Heavy snowfall disrupts normal life in valley, weather to improve from today

Srinagar: Heavy snowfall across Kashmir on Tuesday – third day of the ongoing wet spell – affected normal life as Kashmir remained cut-off from the outside world for the third consecutive day.

Amid heavy snowfall, the 270-kilometre Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remained closed while no flight operations could take place at the Srinagar International Airport.

With incessant snowfall, very few people could be seen out in the markets and a thin movement of traffic was witnessed on the roads.

The slippery road conditions due to the heavy snowfall made it difficult for people to commute.

Officials said snow clearance was underway, especially near hospitals and other important places. They said more than 200 snow clearance machines across the Valley were on the job but incessant heavy snowfall was making the clearance difficult.

The areas of north Kashmir, which had received comparatively less snowfall during the last two days, also recorded a moderate to heavy snowfall on Tuesday, affecting movement of traffic on key roads.

The ski-resort Gulmarg in Baramulla as per the MeT department received 1 to 2 feet of fresh snowfall.

Maximum impact of the snowfall was seen in south and central Kashmir where 2 to 3 feet was received in the plains.

Besides, the MeT officials said more than 3 feet deep snowfall in higher reaches was received till Tuesday evening.

The MeT Department said that the weather will improve from Wednesday afternoon. The cold wave conditions are likely to return as night temperatures are expected to fall once again.