Whiteout in higher reaches, rains lash plains for 2nd day in Kashmir

Major roads, highways closed; gusty winds damage houses in Srinagar; SDRF rescues tourists from Dal Lake; weatherman predicts more snowfall, advisory issued for travellers, farmers; day temp to plummet

Rehan Qayoom Mir/Umaisar Gull Ganaie

Srinagar, Feb 19 (KNO): Amidst the forecast of the three-day wet spell, several areas of Kashmir including the famous ski resort, Gulmarg and other places experienced fresh snowfall while rains lashed plains for the second straight day on Monday, leading to the closure of Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. However, the gusty winds caused damage to three residential houses in Srinagar.

According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a fresh Western Disturbance (WD) started affecting J&K on February 18 and under its influence, many areas received fresh snowfall for the second consecutive day on Monday.

As per the reports, Sonamarg, Gulmarg, Hachmarg and Machil areas recorded heavy snowfall.

Machil has recorded a snowfall of 3.5 feet while Hachmarg has received a snowfall of 2 feet in the last two days.

As per reports, nearly 4 feet of snowfall was recorded in Sonamarg while Gulmarg recorded a snowfall of 2.5 ft.

Meanwhile, rains lashed the plains of Kashmir including the summer capital, Srinagar, thereby bringing down the mercury further.

RESIDENTIAL HOUSES DAMAGED

During the rains on Monday, gusty winds were reported in some areas, causing damage to three residential houses in Srinagar.

The rooftop of two residential houses belonging to Firdous Ahmad and Inayat Ahmad, both sons of Ghulam Mohd of Gada Mohalla and Manzoor Ahmad Sofi, son of Late Mohd Qasim of Lati Mohalla Rainawari.

A house belonging to Mohd Aslam Phamda, son of Raj Mohd Phamda of Faqeer Gujree Dara Harwan. was damaged completely in the gusty winds.

Other than Srinagar, around one dozen houses got damaged in south Kashmir’s Kulgam and Anantnag districts due to gusty winds.

Sources told KNO that most of the houses have got damaged in the Qazigund belt.

MAJOR ROADS CLOSED

The fresh precipitation has also led to the closure of several bustling roads including Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, Mughal Road, Bandipora-Gurez Road and others.

The officials said that heavy rains triggered landslides and shooting stones along NH-44. The landslides blocked the road at Dalwas, Mehad-Cafeteria, Ramban, Chamlwas and Gangroo while the shooting stones occurred at T2, Jaiswal bridge, Gangro, Marog and other places along NH-44 on Monday.

“The highway is still closed for vehicular movement and people are advised to avoid journeys on NH-44 till the weather improves and the road is clear,” the officials said.

EXAMS POSTPONED

Amid the fresh spell of rain and snow, the University of Kashmir postponed all the examinations scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.

Due to the prevailing weather situation, all the examinations of the University of Kashmir scheduled for today, the 19th, and 20th of February, 2024, are postponed, officials said, adding that the fresh dates for the conduct of postponed papers shall be communicated separately.

TOURIST RESCUED

Officials in the Jammu & Kashmir State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) informed KNO that dozens of tourists mostly in Dal Lake areas were rescued on Monday during the gusty winds amidst the rains.

FORECAST

Light to moderate rains and snow are expected at most places of plains and lower reaches with the possibility of heavy to very heavy snowfall over the middle and higher reaches of Kupwara, Baramulla, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Badgam and districts of south Kashmir, said Director Meteorological department (MeT), Dr Mukhtar Ahmad.

He said that on February 21, Wednesday, there is a possibility of intermittent light to moderate snow at many places till afternoon and late afternoon. There will be gradual improvement thereafter following which no significant weather activity is expected till February 27, he said.

About Jammu division, he said there is a possibility of intermittent light to moderate rain with thunder, lightning in plains with light to moderate snowfall over higher reaches with heavy snowfall over isolated higher reaches of Ramban, Poonch, Doda and Kishtwar.

“On February 21, intermittent light to moderate snow and rain is expected over many places till late afternoon, evening and gradual improvement thereafter following which no significant weather activity till February 27,” he added.

ADVISORY

In its advisory, the local meteorological department said the system may lead to a temporary closure of roads of higher reaches and important passes like Sinthan Pass, Mughal Road, Sadhna & Razdan passes, Zojila and others. It advised the travellers to plan accordingly.

However, farmers are advised to withhold irrigation and fertilizer application and drain out excess water from orchards and fields during this period.

“Significant drop in day temperature is expected for the next few days,” the MeT said—(KNO)