The weather in Kashmir showed signs of improvement on Sunday as air connectivity resumed and arterial routes barring the vital Srinagar-Jammu National Highway were cleared of snow. The normal life began limping back to normalcy and merrymakers hit the roads to reach Gulmarg in north Kashmir where accumulation of thick layers of snow have encouraged the authorities to begin the winter sports.
Barring the upper reaches where intermittent snowfall continued on Sunday, there was no heavy snowfall or rains in Srinagar and other plains since Saturday afternoon. The meteorological department has predicted light to moderate rains or snowfall at several places across the State till Monday. The authorities said that Srinagar-Jammu national highway remained cut-off for the third consecutive day due to heavy landslides at several places in Pir Panchal mountain range and Jawahar Tunnel area.
A traffic department official said that due to improvement in weather conditions the clearance work will be completed at the earliest and traffic movement will be allowed accordingly. He said the road clearance work was in full swing to restore normal traffic on the highway. Following completion of snow and landslide clearance, around 150 stranded vehicles were allowed to proceed from Banihal in Jammu province towards Srinagar. The traffic on Ramban-Udhampur road stretch has been restored and stranded vehicles are allowed to proceed on this stretch.
Airport Authority Director Sharad Kumar said that after two days suspension, all flights to and from Srinagar operated.
With little improvement in weather conditions, the people came out in large numbers in capital Srinagar mostly taking pictures along the Dal lake in the backdrop of snow-clad Zabarwan hills. Sources said that a large number of merrymakers reached Gulmarg where the season’s first major snowfall has brought back tourism activity after a lull of several months. The summer season was completely out of business for the tourism operators in the hill resort.
Meanwhile, roads leading to border areas including Karnah, Keran and Maachil in Kupwara district have been blocked due to snowfall. The authorities said the area is not facing dearth of essential commodities.