Srinagar: Back to back show of Western Disturbances Tuesday brought second round of snowfall in the Kashmir valley in less than 24 hours disrupting normal life in the cities and towns, closing highways and shutting down the lone airport.
For a prolonged period of time, Srinagar has been under sub-zero degree Celsius temperatures and a fresh spell of snow has disrupted the communication links.
Snowfall started in the afternoon Tuesday and within hours government announced closure of the lone highway connecting Kashmir with rest of India. Airport authority simultaneously announced suspension of air traffic. Passengers were deboarded from a Go Air plane parked at Srinagar airport tarmac minutes after snow began falling, sources said.
The basic amenities like electricity and internet services too were disrupted.
Most of the areas across capital Srinagar remained without electricity for most part of the day. Operations in most banks were also hit. Customers of the HDFC Bank were turned back from all the bank branches as the Core Banking System of the bank remained suspended for the entire day.
In Srinagar long traffic jams added to the commuters woes.
Weathermen have meanwhile predicted more snowfall during next 24-48 hours.
Only 1 flight operates from airport
Srinagar: Air traffic remained affected for the second successive day today at Srinagar Airport, where only one flight was able to operate due to fresh snowfall.
Only one morning flight was able to operate from the airport today, an official of the airport told UNI.
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However, he said as day progressed, visibility become very poor due to snowfall in the afternoon forcing cancellation of all incoming and outgoing flights.
Meanwhile, hundreds of passengers once again had to return disappointed from the airport after cancellation of flights.
We had an afternoon flight from Srinagar, but when we reached the airport, we were informed that the flight was delayed. But after waiting for an hour, we were told that all flights have been cancelled,”
Ajaz Saleem, a Delhi bound passenger told UNI.
Yesterday only four flights were able to operation from the international airport due to moderate to heavy snowfall in Kashmir valley, where more wet weather is predicted during the next 24 hours.
100s of vehicles stranded on highway
Srinagar: Hundreds of vehicles, including those carrying passengers, are stranded at different as the authorities closed the national highway because of heavy snowfall this afternoon.
We allowed stranded vehicles on the highway to move towards their respective destinations this morning, a traffic police official told UNI.
Despite snowfall vehicles were moving in a very low speed on the highway, he said adding but later in the afternoon it was decided to suspend the traffic due to slippery road conditions following heavy snowfall. It was still snowing at Jawhar tunnel, Shaitan Nallah and Banihal and Patnitop, he added. Some of the vehicles had since arrived in Kashmir.
Infact there was very less number of vehicles from Kashmir to Jammu which were stranded on the highway when the road was closed yesterday morning due to overnight snowfall, he said adding majority of them have crossed the danger area towards Jammu.
He said traffic on the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway was suspended yesterday following three feet to five feet of snowfall at Jawahar tunnel, Banihal, Shaitan Nallah and Patnitop. There were also landslides at several places between Ramban and Ramsu, he said.
However, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintainance of the highway put into service sophisticated machines and men and put through the highway again.
It was decided that no fresh vehicle will be allowed from Srinagar or Jammu till all stranded vehicles from both sides are cleared, he said adding there are vehicles at Patnitop, Ramban, Ramsu, Banihal and other places.
Since it was heavy snowing between Qazigund to Banihal, all traffic was stopped this afternoon now, he said
However, official sources said hundreds of vehicles, including those carrying passengers and essentials for the Kashmir valley are now stranded at Jawhar tunnel, Banihal and other spots on the highway.
The stranded vehicles will now be allowed to move towards Srinagar only when the snow is cleared and road is declared safe for journey.
Walkout in LA Over Power Crisis
Jammu: Opposition National Conference (NC) on Tuesday walked out of Jammu and Kashmir legislature to protest the failure of the government to restore supply of essentials in Kashmir valley.
The NC legislators alleged that the government has failed to restore essential supplies in snow-bound Kashmir.Led by party president and former chief minister, Omar Abdullah, NC alleged that people of valley are suffering and administration has failed on ground. Commenting on the issue, Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh termed the situation that erupted in the valley as natural calamity.Administration is working on the ground day and night and we have resorted 80% of electricity, Dy CM said.
However, opposition termed the claims of DY CM as misleading and held walkout from the house.
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