New Delhi: Heavy snowfall continued to affect Kashmir on Saturday, severely disrupting normal life. Snowfall started on Friday, the first of the season in Srinagar and other plain areas of the valley.
Heavy snowfall across the region
Moderate to heavy snowfall is common in Kashmir, with heavy snowfall in the southern and central plains of Kashmir. Srinagar received about 8 inches of snowfall, while Ganderbal and Sonamarg received 7-8 inches of snowfall. The Zojila axis of Srinagar-Leh highway received 15 inches of snowfall, while Anantnag district received up to 17 inches of snowfall. Pahalgam, Pulwama, Shopian and other districts also reported heavy snowfall, causing massive damage.
Travel and infrastructure affected
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) was closed to traffic due to heavy snow accumulation, while the condition of the Navyug Tunnel also hampered road clearing operations. Train services were suspended on the Banihal-Baramulla section and air traffic to and from Srinagar was severely affected with about 80% of flights canceled on Saturday.
Power outages and ongoing cleanup operations
Power supply was disrupted across the valley, with 41 feeders at the 33 KV level and 739 feeders at the 11 KV level reported to be out of power. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah assured that restoration work is on and more than 90 per cent of feeder lines are expected to be restored by the evening.
Clearing operations are underway to reopen blocked roads, particularly those leading to hospitals, although many internal roads remain impassable. Motorists faced difficulties due to slippery roads.
Qilai-Kalan Period and Weather Forecast
Kashmir is currently experiencing ‘Chillai-Kalan’, the harshest winter that started on December 21. to -1°C.
