Srinagar: Amid inclement weather prevailing in Kashmir, the Jammu and Kashmir government has announced the closure of all schools in the Valley for the safety of students.
Minister for Education Sakina Itoo said that classwork in all schools of the Valley shall remain suspended on April 21 due to severe weather conditions and forecasts. “This decision has been taken as a precautionary step to ensure the safety and well-being of all students,” Itoo wrote on X.
Meanwhile, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) remains closed as the much accumulated by landslides in Ramban could not be cleared due to rainfall.
“Incessant rains hampered the restoration work on the Jammu-Srinagar NHW. Tomorrow, vehicular movement will remain suspended on Jammu Srinagar NHW as the restoration work could not be completed till 8 pm,” traffic officials said.
The government has advised the people not to undertake the journey on the Jammu-Srinagar NHW between Nashri and the NAVYUG Tunnel till the restoration work is completed and the surface is traffic worthy.
The Kashmir Valley is witnessing intermittent rainfall with thunderstorms, hailstorms and lightning for the last three days. The weather has disrupted normal life and caused damage to orchards.
The IMD has forecasted more rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms in scattered places in the Valley on Monday. It has advised people to follow advisories about travel and farming.
Furthermore, fresh spells of rain and snowfall disrupted life across Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh on Saturday. While Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua recorded a maximum temprature of 37.8°C, Ladakh's Padum and Tangste shivered at 0.6°C.
In Kashmir, the higher reaches, particularly Tulail and Gurez in north Kashmir's Bandipora district, received moderate snowfall. The fresh accumulation forced authorities to close key roads, including the Gurez-Bandipora road, a critical link for the remote region. As a safety measure, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Gurez ordered the suspension of classwork for students up to the 8th standard in Tulail and up to the 5th standard in Gurez Tehsil.
Officials confirmed that the snowfall also closed the Sinthan Top, a mountain pass connecting Anantnag in South Kashmir with Kishtwar district via National Highway 44. The route will remain shut for vehicular movement until weather conditions improve.
Jammu and Kashmir's summer capital, Srinagar, recorded 16.4 mm of rain in the last 24 hours, Budgam 18.0 mm, and Kupwara 20.0 mm. Kokernag and Pahalgam witnessed heavier showers, recording 33.2 mm and 27.8 mm, respectively. Gulmarg, situated in the higher reaches of north Kashmir, recorded the highest rainfall in the Valley at 35.2 mm and experienced sub-zero temperatures, with a low of -0.8°C.
Meanwhile, snowfall was also reported in various parts of Ladakh. Kargil saw the highest accumulation, recording 26.5 cm of fresh snow. Drass and Padum both recorded rain and snow—Drass recorded 5 mm of rain and 5 cm of snow, and Padum saw 5 mm of rain and 2 inches (around 5 cm) of snow. Khalste saw 7.0 cm of snow, and Leh saw 0.5 cm.
Due to the adverse weather, all driving tests scheduled for April 19 in District Srinagar were postponed. A notice from the Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Kashmir said the tests would now be conducted on April 25, and candidates must carry their original slot slips from the previous date. The venue and reporting time remain unchanged.
On the roads, the Jammu and Kashmir Traffic Police issued an advisory stating that passenger vehicles are plying both ways on the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway. However, heavy motor vehicles (HMVs) are allowed only from Jammu towards Srinagar. Due to a single-lane bottleneck of around 150–200 meters at Mehad, Cafeteria, and Ramban, traffic is being regulated, and commuters are urged to follow lane discipline. Travellers were also advised to drive during daylight and avoid unnecessary halts between Ramban and Banihal due to the threat of landslides and shooting stones.
Currently, the Mughal Road, Sinthan Road, and SSG Road remain closed due to snow accumulation. Authorities confirmed that vehicular movement on these roads would resume only after clearance and an official green signal from maintenance agencies.
According to the Meteorological Centre in Srinagar, the weather is expected to remain generally cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow in the higher reaches until the evening of April 20. Isolated to scattered areas may see moderate to heavy precipitation, accompanied by thunder and gusty winds. On April 21, light rain or thunder is expected at scattered locations, while the weather is forecast to turn mostly dry between April 22 and April 28, with some cloudiness anticipated on April 25.
Farmers across the Union Territory have been advised to suspend farming operations until April 21. Additionally, the MET department issued warnings regarding the risk of landslides, mudslides, and shooting stones in vulnerable areas, urging people to remain indoors during thunderstorms and lightning.
Temperature readings from across Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh revealed a considerable drop due to the ongoing weather system. In Kashmir, Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 22.4°C and a minimum of 9.4°C. Kupwara registered 22.7°C and 7.5°C, while Qazigund saw 24.4°C and 10.4°C. Gulmarg remained the coldest place in the Valley with a daytime high of just 13.4°C. Kokernag and Pahalgam recorded highs of 23.2°C and 22.8°C, respectively.
In Jammu Division, Kathua reported the highest temperature of the day at 37.8°C, followed by Jammu city at 37.3°C and Samba at 35.7°C. Udhampur, which received 21.6 mm of rainfall, recorded a high of 35.9°C. Other notable figures include Batote (28.1°C), Bhadarwah (27.4°C), and Rajouri (33.8°C), all of which also received varying degrees of rainfall.
In Ladakh, the mercury dipped across the region. Leh recorded a minimum of 3.2°C, while Kargil shivered at 0.3°C. Drass, one of the coldest inhabited places in the region, recorded a minimum of 0.8°C. Other stations like Tangste (0.6°C), Padum (0.6°C), and Nyoma (1.8°C) also reported cold, cloudy conditions.Conclusion:
Read more: Five Killed In Jammu Kashmir As Heavy Rains Wreak Havoc In Ramban And Other Districts
