Srinagar, Jan. 18 : Heavy snowfall blocked traffic on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway on Sunday as the Kashmir valley received the first snowfall of the season.

Srinagar shivered as temperature dipped and the region received a fresh spell of snowfall to the delight of the locals expecting tourists.

The upper reaches of the valley experienced heavy snowfall pushing the temperature down. With Srinagar city witnessing a freezing temperature, the strategic
300-kilometre-long National Highway 1-A was blocked leading to disruption of traffic.

"We have been stranded here since long. We have no information as to when the highway would reopen. If we get to know something it is ok, else we will either go back to Srinagar. It has been more than two to three hours that we have been here and I don''t know how much more time it would take," said Reema Roy, a tourist.

The highway is valley''s jugular vein connecting Indian Kashmir with rest of the country.

The snowfall has affected normal life in the valley with locals preferring to stay indoors.

"It is really very cold and we don''t even have anything to eat. We had no information in the morning that the highway would be blocked," said Amrit Singh, a truck driver.

According to reports, thousands of vehicles have been stranded at several places on the 300-km long stretch as authorities are trying to clear the way. (ANI)