Heavy snowfall disrupts normal life in Valley

FARZANA SYED. Dated: 3/3/2015 2:16:50 AM

SRINAGAR, Mar 2: Normal life across the valley came to a halt today as higher reaches and plain areas witnessed fresh snowfall since last night. Most of the places including Srinagar city received heavy to moderate snowfall resulting in blockade of the roads and routes across the valley.
Snowfall and rains interrupted the surface and air traffic also. In most parts of valley traffic remained off the roads today.
“Higher reaches and plain areas received fresh snowfall today. Snowfall occurred at places including Gulmarg, Kupwara, Pahalgam, Qazigund and Srinagar. Srinagar received 8 centimeters of snow till today noon. Around 35.2 centimeters of rain was measured in Srinagar during last night. In North Kashmir snowfall and rains occurred at Gulmarg, Tangmarg, Kupwara etc,” spokesperson at MET department revealed.
He added, “The maximum temperatures have witnessed a decline resulting in cold. Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of 0.4 degrees Celsius. Night temperature in Gulmarg settled at minus 3.2 degrees Celsius. Kupwara received a snow of 7 centimeters and 28.4 millimeters of rain. The minimum temperature recorded at Kupwara was 0.2 degrees Celsius.”
He said mercury witnessed a sharp decrease due to snowfall as the day temperatures went down up to several degrees at various places.
The officials at MET department said the tourist resort of Pahalgam received 25 centimeters of snow and 35.2 millimeters of rain during last night. Along Jammu Srinagar highway snowfall measured at Qazigund was 19 centimeters while as rainfall recorded was 59.4 millimeters.
“Qazgiund recorded a minimum temperature of 0.0 degrees Celsius. Pahalgam recorded a night temperature of minus 0.4 degrees Celsius. The snowfall measured at Kokernag was 18 centimeters and it received around 42.7 millimeters of rain. The night temperature recorded at Kokernag was 0.6 degrees Celsius,” officials at MET department revealed.
“Snow/rains occurred at several places along national highway also. Banihal received around 12 centimeters of snow and 79.0 millimeters of rain. 2 centimeters of snow was measured at Bhaderwah and 62.6 millimeters of rain. Jammu division received 71.7 millimeters of rain,” he added.
Meanwhile, Jammu Srinagar national highway was closed owing to heavy snowfall and landslides at various places.
“Highway was closed previous night due to landslides at places including Nasree, Panthaal, Hangni, Gangru, Maarkote and Theeri. No vehicular traffic was allowed to ply today. It will remain closed tomorrow also. The snow has been cleared off the roads but landslides have caused the blockade,” a senior official at traffic department said.
Director Met department said that the effect of western disturbances may change from tomorrow. He said weather is likely going to change from March 4.
He said, “There is possibility of light to moderate snow/rains for during next 24 hours but weather will improve likely from tomorrow evening.”

 

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