Srinagar: The continuous snowfall and rainfall for the second consecutive day across Kashmir threw life out of gear, forcing cancellation of all flights to and fro Srinagar Airport and also the closure of Srinagar-Jammu highway, the only road connecting Valley with rest of the Country.
However, amid continuous snow and rainfall across Kashmir, the local Meteorological (MeT) department here has predicted improvement in the weather conditions from this (Monday) evening. However, the officials said that there is possibility of light snowfall at isolated places till January 16.
According to the wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the Valley parts received moderate to heavy snowfall for the second consecutive day.
Srinagar areas also witnessed rainfall, thus melting the accumulated snow, causing inundation of roads, streets, lanes and bi-lanes across Srinagar. The local residents after the submerging of roads and lanes faced immense hardships, demanding immediate dewatering of their areas.
Deputy Director MeT, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad said that the Valley including plains as well as higher reaches received fresh snowfall, adding that as per the prediction, there is possibility of improvement in the weather conditions from this (Monday) evening.
He said that although the weather would remain mainly dry across Kashmir till January 16, but there is possibility of light snowfall at isolated places during the period as well. Ahmad added that the minimum temperature would improve for next couple of days.
Ahmad also said that the northern districts of Kashmir received heavy snowfall while central and Southern district received moderate snowfall. “We had already issued an advisory wherein it was informed to the people to take precautions as the northern districts would receive heavy snowfall,” he added.
However, the daily weather forecast issued by the MeT department here mentioned that plains of Jammu region would receive heavy to very heavy snowfall or rainfall during next 12-24 hours.
The forecast stated that as expected, widespread heavy to very heavy snowfall or rainfall occurred in J&K and light to moderate snowfall at many places of Ladakh region during past 24hrs. “Currently, the weather is overcast and it’s snowing and raining at many places of J&K and Ladakh,” it added.
It mentioned that there is possibility of significant decrease in precipitation from tonight and overall improvement from 14th onwards. “As of now, another spell of light to moderate precipitation most likely during 17-18th Jan,” it added.
Meanwhile, all the 26 flights to and from Srinagar Airport were cancelled due to the prevalent weather conditions. “The flight operation was cancelled due to poor visibility amid the continuous snowfall. The decision regarding resumption of flight operations will be taken only after the weather conditions improve,” officials at Airport Authority of India (AAI), Srinagar, told KNO.
Besides, Srinagar-Jammu highway, the only road connecting Valley with rest of the Country was yet again closed for the vehicular movement due to fresh snowfall that triggered slippery conditions of the road as well as shooting stones at some places in Ramban district.
Officials in the traffic department said that the vehicular movement was suspended along highway following the shooting stones at several places in Ramban district.
Witnesses said that several vehicles were stranded along the highway while as officials said that the stranded vehicles will be allowed to ply towards their destination soon after the roads will be cleared.
It is worth to mention here that people from many residential areas here especially in Srinagar complained of erratic power supply from this morning, saying that the electricity played hide and seek today, causing hardships to them. (KNO)
