The Union Territory is bracing for more snowfall as cold weather intensifies, with two consecutive western disturbances expected to affect the region starting January 1, officials said, according to PTI.
The department has forecast that a weak western disturbance will impact Jammu and Kashmir from January 1-2, bringing light snow to scattered locations between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. Following this, from January 3-6, a moderate western disturbance is expected to bring light to moderate snowfall across most of the region, with peak activity expected between January 4-6. The Meteorological Department also mentioned the possibility of heavy snow in higher reaches during the second spell.
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Cold temperatures have been gripping Kashmir, with mercury dropping across most areas. In Pahalgam, a base camp for the Amarnath Yatra in south Kashmir, minimum temperatures of -7.6 degrees Celsius was reported, slightly higher than the previous night’s minus 8.4 degrees Celsius. In Srinagar, temperatures fell to -4.4 degrees Celsius, down from -3.5 degrees Celsius the night before.
Naval Aijaz, a tour operator in Srinagar said that there has been an instant rise in enquires for our six nights, seven-day package, as the snow predicted by Met Department is enticing tourists
Qazigund, the town that serves as the gateway to Kashmir, logged -6 degrees Celsius, while Konibal in Pampore recorded a low of -7.5 degrees Celsius. In Kupwara, the temperature was -0.3 degrees Celsius, and Kokernag in south Kashmir saw a low of -5.8 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar highway was reopened on December 29 for vehicular traffic after a day-long closure due to heavy snowfall, allowing stranded vehicles to proceed to their destinations, officials said.
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However, several other inter-district routes, including the Mughal Road, Sinthan Pass, Sonamarg-Kargil inter-UT road, and Bhaderwah-Chamba inter-state road, remained closed for vehicular traffic due to heavy snowfall.
“The highway has been reopened today following the clearance of snow accumulated on various stretches of the road,” a traffic official was quoted as saying by PTI. Stranded vehicles along the highway are being cleared, he added. “Passenger traffic is plying on the highway. Commuters are advised to follow lane discipline, as overtaking may cause congestion,” J-K Traffic Police said in an advisory. It advised commuters to drive cautiously, as the road is slippery between Banihal and Qazigund.
The Mughal Road, which serves as an alternative link to the Kashmir Valley from Jammu region’s Poonch district, remained shut due to snow accumulation, officials said. Similarly, the Sinthan Pass in Kishtwar has been closed for vehicular traffic due to heavy snowfall.
In addition, the Sonamarg-Kargil inter-UT road and the Bhaderwah-Chamba inter-state road are also closed owing to heavy snowfall. Efforts are underway to clear these roads and make them trafficable, officials said.
(With inputs from PTI)
