A fresh spell of rain and snow affected normal life in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday with the day temperature sliding by 10 degrees Celsius as several stretches of the highways were hit by landslips and shooting stones.
Line of Control trade
According to the meteorological department, capital Srinagar recorded 17 mm rain all day, while north Kashmir’s Kupwara district witnessed the highest rainfall of 23 mm. It impacted the cross-Line of Control trade between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad in north Kashmir, while several areas in Srinagar witnessed water-logging.
“Landslides on the other side [of the LoC] have closed trade for Friday,” said Trade Facilitation Officer, Uri, Syed Ishfaq Andrabi.
Shooting stones
According to the Traffic department, there were reports of landslip at Gangroo, Panthyal and Sherbibi on the Srinagar National Highway, forcing closure of the 300-km highway connecting the Valley with the rest of the country. A police vehicle was badly damaged by shooting stones at Ramsoo on the highway.
Meanwhile, the Border Roads Organisation’s (BRO) move to reopen the 434-km Srinagar-Leh highway was affected. Fresh snowfall of around six inches in Sonamarg is likely to delay the scheduled opening by March 20, according to BRO officials.
Most upper reaches in the Valley, including Gulmarg, have received fresh snowfall.
According to the Met office, there will be more rains and snow up to March 19. “Leh will also receive light snow,” it said.
