Srinagar, Mar 16: Most higher reaches of Kashmir received moderate to heavy snowfall, while the plains were lashed by rains, disrupting vehicular movement in some stretches, officials said on Monday.

Several vehicles got stuck following heavy snowfall along the Sinthan Top following which police and army carried out a rescue operation on Sunday night to evacuate 214 stranded tourists and locals, they said.

Officials said the tourist resorts of Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, Doodhpathri in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, and Sonamarg in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, received moderate snowfall.

They said the higher reaches, including Pir Ki Gali along the Mughal Road in Shopian district of south Kashmir, Zojilla axis, Gurez in north Kashmir’s Bandipora, Sadhna Top in north Kashmir’s Kupwara, and Sinthan Top, connecting Anantnag in south Kashmir to Kishtwar in Jammu region, received heavy snowfall.

Sadhna Top has received over 12 inches of fresh snowfall, while Sinthan Top around six inches, they added.

The officials said the snowfall has led to the closure of the vital road links in the valley, including the Gurez-Bandipora road, Sinthan-Kishtwar road, and the Mughal Road, the alternate road connecting the Kashmir Valley with the Jammu region.

They said vehicular movement has also been suspended on the Srinagar-Leh highway due to accumulation of snow at Zojila Pass.

The plains of the valley, including Srinagar, were lashed by rains which continued intermittently till Monday morning.

Srinagar city recorded 15.9 mm of rainfall over the last 24 hours.

Pahalgam tourist resort, which also serves as one of the base camps for the annual Amarnath Yatra, received 15.7 mm of rains.

The wet weather has brought down the temperatures across the valley.

Srinagar city recorded the maximum temperature of 11.5 degrees Celsius on Sunday, which was nearly four degrees lower than normal, the officials said.

The other weather stations across the valley also registered below normal temperatures.

The lower temperatures broke the trend of unusually higher day temperatures prevalent in the valley over the last few weeks.

The Meteorological Department has forecast erratic weather till March 20.

It said there is a possibility of a brief spell of light rain or snow in the higher reaches, at isolated places on Monday and Tuesday.

From March 18-20, the weather will remain generally cloudy with a possibility of intermittent light to moderate rain or snow at many places.

The MeT Office said another wet spells is likely on March 24-25, with light rain, or snow in the higher reaches, at scattered places.

It said there is a possibility of thunder or gusty winds, about 40-50 kmph, at a few places on Monday, and March 18-20.

The weather office has advised farmers to suspend farm operations till March 20.

Srinagar, Mar 16: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Satish Sharma on Monday said the government has around 21 days of fuel and essential commodity stock in Jammu and Kashmir and that kerosene supply has been restarted to ensure people do not face shortages.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Tulip Show by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Minister Sharma said the administration is closely monitoring supplies and will take strict action against those involved in black-marketing.

“We have sufficient stock for around 21 days. Some people have been found involved in black-marketing and whoever is found guilty—whether it is a petrol pump or gas agency their licence will be cancelled,” he said.

The minister said that although Jammu and Kashmir had earlier become a kerosene-free region, the government has now reintroduced kerosene supply to provide additional relief to consumers during the current situation.

“We were a kerosene-free state, but we have started kerosene distribution again, which will provide significant support to people,” he said.

He said the government’s priority is to ensure that essential commodities remain available and that people do not face difficulties.

“We are servants of the people. Anyone involved in adulteration or hoarding will face strict action, no matter how influential,” he said.

Commenting on the situation, the minister said peace should remain the priority and expressed hope that tensions would ease soon. “We want peace. Hate has always been defeated by love and we hope the situation ends soon,” he said.

Minister Sharma also said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah the government is committed to development and strengthening the region’s tourism sector.

Calling Kashmir “the Switzerland of India” he said the government expects a record tourist footfall this year, especially with the opening of the Tulip Garden.

“We hope tourists will arrive in record numbers and there will be no inconvenience to them. Our focus remains prosperity and progress,” he said.—(KNO)

Bandipora, Mar 15: The 85-km Bandipora-Gurez road was shut due amid inclement weather following light snowfall across higher reaches of the district, including Gurez Valley, on Sunday.

According to officials, low visibility and slippery conditions at Razdan Top, at an elevation of nearly 12,000 feet, prompted authorities to act beforehand to avoid any eventuality due to the dangerous conditions the road poses.

The Sub-Divisional Magistrate said, “The road is closed and will reopen once weather conditions improve.”

Meanwhile, residents of Gurez Valley said that the region, including Tulail, Dawar and Bagtore, was draped in a thin snow blanket, plunging temperatures further in the remote valley.

Notably, the Gurez–Bandipora road, which normally remains closed for months together, witnessed a closure of just over 20 days from January 23 to February 13.

It also recorded one of the quickest reopenings of the road in recent years by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which maintains the Gurez-Bandipora road.