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Snowfall cuts traffic to Indian-controlled Kashmir

Xinhua, March 2, 2015 Adjust font size:

Snowfall in upper reaches and plains Monday affected air and surface traffic to Indian-controlled Kashmir, thereby disrupting normal life, officials said.

The snowfall which began Sunday evening following incessant rains went on until late Monday afternoon 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 conditions, no flight could land or take off from the airport since morning," said a senior official posted at Srinagar airport. The cancellation of flights has affected many passengers.

Reports pouring in from various districts said accumulation of snow on roads has affected the inter-district transport.

Authorities also stopped the local train service in wake of accumulation of snow on the track.

Accumulation of snow at Jawahar tunnel has led to closure of 294 km Srinagar-Jammu highway, the only road link connecting Muslim majority areas of the region to winter capital -- Jammu and Indian states.

The snow draped rooftops, trees and fields in the region.

Likewise, a heavy snowfall was recorded near Zojila Pass, 3630 meters above sea level. The 434 km Srinagar-Leh road is the only road link connecting Ladakh division with rest of Indian- controlled Kashmir and beyond.

The road remains closed for around six months due to heavy snowfall every year.

The authorities in wake of fresh snowfall have issued avalanche warning for people inhabiting upper reaches and areas close to the line-of-control (LoC).

People in the snowbound areas were urged to take precautions and not to venture on steep slopes during the next 24 hours.

The Meteorological officials said rain and snow is likely to continue for next 24 hours.

Kashmir has a rugged terrain. Landslides and avalanches are often triggered from its mountains during frequent rains and heavy snowfall, the region receives. Endi