Traffic continue on national highway after fresh snowfall

8MeT expecting more rain, snowfall

Tahir Mushtaq

RAMBAN, Feb 7: Many parts of district Ramban received fresh snowfall, ending the dry spell, with the Srinagar- Jammu National Highway being closed for some time due to bad weather.

The 300 km arterial highway, the only road link which connects the Valley with rest of the country, especially in the areas around Jawahar Tunnel and Patnitop forced its closure.

"The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway has been re-opened for traffic which was earlier closed due to snowfall," a spokesman of the Traffic Police department said.

There was snowfall in many areas across the district Ramban including Pogal Paristan, Gool, Patnitop besides other parts of state like Baderwah, Gulmarg, Sonmarg, Pahalgam during the night. Banihal, the gateway town to Kashmir Valley in south, received 4 inches snow in upper reaches and 6 inches at Jawahar Tunnel.

However more than 150 passenger and load carrier vehicles were stranded for several hours across at both sides of Jawahar Tunnel, moreover Banihal Qazigund-Baramulla train continuing its services during the fresh snowfall and the stranded passengers enjoying while travelling by train.

Jammu Kashmir is currently under the grip of 'Chillai- Bachei' the 16-day harshest winter period after 40 days of Chillai Kalan which begins on December 21 every year.

While talking to Early Times Director Metrology Department Sonam Lotus said "We are expecting moderate rainfall across the state and snowfall at upper reaches in valley from 10 February night to 13 February".