Rain in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana; Srinagar-Jammu highway closed

New Delhi, Dec 26 (UNI) Fresh snowfall in Kashmir closed the Srinagar-Jammu national highway again, cutting the Valley from rest of the country even as light showers in the national capital and Punjab and Haryana led to a drop in the temperature today.

Western disturbances over Pakistan caused light morning showers to break the two-week long dry spell and bring relief to the farmers in Punjab and Haryana.

The met office reported light rain across Punjab, with Patiala recording 2.4 mm of rain, Ludhiana 1.4 mm and Amritsar 0.8 mm this morning.

Despite the showers, the minimum temperature was two to five degrees above normal in the state, even as the sun broke through the clouds as the day progressed.

The minimum temperature in Amritsar rose by three degrees from yesterday, to 8.4 degrees Celsius, two degrees above normal. In Ludhiana also the mercury rose to 10.8 degrees, five degrees above normal. The mercury in Patiala also went upto 8.5 degrees, two degrees above normal.

Light showers were reported from various places in Haryana where the minimum temperatures were two to six degrees above normal.

Ambala had 0.7 mm rain, Hisar reported 0.4, while Rohtak, Jagadhri and Karnal had traces of rain.

The minimum at Hisar shot up by five degrees from yesterday and was recorded at 12.3 degrees, six degrees above normal. Ambala registered a minimum of 7.5 degrees, while at Karnal the minimum went upto 10.4 degrees, two degrees above normal.

The capital hill resort of Shimla continued to be in the grip of a cold wave, registering a minumum of 5.7 degrees. Bhuntar in Kullu district was cold at 0.4 degrees while Sundernagar again shivered at 1.6 degrees.

In the tribal areas of Himachal, the minimum hovered below freezing point. Kalpa in Kinnaur district had a fresh speel of snowfall and the minumum was minus 1.8 degrees. The Kangra and Kullu valleys are also in the grip of an intense cold wave.

The Kashmir valley was cut off again from the rest of the country after the fresh snowfall closed the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway.

Snowfall has also cut off the Keran with the Kashmir valley.

A traffic police official told UNI that the highway, only road linking the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, was closed this afternoon following fresh snowfall.

Official sources said hundreds of vehicles, including those carrying passengers from Srinagar, were stranded on the highway.

This is the fourth time the highway was closed during December.

The closure of the only road link has resulted in increase in the prices of essential commodities and shortage of LPG and other items.

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