Sgr-Jmu highway blocked, reopens
Srinagar: After witnessing pleasant weather due to sunshine during the last three days, chilly conditions during the day revisited Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir valley due to overcast conditions on Tuesday.
However, the night temperature improved due to cloudy skies and settled above normal at most places in the valley, where wet weather is predicted at one or two places on higher reaches.
A Met department spokesperson said very light rain and snow could occur at one or two places on higher reaches in the valley under the influence of a Western Disturbance (WD), which is active in the region.
“The weather will turn dry from Wednesday onwards, which could result in dip in the minimum temperature though the maximum temperature is expected to improve,” he said.
After witnessing an improvement of about a degree in the night temperature since Monday, people in Srinagar woke up to a chilly and cloudy Tuesday morning. The weather remained chilly throughout the day due to overcast conditions in the city, where the maximum temperature recorded on Monday settled 2 degree above normal. Against minus 2 degree recorded on Monday, the night temperature in Srinagar improved and settled at minus 1.2 degree, which is about a degree below normal.
He said skies will be mainly clear during the next 24 hours in Srinagar, where the maximum and minimum temperatures will be around 12 degree and minus 2 degree, respectively.
The world famous ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir was the only place in the valley where the night temperature dipped though settled above normal.
Against minus 3.5 degree recorded on Monday, the night temperature in the ski resort improved and settled at 3.5 degree, which is 3 degree above normal. “Despite chilly weather conditions due to overcast conditions, tourists, particularly adventure lovers, are out on ski slopes, enjoying different snow related activities,” a hotelier from Gulmarg said.
The mercury at world famous health resort of Pahalgam improved about 3 degree from Monday and settled at minus 2.2 degree, which is 4 degree above normal.
The night temperature at Qazigund, gateway to the valley, Kupwara in north Kashmir and tourist resort of Kukernag improved and settled at minus 4.3 degree, minus 1.6 degree and minus 2.5 degree, respectively.
Meanwhile, Srinagar-Jammu highway, the only surface link connecting Kashmir with the outside world, was blocked on Tuesday due to a landslide in Ramban district, traffic officials said.
Hundreds of vehicles were stranded after the landslide at Marog area. However, the traffic was restored after NHAI pressed men and machines to clear the landslide and make the road traffic worthy again.
There was only one-way movement of traffic from Srinagar towards Jammu today.
“On Wednesday, subject to fair weather and better road condition, LMVs shall be allowed from Jammu towards Srinagar including Ramban-Banihal (local traffic) on Jammu-Srinagar highway,” the officials added.
Frequent closure of the highway since its expansion has been a major cause of concern for the people living in Kashmir valley, where suspension of traffic results in increase in the rates of essential commodities by many folds.
Meanwhile, Mughal road, connecting Shopian and Poonch districts, also remained closed due to the snowfall. (Additional inputs from UNI and GNS)
