People in Kashmir woke up to heavy snowfall on Tuesday morning that enveloped the entire Valley in a thickening white blanket as snowfall continued throughout the day without a pause. The snowfall on the last day of the year 2013 disconnected the Valley from the outer world due to disruption in aerial and surface transport while the high danger avalanche warnings prevented people to venture out in upper reaches and plains.
The snowfall started past midnight after the Valley witnessed a bright sunny day on Monday. Officials in the meteorological department said that snowfall in different measures has been recorded in every nook and cranny of the Valley. The maximum snowfall was recorded in Gulmarg, Tulail, Sonamarg, Pahalgam and Shopian areas.
The heavy snowfall has disrupted power supply in most of the far-off areas. Most parts of the capital Srinagar also witnessed power-cuts. The residents quickly wrapped up the daily chores and retired to the confines of their houses. Skeletal traffic was seen on major roads connecting the city.
The 300-kilometer Srinagar-Jammu National Highway has been closed while the other vital roads—Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway, Mughal Road and Srinagar-leh highway have been already closed for vehicular traffic.
Officials said that no flight could operate from Srinagar International Airport due to poor visibility. The flights have been cancelled for Wednesday also. The lone train connecting Baramulla in north Kashmir with Banihal in Jammu region has been suspended.
The Kashmir University announced to postpone all examinations. The heavy snowfall also forced the authorities to suspected cross-loC trade activity on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Road.
The inclement weather has brought innumerable miseries to common people due to disruption of power supply and road connectivity.
A police spokesman said that police in Ganderbal “rescued” three youth who were buried under an avalanche in Kangan area. The youth had gone into the forest area for collecting firewood when they were hit by an avalanche. One of the buried persons was rescued after a gruelling effort for three hours and has been admitted in a premier medical institute. His condition is reported critical.
An official spokesman said that Minister for Higher Education Mohammad Akbar lone took stock of the situation arisen due to the heavy snowfall in the Valley. The minister stationed in Jammu directed the divisional administration of Kashmir to gear up men and machinery for ensuring snow clearance expeditiously from all main and link roads so that people do not suffer. He also directed them to ensure uninterrupted power and adequate drinking water supply.
However, a brighter part of the snowfall is that a huge number of foreign and domestic tourists have arrived to celebrate New Year in world-famous ski-resort of Gulmarg. The tourism department has made elaborate arrangements for the merrymakers at the hill resort that witnesses huge rush on the New Year eve. The cancellation of flights on the ultimate day of the year has, however, prevented hundreds of tourists to reach Kashmir.