Srinagar, Apr 4 — Authorities rescued 38 stranded vehicles during a night-long operation on the Bandipora–Gurez road after heavy snowfall forced its closure, officials said on Saturday.
The rescue was carried out by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) after multiple vehicles were trapped near Razdan Pass due to fresh snow accumulation. “The stranded passengers were shifted to safer locations,” an official said, adding that efforts were underway to clear the affected stretch.
The 85-km road linking Bandipora and Gurez has been shut as a precaution amid continuous snowfall in the valley over the past few days. Movement restrictions remain in place following weather alert.
Snowfall was reported from Gurez, Tulail and Razdan Top, as well as other upper reaches of Kashmir, while plains including Srinagar received rainfall.
The Meteorological Department has forecast continued rainfall and snowfall across Jammu and Kashmir over the next 24 hours, with wet weather expected to persist till April 10.
“Generally cloudy conditions with light to moderate rain or snowfall at many places, accompanied by thunder, hailstorm and gusty winds, are likely,” the MeT office said for April 3–4. It added that some areas in both Kashmir and Jammu divisions may witness moderate to heavy precipitation, with brief intense showers.
Weather conditions are expected to improve slightly on April 5–6, with partly cloudy skies and chances of light rain at isolated places. Fresh spells of precipitation, along with thunder and gusty winds, are likely between April 7 and 9, while brief light rain or snowfall may continue at isolated locations on April 10–11.
The MeT Department has warned of thunderstorms, hail and gusty winds reaching 40–50 kmph at isolated places on April 3–4 and April 7–8. It cautioned that intense showers could trigger flash floods, landslides and waterlogging in vulnerable and low-lying areas.
Farmers have been advised to suspend agricultural operations during this period, while travellers have been asked to plan movement accordingly, officials said.