Season’s first snowfall throws life out of gear across Kashmir
Weather to improve from Sunday, says MeT
Srinagar: The plains of Kashmir Valley witnessed season’s first snowfall today while as the higher reaches continued to receive snowfall for the second consecutive day, isolating the valley from the rest of the world.
Notably, it was after nine years that it snowed in the month of November in the valley.
The season’s first snowfall in Srinagar began on Saturday afternoon and several inches of snow had accumulated in the city.
Director Meteorological (MeT) department, Sonum Lotus said that the weather conditions in Kashmir Valley will improve from Sunday.
He said that there is possibility of light rains on Sunday as well but overall the weather would improve from November 3.
Lotus added that this was first time since 2009 that Srinagar city witnessed snowfall in November.
“So rare is the occurrence that in the last two decades, it was only the fourth time that it has snowed in Srinagar in November with 2008 and 2004 being the earlier instances,” he said.
Meanwhile, reports of heavy snowfall were received from other district headquarters and major towns of the Valley as well, officials said, adding that it continued to snow in the higher reaches of Kashmir for the second day, triggering avalanches at some places.
“Avalanches were triggered in some parts of Gurez in Bandipora district, Men and machinery have been deployed to clear the roads, wherever necessary at the earliest,” they said.
“Avalanches were triggered in some parts of Gurez in Bandipora district, Men and machinery have been deployed to clear the roads, wherever necessary at the earliest,” officials said.
A spokesman of Traffic department said the Srinagar-Jammu highway, the arterial road connecting the valley with rest of the country, has been closed for vehicular traffic due to heavy snowfall.
The Srinagar-Leh road continued to remain closed for the vehicular movement for the third consecutive day.
In wake of the snowfall at Sonamarg and Zijila pass, the highway continued to remain closed for the vehicular movement.
Meanwhile, Air traffic to and fro from Srinagar international airport was also stopped due to snowfall with several late afternoon and evening flights cancelled, the officials said.
The power supply in Srinagar and other areas remained off as officials told ‘Kashmir Vision’ that several transmission lines developed technical snag due to the snowfall.
“It is almost nine hours since electricity has remained off in the city,” said a city trader.
The first snowfall of the season has brought chill back to the Valley with MeT officials saying that the temperature has gone down due to the snowfall.
They said that the temperature may go up once the weather conditions improve here.
KV News
