With the improvement in weather after three days, Srinagar-Leh highway and Bandipora-Gurez road was re-opened for traffic after snow fall blocked them early this week.
The Sun came out in Kashmir valley after three days bringing some respite to the people from continuous chill and icy weather conditions. However, in the afternoon chilly conditions returned to the Valley.
Both the day and night temperatures in the summer capital of the State saw some improvement. This gave some relief to the people as the entire Kashmir valley has been reeling under intense cold wave conditions since November 8.
After improvement in weather, the authorities re-opened the Srinagar-Leh highway and Bandipora-Gurez road for vehicular traffic today. Both these routes had to be closed for the traffic on the evening of November 8 due to the snowfall and slippery conditions at some of the places.
The Zojila area on the Srinagar-Leh highway had witnessed heavy snowfall and, as a result, the highway connecting Kashmir with Ladakh division had to be closed. The Bandipora-Gurez road was also closed for vehicular traffic as some of the areas witnessed heavy snowfall and the road became slippery.
An official of the Meteorological department said that the weather conditions were normal in Kashmir valley on Friday. He said that no report of fresh rain or snowfall has come from any place of the Valley today adding that higher reaches of the Valley also witnessed normal weather conditions.
"In Srinagar the day temperature was recorded as 14.2 degrees Celsius while as the minimum temperature was 7.5 degrees Celsius. Jammu recorded a maximum temperature of 30.0 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature 18.0 degrees Celsius," said the MeT official.
He said that weather is expected to remain dry in Kashmir valley over the next 24 hours adding that isolated places may receive light rains or snowfall.
At the same time, the civil authorities have asked the Air Force officials to make necessary arrangements to ferry the civilians stranded at Srinagar and Jammu due to the closure of Srinagar-Leh highway. They have been asked to make arrangements for future as well so that people who get stranded at Srinagar and Jammu due to flight cancellations to Kargil are ferried as the winter season had already set in.
"Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon today directed all the stakeholders to take necessary steps so that passengers of areas like Kargil, Zanskar, Leh and Gurez that remain cut-off due to heavy snowfall; do not face any difficulty, especially in the event of flight cancellations due to bad weather. The Kargil Courier service would operate between Srinagar-Kargil on every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and between Kargil-Jammu on every Tuesday," said Aamir Ali, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) with Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir.
Aamir said that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has already been signed with Ministry of Defence under which AN-32 Kargil Courier service would be operated between Srinagar-Kargil and Kargil-Jammu. He said under the MoU MI-17 Air Force flights between Bandipora-Gurez and Kargil-Zanskar would be operated.
"State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) has been directed to make adequate arrangements for transportation of passengers from Kargil House Bemina to Srinagar airport and back. Director, Airports Authority of India, Srinagar has been directed to make necessary arrangements at Srinagar airport," said Aamir.
He said instructions have been given to Deputy Commissioners concerned to deploy Liaison Officers for operationalization of the air service between Kargil-Zanskar and Bandipora-Gurez. He said tickets would be issued on first come first serve basis and priority shall be given to ladies, old persons, infants and patients.
Aamir has been nominated as the overall nodal officer and he has been authorized to liaise and coordinate with State Civil Aviation Department and IAF authorities, on behalf of Divisional Administration Kashmir, for day to day matters related to AN-32 Kargil Courier service and MI-17 flights.
UNI adds from Shimla:
High reaches of Himachal Pradesh experienced a heavy snowfall snapping terrestrial link with Leh in Jammu and Kashmir and Pangi in Chamba district of the State during past 24 hours.
Official spokesman of Lahaul-Spiti district administration Sher Singh said that since last night Manali-Leh highway was blocked for vehicular traffic as Baralacha Passes had heavy spell of snowfall.
However 13050 ft high, Rohtang pass was still open for traffic recorded about 15 cm snowfall. Lady of Keylong, Seven sister's hill and Petsio in district reported fresh spell of snowfall.
Road link of Pangi subdivision in Chamba district also snapped with rest of nation as Sachpass received recorded about 3 ft thick snowfall, while life is also out of gear in Bharmour, Churaha and Chamba sub-division.
Snowfall also hampered search operation launched by Indian Air Force (IAF) to find wreckage and black box of MIG 29 crashed on Oct 18 in the Chokhang hills of Thirot village in Lahaul Spiti district at altitude of 15000 to 20000ft.
Tisa in Chamba district registered 6 mm rainfall, Keylong and tourist resort Manali 1 mm each, Saloni and Manali -1 each rainfall.
Minimum temperature improved in the State, as Bhuntar in Kullu, Dharamshalla in Kangra, Shimla and Sundernagar in Mandi recorded 13 degree Celsius each, Kalpa in Kinnuar 7.5 degrees, Una 15 degrees, Mandi 14.7 degrees, Nahan in Sirmour 16 degrees, Keylong 5.6 degrees, Palampur in Kangra 15.5 degrees and Solan 10 degrees, respectively.
The MeT Office forecast mainly dry weather in the State during next 24 hours.
