Srinagar: After two days of incessant rains, Kashmir valley received the season's first snowfall in the wee hours of the day (Dec 15, 2003), even as heavy landslides forced the closure of the 300-km Jammu- Srinagar National Highway.

The plains of the valley and Srinagar received the snowfall at 3:00 hrs (IST), covering the entire landscape under a few inches thick white blanket, Meteorological department officials said.

Reports of moderate to heavy snowfall were received from other parts of the valley as well with Baramulla, Kupwara and upper reaches of Anantnag and Pulwama districts recording up to six inches of snow, they said, adding Budgam district in Central Kashmir experienced moderate snowfall.

Jawahar tunnel in the Pir Panjal mountain ranges, that connects the valley to the rest of the country received six inches of snowfall, which coupled with heavy landslides forced the closure of the crucial road link, police officials said.

Vehicular traffic had been suspended on the National Highway pending the clearance of the landsides, which would take several hours, provided the rainfall stops or at least slows down, officials said.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which maintains the highway, had put its men and machines on job to make the road traffic worthy, they said.

PTI