Heavy snowfall closes highways in J&K, triggers avalanche warnings

Heavy snowfall is being witnessed in higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir while torrential rains have lashed the plains leading to the closure of highways and other roads in many areas.

The Machil sector of Kupwara in North Kashmir is witnessing heavy snow. The sector saw a brief exchange of fire during the previous night that alerted security forces near the border. No combing operation could be started due to the bad weather and heavy snowfall going on in the Machil sector, said the local police.

Reports said that Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was closed as the snowfall and rains triggered landslides in various areas of the highway, especially in Ramban. Police said that 300-400 vehicles were stranded due to the closure of the highway and said efforts were on to clear the landslides in many areas.

The Srinagar-Leh highway, as well as Bandipora-Gurez road, were on Monday closed for traffic given fresh snowfall, traffic officials in Srinagar said and advised people to undertake any journey on these roads only after contacting the traffic control room.

The MeT office has issued an “Orange Colour” weather warning for the higher reaches of J&K and Sonmarg-Zojila axis on the Srinagar-Leh road, asking the administration and people to be prepared and to maintain vigil and the disaster management department has issued avalanche warnings in the higher reaches of the different district because of fresh snowfall.

Heavy snowfall is being reported from Gulmarg and Pahalgam, the two famous health resorts of Kashmir, and this has given relief to the people living in these areas from the sub-zero temperatures.