Tourists enjoy inside a park during season’s first snowfall in Srinagar, December 27, 2024.
| Photo Credit: IMRAN NISSAR
The Kashmir valley received a spell of heavy snowfall on Friday, forcing the administration to raise an alert for the employees “to prepare for eventualities”. Meanwhile, the snowfall enforced the cancellation of all examinations being held by the Kashmir University on Saturday and disrupted traffic on many highways.
An official said multiple spells of snowfall were recorded in south, north, and central Kashmir, including summer capital Srinagar all day. It is the season’s first snowfall in the plains of the Valley this year, as December witnessed a dry spell and icy weather conditions due to sub-zero temperatures during the nights.
The fresh snowfall has closed many passes connecting the Kashmir valley with the outside world. The highways of Srinagar-Leh, Srinagar-Tangdhar, and Srinagar-Gurez have been impacted by the snowfall. Hundreds of vehicles were left stranded on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, which connects the Valley with the Jammu region.
Tourists enjoy during season’s first snowfall in Srinagar, December 27, 2024
| Photo Credit:
IMRAN NISSAR
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who drove from Jammu to Srinagar, termed the road conditions on the Srinagar-Jammu highway as “quite treacherous”. “I understand there are around 2000 vehicles stuck between the tunnel and Qazigund. My office has been in touch with the administration in South Kashmir. While snow clearance has been done the road is very icy. Heavy vehicles are being allowed to move and efforts are on to clear the rest of the stranded vehicles,” Mr. Abdullah said.
A spokesman of the Kashmir University announced the cancellation of examinations scheduled for December 28. “In view of inclement weather reported across Kashmir, all examinations of the University of Kashmir, scheduled to be held on Saturday (December 28, 2024) are postponed. Fresh dates for the postponed examinations will be notified separately,” the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, the snowfall brought excitement to hundreds of tourists visiting Kashmir to have a glimpse of white flakes coming down from the skies. Scores of tourists were seen filming videos in Srinagar and other tourist destinations of Pahalgam and Gulmarg.
However, in view of heavy snowfall and slippery road conditions, the District Magistrate of Baramulla, Minga Sherpa, barred heavy vehicles and passenger buses from moving beyond Tangmarg “to prevent accidents on the slippery road”.
“Light vehicles carrying essential commodities, passengers, and tourists will only be allowed if equipped with anti-skid chains,” a government order said.
Meanwhile, helplines are set up for tourists in any kind of distress in the Valley.
In Srinagar, snow clearance machinery, besides 120 dewatering pumps, has been pressed to meet any eventuality.
According to the meteorological department, there was a possibility of light snow over the Chenab Valley and the Pir Panjal range on December 28. The MeT predicted a decrease in snowfall in south and central Kashmir by the night.
Published – December 28, 2024 02:00 am IST
