Weather: Roads reopen, mercury falls in Kashmir

300-km-long Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, was also partly cleared and opened for one-way traffic.

MIRPUR:

All routes leading to the mountainous areas of Bagh, Neelam and Leepa valleys that were partially blocked due to landsliding at various sites were reopened for traffic on Wednesday, according to a report.

Additionally, the 300-km-long Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, which was closed off due to two major avalanches and five landslides, was also partly cleared and opened for one-way traffic.

The highway was blocked due to heavy snowfall on January 15, concerned officials told The Express Tribune. Thy said over 120 trucks have been allowed to continue on their way in Jammu.

Meanwhile, after three days of respite, temperatures plummeted on both sides of the Line of Control in Kashmir.

Temperature in Gulmarg, a famous skiing resort in northern Kashmir, fell 12.4 degrees below freezing point, registering a 3.7 degree drop.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 19^th, 2012.