Srinagar/Jan,5 : Flights were on Tuesday cancelled and Jammu-Srinagar highway remained shut third consecutive day of heavy snowing across Kashmir, officials said .
Traffic controlling authorities at Srinagar airport said no flight could take off or arrive at the Srinagar international airport due to poor visibility and snow for the third consecutive day on the runway. “The airlines have already cancelled or rescheduled the flights and it was highly unlikely for any operation to take place at the airport in wake of the snowfall”, said the officials.
Jammu-Srinagar highway, the only surface link connecting Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country, also remained closed for the third consecutive day due to continuous accumulation of snow at several places, especially in and around Jawahar tunnel with snow depths of around 3ft. Around 4,500 vehicles, mostly trucks carrying essentials to the valley, are stranded at several places along the 270km stretch.
“Jammu-Srinagar Highway continues to be blocked due to snow accumulation at Jawahar Tunnel and Landslides and mudslides at several places,” a traffic police official said.Mughal Road, which connects the Shopian with Poonch district has been closed for several days due to heavy snowfall in the region. Srinagar-Leh highway has been officially closed on the orders by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir on December 30.A MeT official said Srinagar received 10 cms of snowfall in the last 24 hours till 10:30 hours while Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, recorded the highest depth in the plains across Valley—29.8cms during the time and 80cms (32inches) in the last 48 hours.
