Jammu-Srinagar highway closed after fresh snowfall
Fresh snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bannihal sector lead to the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar highway on Monday after one-foot deep snow accumulated on the strategic route, said an official of the traffic department, adding no vehicular movement would be allowed on the highway during the day keeping the safety of travellers in mind.
The situation will be reviewed after the weather improves, the official said.
Intending travellers were advised not to undertake journey without finding out the latest status of the road from traffic helplines in Jammu and Srinagar.
Meanwhile, moderate to heavy snowfall in the Kashmir Valley and rain in the Jammu division was forecast by the MET during the next 24 hours till Tuesday.
Widespread moderate to rather heavy rain and snowfall is likely to occur during the next 24 hours (till Tuesday)," a Met Department official said, adding "A western disturbance is active over the state. Its intensity will decrease from Wednesday onwards".
A western disturbance is the name given to an extra-tropical storm in the Mediterranean Sea under whose influence rain and snowfall occurs in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.
Srinagar recorded minus 0.3 degrees Celsius while it was 0.2 in Pahalgam and minus 4 in Gulmarg.
Leh town recorded minus 5.6 while Kargil was the coldest at minus 14 degrees Celsius.
Jammu city was 11.9, Katra 10, Batote 2.1, Bannihal 1.1 and Bhaderwah 1.9 degrees Celsius.
