The Kashmir Valley wore white on Saturday morning as a blanket of snow covered the entire region. But while heavy snowfall during the last 24 hours gave the valley a picturesque look, it snapped the region’s connectivity with other parts of the country.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) there has been heavy to light snowfall across Jammu and Kashmir in the last 24 hours with more snow expected during the next 24.
No flight landed or took off from Srinagar international airport on Saturday morning due to poor visibility and runway clearance problems.
The Srinagar-Jammu Highway, the Mughal Road, the Srinagar-Leh Highway and mountain passes leading to Gurez and Tangdhar were closed due to heavy snowfall.
The higher reaches, including Gulmarg, Sonamarg, the Pir Panjal mountains and Pahalgam received heavy snowfall.
Visuals showed transport trucks line up on closed-down highways.
The authorities moved out early to clear roads in Srinagar city and Gulmarg although inter district traffic between Srinagar and other districts remained suspended.
Electric supply in the urban and rural areas was disrupted because of the snowfall. Most parts of the Valley did not have electricity in the morning.
Srinagar recorded minus 1.3 degree Celsius, Pahalgam minus 2.8 and Gulmarg minus 7.3 as the minimum temperatures on Friday.
Leh town recorded minus 8 degree and Kargil minus 15.6.
Jammu city had 8.6, Katra 6.4, Batote minus 1.3, Bannihal 0.3 and Bhaderwah minus 0.2 as the night’s lowest temperatures.