Incessant rainfall has caused the closure of key roads in Kashmir, leading to travel disruptions and a drop in temperatures throughout the valley. Both the Mughal road, connecting south Kashmir to the districts of Rajouri and Poonch, and the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri road, serving as a gateway to Ladakh, remained impassable on Sunday due to ongoing rainfall. The Jammu and Kashmir disaster management authority has issued an avalanche warning for four districts, namely Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, and Ganderbal, advising locals to stay clear of avalanche-prone zones at elevations above 3000 meters. The region experienced light to moderate overnight rain and snow from Saturday to Sunday, with the Meteorological department predicting similar conditions to persist into Monday. Overcast skies, intermittent rain or snow, isolated heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning, hail, and strong winds are expected, continuing into Tuesday with forecasts of light to moderate rainfall. The meteorological office recommends pausing agricultural activities until the end of April and warns of possible traffic interruptions over higher passes such as Zojila and Sinthan Pass, including Mughal Road and Razdan Pass. Low-lying areas might face waterlogging, and there could be a heightened risk of landslides, falling rocks, and a temporary increase in water levels in the Jhelum River and its tributaries. Temperature readings showed Srinagar at a minimum of 10.5°C, matching the previous night and slightly above the usual for this season. Pahalgam recorded a low of 6.3°C, an increase from 5.2°C the night before, while Kupwara registered 8.1°C, slightly cooler than its previous 8.5°C. Gulmarg observed a significant drop to 2.4°C from 4.8°C the prior night, which is below normal for the ski resort. The authorities have stated that no vehicle movement will be allowed on these roads until weather conditions stabilize and the roads are deemed safe for travel.
Kashmir’s Roads Remain Closed Amidst Ongoing Rain and Avalanche Warnings
