Snow closes Mughal Road, Leh highway

Snowfall occurred in most of the hilly areas of Kashmir on Monday while plains received rainfall. The meteorological department has predicted widespread moderate rain/snow in the next 24 hours.

Because of the inclement weather, Mughal Road and Leh-Srinagar highway have been closed for traffic.

   

Snowfall occurred in Minimarg in Kargil, Gulmarg, Sadna Pass, Gurez, Z-Gali, Pir-Ki-Gali and other areas last night, MeT officials said. Pahalgam recorded 3 mm of snowfall, Gulmarg 3.2 mm, Kupwara 8.5 mm while Banihal received 18.1 mm of rain, Qazigund 5.2 and Kokernag 1.5mm.

Fresh snowfall prompted the authorities to close the 86-km-long Mughal road that connects Shopian in southern Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region.

An official said that more than a foot of snow has accumulated on a stretch of the road. However, at Peer-Ki-Gali, two-and-a-half feet thick blanket of snow has completely blocked the road. 

Deputy superintendent of police SurankoteReyaz Ahmed told Greater Kashmir there were no reports of any stranded passenger vehicle on the road. 

In a video message, the traffic police have also asked the people to avoid approaching the road. The police have also warned the people about shooting stones along the road, which increases the risk of accidents.

Deputy commissionerShopianDrOwais Ahmad appealed to the people to avoid travel on Mughal Road. 

“If someone wants to travel they should first contact the control room established at mini secretariat Shopian,” he said, adding: “For weather-related issues, people can contact district officials on 9419128895, 9596007111, 9596028060”.

The 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu highway, the only all weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the world, is open for one-way traffic.

AVALANCHE WARNING

Kashmir divisional administration has advised the people living in the higher reaches of Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts to avoid visiting avalanche-prone hilly slopes.

‘GOVT HAS PREPARED ACTION PLAN’

Divisional commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan said that the divisional administration is fully prepared to deal any kind of weather eventuality.

He said that after receiving weather advisory from the Indian Meteorological Centre, Rambagh Srinagar, keeping in mind the inclement weather conditions, the government had prepared a zone and location-wise action and management plan across Kashmir to prevent any kind of interruption in services due to the bad weather. 

Zonal teams from departments concerned have been constituted to meet any exigency during the inclement weather, he said.

Joint control rooms have been set up in every zone that will be monitored by the main control room established at every deputy commissioner’s office to review daily operations, Khan said.

“Men and machinery are also prepared to tackle any kind of eventuality. Essential commodities and medicines were already stocked in far-flung and cut off areas”, an official spokesman said in a statement.

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