M A I N   N E W S

Kashmir cut off, 1 dies of cold

Srinagar, February 7
The Kashmir valley was today cut off from the rest of the country following a fresh spell of snow, disrupting life and snapping air and road links, including the cancellation of Haj flights.

The entire valley was covered with a thick blanket of snow while the plains, including Srinagar, received the second heaviest snow of the season. The runway at Srinagar airport was covered with 6 inches of snowfall, an official said.

Mountains and higher reaches received about 1 ft to 2 ft of fresh snowfall, the official added.

All incoming and outgoing flights had been cancelled and the 300-km Srinagar-Jammu national highway, closed. Heavy rain at some stretches of the highway also triggered off landslides.

Power supply was disrupted and telecommunication lines were damaged at several places across the valley. Inter district roads were also closed.

The scheduled Haj flights for the day have been cancelled and 428 pilgrims, who had left their homes and reached Srinagar airport early today, were accommodated in three hotels along the Dal Lake.

Mohammad Yousuf, a resident of Pogal in the Jammu region, died of cold at Kokernag last night. Agencies