Srinagar: Pahalgam and Kupwara received fresh snowfall even as rains relented after four days in Kashmir Valley, officials said on Saturday.
The weatherman has already forecast erratic weather till March 15 with possibility of more rains especially on Sunday.
A meteorological department official said that Srinagar received 9mm of fresh rain in the last 24 hours till 0830 a.m. even as it recorded a low of 3.8 degree Celsius against 2.2 degree Celsius on the previous night. The temperature was 0.1 degree Celsius above normal for this time of the year in this summer capital, the official said.
Qazigund recorded a low of 3.7 degree Celsius against 3.0 degree Celsius on the previous night and received 30.8mm of rain during the time.
The mercury settled at minus0.7 degree Celsius against 0.3 degree Celsius on the earlier night at Pahalgam while the famous south Kashmir resort received 17.4mm rain and 6.5cm snowfall.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of 2.1 degree Celsius against 3.0 degree Celsius on the previous night while it received 21.2mm rain.
The minimum temperature settled at minus 0.3 degree Celsius in Kupwara against minus 0.7 degree Celsius on the previous night while the north Kashmir district received 15.2mm rain including 2cm snowfall, the official said.
Gulmarg, the famous skiing resort, received 9.4mm of rain in last 24 hours. In past 5 days, the famed tourist destination in north Kashmir received 105.1cm of snow. It recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.4 degree Celsius against minus 4.0 degree Celsius on the previous night, the official said.
The weatherman has forecast erratic weather with rain with thunderstorm in plains and snow over higher reaches in the Valley till March 15.
The weatherman has issued a warning, asking concerned to remain alert for landslide and avalanche in “vulnerable spots as land is fully saturated.”
Kashmir Highway Cleared Of Landslide
The Jammu-Srinagar highway was on Saturday afternoon cleared of the debris brought in by a massive mudslide in Ramban district, paving the way for resumption of one-way traffic after two days, officials said.
The traffic on the highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with rest of the country, would be allowed from Jammu to Srinagar on Sunday subject to fair weather and better road condition, officials of the traffic department said.
The road was closed for routine weekly maintenance on Friday but was blocked at Shabanbass near Banihal following a massive mudslide triggered by heavy rains besides shooting of stones from the hillocks overlooking the highway at multiple places between Banihal and Ramban.
Officials said the road clearance work was completed around 3 pm on Saturday but only the local stranded traffic was allowed to ply towards their destinations.
“In view of the inclement weather prediction issued by the meteorological department for the next few days, people are advised to undertake journeys on the highway after confirming the status of the road,” an advisory issued by the traffic department said.
However, it said light motor vehicles would be allowed from Jammu towards Srinagar, setting a cut-off timing for such vehicles to cross Nagrota (Jammu) between 5 am to 12 pm and Jakheni (Udhampur) between 6 am to 1 pm.
“No vehicle shall be allowed before and after the cut-off timing,” the advisory said, adding that only stranded heavy motor vehicles would be allowed between Nashree and Ramban. (with PTI inputs)
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