SRINAGAR The Jammu-Srinagar highway was closed on Tuesday following landslips and snowfall and an avalanche hitting the highway in the Jawahar Tunnel area. A team was rushed to take stock of the situation.
Traffic department officials said landslips have hit the strategic highway at some places in the Ramban district, including Digdol, Panthal, Magarkote and Khoni Nallah.
There was fresh snowfall in Bannihal sector. Incessant rains continued in other parts of the highway throughout the day. This is the second consecutive day of the highway remaining closed. No vehicular movement will be allowed on the highway today. Landslip clearance will be started only after the weather improves, a traffic official said.
The highway is the lifeline of the landlocked Kashmir Valley as all essential supplies are routed into the valley through this road.
Meanwhile, the chopper and ropeway services were on Tuesday shut due to snowfall and bad weather conditions at the Vaishnodevi shrine in Jammu and Kashmirs Reasi district, officials said.
The shrine, located in the Trikuta hills, received this seasons first snowfall on Sunday even as pilgrims continued their journey to pay obeisance.
The chopper service and passenger and material ropeway have been closed due to snowfall and bad weather condition on Tuesday, CEO of Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), Simrandeep Singh said.
Bhawan, Bhairon Ghati, Sanjichhat and Himkoti in Trikuta and the serpentine route received few inches of snow, shrine board officials said.
Despite the snowfall, over 12,861 pilgrims paid obeisance at the shrine and over 11,000 pilgrims are on their way to it, they said.
More Snow, Rains Lashes Valley
Heavy Snowfall Received At Most Places As Predicted: Sonam Lotus
Most of mountain areas of Kashmir received fresh snow while rains lashed Srinagar and other plains amid increase in night temperature, a meteorological department official said on Tuesday.
While latest radar and satellite imaginary suggested decrease in precipitation, the weatherman said that there was possibility of moderate snow and rainfall at most places in Kashmir Valley in next 24 hours.
Kashmir valley will have moderate rain/snow, wherein Jammu region it will have moderate to heavy Rain/snow/thunder, said a MeT official.
He said that Gulmarg, the world famous skiing resort, had 30 centimeters of fresh snow in 24-hours till 0830 hours while as it recorded a low of minus 4.0 degrees Celsius.
Pahalgam recorded 20 centimeters of fresh snow during the time and night temperature settled at 0.8 degree Celsius at the famous hill resort while Qazigund and Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of 0.8 degrees Celsius and minus 0.3 degrees Celsius respectively.
The official said, 12 centimeters of snowfall was recorded in Kupwara and minimum temperature settled at minus 0.4 degrees Celsius.
This summer capital of the state also witnessed 14.4mm of rainfall during the time and it recorded a low of minus 0.2 degrees Celsius.
As predicted heavy to very heavy snowfall was received at most places on higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir barring snow in plains of Kashmir, Director Meteorological department said. the weatherman has forecast decrease in precipitation.
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