Rains in plains, light snow in higher reaches

Srinagar, Mar 11: The southern districts including Kulgam and Shopian Monday experienced a fresh snowfall while as the rains lashed plains since the wee hours of this morning, bringing the temperature further down.
The local Meteorological (MeT) department however predicted improvement in the weather conditions from Tuesday morning.
Deputy Director MeT Mukhtar Ahmad said that light snowfall occurred in higher reaches in South Kashmir.
He added that as per the predictions, light rains and snow would occur today at isolated places including plains across the Valley.
Ahmad added that MeT is predicting improvement in the weather conditions from tomorrow (Tuesday) morning till March 18.
However, he said according to the prediction, there is possibility of light rains across the Valley and snowfall in Gulmarg and Sonamarg areas in between Mar 13-14 especially on Mar 14.
He said the weather in between these days would remain mostly cloudy.
Meanwhile, landslides blocked the strategic Jammu-Srinagar Highway in Ramban district on Monday as the high-altitude areas experienced fresh snowfall.
The landslide struck the 270-km highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the world, at Kharpora near Banihal around 1.40 pm, forcing suspension of traffic which was plying from Srinagar to Jammu, they said.
Despite incessant rains, they said the concerned agency pressed men and machines to remove the debris from the road to make it traffic worthy once again.
“Traffic movement on 12.03.2019 on Jammu-Srinagar NHW-44. Subject to fair weather and road condition only stranded vehicles shall be allowed from Srinagar towards Jammu,” a traffic police spokesperson said.
The traffic on the highway plies alternatively from the twin capital cities owing to the ongoing four-lane project.
The officials said the peripheral areas of Banihal, including the Jawahar Tunnel – the gateway to Kashmir, besides several other high-altitude areas including the famous ski resort of Patnitop and Kud witnessed fresh snowfall, engulfing the region in renewed cold.
The winter capital Jammu and other plains were also lashed by rains since Monday morning, resulting in considerable drop in the mercury.