- Improvement in weather from today afternoon: MeT
- Traffic to ply from Jammu to Srinagar today
- Air traffic remained suspended on the second straight day in Kashmir
The Kashmir Valley on Wednesday received fresh spells of light snowfall at many places causing cancellation of some flights at Srinagar International Airport and also disrupted traffic on Srinagar-Jammu highway.
Snowfall started from Tuesday night and continued till Wednesday morning bringing some respite from bone-chilling cold.
Director MeT Sonam Lotus told Kashmir Post that both plains and higher reaches of Valley received light to moderate snowfall till Wednesday morning.
“There will be a significant improvement in prevailing weather conditions from Thursday afternoon. The weather will mainly remain dry for the next 4 to 5 days,” he said.
Fresh snowfall on Wednesday also resulted in the cancellation of several flights at Srinagar International Airport.
Director Srinagar Airport, Santosh Dhoke said due to accumulation of snow on the runway and low visibility, 14 flights were canceled on Wednesday.
“Flight operations resumed after snow was cleared on the runway and visibility improved. Out of 28 flights, 14 flights were rescheduled,” he said.
Traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu highway was also disrupted for several hours, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded along the road.
SP Traffic Rural Kashmir Manzoor Ahmad Mir told Kashmir Post that traffic was suspended for a few hours in the morning as snow had accumulated near Jawahar Tunnel.
“After clearing the road, traffic was normally resumed on the highway towards Srinagar,” he said.
As per advisory, there will be one-way traffic on Thursday from Jammu towards Srinagar including Banihal-Ramban (local traffic) on the highway.
“No vehicle including vehicles carrying livestock, fresh perishable items shall be allowed in the opposite direction,” it said.
However, Mughal Road, the alternate road-link which connects the valley to Pir Panjal through the Shopian-Rajouri axis is still closed for traffic.
As per MeT data, Srinagar received 2 inches of fresh snowfall, Ganderbal 3 inches, Budgam 4 inches, and Baramulla 3-4 inches.
Ski resort Gulmarg in Baramulla received 8 inches of snowfall while Pahalgam in south Kashmir received 8 inches. Sadna Top in Kupwara received 8 inches of a fresh snowfall, while 7-8 inches of snowfall was recorded at Z-Gali and continued till late Wednesday night.
Shopian received 4 inches while Peer Ki Gali recorded more than 7 inches of fresh snowfall.
As per MeT data Srinagar recorded minus 0.4°C on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday.
Ski resort Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 5.2°C against. Pahalgam settled at minus 3.9 C.
Qazigund, the gateway town of J&K recorded a low of minus 2.8°C. Kokernag recorded a minimum of minus 4.5°C. While minus 1.2°C was recorded in Kupwara.
Meanwhile, Air traffic at Srinagar Airport remained temporarily suspended for the second consecutive day on Thursday hours in view of the fresh snowfall and low visibility.
Srinagar Airport authorities had informed that morning flights are likely to be delayed due to the fresh snowfall.
“@Aaisnrairport morning flights likely to be delayed As Snowfall still going on. @AAI_Official .we will come back to you with latest updates,” official twitter handle of Srinagar Airport wrote on twitter.
Notably, flight operations were also disrupted yesterday morning and many flights were cancelled due to snowfall and low visibility
