Srinagar: Heavy snowfall in Kashmir Valley disrupted normal life in the region. Hundreds of vehicles remained stranded on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway between the Pir Panjal tunnel and Srinagar city, reported IANS. Heavy snowfall commenced on Friday afternoon. It continued till Saturday morning.
Around 2,000 vehicles were stuck at Qazigund town in Jammu and Kashmir’s (J-K) Anantnag. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister also shared images of heavy snowfall. Meanwhile, authorities are trying to clear the highway.
Latest Updates:
Senior civil and police officials moved out with snow clearance machines in Kulgam and Anantnag districts to clear the stranded vehicles on the national highway, reported IANS.
Authorities have set up helplines in every district of the Kashmir Valley for the locals.
All roads in Srinagar city and other districts including Budgam, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Baramulla, Kupwara, Pulwama, Anantnag, Kulgam and Shopian were blocked due to heavy snowfall.
Abdullah spoke to the Deputy Commissioner of Anantnag and took stock of the situation. “Just spoke to DC Anantnag about the current situation of the road between Qazigund & the tunnel. The icy conditions have caused traffic to back up. The stranded vehicles, in both directions, are slowly moving & where necessary being assisted. The DC is on the spot with his team,” the Jammu and Kashmir CM tweeted.
The Baramulla district in the union territory also received a fresh spell of snowfall on Friday.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast isolated light rain and snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir until December 30.
“Fairly widespread to widespread Rainfall/Snowfall accompanied with thunderstorm, lightning is likely over Western Himalayan Region on 27th & 28th December with isolated Heavy Rainfall/Snowfall likely over Himachal Pradesh on 27th and Uttarakhand on 27th & 28th December,” the IMD said in its press release on Friday.
As per the MeT Department, a fresh western disturbance is likely to affect the western Himalayan region from January 1, 2025. Under its influence light rainfall/snowfall is expected over the region on January 1 and 2.
The Chinar Warriors Corps of the Indian Army has responded to a distress call from civil administration to evacuate tourists stranded in Gulmarg district of the territory, said Chinar Corps on Saturday. The tourists and civilians were stranded due to unprecedented heavy snowfall in tourist destination Gulmarg and the subsequent closure of the road to Tanmarg, reported ANI. Responding to the call, the Army personnel evacuated 68 civilians, including 30 men and women each and eight children and provided meals, shelter and medication to 137 tourists.
Meanwhile, six people stranded amid heavy snowfall on the Mughal Road in Poonch district were rescued by police, officials said on Saturday.
Flight operations at Srinagar International Airport were affected due to inclement weather conditions. According to reports, arrivals and departures have been put on standby. IndiGO cancelled all flights to Kashmir. “The weather in Srinagar has taken a turn, leading to a temporary runway closure at Srinagar Airport. Unfortunately, this requires us to cancel flights once again,” the IndiGo said in a staement on X.
Trains between Banihal and Baramulla are reportedly suspended.
(With inputs from agencies)
