Snow, rains inundate Valley

Upper reaches of the Kashmir Valley continued to receive snowfall while rains continued to lash the plains for the second consecutive day on Thursday. The inclement weather led to the closure of 300-km Srinagar-Jammu highway, only road connecting Valley with rest of the world.
“The current cloudy conditions would continue for the next few days,” Director Meteorology, Sonam Lotus told Greater Kashmir. “On Thursday periodic spells of rain and snowfall were reported from entire valley,” Lotus added.
He said another fresh active Western Disturbance is expected to hit the Valley on February 27.
“Due to this system widespread rain and snow will occur in the entire valley,” Lotus said. “It will probably persist over the Kashmir till March 1. So we expect the weather to be wet and overcast for the next week.”
Meanwhile, since overnight, the cold winds have engulfed the valley with mercury considerably coming down by several notches. Summer capital Srinagar also witnessed a cold night with the minimum temperature recorded at 2.6 degree.
Due to occasional lashes of rain during the day, the poodles and drains were overflowing. The famous health resort of Gulmarg recorded fresh snowfall much to the joy of ski lovers and tourists.
In south Kashmir entire Pir Panchal mountain range recorded snow. Few inches of snow was recorded at Pahalgam, Kokernag, Qazigund (3 cm snow), Daksum, Aharbal, Shopian and other areas.
The weather department said Srinagar received 3 millimetres of rain. It said in past 24 hours Gulmarg received 15 cm of snow, while as Pahalgam recorded 17 cm, and Qazigund 3 cm.
HIGHWAY CLOSED
The Jammu-Srinagar Highway was closed for vehicular traffic following heavy snowfall and rains.
Fresh snowfall around Jawahar Tunnel has rendered the highway slippery and vehicular traffic has been stopped, SP traffic rural G M Wadoo said. “But with the slight improvement in weather by late afternoon, we allowed 450 stranded vehicles to move from Srinagar to Jammu,” he said.
“If the weather permits traffic will ply normally by Friday,” he added.

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