‘Srinagar-Jammu NH closed again for Traffic, Weather likely to remain dry till Jan 17, says weatherman

Mubashir Alam Wani

Srinagar, Jan 09: Kashmir on Saturday received fresh snowfall, bringing the temperature further down across the region while as air-traffic remained disrupted at the Srinagar International Airport with Srinagar-Jammu national highway again getting closed for the vehicular traffic.

The officials told that Srinagar recorded 7 cm of snow, 6 cm of snow was recorded in Kokernag, and Qazigund recorded 9 cm of snow.

Deputy Director MET Srinagar Dr Mukthar told that there is no forecast of any major snowfall and the weather is likely to remain mainly dry till January 17.

The fresh snowfall also affected the air traffic in valley as flight operations got disrupted again at the Srinagar airport.

Santosh Ghoke, Director Srinagar Airport while speaking told that in view of the fresh snowfall the flights were earlier delayed and after 2:00 PM they resumed the flight operations at Srinagar Airport.

He said that out of 27 flight movements only 6 flights were confirmed and remaining were cancelled.

Meanwhile, Srinagar-Jammu National Highway continued to remain closed for general traffic movement in view of heavy snowfall and slippery road conditions.

Earlier after remaining closed for five days Traffic Authorities had allowed stranded essential supply vehicles from Jammu to Kashmir, which included Petroleum and gas products.

“We have only allowed the essential supplies vehicles towards valley which were stranded at Udhampur sector, which includes petroleum products towards valley,” an official of the traffic control room said.

However no other commercial or passenger vehicle was allowed to ply on Srinagar Jammu National Highway, he said

ADGP Traffic T.Namgyal said that no general traffic movement was allowed on Srinagar-Jammu National highway, only stranded vehicles which included essential supplies were allowed to move towards the valley.”

“During the last two days more than 4500 essential supply vehicles have been allowed to move towards valley,” he added.

Meanwhile, in a fresh communiqué by Traffic Police Headquarters J&K which read, “Subject to fair weather and better road condition, Light Motor Vehicles (passenger) shall be allowed from Jammu towards Srinagar on Jammu-Srinagar NHW.”

Meanwhile, Mughal Road, the alternative road which connects the Valley to Jammu division through Shopian and Rajouri, continued to remain closed for traffic due to heavy snowfall.

Kashmir is currently under the grip of ‘Chillai-Kalan’ the 40-day harsh winter period, and has higher chances of snowfall during this period, which often leads to the disruption in air and surface connectivity between the valley and rest of the country-KNO