Heavy snowfall cuts off Valley from rest of country

Kashmir Valley was today cut off from rest of the country following the season's heaviest snowfall at most places including the summer capital Srinagar.

The fresh snowfall - the first heavy fall in Srinagar and most other plain areas this winter - disrupted air and road traffic on the national highway thereby cutting the Valley's connection with the rest of the country.

"There has been no air traffic to and fro Srinagar since the morning," an official at the Srinagar International Airport said.

The 294-km Srinagar-Jammu national highway was closed for the traffic due to fresh snowfall and landslides.

"Heavy snowfall was going on at several places on the arterial highway and there have been landslides at some places forcing the closure of the highway," a Traffic Control Room spokesman said here.

The authorities also postponed the annual board and university exams in view of the inclement weather.

"The class 12 exam scheduled for today has been postponed due to bad weather and the new date will be notified separately," PRO, Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education, Showkat Usman said.

The University has also postponed the exams scheduled for today and tomorrow due to the bad weather.

An aerial view of Srinagar city on Monday after heavy snowfall in Kashmir valley

  "The examinations to be held on March 2 and 3 have been postponed in view of heavy snowfall in the Valley," a University official said here.

The snowfall also led to disruption in power supply in many areas of the Valley.

However, the MET Department predicted decrease in precipitation from this evening.

A man walks with an umberalla during heavy snowfall in Srinagar

"This is the first heavy snowfall in Srinagar and some other plain areas and it will continue for most part of the day. However, the precipitation will decrease from the late afternoon or evening," Director, Meteorological Department, Sonam Lotus, said here.