Tuesday, January 3 2006 13:13 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: Kashmir was plunged into complete darkness with electricity supply system of the valley crumbling under the weight of heavy snowfall over the past 36 hours, which has severely affected the normal life here.

The heavy snowfall which began on Sunday, and stopped in early hours today (Jan 03, 2006), took its toll as electric poles were broken at many places and wires connecting the supply stations to the consumers were snapped.

The situation has worsened by falling of trees over electric wires, resulting in complete black out in the valley as Power Development Department (PDD) pulled the switch on electricity supply.

The PDD authorities yesterday said they had been able to restore 35 per cent of the system but had not resumed supply of electricity in view of the continuing snowfall, which could damage the poles and wires, besides endangering the lives of people.

Normal life was severely affected across the valley as it remained cut off from rest of the world for the second consecutive day today.

No flights in and out of Srinagar international airport operated as the runway was still covered by snow and the visibility was poor, an air traffic control official said.

He said flights might resume later in the day if the visibility improves, runway cleared of the snow and there was no further snowfall today.

The 300-km Srinagar-Jammu national highway also remained closed for second day today due to high piles of snow accumulating around the Jawahar tunnel area in Qazigund.