| Download on 
Srinagar, November 15 (KMS): Major highways were closed and villages in high-altitude areas cut off due to heavy overnight snowfall and rains in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, with authorities closing schools in some districts as a precautionary measure.
The weather will be overcast with the possibility of more rains or snow, according to the meteorological office.
While traffic movement was suspended on the Srinagar-Leh highway due to snowfall in Sonamarg and adjoining areas, the Jammu-Srinagar highway was closed after heavy rains triggered shooting stones and mudslides between Chanderkot and Banihal in Ramban district, officials said.
The Mughal road, an alternative link between Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu region and south Kashmir’s Shopian district, was closed following accumulation of snow at Pir Ki Gali and adjoining areas, they said, adding that the Bandipora-Gurez road was also shut due to prevailing weather conditions.
Snowfall has been reported at many places, including Handwara, Kralpora, Pazipora and Tangdhar areas of Kupwara district in north Kashmir, Tangmarg in Baramulla district, and the Khansahib area of central Kashmir’s Budgam, for the first time this season, the officials said. Most high-altitude areas of Jammu and Kashmir received heavy snowfall. Around six inches of snow was recorded in the ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kahsmir’s Baramulla while Gurez and Machil have received over 12 inches of snow, they said. The heavy snowfall has resulted in many far-flung areas in the higher reaches being cut off from district headquarters.
From Tuesday till Friday, the weather will be partly cloudy, after which there is a possibility of light to moderate rain or snow on Saturday. However, there is no forecast of any major snow spell till November 20, the meteorological office said.
Reports of snowfall were also received from the high-altitude areas of Ramban, Udhampur, Kishtwar, Doda and Kathua districts and hill resorts of Patnitop, Sinthan and Banihal in Jammu region.
On the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with outside world, no traffic was allowed on it due to inclement weather.
