Heavy snowfall in Anantnag: More than 200 tourists stranded on Sinthan Top, army and police rescued

Srinagar, 16 March. More than 200 tourists stranded amid heavy snowfall at Sinthan Top in Anantnag district of South Kashmir have been rescued safely. The Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police rescued these people in a joint operation. According to the Indian Army, troops of 19 Rashtriya Rifles along with Jammu and Kashmir Police (Anantnag) launched the rescue operation at Sinthan Pass. The step was taken after many vehicles and passengers were stranded there due to continuous snowfall, slippery roads and very low visibility.

Facing difficult weather conditions and inaccessible roads, the joint teams succeeded in evacuating 214 stranded tourists and local civilians to safe places. The Indian Army said that this rescue operation was carried out despite extremely challenging conditions, thereby ensuring the safety of all the people trapped on this high mountain pass.

The weather remains cold in various major cities of Kashmir Valley. On Monday, the temperature was recorded around 0.4 degrees Celsius in Gulmarg, where the air remained calm and humidity was 100 percent. The temperature in Jammu city was 14 degrees Celsius and winds were blowing at a speed of about 20.4 kilometers per hour, while the humidity was recorded at 94 percent. The temperature in Pahalgam was recorded at 1.8 degree Celsius and the wind here too remained calm.

The temperature in Srinagar city was recorded at 6.5 degrees Celsius. Here winds blew from the north-eastern direction at a speed of about 3.7 kilometers per hour and the humidity was 94 percent. The temperature in Banihal was 5.2 degrees Celsius. The temperature in Katra was 9.8 degrees Celsius and winds were blowing from the north-west direction at a speed of about 3.7 kilometers per hour. Whereas in Kupwara the temperature has been recorded at 4.4 degrees Celsius.

Earlier, fresh snowfall in the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir and rain in the plains led to a sharp drop in the temperature on Sunday, taking it below normal for the first time since February. Many higher reaches including Peer Ki Gali, Sinthan Top, Margan Top, Gulmarg, Dudhpathri, Gurez Valley, Sadhna Top, upper areas of Pahalgam and Sonamarg-Zojila road received 4 to 6 inches of snowfall. Due to slippery roads, vehicular movement remained closed on the Gurez-Bandipora road and Sonamarg-Zojila road connecting Kashmir with Kargil and Leh.

The Mughal Road connecting Kashmir to Pir Panjal region was also closed by the police administration. Along with this, Sinthan Top and Margan Top routes connecting Kashmir with Chenab Valley were also closed. Light to moderate snowfall was also reported in many parts of Kishtwar district of Jammu division, including the twin valleys of Marwah and Warwan and upper reaches of Ramban district.