Fresh snowfall in Kashmir, Ladakh; Highways closed for traffic

Srinagar, Dec 5: Upper reaches of Kashmir valley on Sunday received fresh snowfall while plains were lashed by torrential rains, disrupting normal life.
Meanwhile, Srinagar-Ladakh National highway and the historical Mughal road in south Kashmir connecting Shopian with Rajouri in Jammu division were closed for vehicular traffic as a precautionary measure following snowfall.
However, Srinagar-Jammu national highway was open despite the rains.
Meanwhile Srinagar experienced light to moderate rain with snowfall, in the plains of Shopian in south Kashmir moderate snow over higher reaches continues since morning whereas rain with thunderstorm and hail is being reported at some places of Jammu region.
MET said that the same weather is likely to continue till late on Sunday night.
The MET office said moderate snow occurred at many places of Kargil, Zanskar and on higher reaches of Leh district in Ladakh Union Territory. They said the forecast is expecting overall improvement from Monday forenoon in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh UTs. However, the sky is likely to remain cloudy in both UTs .
There is no forecast of any major snowfall during this spell of western Disturbances, and for the next ten days the weather will remain dry, the MET office added.
Earlier, reports reaching here said that tourist resorts of Sonmarg, Capitain More, Kargil and Drass were experiencing mild snowfall since late Saturday resulting in closure of Srinagar-Ladakh highway. It was still snowing at these places according to the reports that last came in.
Ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir also experienced fresh snowfall, reports said and added that about two inches of snow has accumulated so far. It was also snowing at Affarwat in Gulmarg, the reports said.
The Pir Panjal range of Jammu and Kashmir including holy Amarnath cave route also experienced fresh snowfall resulting in intense cold conditions. It was still snowing in Pahalgam, Sheshnag, Alipathri and near the cave site, the reports said.
Srinagar-Jammu National highway was open for vehicular traffic despite rain at most places, a traffic official said.
He said, traffic was suspended on the highway early in the morning following a huge avalanche, and shooting of stones occurring at Ramban. However, men from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) responsible for the maintenance of the road pressed were into service and they cleared the debris to make the road traffic worthy.
A traffic official said that Mughal road connecting Shopian in south Kashmir to Rajouri district in Jammu region was closed for vehicular traffic following fresh snowfall at Baflizz and Peer ki Gali. It was still snowing on the road, the traffic official said.
Razdan top and Gurez roads in Bandipora district of north Kashmir were also closed as a precautionary measure following fresh snowfall there. Besides Keran and Karnah roads in frontier Kashmir district of Kupwara were also closed for vehicular traffic following fresh snowfall in the region.
Reports of rainfall were also received from all major districts of the valley since early morning disrupting normal life with intensification of cold conditions prevailing all across.
Torrential rains lashed Srinagar and its adjoining areas since early morning disrupting normal life. Most of the roads were waterlogged due to the rain water making movement of traffic difficult. It was still raining till this report was filed.
A MET office in Srinagar said, light rain and snow is most likely to continue till next 12 to 18 hours in the Kashmir valley and Ladakh regions. There is no major forecast of any major snowfall, the MET office said and added overall improvement in the weather would most likely from Monday onwards.