Fresh snowfall, rains in Kashmir

Srinagar, Mar 2: Continuous rainfall drenched the plains of Jammu and Kashmir while the higher altitudes including Gulmarg experienced fresh snowfall on Saturday.

The Meteorological Department (MeT) officials here said that Srinagar received 20.5 mm of rain in the 24 hours leading up to 8:30 am with other areas also experiencing significant precipitation.

Qazigund received 45.4 mm of rain, Pahalgam 27.5 mm, Kupwara 16.6 mm and 2 cm of snowfall, Kokernag 30.4 mm, Jammu 6.7 mm, Banihal 74.4 mm, Batote 41.9 mm, Katra 9 mm, and Bhaderwah 55.4 mm. Gulmarg recorded a substantial 38.1 cm of snowfall.

Zojila Pass, Baltal, Sonamarg, Gulmarg, Gurez, Peer Ki Gali, and Sinthan Pass witnessed heavy snowfall.

The MeT officials said that temperatures also dipped across J&K, with Srinagar recording a minimum of 2 degrees Celsius, Qazigund 1.8 degrees Celsius, Kokernag 1.6 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam 0.5 degrees Celsius, Kupwara minus 0.3 degrees Celsius, Gulmarg minus 2 degrees Celsius, and Jammu 13.4 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, the MeT predicted gradual improvement in weather conditions from Sunday late afternoon.

There were also reports of damage to some residential structures due to gusty winds in the Verinag area of Anantnag on Saturday afternoon.

In the evening, there have been reports of gusty winds from several areas of Kashmir and the MeT officials said these would continue till late night.

The MeT issued an advisory, warning of disruptions to surface and air transport in Kashmir.

It predicted widespread moderate to heavy rain and snow until March 3 afternoon with the peak of the activity expected on the day of the advisory.

The advisory specifically said that there was a potential for heavy to very heavy rain and snow over certain areas including the Pir Panjal range and middle and higher reaches of Kashmir division.

This weather activity could lead to disruptions in surface and air transport including the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and other major roads in the middle and higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir.

The advisory also warned of avalanche risks, especially in areas above 2200 meters, and urged people in these regions to avoid venturing into avalanche-prone areas.

The farmers were advised to postpone farm operations during the first week of March due to weather conditions.

Additionally, the Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Authority (JKDMA) issued a medium-danger level avalanche warning for multiple districts, advising people to take precautions and avoid venturing into avalanche-prone areas until further notice.

M M Parvaiz reports from Ramban

Following torrential rains, the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remained closed due to multiple landslides between Nashri and Banihal on Saturday.

The torrential rains that had lashed across Kashmir and Jammu divisions since Friday have caused mud and landslides around a dozen locations on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, forcing the authorities to suspend vehicular traffic on the highway on Saturday.

Due to the blockade of the highway, Kashmir and three districts of Chenab Valley – Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban remained cut off from both Srinagar and Jammu.

Officials said that road clearance was not started due to continuous rains on Saturday and would be started only after improvement in the weather.

They said mud and landslides had occurred at Kishtwari Pathar, Hingni, Seri, Mehar Cafeteria, Karool, Dalwass, and other places between Nashri and Banihal.

Due to the blockade of the highway, hundreds of vehicles were stranded between Srinagar and Jammu.

Senior Superintendent of Traffic Police, National Highway, Ramban, Rohit Baskotra told Greater Kashmir late Saturday evening that amid heavy rain, road restoration work was started at Dalwass, Mehar Cafeteria, Seri, Hingni, Kishtwari Pathar and other places.

He said continuous rain, landslides, and shooting stones were hampering the road restoration work.

Baskotra said efforts were on to restore the highway at the earliest.

He said that highway restoration work was in progress at several places between Banihal- Ramban and Ramban-Nashri sectors of the highway.

Baskotra said that the road maintenance agencies had pressed their men with heavy machines into service and had been busy clearing the boulders, mud, and landslides at Mehar Cafeteria and various other places.

Irfan Raina reports from Ganderbal

Zojila Pass along with the higher reaches of Ganderbal district including Sonamarg health resort received moderate to heavy snowfall since Friday evening that continued till Saturday afternoon.

Zojila Pass on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway received 2 to 3 feet of fresh snowfall while Sonamarg received about 1 to 2 feet of snow.

An avalanche occurred along the Sonamarg road, resulting in the closure of the road.

The authorities pressed machines for snow clearance work and restored the road later.

The Srinagar-Leh National Highway continued to remain closed for the movement of traffic for over a week now due to heavy snow accumulation.

Given the heavy snowfall, the authorities issued avalanche warnings for several higher areas of Ganderbal district.

“Avalanche with high danger level is likely to occur above 2200 metres over Ganderbal in next 24 hours. People living in these areas are advised to take precautions and avoid venturing into avalanche-prone areas. Dial 112 for any help,” the JKDMA said.

People have been advised to restrict their movement to only carefully selected routes with extreme care and evacuate from unprotected settlements near the avalanche path.

Kargil district in Ladakh also received fresh snowfall since Friday evening.

About 6 inches of snow accumulated in Kargil town which disrupted normal life activities.

“Kargil Municipal Committee is on a high alert, deploying all available resources and machinery to combat the challenges posed by the heavy snow,” officials said.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kargil, Shrikant Balasaheb Suse directed all the concerned agencies and all departments dealing with road connectivity, traffic, drinking water, power supply, food and civil supply, and telecom services to remain alert and ensure essential services for the people uninterruptedly.

Amid heavy snowfall, scheduled CBSE exams were conducted for which the district administration of Kargil made all arrangements for the smooth conduct of exams.

Meanwhile, the Defence Geo-Informatics Research Establishment (DGRE) Chandigarh issued an avalanche warning from March 2 to 3 for Kargil district.

People have been advised to avoid unnecessary wandering in avalanche-prone areas.