Mughal Road closed for traffic; rains lash Jammu, fresh snowfall in higher reaches of Kashmir

STATE TIMES NEWS

Jammu: The Mughal road, which connects Shopian in the Kashmir Valley to Poonch of Jammu region, was closed for vehicular traffic following fresh snowfall in the high-altitude areas of the region, officials said on Thursday. The three-week dry spell in Kashmir ended with snowfall in the higher reaches of the Valley and rains in the plains. Most of the hills in various districts in the Jammu region also received fresh snowfall while the rains lashed Jammu city. The Mughal road has been blocked due to heavy snowfall in high-altitude areas between Poshana and Pir ki Gali area, officials said, adding no vehicle will be allowed to move towards the Valley from Poonch and Rajouri till the weather clears up. High altitude areas of Jammu region, particularly Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Reasi, Poonch, Rajouri and Kathua district, witnessed snowfall. Rains lashed Jammu city since Wednesday evening intensifying the cold, they said. Snowfall was recorded in Gulmarg in north Kashmir and Sonamarg in the early hours. The weather department has forecast more snowfall during the day. Most parts of the Valley, including Srinagar city, received light rains, they said. The rains have ended a three-week dry spell in the Valley which has resulted in a rise in cough and cold, especially among the children and elderly. However, the weather is expected to be dry for a week from Friday. The night temperature rose significantly at several places in the Valley with Gulmarg being the only weather station where the Mercury settled below the freezing point on Wednesday night. The minimum temperature in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, was 5.3 degrees Celsius while Qazigund recorded a low of 5 degrees Celsius. Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district recorded a low 1.5 degrees Celsius while the mercury in Gulmarg settled at minus 1 degree Celsius.