Srinagar, Dec 29: Snow and rains continued to lash Kashmir valley on the second consecutive day Saturday, even as Met office forecast improvement in weather conditions from Sunday.
Upper reaches of the Valley including tourist resorts of Gulmarg and Pahalgam were enveloped in a blanket of fresh snow, adding to the delight of tourists, who are spending New Year in the Valley.
“Higher reaches of the valley including Gulmarg, received 12-15 inches of fresh snow, Pahalgam recorded 3 inches while as Sonamarg recorded 7 inches of fresh snowfall. Most of the plains, including Srinagar received rain throughout the day. Precipitation was the result of prevailing Western Disturbances that developed over the Valley,” Director Meteorology Department, Sonam Lotus said. Sonam said weather is likely to improve from tomorrow and will remain pleasant for one week.
“As the Western Disturbances are moving away from the Valley, we are expecting the weather in the Valley will improve from tomorrow and the skies will be clear for one week,” Sonam said.
Official said in the coming days, night temperatures will decrease by few notches while as day temperatures are likely to increase due to clear skies.
Reports of fresh snowfall also came from various districts of the Valley. Parts of Shopian including main town, received 14-16 inches of fresh snowfall, Sedav-30 inches, while Hirpora recorded 30 inches. Keller area of Pulwama district received 14-16 inches of fresh snowfall. Reports of fresh snowfall also came from many areas of Kulgam, which include DH Pora, which recorded 10-12 inches of snow, Psimer-12 inches and Aharbal recorded 26-30 inch of snowfall. Gurez, an area of Bandipora also recorded 6 inch of snowfall while as Kullenrazen, Ganderbal received 8 inches of fresh snowfall.

HIGHWAY REOPENS
Srinagar Jammu highway that was closed last evening due to incessant rains and snowfall overnight, was today cleared and the stranded vehicles were allowed to move towards their respective destinations.
“Vehicles which were stranded on both sides of the Jawahar Tunnel were allowed to move after the road was cleared this morning. Around 200-300 vehicles which remained stranded last night, were allowed to move towards Kashmir till 12 noon today. From 12 noon till 3 pm, around 2500-3000 passenger and heavy vehicles were allowed to move towards Jammu,” DIG Traffic Shakeel Ahmad Beig said.
Beig said that in case weather improves, the traffic will ply from Jammu to Srinagar tomorrow. “No vehicle will be allowed to move in the opposite direction,” he said.
In view of poor visibility, some flights were cancelled and several were delayed at Srinagar airport today. Two flights of Spice Jet, one flight each of Go Air, Jet Airways and Army chartered plane got cancelled.
Government has made arrangement of IL-76 air force flight between Leh-Jammu-Leh on 30 December, for stranded passengers of Kargil. The passengers have been asked to contact the concerned Liaison Officers.
Meanwhile, due to fresh snowfall, a medium danger avalanche warning has been issued for avalanche prone areas of Tanghdar, Chowkibal, Keran, Machil, Gurez, Tulail, Sonamarg, Drass and higher reaches of Uri and Gulmarg for the next 24 hours. People living in these areas have been advised to take precautions and not to venture out in avalanche-prone areas.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 29 Dec 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 29 Dec 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 30 Dec 2012 00:00:00 IST