The Srinagar-Jammu highway and the train service were closed till 4 pm on Monday as heavy snow fell across the Kashmir valley, cutting off the region from outside world once again.The highway, which connects the two capital cities of the state and is the only surface link with the Kashmir valley, was shut for all traffic once again as landslides triggered at various places along the route, a state Traffic Department official informed CNS.SP Traffic Rural Javid Iqbal Koul said that the vehicles stranded at Qazigund and other areas were allowed to ply for Jammu at around 4 in the evening. “We throw highway open from 4 to 7 in the evening and in case weather will improve, traffic will be allowed from Jammu to Srinagar on Tuesday,” he said.
The train service was also suspended due to heavy snowfall, however the air-service did not get affected and according to airport authorities arrival and departure timings of flights remained the same. Heavy snowfall began across the Kashmir Valley on Sunday evening and continued throughout mid-night. The snowfall was received in all major towns and resorts of the region, including the city here. The snowfall also caused power shutdown across Kashmir.
“It was the most severe snowfall of the ongoing winter in the plains of the Kashmir valley and was caused by a fresh western disturbance, which began affecting the region from last week,” Director MeT Sonam Lotus told CNS. He informed that weather will remain dry for one week, however during the intervening night of March 13th and 14th, the higher reaches will get fresh rain and snowfall.
Reports said that various structures were At least 15 structures, including 14 houses were damaged in South Kahsmir’s Pulwama district due to heavy snowfall. The fresh snowfall led to cold conditions in the region and sharply brought down the day temperature..The 280-km Jammu-Srinagar highway remained closed due to the landslides at several places and accumulation of snow on road triggered by the incessant rainfall and snowfall since Sunday evening. The Batote-Kishtwar stretch of the Highway No 244 was also closed due to the landsides at several places.The traffic police authorities had announced the suspension of one-way traffic from Jammu to Srinagar scheduled for Monday. According to the sources, the landslides had occurred at Nashri (Batote), Maggerkote, Panthial, Gangru, Hingni, Seri, Khooni Nallah in Ramban district and at Kheri in Udhampur and heavy snowfall near the Jawahar Tunnel since last night.A Border Road Organization official said that their men with heavy machinery had been busy in clearing the landslides at all the places on the Highway but the sporadic falling stones and the incessant rain and snow had been hampering the road-clearing operation. (CNS)