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Sonamarg- Zojjila road closed after fresh snowfall
A Day after the Jammu and Kashmir parts witnessed rains in plains and snow in hilly areas, weather department on Tuesday forecasted dry weather with intermittent light to moderate rain/snow over higher reaches in the region between 14-17 Oct.
A MeT official told Ground Report that there is no major forecast of rain or snowfall in the valley till 14th of this month saying that the summer capital Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 26.5°C and minimum of 9.5 °C and also recorded 16.7 MM of rainfall during the last 24 hours.
Earlier on Monday world famous ski-resort, north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, Banihal area and other places of J&K received fresh snowfall, while the rains lashed plains of Kashmir, bringing down the temperature.
Meanwhile, the strategic Sonamarg- Zojjila road has been closed after the upper reaches of Zojila in Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir received fresh snowfall on Tuesday.
A news wire KNO reported that officials said that keeping in view the slippery condition and fresh snowfall, the Sonamarg - Zojjila road has been closed as a precautionary measure.
It said that the Kargil Police wrote on X that due to fresh snowfall & slippery road conditions at Zojilla Pass of NH-1D, traffic has been stopped at Minimarg & Sonamarg. Traffic will be restored once the weather improves.
Notably, the valley this year grappled with the hot weather conditions this summer with water volume in the water bodies going down by 75%.
The hot weather conditions this summer witnessed such a significant drop in the water level in the river Jhelum that it’s shores became visible with distressing pictures of houseboats on it’s dry shores.
The partial drying up of water bodies too left the local population in a state of perplexity and despair as the dry weather conditions invited water scarcity in the region.
Relying heavily on precipitation as its primary water source, Kashmir over the past few years has witnessed a significant decline in rainfall patterns, leading to a prolonged dry spell.
Srinagar last month recorded the season’s second-highest day temperature during the last 132 years.
According to the MeT officials, Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 34.2°C, which was 6.0°C above normal. This was the 2nd highest maximum temperature ever recorded in September since 1891.
The MeT officials added that it had broken the 53-year-old record of 33.8°C recorded on 01 September 1970.
Keep reading
- Jammu and Kashmir facing worst impact of climate change
- Climate Change impacts: Kashmir’s agri and horti sectors at risk
- Climate change leaves Kashmir villages without water
- Climate Change: Impact of Untimely Snowfall on Nomads of Kashmir
- Why are Sheep dying in Kashmir?
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