All Flights Cancelled At Srinagar Airport, Highways Blocked; Valley Plunged Into Darkness
Srinagar- Life in Kashmir was disrupted on the final day of the ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’, the harshest winter period in the region, on Monday as fresh snowfall snapped the Valley’s connections with the rest of the world, affecting surface and air traffic besides disrupting power supply in most parts of the valley.
Moderate to heavy snowfall was recorded in the plains of Kashmir, while the higher reaches experienced heavy to very heavy falls, a Met office officials said.
The officials said Srinagar received about seven inches of fresh snowfall, Gulmarg over a foot, Pahalgam nine inches, Gurez 1.5 feet and the plains of Kupwara district around four inches. In the upper reaches, it was around one-two feet.
The snowfall started late Sunday night in most places and continued till late hours of Monday.
The snowfall brought normal life to a halt and snapped the Valley’s surface and air connectivity with the rest of the country, the officials said.
The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was closed for traffic due to snow and landslides at many places along the arterial road.
Train services on the Baramulla-Banihal route were suspended due to accumulation of snow on the tracks, they added.
The officials said the bad weather affected air traffic to and from the Kashmir valley as flight operations at the Srinagar airport were suspended.
“Visibility is very poor and there is snow accumulation on the runway”, they said.
The meteorological department predicted heavy snowfall, and rains with thunderstorms in the plains of Jammu, over the next 12 hours.
“Expect gradual decrease in the precipitation from Monday night”, it said.
Meanwhile, the minimum temperature improved across the Valley but stayed below the freezing point.
All Exams Postponed
The heavy snowfall also prompted Kashmir University and Cluster University Srinagar to postpone all examinations scheduled to be held Tuesday.
“In view of continuous snowfall reported across Kashmir, all examinations of the University of Kashmir, scheduled to be held on Tuesday (January 31, 2023) are postponed,” Controller Examinations KU Dr Majid Zaman said in a statement, adding, “Fresh dates for the deferred Examinations will be notified separately later.”
The Cluster University Srinagar also postponed all exams scheduled tomorrow due to inclement weather, the varsity said in a notice. “Fresh dates for postponed papers shall be notified separately,” Controller of Examinations Cluster University Srinagar added. These varsities also postponed similar examinations scheduled today (January 30).
Avalanche Warning Issued In 10 Districts
Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Authority on Sunday issued an avalanche warning for ten districts in upcoming 24 hours, amid prevailing inclement weather conditions.
The authority has warned of possible ‘High Danger Level’ avalanches above 2500 metres above sea-level over Doda, Kishtwar and Poonch districts.
Avalanche with ‘Medium Danger Level’ is likely to occur above 1500 to 2500 metres over Bandipora, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Kulgam and Ramban, reads the advisory.
Avalanche with ‘Low Danger Level’ is likely to occur above 1500 metres over Anantnag district.
“People living in these areas are advised to take precautions and avoid venturing in the avalanche prone areas”, the advisory reads.
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