In Pics: Untimely Snowfall Brings Kashmir Valley to Grinding Halt

“In the last two decades, it was only the fourth time that it has snowed in Srinagar in November with 2009, 2008 and 2004 being the earlier instances,” a MeT official said.

(Photo: Muneeb-Ul-Islam/The Quint)

Road and air links between the Kashmir Valley and rest of the country were snapped on Saturday, 3 November, as Srinagar witnessed snowfall in November for the first time since 2009.

"In the last two decades, it was only the fourth time that it has snowed in Srinagar in November with 2009, 2008 and 2004 being the earlier instances," an official of the MeT Department had said.

Locals claim the area has seen such a heavy snowfall after more than four decades, catching them unprepared.

As a result, several trees were uprooted. This affected the electricity connections across Kashmir. The National highway was also closed, leading to traffic and choking points all along it.

The Jammu-Srinagar national highway was opened for one-way traffic on Sunday, 4 November, a day after being closed due to heavy snowfall and landslides, and over 700 stranded commuters were rescued overnight from the Jawahar tunnel area, officials said.

The snowfall in the inhabited areas, ranging from three inches to over three feet, was recorded in different areas of the district.

In addition, 1,000 civilians, who were stuck in other parts of the highway, were also provided food and shelter in Banihal by police and the civil administration, a police official said.

Anita Sharma, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Ramban, said stranded passengers who were evacuated from the Jawahar tunnel area and brought to Banihal late Saturday night, were allowed to move towards Jammu on Sunday.

According to the police officials, clearance operation are still underway at some areas of the highway.

The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, the only all weather road linking the Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country, was reopened for one-way traffic on Sunday afternoon.

About four feet of snow had accumulated on the ground in Peer Ki Gali area over the past couple of days. 

Over 120 people, mostly truckers, were rescued after they got stranded in the high altitude area on Saturday.

Regarding restoration of road connectivity, the governor was told that all inter-district roads have been restored.

Normal life was disrupted the Kashmir valley and parts of Jammu region experienced moderate to heavy snowfall on Saturday.

A large number of fruit-laden apple trees in Kashmir have either been uprooted or their stems have broken due to heavy snowfall on Saturday.

The snowfall added to the troubles of farmers whose trees have got damaged in the recent snowfall.

Governor Satya Pal Malik took stock of the situation arising due to heavy snowfall and ordered immediate restoration of essential services in the affected areas on Sunday.

(With inputs from PTI)