Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Oct 24: Ski resort of Gulmarg received season’s first snowfall while it snowed heavily along the 400 kilometer Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir leading to plummeting of temperature by several notches in the Valley thus marking the beginning of advanced winter.
Srinagar and plains of Kashmir valley were lashed by rains this afternoon while it snowed in the hills, leading to plummeting of temperature with Srinagar recording maximum of 13 degree Celsius.
Gulmarg received season’s first snowfall today with Kangdoori recording six inches, Affarwat 4 inches and Gulmarg bowl around one inch. It was still snowing in the area tonight.
Large numbers of tourists had thronged the tourist place. They were seen playing with snow in Kongdoori where around half a feet snow had accumulated. Maria, who had come from Luknow in UP, says she was lucky to see snow for the first time in her life. “I came here and was not expecting snowfall in this season. We are lucky to see the snow. We are enjoying it”, she said.
The 400 kilometer long LoC in Kashmir valley, from Gulmarg to Gurez had season’s first snowfall today. The LoC at Gulmarg, Tanghdar, Keran, Macchil and Gurez had snowfall between one and half feet to two feet today and it was still snowing in these areas tonight.
There was snowfall also in the upper reaches of Sonamarg in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district and in Pir Ki Gali along Mughal Road in South Kashmir’s Shopian district and upper reaches of Pahalgam.
There will be more snowfall and rains during next two days as Meteorological Department has forecast wet weather for 72 hours beginning from this afternoon.
A MeT department official said that the snowfall and rains were caused by western disturbance which reached Jammu and Kashmir today. He said that weather will improve by Tuesday afternoon.
Srinagar and plains of Valley were lashed by rains today. A MeT official said that 1.9 millimeters rain was recorded in Srinagar from 8.30 am till 5.30 pm. Gulmarg recorded 15.8 millimeters of rain followed by 10 millimeters in Kupwara while Pahalgam tourist resort recorded 1.4 millimeters of rain.
The fresh snowfall and rains have compelled the people to pull out woolens from their wardrobes to keep themselves warm. People also used fire pots and heaters to keep themselves warm. The rains and snowfall marks the beginning of advanced winter in Kashmir.
The MeT department said that the maximum temperature in Srinagar was recorded at 13 Degree Celsius today against the normal 21 Degree Celsius. Gulmarg recorded 6.4 Degree Celsius against the normal temperature of 13 Degree Celsius.
The 300-kilometer long Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, Srinagar-Leh Highway and Mughal Road were, however, open for the vehicular traffic and there was no disruption.
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