As intermittent rains lashed Kashmir on Friday, the Meteorological Department predicted the ongoing wet spell shall continue till Sunday.
Director MeT, Sonam Lotus said: “Intermittent light tomoderate rain is most likely to occur at fairly widespread places of J&Kand at isolated places in Ladakh region, mainly Kargil during April 17-19.”
Lotus said the main activity of the ongoing wet spell waslikely to be witnessed on Saturday. “During this period there is possibility ofthunderstorms with strong gusty winds of the order of 30-40 kilometers per hourat scattered places of J&K.”
He said the weather was likely to remain windy in Ladakhregion for the next two days. Issuing a weather warning, Lotus said:”Possibility of thundershowers with strong gusty winds at isolated places ofJ&K during next two days.”
Meanwhile, on Friday light to moderate rains occurred atsome places in J&K and weather remained generally cloudy in Ladakh.
As per MeT officials, while summer capital Srinagar received3 millimeters rainfall till 5:30 pm onFriday, Qazigund received 9.6 mm, Kokernag 4.8 mm, Banihal 16.2 mm and Batote18.8 mm.
Kupwara recorded 7 mm rainfall while winter capital Jammualso received 5.5 mm rains. The rainfall also led to a drop in temperature asSrinagar recorded 13.8 degrees Celsius on Friday, which is almost 7.3 degreesbelow the normal day temperature, MeT officials said.
Landslides on Highway
Heavy rains on Friday caused landslides on the Ramban-Banihal stretch of the 270-kilometer Srinagar-Jammu National Highway leading toits closure 2 pm onwards. The highway was blocked in Ramban at Cafeteria Moordue to continuous shooting stones.
Deputy Superintendent of Police, Traffic (Highway) AjayAnand said almost 30 heavy vehicles carrying goods were allowed to move in themorning on Friday after clearing road “but later the road was closed again asshooting stones continued to occur.” He said there were bleak chances ofrestoration of traffic on Saturday as “incessant rains compounded problemsin the road clearance at landslide prone areas of Ramban”. “More than 300 to 400 Jammu-bound trucks have beenstranded which will be allowed to move as soon the traffic is restored,”Anand said.
Traffic Advisory
A traffic advisory issued here said: “Subject to fairweather and clearance of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, stranded vehiclesshall be allowed to ply on Saturday,”
The advisory read: “The traffic movement on NHW-44 since0200 hours, 350-400 Jammu bound vehicles are stranded on Jammu-Srinagar NHW-44due to intermittent shooting stones/ landslides between Ramsoo- Ramban stretch.”In view of MeT prediction for rain and thunderstorms in J&K for next fewdays, there are chances of blockade of NHW-44. Subject to fair weather andclearance of road, stranded vehicles shall be allowed to ply on NHW – 44.”
Srinagar-Sonamarg-Leh Highway Closed
Meanwhile, the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Leh highway has been closedfor the vehicular traffic after the area received fresh snowfall at the Zojilapass, officials said on Friday.
The BRO official said the Zojila pass is being experiencinga fresh spell of moderate snowfall over the past few days. “Almost 3-4 inchdeep snow has been recorded at Zojilla top, at 11,700 feet above the sealevel,” he said, adding a number of avalanches were triggered at various placesincluding two at Diyal slide. “The BRO personnel are on the job to clearthe slide as early as possible despite the bad weather conditions. Someavalanches have already been cleared at Paghal Nallah and other places at theZojilla top,” the official said.
Meanwhile, the traffic advisory said: “As many as 92vehicles carrying essential commodities are stranded at Sonmarg. In view of MeTprediction for rain and thunderstorms in J&K & Ladakh, blockade ofroad, “only stranded vehicles shall be allowed to ply on Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumari road, subject to fair weather and clearanceof road.”
Bandipora-Gurez Road thrown open
The 86-km Bandipora-Gurez Road was thrown open for themovement of vehicular traffic today after the snow clearance on it wascompleted by the Border Roads Organization. The Gurez Valley with a population of over 40,000 people remained cutoff due to the heavy snow accumulation at the Rajdhan pass, at an altitude of 11672 fts, since December last.
A BRO official said the summer snow clearance on theBandipora–Gurez road between Tragbal and Kanzelwan commenced on 2nd March amidextreme challenging conditions. The intermittent snowfall and the bone chillingwinds at the Rajdhan pass made things even worse for the snow clearance team.The snow in the sector at several places had record 35 feet depth. ( With inputs from Muhammad Taskeen inBanihal)