Srinagar, Jan 19 (IANS) Snowfall Thursday again halted commuting on the Srinagar-Jammu highway but one-way traffic is likely to be restored during the day.

“Snow has accumulated on the highway in the Patnitop and Qazigund-Bannihal sectors. Snow clearance operation has started,” Border Roads Organisation (BRO) chief engineer Brigadier T.P.S. Rawat told IANS.

“The highway is likely to be restored for one-way traffic shortly,” he added.

Rawat said 570 vehicles including trucks carrying essential supplies reached the valley Wednesday evening. “This included 40 tankers carrying cooking gas and many light vehicles with passengers.”

Meanwhile, 3-4 inches of snowfall occurred in the Valley which helped increase the minimum temperatures but affected road connectivity at many places here.

The minimum temperature was minus 1.4 degrees Celsius in Srinagar while it was minus 5 in Pahalgam, minus 12.6 in Gulmarg and minus 16.6 in Leh town of Ladakh region.

“There is possibility of rain or mild snowfall at some places during the next 24 hours,” meteorological office director Sonam Lotus told IANS.

The acute shortage of cooking gas, kerosene oil and sugar has not eased. People have also been complaining of these essential commodities being sold in the black market by unscrupulous traders.

Authorities have formed special market checking squads to prevent hoarding and profiteering by traders.