closedJammu, Nov 19 (PTI) The Mughal Road remained closed forvehicular traffic for the second day today as high-altitudeareas continue to witness snowfall, resulting in a marked dipin night temperature across Jammu region, officials said.
However, day temperature, which plunged six degrees belownormal on Friday, registered an improvement with the suncoming out after remaining hidden for the past couple of days.
The Mughal Road, the alternative link between Kashmir andrest of the country, was closed yesterday after the season'sfirst heavy snowfall in higher reaches of Jammu region.
"The road remained closed for vehicular traffic for thesecond day as the area around Peer Ki Gali witnessed anotherspell of snowfall during the night," Deputy Superintendent ofPolice, Traffic, Mohammad Aslam told PTI.
He said the department concerned had launched roadclearance operation yesterday itself, but its reopeningdepends on the weather conditions.
"If weather permits, the operation to clear the road willbe intensified and it will be thrown open to traffic againshortly," Aslam said.
Two feet of snow had accumulated on the ground betweenPeer Ki Gali and Pushana, a 20-km stretch along the MughalRoad connecting Poonch district with south KashmirÂ’s Shopiandistrict, on Friday night.
Sinthan Top along the Kishtwar-Anantnag road recordedover three feet of snow since November 15, the day when overthe two-month-long dry spell ended in the state.
The minimum temperature in Jammu fell by 1.7 degreesCelsius to settle at 9.5 degrees Celsius – three notches belownormal, an MeT office spokesperson said.
He said night temperature also registered a dip in otherplaces in the region, with Bhaderwah in Doda district, whichreceived the first snowfall of the season yesterday,registering a low of 3 degrees Celsius.
The minimum temperature in Katra was 10.8 degreesCelsius, followed by Batote 4.3 degrees Celsius and Banihal 4degrees Celsius, the spokesperson said.
The weatherman has predicted improvement in weatherconditions in Jammu region from today. PTI TASNSD.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.