Srinagar, Jan 9: Fresh snowfall in parts of Kashmir Tuesday brought some respite from the extreme cold conditions as the minimum temperature rose above the freezing point with weatherman forecasting fresh snowfall and rains across the Valley by this weekend. The fresh precipitation led to restricting traffic movement to one-way on the 300 km Srinagar-Jammu highway.
Meteorological department officials said the minimum night temperature in Srinagar rose almost 4 degrees above the freezing point. “Though Srinagar recorded light snowfall overnight. Upper reaches of the Valley, including the famous ski resort of Gulmarg and Pahalgam received fresh snowfall. Snow and rains also lashed some isolated parts of valley,” officials said.
While the weatherman predicted dry weather for the next 24 hours in Jammu and Kashmir, Met office said light to moderate rains and snowfall would occur across the Valley on January 12.

ONE-WAY TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY
According to officials, there would be one-way movement of traffic along the 300 KM Srinagar-Jammu highway tomorrow. “All kinds of vehicles including private LMVs, commercial LMVs, LCVs, Medium passenger as well as commercial vehicles, buses, heavy commercial vehicles would be allowed to travel from Kashmir towards Jammu in a regulated manner subject to fair weather conditions and good condition of road,” the Inspector General of Police, Traffic said in a statement issued here today.
However, he said, all vehicles were required to cross TCP Panthachowk by 12 noon, Khannabal by 1:30 pm and TCP Qazigund by 2:30 pm.
“Beyond this no vehicle shall be allowed to proceed towards Lower Munda/ Jawahar Tunnel for onward journey,” he said.

STRANDED PASSENGERS AIRLIFTED TO KARGIL
Around 169 stranded passengers of Kargil were airlifted today between Kargil, Srinagar and Jammu in AN-32 Kargil Courier.
“21 passengers were airlifted from Jammu to Kargil, 38 from Kargil to Srinagar, 33 from Srinagar to Kargil and 39 from Kargil to Jammu. Earlier, on Tuesday, 38 passengers were airlifted from Kargil to Jammu also,” officials said in a statement.
“Stranded passengers of Kargil, at Srinagar and Jammu desirous of travelling to Kargil have been asked to contact the Liaison Officer at Kargil House for issuance of tickets,” authorities said.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 9 Jan 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 9 Jan 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:00:00 IST