SRINAGAR – A Meteorological department spokesman has warned that there could be fairly widespread light to moderate rain, snow and thundershowers in the Jammu and Kashmir and isolated light snowfall in Ladakh region during the next 24 hours.
The mercury has witnessed dip as a fresh Western Disturbance (WD), originating in Arabia sea is active in the region which could result in fairly widespread rain or snow from this evening, he said.
During the subsequent 48 hours from November 27 evening, there could be widespread light to moderate rain, snow and thundershowers in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. However, weather will improve from November 29, he said.
After witnessing relatively warm weather during the past 48 hours, the sky was cloudy on Tuesday due to which the mercury has dropped across the valley.
He said in summer capital of the UT, Srinagar, there could be light to moderate rain or snow and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 7 degree and two degree respectively. The maximum temperature in Srinagar on Monday was 12.8 degree, a notch below normal, he said adding due to cloudy sky the minimum temperature was 2.8 degree which was 2.7 degree above normal.
There is possibility of light snowfall in Leh of UT of Ladakh during the next 24 hours and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 6 degree and minus 2 degree respectively. The maximum temperature in Leh was 8.9 degree and minimum temperature minus 4.1 degree.
In winter capital of Jammu, light to moderate rain or thundershowers could occur and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 20 degree and 12 degree respectively during the next 24 hours.
Traffic restored on Srinagar-Jammu highway after a day
Traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the only all weather road connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, was restored on Tuesday after remaining suspended on Monday to undertake major repair work and road widening.
Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) will ply from both sides while Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) from Srinagar to Jammu only, a traffic police official told UNI this morning.
Meanwhile, the historic 86-km-long Mughal road, linking Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region, remained closed due to heavy snowfall since November 6.
Traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu highway was suspended on Monday to repair damaged portion of the road between Ramban and Ramsu.
The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and Border Roads Organisation (BRO) repaired the road which had been badly damaged due to recently landslides and shooting stones.
Traffic was restored on the highway this morning, he said adding LMVs will ply from Jammu and Srinagar. However, HMVs, including trucks loaded with fruit, empty oil tankers will be allowed to ply from Srinagar to Jammu only, he said adding no HMV will be allowed from opposite direction.
A massive snow clearance operation was going on to put through the Mughal road, which has been closed on November 6 due to heavy snowfall.
Snow clearance operation was badly affected due to fresh snowfall, official said, adding it may take some more days to allow traffic provided there is no more snow. The road, which is seen as alternative to Srinagar-Jammu national highway, remained closed during winter months due to heavy snowfall.
Snow clearance operation going on to put through Srinagar-Leh highway
A massive snow clearance operation was going on to put through the national highway, the only road connecting Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh with Kashmir valley, which remained closed for the sixth day on Tuesday.
The Beacon project personnel are on the job despite threat of snow avalanches besides slippery road conditions on the highway, particularly at Zojila pass, officials said on Tuesday.
He said over a dozen snow cutters and other sophisticated machines have been put into service to put through the highway. The snow clearance operation is likely to be completed shortly provided there are no fresh avalanches, they said adding there is a forecast for wet weather again from this evening.
They said snow gets frozen during the night when the minimum temperature drops to below freezing point with the result the road becomes slippery.
The snow clearance operation has been completed upto Zero Point on other side of the Zojila pass.
Officials said that once the snow clearance operation is completed, trucks and other vehicles stranded in Zojila pass area will be allowed to move towards their respective destinations.
They appealed to people to start their journey on the highway only after getting latest report about the road condition from police and other agencies.
Earlier, before the division of the state into two Union Territories (UTs) the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, was taking decision to close the highway for winter months. However, since Ladakh has now become an independent UT, decision to close or reopen the highway will have to be taken by administration of UT Ladakh and Kashmir.
The highway, the only road connecting Ladakh with Kashmir, used to remain closed for six months during winter due to below freezing temperature and accumulation of snow since November 1 every year. However, for the past few years due to efforts of the local administration and different agencies of Border Roads Organisation (BRO), highway now remains open in the month of December also till there is heavy snowfall. (With Inputs From Agencies)
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