Weather improves in Kashmir after day of heavy snowfall, flights resume at Srinagar airport

 Efforts underway to restore traffic on Srinagar-Jammu NH, other key roads post snowfall, J-K Police helps people in distress across Kashmir amid heavy snowfall

Srinagar:After a day of widespread snowfall, gusty winds and rain, the weather improved in Kashmir on Saturday even though night temperatures were seen below the freezing point across the valley, officials said.Some areas, especially in the higher reaches of Kashmir, received intermittent snowfall and rains till late Friday night, the officials said.On Friday, most parts of Kashmir received a major snowfall, with the first snowfall of the season, though light, in parts of Srinagar. The officials said that in the past 24 hours, moderate to heavy snowfall was recorded at most places of the valley, especially in the higher reaches, while the plains received light to moderate snow.

There has been an improvement in the weather since Saturday morning, the officials said, adding, however, that the Meteorological Department has forecast light rain and snow at isolated places on Saturday and Sunday.Another western disturbance is likely to impact Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, under the influence of which, light to moderate rain/snow is likely at most places, with the possibility of heavy spells with thunder/gusty winds at a few places, from Monday night to Tuesday forenoon, the officials said.

Afterwards till February 3, the weather is likely to stay mainly dry, but partly cloudy.Meanwhile, the night temperature in Srinagar settled at a low of minus 1.4 degrees Celsius on Friday night, the officials said. At the Srinagar airport, flight operations, which were suspended due to heavy snowfall before, resumed after snow was removed from the runway.Gulmarg, in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, was the coldest recorded place in Jammu and Kashmir at a low of minus 12.0 degrees Celsius, they said.

The tourist resort of Sonamarg, in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, was the second coldest recorded place at minus 10.5 degrees Celsius.The Pahalgam tourist resort in south Kashmir, which also serves as one of the base camps for the annual Amarnath Yatra, recorded a low of minus 7.6 degrees Celsius, the officials said.The minimum temperature in Qazigund, the gateway town of the Valley, settled at minus 4.2 degrees Celsius, while Kokernag recorded a low of minus 6.2 degrees Celsius and Kupwara minus 4.0 degrees Celsius, they added.

The Kashmir Valley is currently under the influence of ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’, a 40-day period of extreme cold during which night temperatures often drop several degrees below the freezing point, and the chances of snowfall are the highest.’Chilla-i-Kalan’, which began on December 21 last year, ends on January 30.Massive road clearance operations were underway to restore traffic on the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway and other key roads which remained closed for the second day on Saturday due to slippery conditions at different stretches following snowfall, officials said.

Hundreds of commuters were evacuated to safety and provided food and shelter by the Army, police and civil administration after they were left stranded on the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, the only all weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, the officials said.Deputy Superintendent of Police, traffic National highway (Banihal), S P Singh said snow clearance operations on NH44 are in the final stages and the stranded vehicles on both sides will be cleared on priority.

While over 900 vehicles are stranded in Ramban sector of the highway, over 2,000 others, including trucks carrying essential commodities, are waiting for a green signal to move towards their destinations in Jammu, Udhampur, Kulgam and Anantnag districts.“Some stretches of the highway along Ramsoo-Banihal sector are slippery, and the road clearing agencies are sprinkling salt and urea on the road to improve conditions for safe driving,” the DSP said, adding that normal traffic is likely to resume once the stranded vehicles are cleared.

Amid unprecedented snowfall and extreme weather conditions affecting the NH-44 axis, Army once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, extending timely support to stranded people, including tourists.Troops from Nachlana Army camp responded swiftly to multiple distress situations caused by heavy snowfall, road blockages and sub-zero temperatures, an army officer said.

He said several vehicles carrying civilians and tourists were stranded along NH-44, leaving elderly persons, women, children and men exposed to harsh weather without adequate food, water or medical support.Army personnel immediately reached the affected people and provided food, drinking water, hot tea and essential medical first aid, ensuring safety and relief to all those in need, the official said.

In a parallel operation, 32 martial arts cadets of Warriors Taekwondo Academy, accompanied by their coaches and parents, were stranded near Nachlana due to sudden and intense snowfall.“With no access to food, water or shelter, the group faced severe hardship especially the young children. Demonstrating compassion and professionalism, Army troops evacuated them to Nachlana Camp, where they were provided warm meals, drinking water, first aid, warm clothing and safe accommodation until weather conditions improved and snowfall subsided,” the official said.

On a distress call from stranded passengers and local railway officials at Sangaldan Railway Station, the official said Army troops from Sangaldan Army Camp braved snow to provide essentials to 65 stranded passengers on Friday.A traffic department official said besides Jammu-Srinagar national highway, the traffic on Mughal road, Sinthan top road, Srinagar-Leh national highway and dozens of other roads in various districts also remained suspended in view of the snowfall.

“People are advised not to travel on these roads until they are completely restored and declared safe for traffic,” the official said.The Border Roads Organization (BRO) is also carrying out a major snow clearance operation to restore Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch National Highway.The strategically important highway is closed between BG of Rajouri and Jarran Wali Gali of Poonch after heavy snowfall on Friday, a BRO official saidHe said the men and machinery of BRO is working tirelessly to restore the road and throw it open for traffic.

The high altitude areas in most parts of Jammu region including the famous tourist destinations of Patnitop, Nathatop and Bhaderwah experienced moderate to heavy snowfall on Friday, while rains in plains including Jammu city ended a dry spell that lasted over two months. Some areas of Jammu like Rajouri town and parts of Doda and Udhampur witnessed snowfall after a gap of more than a decade.Police on Friday provided prompt assistance to people in distress across Kashmir, including pregnant women and patients, amid heavy snowfall in the valley.

In central Kashmir’s Budgam district, Police Station Khag received a distress call regarding a pregnant woman from Kokerbagh who had developed severe pain and required immediate medical attention. Acting promptly, a team rushed to the location and safely evacuated the woman to Khag Hospital for medical treatment, a police spokesperson said.In another instance, Police Station Charar-i-Sharief responded swiftly to the request for the urgent shifting of a pregnant woman. The police team evacuated her to the nearest healthcare facility for necessary medical care.

Furthermore, Police Post Pakherpora received information about nomadic families stranded near Nallah Sangerwani due to heavy snowfall. A police team reached the spot and safely relocated the families to Government Middle School, Pakherpora.About 70 km away, in Kulgam district, a distress call from Uppermunda, Qazigund, was received for assistance, stating that one woman and her newborn baby were stuck on the way at Chango Crossing and the family members were unable to bring them home because of incessant snowfall and slippery roads.

A police team was constituted and, despite adverse weather conditions, shifted the woman and her newborn baby on foot to their residential place at Uppermunda Gujjar Basti, Qazigund.In a separate case, police received a call for help that a pregnant woman residing in Rangtraji (Widkhud) Devsar needed immediate medical attention. Subsequently, a police party rushed to the spot and evacuated her to PHC Devsar on foot for medical treatment, the police spokesperson said.In south Kashmir’s Shopian, police helped a COPD patient in need of oxygen.