Srinagar-Jammu highway closed due to heavy snowfall

SRINAGAR: Most parts of Kashmir Valley received snowfall, ending the dry spell, with the Srinagar- Jammu National Highway being closed for traffic due to bad weather.

The 434-km arterial highway--the only road link which connects the Valley with the rest of the country, especially in the areas around Jawahar Tunnel and Patnitop forced its closure.

"The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway has been closed for traffic due to bad weather," a spokesman of the traffic department said.

The MeT department has predicted more rainfall or snow today.

"There was snowfall in many areas in Kashmir Valley with Gulmarg receiving 1.5 feet of snow during the night," a spokesman of the department here said adding, the resort, the star attraction for tourists especially skiers from across the country and abroad, recorded a low of minus 4.0 degree Celsius - a drop of a degree from the previous night.

The famous south Kashmir hill resort of Pahalgam, which also serves as the base camp for the annual Amarnath yatra, recorded 8 cm of snow, the spokesman said, adding that it registered a low of zero degree Celsius.

Srinagar recorded a low of 1.8 degree Celsius, he said. The state's summer capital received 3.3 mm of rainfall during the night, the spokesman said.

Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir Valley in south, received 2 cm snow and it recorded a low of 0.2 degrees.

Kupwara, in north Kashmir, recorded 2.2 cm of snow and registered a minimum of 0.4 degree Celsius.

Kokernag, in south Kashmir, recorded the minimum of minus 0.5 degree Celsius, the spokesman said, adding the town received 2 cm of snow during the night.

Leh was the coldest recorded place in the state with a low of minus 6.2 degrees, an increase of six degrees from the previous night's low of minus 12.4 degrees.

The nearby Kargil town registered an increase of over seven degrees in the night temperature as the minimum settled at minus 5 degrees Celsius, compared to minus 12.8 degree Celsius the previous night.

Kashmir Valley is currently under the grip of 'Chillai- Kalan' - the 40-day harshest winter period - which began on December 21.

The chances of snowfall are maximum and most frequent during this period. However, this year the weather had remained mostly dry with occasional snowfall or rains mostly in higher reaches.

Though 'Chillai-Kalan' would end on January 31, winter continues after that. It would be followed by a 20-day long 'Chillai Khurd' (small cold) and a 10-day long 'Chillai Bachha' (baby cold).