SRINAGAR: The Meteorological department (MeT) on Saturday predicted more rains or snow in the next 24 hours in Kashmir Valley.
Talking to KNS, an official in the MeT department said, there is possibility of moderate to heavy rains or snow at most of the places across Valley.
He informed that there is possibility of heavy rainfall or snowfall at isolated places as well. The weather would likely improve from Feb 06, he said.
Meanwhile, the traffic police cleared the stranded vehicles on Srinagar-Jammu highway.
However, Inspector General (IG) Traffic Police, Sahfqat Watali said, in case of fair weather, only Light Passenger vehicles from the either sides on Srinagar-Jammu highway will be allowed.
The highway connecting Kashmir Valley with Jammu region was closed for two consecutive days giving sleepless nights to travellers.
The Kashmir traffic police chief said that the vehicles coming from Srinagar-Jammu have to cross Tunnel by 02:00 pm while the vehicles coming from Jammu-Srinagar have to cross Nagrota by 11 and Udhampur by 01:00 pm.
IG traffic appealed people to ensure the timing and said that people must contact the traffic department including him to check the conditions of the highway before leaving towards their destinations from the either sides.
Keeping in view the peculiar condition of the road especially between Ramban-Ramsoo-Banihal-Jawahar Tunnel and Zig-Jawahar Tunnel coupled with narrow width of road at Mehar and Digdol, the movement of HMVs would not be feasible on the highway tomorrow.
As such no movement of HMVs including convoys of Army, BSF, CRPF either from Jammu or Srinagar shall be allowed tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the MeT official added that night temperature witnessed further improvement though people continued to shiver as day chill intensified due to cloudy skies, coupled with ice cold winds.
The Kargil town was the coldest place in the region at minus 5.6 degree followed by Leh at minus 4.6 degree.
However, the night temperature witnessed an improvement of 4 notches in Leh, where mercury surged and settled at minus 4.6 degree, against minus 8.3 degree recorded yesterday.
There was some respite from cold weather conditions in the summer capital, Srinagar, during the night after mercury witnessed an improvement of 2 degree. Against minus 0.8 degree recorded yesterday, the night temperature was 1 degree.
However, the day temperature in the summer capital remained below normal due to cloudy skies, coupled with ice cold winds. The maximum temperature in the city was 7.3 degree, two notches below normal in the city yesterday when life was affected due to strike.
Even though there was an improvement of 1 degree in the night temperature at the world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, where the world class slopes are already under several feet of snow, it was still the coldest place in the valley.
Against minus 5.4 degree recorded yesterday, the night temperature at Gulmarg, which attracts skiers, tourists and adventure lovers from all over the globe because of its ski slopes during winter season, was minus 4.4 degree.
The night temperature at world famous health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, remained constant since yesterday at minus 1.4 degree, which is about 5 notches above normal.
Qazigund, gateway to Kashmir Valley, on the 300-km-long National Highway, where only stranded vehicle were allowed to ply after two days, witnessed some improvement in the night temperature. Against minus 0.8 degree recorded yesterday, the night temperature was 0.2 degree, which is about two notches above normal.
The night temperature at another health resort Kokernag remained constant since yesterday at minus 0.1 degree, which over 1 notch above normal.
The mercury in Kupwara district further surged and settled at 1.1 degree, against 0.4 degree recorded yesterday.
DC Anantnag Visits Jawahar Tunnel
On the directions of Chief Secretary, the Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, on Saturday visited Jawhar Tunnel to assess the measures put in place for opening of the National Highway so that en-route traffic movement is ensured.
Pertinently, the Chief Secretary has said that the Qazigund, Banihal Railway Tunnel shall also be used for traffic movement during bad weather conditions.
The Deputy Commissioner made a foot-march through the tunnel to assess the plying conditions for the traffic movement. Meanwhile, he directed the NAVYUG authorities to ensure the upkeep and maintenance of the tunnel, an official spokesperson said.
Later, the Deputy Commissioner convened a meeting of the officers of Traffic, R&B, Municipality and CRPF at Qazigund to review the situation arisen due to blockade of the National Highway. The meeting also discussed the measures for operationalisation of the Highway.
The meeting was attended by SSP Traffic Rural, CO, 163 Bn CRPF, SE R&B Anantnag, DSP Traffic, SDPO Qazigund, Tehsildar Qazigund, Exen R&B Qazigund, CEO MC Qazigund and Engineers of NUVYUG and RAMKI companies.
Meanwhile, the DC inspected Trauma Hospital, Qazigund and took stock of the hospital functioning.
He also enquired about the healthcare facilities being provided to the patients.
The Medical Superintendent Trauma Hospital, Qazigund, on the occasion, said that against required staff strength of twenty doctors, only seven doctors are presently performing their duties and the hospital is facing problems do to shortage of doctors.
Avalanche Warning Renewed
Divisional Administration Kashmir on Saturday issued a fresh medium danger avalanche warning for next 24-hours for hilly and avalanche prone areas of Kashmir Valley and Kargil district.
Medium danger avalanche warning valid for next 24-hours from February 04 to February 05, 2017 (1700 hrs) exists for avalanche prone slopes in Kupwara, Bandipora, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Kulgam, Budgam, Anantnag and Kargil districts of Kashmir Division, a statement of the Divisional Administration said.
Accordingly, Deputy Commissioners of Kashmir Division including Kargil have been asked to take precautionary measures in their respective districts and advise people not to venture in avalanche prone areas during the aforementioned period and to keep clearing snow depositions from roof tops of their houses and bunkers to avoid damages.
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