Srinagar receives this year’s first heavy snowfall, Srinagar-Jammu Highway closed for traffic

Srinagar: Kashmir capital Srinagar received season’s first snowfall on Friday. Other parts of Kashmir Valley were also draped with white blanket of snow. The snowfall led to the closure of some crucial roads including Srinagar- Jammu Highway, while Air Traffic was also affected due to snowfall.
This was the first major snowfall in Kashmir this Chillaikalan, which was largely dry except for a wet spell a couple of days ago.
The snowfall started at 2 pm in Srinagar and continued throughout the day. “The weather will remain wet for couple of days,” said an official from Meteorological department.
The snowfall led to closure of Srinagar-Jammu Highway. “Due to slippery road conditions and fresh snowfall at the Jawahar tunnel and other areas, the highway has been closed for traffic,” said a Traffic official. Hundreds of vehicles including passenger vehicles are stranded on the highway.
As per reports Kupwara-Tanghdar road has been closed for two days, while as the Kupwara-Machil and Kupwara-Keran roads have been shut for traffic for unspecified time.
The snowfall also led to poor visibility at the Srinagar Airport, leading to cancellation of flights. An official from Srinagar Airport said that 15 flights landed smoothly while others were cancelled due to continuous snowfall.
All the districts of Kashmir including Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal, Islamabad, Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam, Baramulla, Bandipora, Kupwara received snowfall. The fresh snowfall at a couple of tourist resorts including Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonmarg brought cheerfulness on the faces of tourists. Reports from Chenab valley said that people also woke up to a pleasant surprise to witness fresh snowfall. Bhadarwah, Kailash Mountain Range, Padri Gali, Bhaal Padri, Braid Bal, Nehyed Chilly and Asha Pati Glacier, Bhadarwah town, Jaie Gathi Bhadarwah town and its surrounding villages received fresh snowfall since early morning.
According to reports, Bhalla, Kota Top, Marwah, Dachhan, Keshwan, Gandoh, Bhallessa, Malanoo, Batote,Gool, Banihal and other parts of Chenab valley also witnessed moderate to heavy snowfall.