Winter tightens grip on Kashmir

Srinagar, Dec 13: A day after parts of Kashmir witnessed the season’s first snowfall, temperatures across the Valley plummeted on Friday, heralding the onset of a cold wave even as the Meteorological Department (MeT) forecast frigid weather conditions at several locations over the next four days.Following snowfall in the higher reaches and certain plain areas, Kashmir recorded a significant drop in minimum temperatures overnight, the MeT officials said.Srinagar registered a bone-chilling low of minus 2 degrees Celsius, down from minus 0.5 degrees Celsius the previous night.Gulmarg skiing destination in north Kashmir emerged as the coldest spot in Kashmir, with the mercury plunging to a numbing minus 9.6 degrees Celsius, a sharp decline from the previous night’s minus 5.2 degrees Celsius.Pahalgam health resort in south Kashmir recorded its coldest night of the season at minus 9.4 degrees Celsius, a significant drop from minus 4.6 degrees Celsius reported earlier.Other areas across Kashmir also experienced a dip in temperatures.Qazigund, the gateway to Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 1.4 degrees Celsius.Kupwara in north Kashmir registered a minimum of minus 2.5 degrees Celsius while Kokernag in south Kashmir logged minus 1.8 degrees Celsius.The higher reaches of Kashmir, including popular tourist resorts like Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Tangmarg, and areas such as Gurez and the Zojila axis, received light to moderate snowfall on Thursday.Several plain areas in districts like Shopian, Pulwama, and Baramulla also witnessed light snowfall.The MeT has predicted dry weather conditions until December 21.However, the Valley is bracing for a further dip in temperatures, with many areas expected to experience a cold wave in the coming days.Sumit Bhargav reports from RajouriThe movement of all kinds of vehicles on the Mughal Road remained suspended for the second consecutive day as frost caused severe slippery conditions on Friday.Deputy SP Surankote, Ajaz Choudhary told Greater Kashmir that necessary snow clearance work was completed on Thursday evening but weather remained cloudy on Friday and frost-like conditions caused severe slip on road, making it impossible for vehicles to ply on it.“We kept the road closed for all kinds of vehicles on Friday,” he said.The Police officer said that the movement of vehicles could be allowed on Saturday but only if the situation improves, especially the slippery conditions.Irfan Raina reports from GanderbalAfter remaining closed for three days for traffic due to the recent snowfall, the Zojila Pass along the Srinagar-Leh National Highway reopened on Friday.An official said that the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) pressed its men and machinery into work on the Zojila Pass, which witnessed 1 foot of snow on Thursday, for snow clearance and completed the clearance work on Friday.The road was earlier closed as a precautionary measure while the road clearance work was started early Friday morning with the improvement in weather.An official said that after the road was cleared for traffic movement, some vehicles were allowed to move towards Sonamarg from Drass side on a trial basis.He said that some stranded vehicles were also allowed to move on Friday.The authorities have urged drivers to take precautions while travelling on the road and use anti-skid chains to avoid any accidents