Kashmir Valley cut off from rest of country for second consecutive day

SRINAGAR: Kashmir Valley remained cut off from rest of the country for the second consecutive day today, due to continued rainfall in plains and snowfall in upper reaches.

The snowfall, which was going on intermittently since yesterday, disrupted air traffic and road traffic on the national highway, thereby cutting the Valley's connection with the rest of the country.

"There has been no air traffic to and fro Srinagar even today but we hope the flights will resume in the afternoon," an official at the Srinagar International Airport said.

The 294-km Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, which was closed for the traffic due to fresh snowfall and landslides yesterday, remains shut even today as few places along the route received intermittent rain and snow.

"The highway is closed for traffic. The road is being cleared off the debris of landslides and a decision on resumption of traffic will be taken after assessing the safety of the road," a Traffic Control Room spokesperson said here.

Following snowfall yesterday, the authorities postponed the annual exams for two days, while yesterday's school board examination paper was also scheduled for a later date.

Meanwhile, Srinagar recorded rain equivalent to 10.2 mm till 8:30 AM, a spokesperson of the MeT department said.