- Four-day wet spell compensates 50 pc rainfall deficit in J&K
- Doda, Rajouri receive heavy snowfall; Jammu Rivers near flood alert level
- Over 200 HMVs stranded at Qazigund
SAHIL VERMA
Jammu, Feb 28: Inclement weather has shut the strategic Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri road connecting Ladakh due to snow accumulation, while flight operations at Srinagar International Airport were also affected on Friday, officials said.
In Jammu region, Doda and Rajouri districts received much-anticipated snowfall after a prolonged dry spell, leading to a significant temperature drop and bringing relief to farmers. The Gandoh Bhalessa Mountains in Doda were transformed into a winter wonderland. Elevated areas of the Pir Panjal mountain range also received snowfall, attracting tourists, while lower areas experienced rainfall. Popular tourist destinations such as Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam received fresh snowfall, delighting visitors.
Srinagar and other parts of the Kashmir Valley experienced light to moderate snowfall overnight, disrupting normal life. “All morning flights are running late due to bad weather at Srinagar International Airport,” said Airport Director Javid Anjum.
Traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar highway is blocked due to snow accumulation between Ramsoo and Qazigund, as well as landslides and mudslides between Nashri and the NAVYUG Tunnel.
Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Rural Kashmir, Ravinder Pal Singh, reported that over 200 Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) are stranded on the Qazigund side of the highway. Restoration efforts are underway on a war footing, but authorities have advised travelers to avoid the route until further notice. Stranded vehicles will be cleared first, with Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) given priority, followed by HMVs.
Several other roads, including Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag, Mughal Road, Bhaderwah-Chamba, and Batote-Doda, also remain closed due to snowfall and landslides. The Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri road connecting Ladakh is also blocked. Jammu and Kashmir Traffic Police confirmed these closures in an update posted on X. Train services were partially affected due to snow accumulation, while the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has deployed personnel and machinery to clear the highways.
The weather continued to disrupt life for the fourth consecutive day in Kashmir, with heavy snowfall in higher reaches and light to moderate snowfall in the plains. The Meteorological Centre Srinagar reported that Gulmarg received the highest snowfall at 60 cm, followed by Pahalgam with 23 cm, Qazigund with 17 cm, Kupwara with 15 cm, and Srinagar with 3.4 cm. In Ladakh, Kargil, Drass, and Zanskar recorded 30 cm of snowfall, while Leh, Khalsi, Sospul, Nubra, and other areas received 5-10 cm.
The MeT office predicted generally cloudy weather with light to moderate rain and snow in Jammu and Kashmir, with isolated heavy snowfall over the Jammu division. Weather conditions are expected to improve from the afternoon in Kashmir, from the late afternoon in South Kashmir, and by evening in the Chenab Valley. Light rain and snow may occur at scattered locations over the next two days, with moderate rain and snow likely on March 3. Dry weather is expected from March 4 to 8.
The maximum temperature in Kashmir remained 3 to 6°C below normal, while Jammu experienced temperatures 4 to 7°C below normal. Srinagar recorded a sub-zero temperature, 1°C below normal, with a daytime high of 6.5°C, 5.5°C below normal. The minimum night temperature also dropped 2 to 4°C below normal in Jammu and Kashmir, with Gulmarg recording -2.0°C and Bhaderwah -0.2°C.
The ongoing wet spell has reduced Jammu and Kashmir’s precipitation deficiency by 50%, raising the water level of the Jhelum River and other water bodies by 3-4 feet. The Meteorological Centre Srinagar reported that the cumulative precipitation from February 25-28 reduced the region’s precipitation deficit from 80% to 42%. Gulmarg recorded the highest snow depth of 113 cm, followed by Sonamarg with 75 cm. Srinagar recorded 30.5 mm of precipitation in the last 24 hours, while Batote received 163.7 mm, the highest among all districts, followed by Katra (118 mm) and Banihal (100 mm).
With the overall deficit reduced to 42% since January 1, 2025, Kulgam recorded the highest remaining deficit at 69%, followed by Shopian and Srinagar at 64% each. Rajouri and Udhampur reported the lowest deficit, at just 3% and 4% respectively. Samba remains the only district with near-normal precipitation, receiving 91.5 mm against the expected 91.6 mm.
The Jhelum River has seen a rare rise of 3-4 feet in water level over the past three months. Independent weather forecaster Faizan Arif Keng noted that heavy rainfall in Jammu has also raised the water levels of the Tawi River and other streams, nearing alert levels. “Residents should exercise caution and avoid riverbanks until conditions improve,” he warned.
Despite the snowfall, the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) confirmed that 11th-class exams would proceed as scheduled. However, the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) postponed its 1st semester examinations, stating that fresh dates would be announced later.
MeT predicts more snow, rains till Mar 3
Srinagar, Feb 28: Weatherman on Friday predicted that Jammu and Kashmir would receive more rain and snow till March 3.
Director Meteorological Department (MeT), Dr Mukhtar Ahmad said, “There is a forecast of light rain and snow at isolated to scattered places till March 2 while light to moderate rain and snow is expected at many places on March 3.”
“The weather will remain generally dry in J&K from March 4 to March 8,” he added.
Meanwhile, in its advisory, the MeT said that temporary disruption of surface transportation is expected mainly over Sadhna pass, Razdan Pass, Sonamarg-Zojila-Gumri axis, Mughal Road, Sinthan pass & other major roads of hilly districts in the coming days.
Tourists, travelers and transporters are advised to plan accordingly & follow administration and traffic advisory, it reads, adding that the farmers are advised to suspend irrigation & other farm operations.
Landslides, mudslides and shooting stones at vulnerable places, it reads and added that there is a possibility of snow avalanches over higher reaches.
12 rescued from flash floods in Ujh, Niki Tawi
Jammu, Feb 28: A joint team of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and police successfully rescued 11 labourers trapped in a flood at a construction site on the Ujh River in Kathua on Friday morning, officials said.
SDRF Inspector Mohd Iqbal stated, “Early in the morning, 11 labourers/employees of Megha Construction Company got trapped in the flood at a construction site at Ujh River. A police team from Rajbagh, along with SDRF, reached the spot and rescued all of them.”
The rescued labourers were safely moved to secure locations.
Meanwhile, a dumper driver trapped in a flash flood in Niki Tawi near Shiva Stone Crusher was successfully rescued by Jammu and Kashmir Police in Jammu District along with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) in a swift operation early this morning.
A police official said around 5:40 AM, Satwari Police Station received information that a dumper had been submerged due to a sudden rise in water levels. Accordingly, he said, senior officers were immediately alerted, and Rescue Operation Rudder was launched.
With coordinated efforts, Jammu and Kashmir Police and SDRF successfully rescued the driver from the middle of the river, the police official said. Later, he was provided first aid and taken to Phallian Mandal Police Post for further care, he said.
