Srinagar- Jammu and Kashmir continued to receive snow and rainfall for the third consecutive day on Thursday with multiple places experiencing a snow depth of 3 to 4 feet during the period.
As per the reports, Sadhna Top and Gurez valley received 4 feet snowfall while Sinthan Top, Z Gali and Zojila pass recorded a snow depth of 3 feet till this evening.
Sonamarg, Gulmarg, Doodhpatri, Peer ki Gali have recorded a snow depth of 2 to 2.5 ft while DK Marg saw a snow depth of 1 feet and Aherbal 8 inches and Shopian 5 inches.
The fresh snowfall has also been witnessed at multiple other places including Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir where the intermittent rainfall was occurring in the last two days.
Meanwhile, as per the forecast, there would be a slight improvement in the prevailing weather conditions from tomorrow afternoon.
However, the Director Meteorological department (MeT) has stated that generally cloudy weather is expected from March 01 to March 2 with the possibility of light rain and snow at isolated to scattered places.
On 3rd March, he said light to moderate rain and snow is expected at many places while from March 4 to 8, the weather would remain generally dry.
Major Roads, Highways Closed
All the major roads and highways have been closed by the authorities in view of slippery conditions triggered by the fresh snowfall.
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway has been closed to vehicular movement from both sides due to mud slush and shooting stones at Mehad, Ramban, amid continuous heavy rainfall.
Officials said that all types of traffic have been halted between Nashri and the Navyug Tunnel as inclement weather continues to trigger shooting stones at multiple locations.
“Men and machinery have been deployed to clear the debris and restore traffic. However, relentless rainfall and fresh shooting stones are hampering the process,” officials said. Traffic has been stopped at Jakhani (Udhampur) and Qazigund as a precautionary measure due to worsening weather conditions.
“People are advised to avoid traveling on the highway at night. A decision on reopening will be taken tomorrow if the weather improves,” officials added.
Bandipora Village Hit By Snow Avalanche
A snow avalanche occurred in the Khandyal village of Gurez valley in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday afternoon. This affected many residential houses in the region. According to the officials, two houses were damaged by the avalanche, but there was no immediate report of injuries or casualties.
The officials further stated that teams of revenue officials have been sent to assess the damages and have advised the residents to remain alert until the snowfall in the region continues.
A press release said the Gurez Valley has received 4 to 5 feet of fresh snowfall, while the Tulail region has received six inches.
Other than the avalanche in the valley, the other regions of Jammu and Kashmir are experiencing constant rains and snowfalls. There has been constant rain in the Udhampur district over the past two days and as per the India Meteorological Department, the same situation is expected to continue until February 28.
Apart from Udhampur, Srinagar received a fresh spell of constant snowfall, and as seen in the visuals, the locals carried umbrellas to protect themselves from the snow.
The plain areas of the Kupwara district, such as Muqamishahwali and Drugmulla received fresh snowfall on Thursday, just like Srinagar.
The IMD issued an orange alert in the four districts of Himachal Pradesh on February 27 and as per senior scientist of the Shimla-based IMD, Sandeep Kumar Sharma, the ‘western disturbance’ has caused an increase in snow and rain activity in the state.
On February 27, the India Meteorological Department issued an orange alert of heavy rain and snowfall in the Chamba, Kangra, Kullu and Mandi districts
2 Killed Amid Rains Across Jammu
Two persons, including a boy, were killed in separate rain-related incidents as the higher reaches of Jammu witnessed snowfall, while the plains were lashed by rains for the second day on Thursday, officials said.
The traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar highway was suspended in the evening following shooting of stones at several places, while a couple of avalanches also hit the upper reaches of Kishtwar district but caused no damage, the officials said.
A boulder hit a sports utility vehicle (SUV) near Dherian Ziyarat in the Surankote area on the Jammu-Poonch national highway in the evening, resulting in the death of the driver, the officials said.
They said a 14-year-old boy drowned while attempting to cross a swollen stream near his home at Sangore-Tuli in Reasi district.
A traffic department official said all types of vehicular movement were stopped at 7 pm from both ends on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway in view of continuous heavy rain and shooting stones at many places between Nashri and Banihal in Ramban district.
Avalanches hit Beighpura-Kamsui village in the Inderwal area and Pinjari near Dachhan in Kishtwar district but there was no report of any damage, the officials said, adding that the higher reaches of Kishtwar, Ramban and Doda districts experienced moderate snowfall.
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