Heavy snowfall blocks Jammu-Srinagar highway

Kashmir was on Monday covered with a 'white blanket' as heavy snowfall continued all over the valley, including the tourist resorts of Gulmarg and Pahalgam, and forced the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, official sources said in Srinagar.

The 300-km Jammu-Srinagar highway was closed for vehicular traffic after heavy snowfall around Jawahar Tunnel at Qazigund area blocked the road, the sources said.

While the tourist resort of Pahalgam recorded five feet of snowfall, the world-famous skiing resort of Gulmarg received four feet of snowfall, they said.

Snowfall started in the valley on Sunday with Baramulla, Pulwama, Anantnag and other major towns receiving a substantial amount, while a mix of rain and snow briefly lashed Srinagar, the sources said.

However, snowfall resumed overnight and a few inches of snow accumulated in the summer capital of the state, they said.

Moderate snowfall was continuing across the valley till reports last came in, they said.

Meanwhile, the state government said men and machinery were geared up to ensure that all routes, including the national highway, remain open for traffic.

A meeting of the disaster management group was convened by Divisional Commissioner (Kashmir) Basharat Ahmed to review snow clearance operations and preparedness to meet any eventuality in the event of heavy snowfall in the valley.