Shadow Correspondent
JAMMU, FEB 27: One-way traffic was allowed on the strategic Jammu-Srinagar highway on Monday due to bad road conditions, officials here said.
The nearly 300 km-long journey which normally takes six to seven hours has been taking over 12 hours due to potholes and narrowing of the highway because of landslide debris.
Due to multiple landslides and snowfall, the highway has remained close off and on during this winter causing inconvenience to travellers, the officials added.
Closures of the only road link that is used for carrying supplies to the landlocked Kashmir Valley often results in skyrocketing prices of essential commodities.
Meanwhile, on account of back to back Western Disturbances, the hills of North India, particularly, Jammu and Kashmir has received rain and snow of varied intensity in both January and February.
The intensity of snow during mid-February was so much so that most of the famous hill stations of North India like Srinagar and parts of Jammu region were enveloped in a thick layer of snow.
However, as the weather system moved away, the hilly states of North India observed a few sunny days. The weather over the northern hills became clear soon after the system shifted.
As per Skymet Weather, at present, the Western Disturbance is seen over North Pakistan and adjoining Afghanistan. An induced Cyclonic Circulation has also formed over South Pakistan and adjoining Central Pakistan and both these systems are likely to move in a northeast direction.
This will, in turn, result in the clouding to increase over the area. Hence, most parts of Jammu and Kashmir is expected to receive light rain and thundershower activities during the next 24 hours. Moreover, the higher reaches of the state may get to witness light snow as well.
