Kashmir: Six die due to snowfall in the valley

Kashmir: Even as Kashmir is reeling under a lockdown post the scrapping of Article 370, fresh trouble has brewed in the valley. This time it is because of the changing weather conditions with the onset of winter. The valley has always seen harsh winter conditions coupled with snowfall.

At least six people lost their lives in separate snowfall-related incidents in Kashmir. Officials stated that two Army jawans were killed in a road accident in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, on Thursday. The accident was caused due to poor visibility caused by heavy snowfall in Langate area of Kupwara on Wednesday night.

In another incident, two army porters and two civilians were killed after being trapped in snow in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir.

This is the first snowfall after winter has set into the region. The Mughal Road in Rajouri was closed due to snowfall in higher reaches of Pir Panjal mountains. Eleven flights of various private airlines flying into Srinagar and Leh airports were cancelled on Friday, owing to poor weather conditions not suitable for flying. The beautiful regions of J&K and Ladakh were wrapped under a thick blanket of snow on Thursday which caused cancellation and delay in flights.

Snowfall was also reported from various regions including Solang Nullah in Kullu district near Manali, Churdhar in Sirmaur district, Gulba, Koksar in Lahul and Spiti from Himachal Pradesh. National Highway 305 was closed for commuters due to snowfall in Jalori Pass in Kullu.

Snowfall in the northern most states of India has been a common phenomenon. Currently, Srinagar has recorded 4.5 inches of snowfall, Sonmarg 08 inches, Pahalgam-4 inches, JawaharTunnel-7 inches, Gurez-1.5 Feet and Gulmarg has recorded around 04 Feet of snowfall.