Srinagar, Dec 28 (UNI) Normal life was crippled in Kashmir on Saturday due to moderate to heavy snowfall, disrupting the air, road and train traffic.
The crucial Srinagar-Jammu highway, which connects the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country was shut for all vehicular traffic due to the snowfall along its stretches, officials of the Traffic Department said.
They said men and machinery were on the job.
Officials said that several heavy and light motor vehicles are stranded along the highway due to overnight snow and slippery conditions.
The air traffic also remained grounded as no flights could arrive or depart from Srinagar International Airport.
Airport Director Javed Anjum Saturday said that all flights have been cancelled due to the snow.
“Due to bad weather conditions, all flights at Srinagar Airport have been cancelled,” he said.
In a post on X, the authorities at Srinagar Airport advised passengers to contact their airlines for updates.
The train services on the Banihal-Baramulla section were suspended on Saturday due to snow accumulation on the track, railway officials said.
The power supply was cut off in several areas across Kashmir.
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds the portfolio of Power Development Department, said that in Kashmir region, 41 feeders at 33 KV level and 739 feeders at 11kv level are down.
“Out of forty-one 33KV feeders dysfunctional in Kashmir due to heavy snowfall, thirty-seven have been restored and charged. Similarly, out of 739 dysfunctional 11KV feeders, 639 have been restored and recharged, bringing major relief to the valley. The majority of the rest are expected to be restored by the evening. Kudos to the PDD team for their relentless efforts in this snowfall in such a short time,” Omar said in a post on X.
The spell of the long-awaited snowfall began across the Valley on Friday afternoon and continued in several parts for the whole night. The intensity of the snowfall varied from place to place in the region and was intense in south Kashmir, where two feet of snow was accumulated in several places.
The plains of central Kashmir recorded a moderate snow spell while north Kashmir received light to moderate snowfall.
The official at Srinagar Meteorological Centre said nearly 20 .5 cm of snow was accumulated in Srinagar city in the last 24 hours.
The weather conditions are expected to improve by Sunday.
The MeT said that generally cloudy with light to moderate snow is expected from January 3- 6 at many places in Kashmir and scattered places in Jammu region.
Meanwhile, the minimum temperature improved across Kashmir bringing in some respite from the severe cold wave that had gripped Kashmir over the last week.
The minimum temperature in Srinagar was minus 1 degree Celsius. The day temperature in Srinagar was 2.4 degrees.
The ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded a minimum temperature of minus 5 degrees Celsius
The snowfall brought relief to the Valley residents who were eagerly awaiting snow. Due to the dry weather, the water levels in rivers and other water bodies had depleted. The dry winter had caused worry to locals, particularly those living in rural populations whose livelihood is mainly dependent on agriculture.
