Govt issues avalanche warning
37 flights cancelled due to snowfall in Kashmir
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU/SRINAGAR: The Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir witnessed heavy rain and snow on Wednesday. The Valley recorded widespread light to moderate rain and snow throughout the day on Wednesday.
According to MET Centre, Srinagar, heavy rainfall is expected during January 7 and January 8. Orange weather warning has been issued for Jammu and Kashmir. As travel for Light Motor Vehicles on NH 44 has become dangerous due to slippery road conditions and shooting stones, the Jammu Traffic Police has restricted the movement of vehicles. No Vehicle will be allowed beyond Nagrota for NH 44.
The Traffic Police City Jammu has appealed to general public, not to travel on NH-44A due to heavy rains, snowfalls, shooting stones at Ramban sector. The higher reaches of J&K have received moderate to heavy snowfall and have become vulnerable to avalanches. “People residing in these areas are requested to take precautions and avoid venturing out in the Avalanche prone areas,” the government has sounded alert for all.
Snowfall and poor visibility across Kashmir forced cancellation of 37 of the 42 scheduled flights from Srinagar International Airport on Wednesday, officials of the Airport Authority of India said.
The flight cancellations led to chaotic scenes at the airport as hundreds of passengers were left stranded.
“Light snowfall and low visibility today hampered our operations. We had 42 scheduled flights but only five could operate. Other 37 (flights) were cancelled,” an official of the airport authority said.
The air traffic to and from Srinagar airport has been severely affected since Tuesday due to snowfall, leading to cancellation of several flights.
Serpentine queues could be seen outside the airline counters as the passengers sought to reschedule their flights out of the valley.
A large number of tourists had come to Kashmir to celebrate New Year amid snowfall that took place around Christmas in most places in the valley.
The Jammu Traffic police officials advised travellers to avoid journeys on the Jammu-Srinagar highway because of snowfall and incessant rain along the highway.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police have established helpline numbers for emergency across the region in view of snowfall and rough weather. Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar has directed all the District Police Chiefs to keep these helpline numbers functional round the clock and render all the required assistance and help to the needy.