Snowfall cuts air, road traffic to Indian-controlled Kashmir

Fresh snowfall in upper reaches and plains Tuesday affected air and surface traffic to Indian-controlled Kashmir, thereby disrupting the normal life of residents, officials said. The snowfall began Monday and was going on incessantly since then in all colder places of Indian-controlled Kashmir, including Srinagar city, the summer capital. Officials at Srinagar airport said air traffic got disrupted due to poor visibility and continuous snowfall. "Due to uninterrupted snowfall and bad weather, no flight could land or take off from the airport since morning," said a senior official at Srinagar airport. The cancellation of flights has affected many passengers, who were seen returning back from the airport. Reports pouring in from various districts said accumulation of snow on roads has affected the inter-district transport. The snow has blanketed rooftops, trees and fields. The accumulation of snow at Jawahar tunnel has led to the closure of the 294 km long Srinagar-Jammu highway -- the only road link connecting Muslim majority areas of the region to the winter capital of Jammu and Indian states. Likewise, a heavy snowfall was recorded near Zojila Pass, 3,630 meters above sea level. The 434 km Srinagar-Leh road is the only road link connecting Ladakh division with the rest of Indian- controlled Kashmir and beyond. Officials have ordered closure of schools and educational institutions afresh for three days from Monday. The schools were recently opened after a three-month-long winter vacation. The authorities have also issued avalanche warning for people inhabiting upper reaches and areas, where people were urged to take precautions and not to venture on steep slopes during the next 24 hours. Meteorological officials said rain and snow is likely to continue for the next 24 hours. Kashmir has a rugged terrain. Landslides and avalanches are often triggered from its mountains during frequent rains and heavy snowfall.