The authorities on Thursday closed down Srinagar-Jammu National Highway for vehicular traffic following incessant rainfall in the region. The entire Kashmir Valley is reeling under a renewed winter-like situation after heavy rainfall in plains and snowfall in the upper reaches triggered a cold wave.
The Meteorological department has predicted moderate to heavy rainfall in the region for the next two days. The rainfall restarted after a daylong lull on Wednesday when a bright sunshine warmed up the surroundings. The weather took a turn on Monday afternoon after a prolonged dry spell during the actual winter months between mid-December and February-end.
A moderate snowfall was observed in famed hill stations of Gulmarg and Sonamarg while some vital roads in north Kashmir got blocked due to landslides and shooting stones.
The authorities said that vital 300-kilometer Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was closed for vehicular movement following massive landslides in some areas between Jawahar Tunnel and Ramsoo.
They said the incessant rainfall triggered landslides and hampered clearance work compelling the traffic managers to halt the vehicular movement. Two persons died and three others went missing when a vehicle on way to Jammu from south Kashmir’s Shopian district when their vehicle skidded off the road and plunged into Bishlari nullah.
The vehicles from Srinagar to Jammu were allowed to ply despite the advisory until all vehicles were cleared off the landslide-prone areas. The vehicles had left Srinagar in the morning. The authorities ensure that least number of passenger vehicles is stranded on the highway. No vehicle was allowed to proceed towards Srinagar.
Sources said that more than 600 trucks were stranded on the highway.
The officials have also closed Batote-Doda-Kishtwar highway, which was reopened earlier this week following a prolonged blockade due to landslides. The treacherous road is one of the most dangerous routes in the region, prone to worst road accidents.
The fresh snowfall in Sonamarg Zoji la region is likely to postpone re-opening of Srinagar-leh National Highway. The highway normally opens in mid-April but this year the authorities were confident to re-open it by the end of March due to less accumulation of snow in the area.
The continuous rainfall forced the local residents to resume the use of woolens and electric gadgets.
The Met department has predicted continued rainfall for the two days due to western disturbances. For several years, March has recorded maximum rainfall among all months of the year.
However, the drop in temperature is not a good sign for the almond and mustard crops. The bloom in mustard fields and almond alcoves had occurred a few days ahead of the normal schedule, primarily due to warmer winter in the region. The authorities even threw open famed Tulip Garden on Monday after some tulip varieties bloomed.