Major roads, highways closed
Umaisar Gul Ganaie
Srinagar, Feb 27: Jammu and Kashmir continued to receive snow and rainfall for the third consecutive day on Thursday with multiple places experiencing a snow depth of 3 to 4 feet during the period.
As per the reports received by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Sadhna Top and Gurez valley received 4 feet snowfall while Sinthan Top, Z Gali and Zojila pass recorded a snow depth of 3 feet till this evening.
Sonamarg, Gulmarg, Doodhpatri, Peer ki Gali have recorded a snow depth of 2 to 2.5 ft while DK Marg saw a snow depth of 1 feet and Aherbal 8 inches and Shopian 5 inches.
The fresh snowfall has also been witnessed at multiple other places including Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir where the intermittent rainfall was occurring in the last two days.
Meanwhile, as per the forecast, there would be a slight improvement in the prevailing weather conditions from tomorrow afternoon.
However, the Director Meteorological department (MeT) has stated that generally cloudy weather is expected from March 01 to March 2 with the possibility of light rain and snow at isolated to scattered places.
On 3rd March, he said light to moderate rain and snow is expected at many places while from March 4 to 8, the weather would remain generally dry.
*MAJOR ROADS, HIGHWAYS CLOSED*
All the major roads and highways have been closed by the authorities in view of slippery conditions triggered by the fresh snowfall.
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway has been closed to vehicular movement from both sides due to mud slush and shooting stones at Mehad, Ramban, amid continuous heavy rainfall.
Officials told KNO that all types of traffic have been halted between Nashri and the Navyug Tunnel as inclement weather continues to trigger shooting stones at multiple locations.
“Men and machinery have been deployed to clear the debris and restore traffic. However, relentless rainfall and fresh shooting stones are hampering the process,” officials said. Traffic has been stopped at Jakhani (Udhampur) and Qazigund as a precautionary measure due to worsening weather conditions.
“People are advised to avoid traveling on the highway at night. A decision on reopening will be taken tomorrow if the weather improves,” officials added.
*ONE DEAD, ANOTHER INJURED*
A tragedy struck on the Surankote-Poonch highway as a man died after a boulder hit a Scorpio vehicle near Madana Ziarat, Surankote, on Thursday.
Two CRPF personnel in the vehicle also escaped unhurt.
The deceased was identified as Wahid Iqbal of Upper Surankote.
In a similar incident, a Tata Sumo traveling from Akharal to Ramban was struck by a falling rock at Battery Chashma on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, seriously injuring passenger Nasrullah Bali of Pogal, Harastan. He was shifted to the hospital.
*Avalanche Damages Two Houses in Gurez Village*
An avalanche struck Khandiyal village in Gurez Valley of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Thursday, damaging partially two residential structures.
An official told KNO that the incident occurred on Thursday evening when heavy snowfall in the higher reaches of the Kashmir Valley and Gurez triggered the avalanche.
Locals said that the avalanche caused damage to the two homes while no casualties or injuries have been reported.
Meanwhile, the administration has initiated rescue and relief operations to assist the affected families. The snowfall has increased the risk of avalanches in several mountainous regions, prompting authorities to issue a warning for those in vulnerable areas—(KNO)
