SRINAGAR: With moderate to heavy snowfall still going on Sunday evening, Kashmir has been cut off with no air traffic or surface link left. Heavy snowfall was witnessed around Jawahar Tunnel near Banihal, forcing authorities to close down Srinagar-Jammu highway as it remained open only for few hours on Saturday for one-way traffic.
Alternate highways connecting Kashmir with Jammu are already closed as much higher reaches are witnessing heavy snowfall. Authorities have on Thursday closed down Srinagar-Leh highway due to slippery condition and now heavy snow around the Zojila pass and Sonmarg have diminished any possibility of opening this road for winter months.
Earlier Met department said that a fresh Western Disturbance (WD), which originated from the Arabian Sea and approached the region through Afghanistan and Pakistan hit the region on Saturday night.
MET further said under the influence of the WD, light to moderate rain and snow is expected at most places in Kashmir and Zojila area of Ladakh for three days from Sunday. “Weather is expected to improve from Thursday onwards,” he added.
Srinagar airport had to cancel several flights on Sunday and delayed others due to the accumulation of snow on the runway.
“Flights will be allowed to operate from the only airport in the valley after clearance of snow and improvement in visibility,” airport officials quoted in the local media.
The ski resort of Gulmarg received another spell of snow on Sunday, bring a lot of joy and happiness to those tourists who were already residing there.