Inclement weather paralyzes J&K: Srinagar-Jammu highway closed

Intermittent rains lashing the plains and snowfall blanketing the upper reaches persisted across Jammu and Kashmir for the second consecutive day on Monday, creating chaos and disruption in daily life. The inclement weather conditions have forced the closure of the vital Srinagar-Jammu national highway and compelled the University of Kashmir to reschedule its examinations for two days.

Traffic police in statement said, “in view of inclement weather heavy rains leading to landslides and  shooting stones along NH-44,  road blocked at  Dalwas , Mehad-Cafeteria, Ramban, Chamlwas, Gangroo and shooting stones at  T2,  Jaiswal bridge, Gangro, Marog and other Places along NH-44. Jammu-Srinagar NHW (NH-44) is still closed for vehicular Traffic. People are advised to avoid journeys on NH-44 till the weather improves and the road is clear. please ask TCU before starting the journey”.

A senior official from the Meteorological department revealed that Srinagar experienced 20.4mm of rainfall within 24 hours, accompanied by a dip in temperature to 2.0°C, marking a departure from the usual temperature by 1.0°C for this time of the year. The capital city’s climate, usually milder during this period, has been noticeably cooler, added the official.

Meanwhile, Gulmarg, the acclaimed skiing destination nestled in the north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, witnessed a fresh layer of snow accumulation measuring approximately two feet over the past day. This development casts a shadow over the impending fourth edition of the ‘Khelo India’ Winter Games scheduled to commence from Wednesday. Despite the snowfall, the temperature in the ski-resort stood at a relatively mild minus 2.8°C, exceeding the typical readings for this time by 4.0°C.

The Meteorological office has issued a weather forecast predicting a three-day wet spell until February 20, with heavy snowfall anticipated in the upper regions during this period. In light of this advisory, the University of Kashmir has taken precautionary measures, deferring examinations scheduled for February 19 and 20.

The adverse weather conditions, compounded by snowfall and landslides, have led to the closure of the crucial 264-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the lifeline connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country. Stranding hundreds of vehicles at various points along the highway, the situation has prompted authorities to deploy manpower and machinery to facilitate clearance operations and restore normalcy to the
thoroughfare.