SRINAGAR : World famous ski resort of Gulmarg, Sonmarg and other higher reaches in the Kashmir valley received snowfall, while plains, including summer capital, Srinagar, were lashed by rain, resulting in considerable drop in temperature.
It was snowing at several places while intermittent rain continued in the plains, including Srinagar, where the civil secretariat, seat of the government, including the office of Chief Minister, his cabinet colleagues and top bureaucrats were closed to reopen in the winter capital, Jammu, on November 9.
Meanwhile, 113 snow cutters and other machines have been kept ready and some of them dispatched to far-flung and remote areas for snow clearance during winter in the Kashmir valley.
It was snowing and tree and roof tops besides open spaces were under about two inches of white powder, a hotel owner told UNI over phone from Gulmarg. However, the upper reaches, including Kongdori, Khilanmarg and Affarwat, the highest skiing point connected by Cable Cabe, received moderate to heavy snowfall resulting in considerable drop in the mercury.
The minimum temperature at Gulmarg was minus 2.8 degree celsius, five not notches below normal. However, the coldest so far was recorded on October 28 when it was minus 5.4 degree.
The other upper reaches in north Kashmir, including those near the Line of Control (LoC) also received moderate to heavy snowfall during the past 24 hours due to which the maximum temperature at Kupwara was 11.4 degree, nine degree below normal yesterday.
Though the minimum temperature also witnessed a drop, it was still above normal. Against yesterday’s 8.3 degree, it was 5.4 degree, still three notches above normal despite 23.3 mm rainfall.
It was snowing on the upper reaches while plains in the north Kashmir districts of Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara have been recording rain since last evening, disrupting normal life.
The holy Amarnath cave shrine and its periphery also received moderate to heavy snowfall, a report from Pahalgam, world famous health resort, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir said.
Sheshnag, Mahaguhs, Pisso top and Panjtarni also received fresh snowfall while light snowfall was experienced at Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on traditional yatra route, a hotel owner told UNI.
A Met department spokesperson said the maximum temperature at Pahalgam was 15 degrees, two notches below normal while the minimum temperature of 5.9 degree remained five degree above normal.
He said it was raining at Pahalgam and the visibility is very low due as sky was under black clouds.
The other heights in south Kashmir, including Pir-Ki-Gali, Bafliaz, Pir Panjal, Santhan top and Kongwattan on historic Mughal road, connecting Shopian with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region, also received light to moderate snowfall since last evening. The road has since been closed for traffic today.
The upper reaches in Shopian, Anantnag, Pulwama and Kulgam also received snowfall.
Tree tops, roads and house tops, electric poles had turned white due to fresh snowfall at Sonmarg on Srinagar-Leh national highway, closed today for traffic.
The other heights of Kangan and Ganderbal also received snowfall while plains had moderate rain. Baltal, base camp of holy Amarnath and adjoining areas also received snowfall.
Upper reaches in central Kashmir district of Badgam also received snowfall while plains, including Charar-e-Sharief, Badgam, Chadoora and Naugam received rain since early this morning.
Life was also thrown out of gear in the summer capital, Srinagar, a number of roads were under rain water, disrupting pedestrian and traffic movement. People remained indoors due to cold conditions and attendance in educational institutions was also affected.
Due to cloudy weather and rain, Srinagar recorded 16.5 degrees maximum temperature yesterday which was 2.5 notches below normal the, Met spokesperson said adding the minimum temperature however, remained above normal. Against yesterday’s 8.5 degree, it was 7.3 degree, still more than four notches above normal, he said, adding that 8.8 mm rainfall was recorded during the past 24 hours and intermittent rain continues in the city. (UNI)
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