MODERATE SNOWFALL IN PARTS OF VALLEY

As predicted by the weatherman, parts of Kashmir valley received moderate snowfall on Wednesday.
Among the places receiving snowfall were the northern regions of Gulmarg, Tangmarg, Kupwara, Handwara, Bandipora and Sopore. Gulmarg, Tulail and Gurez recorded snowfall of 2 inches.
Qazigund Tunnel also witnessed moderate snowfall, traffic officials said. The 300-km Srinagar-Jammu Highway, however, remained open for traffic, they said. “The traffic was on despite a moderate snowfall at the tunnel; there is no possibility of traffic suspension,” officials said.

The minimum temperature in the summer capital Srinagar dropped to minus 3.1 degrees Celsius as compared to yesterday’s minus 2.5 degrees Celsius, officials in Met department said. South Kashmir tourist resort of Pahalgam recorded minus 3.2 degrees Celsius, while north Kashmir’s skiing resort Gulmarg recorded a minimum temperature of minus 7.2 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature in Leh town in Ladakh region was recorded at minus 13.0 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature in Kargil town was recorded at minus 13.4 degrees Celsius, the officials said.
The officials forecast the possibility of rain and snow at many places across the valley during the next 24 hours. Meanwhile, air traffic at Srinagar Airport remained unaffected, authorities said. “There were some minor delays in flights but no flight was cancelled today,” they said.
In the wake of the snowfall and possibility of further precipitation, officiating Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Abdul Majid Mir, inspected snow control room at Srinagar. He directed Chief Engineer Mechanical Engineering Department Kashmir to ensure that road clearance was started immediately.
In order to undertake the task of clearing the roads, the Mechanical Engineering Department has divided Kashmir valley into three zones and 93 snow clearance machines have been deployed, officials said.
The Department said they deployed one snow clearance machine at Srinagar Airport on Wednesday to conduct a snow clearance mock drill.
Separate snow control rooms have been established in every district to monitor the situation.
“All the Deputy Commissioners are monitoring the situation in their respective districts so that necessary action can be taken in the instances of snowfall to clear the roads,” officials said.
The authorities have instructed that only 4x4 vehicles or vehicles with anti-skid chains fitted on tyres will be allowed between Tangmarg and Gulmarg. The authorities have also directed Chief Executive Officer, Gulmarg Development Authority, to arrange sufficient number of vehicles with anti-skid chains at Tangmarg.

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