By: Sajid Raina
Srinagar, Nov 12: Fresh snowfall in the upper reaches of Kashmir on Thursday disrupted traffic movement on several key roads, including the Bandipora-Gurez Road, Mughal Road and Srinagar-Leh Highway. These roads were closed for vehicular traffic following snow accumulation and slippery conditions.
The fresh snowfall was reported from Margan Pass, Sonamarg, Gulmarg, Zojila Pass, Drass, Machil Valley and Jumagund in Kupwara district, while the plains of Dawar in Gurez Valley also witnessed the season’s first snowfall.
Razdan Pass in Bandipora district recorded around six inches of fresh snow, while approximately two inches accumulated at Peer Ki Gali along the Mughal Road in Shopian district. Snowfall continued in several higher-altitude areas.
Following the snowfall, vehicular movement on the Bandipora-Gurez road was snapped. The Border Roads Organisation’s 56 RCC has launched snow-clearance operations at Razdan Pass to restore connectivity along the strategic road.
The Mughal Road and Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri Road, connecting Kashmir with Ladakh through Zojila Pass, also remained closed to traffic due to fresh snowfall and slippery road conditions.
Plains across the Kashmir, including parts of North and Central Kashmir, received rainfall, bringing a chill to the region and intensifying cold conditions.
Authorities have advised commuters and travellers to avoid travelling on the affected roads until further notice and follow official traffic advisories.
Meanwhile, the Mechanical and Hospital Engineering Department (MHED), Division Anantnag, conducted mock drills of snow-clearance machinery across Tehsil Kokernag to assess operational preparedness ahead of the forecast rain and snowfall spell in mid-November.
According to the Meteorological Centre Srinagar, generally cloudy weather is expected on November 13, with light to moderate rain and snowfall over higher reaches at most places. Moderate to heavy rain and snowfall over higher reaches is also likely at several places till late afternoon.
A brief spell of light rain and snowfall at a few places is expected on November 14 and 15, while weather is likely to remain generally dry from November 16 to 20.
The MeT department has forecast a significant fall of 6-8 degrees Celsius in day temperatures during November 12 and 13. Thunderstorms, hailstorms and gusty winds are also possible at a few places during the period.
It has advised farmers to safely store harvested crops during November 12-13, while travellers, transporters and tourists have been asked to plan their journeys accordingly, keeping in view the possibility of disruption on important mountain passes and hilly roads due to moderate to heavy snowfall.
Meanwhile, according to the latest weather data issued by the Meteorological Centre Srinagar on Thursday, Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 17.3 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 5.6 degrees Celsius.
Qazigund recorded a maximum of 16.7 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 5.8 degrees Celsius, while Pahalgam recorded 14.5 degrees Celsius as the maximum and 2.7 degrees Celsius as the minimum.
Kupwara recorded a maximum temperature of 17.3 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 3.7 degrees Celsius. Kokernag recorded 15 degrees Celsius and 6.4 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Gulmarg recorded a maximum temperature of 9.9 degrees Celsius, while the minimum settled at minus 0.6 degrees Celsius, making it the coldest among the weather stations in the Kashmir division.
Among other AWS stations, Bandipora recorded a maximum of 19.9 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 6.1 degrees Celsius, Baramulla 18.1 and 6.4 degrees Celsius, Shopian 16.8 and 2.2 degrees Celsius, while Sonamarg recorded 11.9 and 2.6 degrees Celsius, respectively.
The maximum rainfall/snowfall recorded was 7.5 mm at AWS Gulmarg, according to the weather bulletin.
In Jammu division, Jammu city recorded a maximum temperature of 27.6 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 15.3 degrees Celsius.
The MeT department has advised people, particularly those travelling through higher reaches and mountain passes, to remain cautious in view of the prevailing weather conditions. (KNO)
