January 31, but the cold wave continues even after that in Kashmir.The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long 'Chillai-Khurd' (small cold) and a 10-day long 'Chillai-Bachha' (baby cold). (GNS)