Weather to remain dry till March 13: Met Office
SRINAGAR: The Srinagar-Jammu highway remained closed and the train service was suspended till 4 pm on Monday following heavy snowfall across Kashmir valley.
The highway, was shut for all traffic once again as snowfall triggered landslides at various places along the route, a state Traffic Department official said.
The Batote-Kishtwar stretch of the Highway No 244 was also closed due to the landsides at several places.
According to the sources, the landslides had occurred at Nashri (Batote), Maggerkote, Panthial, Gangru, Hingni, Seri, Khooni Nallah in Ramban district and at Kheri in Udhampur.Heavy snow was falling near the Jawahar Tunnel since last night.
A Border Road Organization official said that their men with heavy machinery had been busy in clearing the landslides at all the places on the Highway but the sporadic falling stones and the incessant rain and snow had been hampering the road-clearing operation.
SP Traffic Rural Javid Iqbal Koul said that the vehicles stranded at Qazigund and other areas were allowed to ply for Jammu at around 4 in the evening. We threw highway open from 4 to 7 in the evening and in case weather will improve, traffic will be allowed from Jammu to Srinagar on Tuesday, he said.
The train service was also suspended due to heavy snowfall, however the air-service did not get affected and according to airport authorities arrival and departure timings of flights remained the same.
Heavy snowfall began across the Kashmir Valley on Sunday evening and continued throughout mid-night. The snowfall was received in all major towns and resorts of the region, including the city here. The snowfall also caused power shutdown across Kashmir.
It was the most severe snowfall of the ongoing winter in the plains of the Kashmir valley and was caused by a fresh western disturbance, which began affecting the region from last week, Director MeT Sonam Lotus said.
He informed that weather will remain dry for one week, however during the intervening night of March 13th and 14th, the higher reaches will get fresh rain and snowfall.
At least 15 structures, including 14 houses were damaged in South Kahsmirs Pulwama district due to heavy snowfall.
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