2400 Vehicles Stranded On Highway, Mughal Road Remains Shut
Srinagar, Oct 17 (GNS): Higher reaches of Kashmir received fresh snowfall while rains continued in Jammu and Kashmir, bringing temperature down by several degrees below normal.
A meteorological department official here told GNS that Srinagar recorded a maximum of 11.6°C which was 10.1°C below normal for the summer capital which received 0.6mm of rain from 0830 hours to 1730 hours.
There are reports of fresh light snowfall from Gulmarg, Sadnatop, Peer ki Gali, Simthan Pass, Gurez, Tulail, Sonamarg, the Zojila axis on the Srinagar-Leh Highway besides the upper reaches.
The MeT official said that Jammu city received 23.8mm of rainfall during the day and it recorded a maximum of 17.8°C which was 13.5°C below normal.
The weather department has predicted improvement in the weather.
“Overall improvement is expected in Jammu and Kashmir after October 18,” he said.
Meanwhile, Srinagar-Jammu Highway, the only surface link connecting Kashmir Valley with the outside world, was closed for several hours.
A traffic police officials told GNS: “Due to heavy rainfall on whole NH-44, mudslides at Cafeteria-Mehar, Ramban and shooting stones at several places, approx. 2400 vehicles both HMVs and LMVs are stranded on NHW.
On October 18, he said, , if weather improves LMVs Passenger/Private Cars/HMVs/Load Carriers shall be allowed from both sides on Jammu-Srinagar Highway viz Jammu towards Srinagar and vice-versa, subject to traffic worthy road conditions.”
The Mughal Road, which connects Shopian in South Kashmir with the Poonch and Rajouri districts, was closed on Monday due to snowfall at Pir Ki Gali.
“At present road is closed due to snow accumulation at Peer Ki Gali. Tomorrow subject to fair weather and clearance of road, vehicular movement on Mughal road shall be allowed from both sides viz. Poonch towards Shopian and vice versa,” he said.(GNS)
