The residents in Kashmir Valley heaved a sigh of relief on Sunday after a lull in snowfall, increase in day temperature and reopening of several vital routes including the 300-kilometer Srinagar-Jammu national highway. The Valley witnessed moderate to heavy snowfall during the past five days that wreaked havoc and caused massive damage to human life and property. At least 15 soldiers of the Indian Army including a Major and six civilians died in separate incidents related to the heavy snowfall.
The vital Srinagar-Jammu national highway remained closed for five days. On Sunday afternoon, the highway re-opened partially and more than 300 light motor passenger vehicles stranded at Batote, Ramban and Chanderkote were allowed to move towards Kashmir.
The authorities, however, disallowed traffic movement from Srinagar towards Jammu region. Authorities said that hundreds of load carriers with essential commodities, petroleum products including cooking gas and other essentials are already on way to augment the stocks in Kashmir.
Defence sources said that the mortal remains of 14 soldiers who were buried under two snow avalanches in Gurez sector of north Kashmir could not be airlifted on the fourth consecutive day due to bad weather.
The Indian Air Force Mi-17 choppers made abortive sorties but the packed weather in the Gurez area disallowed the helicopters to land in the cut-off area. The only road-link to Gurez remains cut-off during winter months due to heavy accumulation of snow.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has predicted light to moderate rain or snowfall in the Valley during the night intervening January 29 and 30. The department has predicted chances of improvement in weather on February 1 and 2. Another spell of moderate to heavy snowfall is likely to occur between February 4-6.
The divisional administration has issued medium danger avalanche warning for hilly and avalanche prone areas of Kashmir and Kargil district.