Traffic disruption on NH in Ramban
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR/JAMMU, Mar 3: The hills of Kashmir and parts of Jammu region today received snowfall and most parts of J&K were lashed by rains bringing down the mercury while authorities issued avalanche warning for the hilly areas.
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The higher reaches of Kashmir received fresh snowfall today. An official said that Sadhna Top and Razdan Top have received a snowfall of one feet while Zojila pass and Sonamarg got snowfall of 10 inches today.
Gulmarg recorded a snowfall of 8 inches while Doodhpatri recorded 7 inches of snow. Peer Ki Gali recorded 8 inches of snow while Sinthan top recorded 10 inches of snowfall till this evening. There was a light snowfall in some plains of Shopian, Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts.
Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, however, was lashed by the rains intermittently since the morning.
Jammu, the winter capital and several areas of the region received intermittent rain during morning hours today, further recording a drop in temperature. However, the weather improved during afternoon.
Higher reaches of Doda, Ramban, Kishtwar and Poonch experienced fresh snowfall today while Pir Ki Gali on Mughal Road and Chattergalla Pass in Bhaderwah received heavy snowfall. Natha Top and Patnitop also recorded a light snowfall.
Despite light rain during the day today, Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained by and large operational. At Mehar, Cafeteria Morh, Kishtwari Pather and two other points traffic disruptions due to shooing of stones were reported, however, the road was made operational shortly.
SSP Traffic National Highway Rohit Baskotra said that at around 8 pm, the highway was blocked at Mehar due to land/mudslides. He said that the machines were deployed to the area and the road will be restored after a few hours. However, it was risky to undertake journey during night in this sector.
The fresh snowfall in the upper reaches of Bhadarwah Valley this morning led to the suspension of vehicular traffic on the Bhadarwah-Bani-Pathankot highway. The famous tourist destinations of Guldanda and Chattergalla, situated at elevations of 9,555 and 10,000 feet above sea level, were affected as slippery road conditions made travel unsafe.
The heavy snowfall, which blanketed the region overnight, resulted in a thick layer of snow on the 25-km road stretch from Basti to Chattergalla Pass. As a precautionary measure, authorities decided to halt all vehicular movement beyond Nalthi village to prevent any mishap.
The decision to suspend traffic has impacted both tourists and locals. Bhadarwah, known for its breathtaking landscapes and snow-capped peaks, attracts visitors from across the country during the winter season. With a large number of tourists currently in the Valley, many were left disappointed as they were unable to visit the sought-after snow destinations.
Speaking to the media, a tourist from Delhi said, “We had planned this trip months ago, and the fresh snowfall made us even more excited. However, the road closure has disrupted our itinerary. We hope the authorities clear the route soon so we can explore the stunning landscapes of Guldanda and Chattergalla.”
Following the disruption, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) began snow clearance operations on the interstate road by afternoon, once weather conditions showed signs of improvement. The locals have been demanding a quicker response from the authorities, as road connectivity is crucial not only for tourism but also for the movement of essential supplies.
Meanwhile, Director Meteorological department (MeT), Dr Mukhtar Ahmad said that the generally dry weather is expected from tomorrow till March 9, adding that a fresh spell of rain and snow is expected from March 10 to 12.
The MeT also issued an advisory, predicting a possibility of landslides, rockfall, shooting stones and mudslides over vulnerable places.
It advised the tourists, travellers and transporters to follow administration and traffic advisory and asked farmers to suspend irrigation and other farm operations till 4th March. “Avoid sloppy and avalanche prone areas,” it read
In the meantime, Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Authority (JKDMA) today issued an avalanche warning in the higher reaches of five districts of the region in the next 24 hours.
An avalanche with a “medium danger” level is likely to occur above 2500 metres over Baramulla, Ganderbal, Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts of J&K in the next 24 hours.
“People living in these areas have been advised to take precautions and avoid venturing into the avalanche-prone areas till further orders,” the warning read.
“Higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir received moderate to heavy snowfall recently and some upper reaches also received a fresh snowfall today prompting authorities to issue a fresh avalanche warning as a precautionary measure for the people”, it further said.
“The authorities have also asked the people living in these districts to dial 112 for help if any emergency”.
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