Jammu-Srinagar National Highway Partially Reopened After Snowfall
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was partially reopened for traffic on Wednesday after being suspended due to snowfall the previous day, according to officials. Traffic has been allowed from both directions on the highway after the road was cleared. However, only light motor vehicles (LMVs) are currently permitted to ply on the 270-km highway, which is the only all-weather road link connecting the valley with the rest of the country. Efforts are ongoing to fully restore the highway, with clearance operations being conducted at vulnerable stretches along the road.
The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) personnel have taken measures to improve driving conditions by sprinkling salt and urea on the road, as parts of the highway were slippery in the morning due to frosty conditions following the snowfall. Most parts of Kashmir experienced snowfall on Tuesday, leading to the suspension of traffic on the highway and flight operations at the Srinagar airport.
Flight operations have now resumed at the airport, and night temperatures in Kashmir plummeted several degrees below freezing on Tuesday night. Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of 0.1 degrees Celsius, slightly above the season’s normal. Srinagar city and Baramulla town were the only places in Kashmir where the night temperature remained above freezing.
Gulmarg in north Kashmir and Sonamarg in central Kashmir were the coldest recorded places in the valley, with temperatures dropping to minus 9.8 degrees Celsius. The Pahalgam tourist resort in south Kashmir recorded a low of minus 6.4 degrees Celsius. Qazigund, Kokernag, and Kupwara also experienced sub-zero temperatures.
The Kashmir valley is currently experiencing the fag-end of ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’, a 40-day period of extreme cold characterized by temperatures dropping below freezing and a high likelihood of snowfall. The Meteorological Department has forecast light rain/snow at a few places on Wednesday, with cloudy but dry weather expected until January 31.
Looking ahead, a fresh western disturbance is expected to impact the region on February 1, potentially bringing another spell of wet weather. Travelers and residents are advised to stay updated on weather conditions and exercise caution while traveling in the region.
