Jammu and Kashmir weather update: Due to heavy snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir, people’s life has become disrupted. Srinagar-Jammu-Kashmir National Highway has been blocked after the first snowfall of the season. Due to which more than 2 thousand vehicles are stuck in Anantnag. Srinagar-Leh Highway and Mughal Road have also been closed. The temperature of Zojila Pass connecting Jammu and Kashmir to Ladakh was 25 degrees Celsius. Flights from Srinagar International Airport were affected due to bad weather. Due to which 5 flights had to be cancelled.
On Friday, snowfall started in the plains of Srinagar, Ganderbal, Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, Pulwama in the first week of the season. State Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has asked people to protect themselves and remain alert during bad weather. He said that he has taken an update on the current situation from the Deputy Commissioner of Anantnag. Efforts are on to rescue tourists and their vehicles stranded on the highway. Heavy vehicles are being allowed to move ahead, but light and tourist vehicles are being taken out and sent back home safely.
How is the climate in other hilly areas?
According to the Meteorological Department, the weather will be dry in Jammu and Kashmir from 29 to 31 December. There may be snowfall at some places in Kashmir between January 1 and 5. An alert of severe cold and heavy snowfall has been issued in the hilly areas of Uttarakhand on Saturday. In view of the bad weather, closure of all government, non-government schools and Anganwadi centers of Chamoli has been announced. Heavy rain and snowfall occurred in 6 hill districts of Himachal Pradesh on Friday. The Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for Lahore-Spiti, Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Shimla, Kinnaur for the next 24 days.
How is the situation in Himachal Pradesh?
Vehicular traffic till Atal Tunnel Rohtang has again been blocked due to fresh snowfall in the high hills and rain in the lower plains in Himachal Pradesh. National Highway-5 connecting Shimla to Rampur, Chharabra, Fagu has become slippery. There is a road jam near Narkanda. At Senj, Shimla bound traffic has been diverted towards Luhri/Sunni Rasta. The weather department has predicted light to moderate snowfall at many places and heavy snowfall at some places in Kinnaur and Lahore-Spiti districts.
Light to moderate snowfall/rain is likely in Kullu, Shimla, Mandi districts in the next 12 hours. There is a possibility of light to moderate rain with thunderstorm at isolated places in Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Una, Sirmaur and Solan districts. There is a possibility of hailstorm at isolated places in Bilaspur, Una and Solan districts. There is a possibility of light to moderate rain at many places and heavy snowfall at some places in Chamba and Kangra districts. The government is advising tourists and local people not to go to high altitude areas.
