Snowfall disrupts rail, road traffic

Fresh snowfall and light rains in Jammu and Kashmir prompted suspension of train services and closure of the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri (SSG) road on Thursday.

- Ashiq Hussain

SRINAGAR: The weather office has predicted more bouts of snowfall between January 20 and 23 besides spells of wet weather, especially in the higher reaches of the valley, soon.

The Himalayan valley received fresh snowfall in many parts, including in the tourist resorts of Pahalgam and Kokernag in south Kashmir, Sonamarg in central Kashmir and Gurez in north Kashmir.

The meteorological centre in Srinagar said that higher reaches of the Valley in various districts experienced snowfall in the morning while the plains including summer capital Srinagar received light snowfall and rains. Jammu areas, including Pir Panjal range and Chenab valley, also experienced fresh snowfall.

Officials said the Banihal-Baramulla train services were suspended owing to the accumulation of significant snowfall on the tracks, particularly in south Kashmir areas.

The traffic on 270-km Srinagar-Jammu national highway was running but with a slow pace.

"Traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) is moving from both sides but with a slow pace because of heavy snowfall in Qazigund-Anantnag sector and Banihal side around Navyug tunnel," the traffic police said in an update on 'X'.