“Arrangements have been made to airlift around 5,000 stranded passengers between Jammu and Srinagar with the help of the air force,” a senior officer said here. Meanwhile, working against heavy odds, the border roads organisation re-opened the Jammu-Srinagar highway for light vehicular traffic on Saturday afternoon. Hundreds of stranded vehicles have already crossed the Jawahar Tunnel area to reach the valley, a traffic officer said.

No electricity

Reports pouring in from different parts of the valley said electricity had still not been restored in most areas, though bright sunshine brought some relief to the people after a week of heavy snowfall.

“We had respite after seven days of snowfall on Saturday as the clouds parted, bringing on the sun in Kashmir,” said T K Jotshi, assistant director with the weather department. He, however, warned of more snow avalanches in the higher reaches of the valley.

Meanwhile, the death toll in avalanches and roof collapses across the state has risen to 19. The civil administration has sought the assistance of the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force in relief and rescue operations.

Consumer Affairs Minister Taj Mohiuddin told reporters that there were enough stocks of foodstuffs, petrol, diesel, kerosene and cooking gas to last for two months.