Rains lash plains, snowfall in upper reaches
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR/JAMMU, Nov 6: Higher reaches of Kashmir received fresh snowfall while light to moderate rains were witnessed in the plains of both the regions of Jammu and Kashmir in the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday while as the Weatherman has forecast more wet weather in the next 24 hours.
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Mughal Road, an alternate link connecting Kashmir with rest of the country, was closed for vehicular traffic today as most of the high altitude area experienced light to moderate snowfall overnight, officials said. However, they said the traffic on the strategic Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was moving normally despite rains which lashed wide parts of J&K.
“More than five inches of snow accumulated on the ground between Poshana and Peer Ki Gali rendering the Mughal Road, connecting the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu province with South Kashmir’s Shopian district, unsafe,” officials said, adding, the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumari road has also been closed for vehicular traffic after snowfall in areas around Sonamarg.
A large number of vehicles are stranded on either side of Zojila while men and machinery of the BEACON are on job to clear accumulated snow from the road, they informed.
Officials said with fresh snowfall and rain, the temperature across the Union Territory, particularly in Kashmir region has plummeted. The chilly winds were blowing across the Kashmir region with people mostly sitting inside to keep themselves warm and avoid chilly winds.
The minimum temperature in the Gulmarg tourist resort plunged to minus 3.6 degrees Celsius, they said. Gulmarg tourist resort, Machil, Sadhna Pass and Zojila Pass were some of the places in the Valley where more than three inches of snow had accumulated. The tourists were seen enjoying the snow in the famous ski resort fo Gulmarg today.
Drass in Ladakh Union Territory also received snowfall, the officials said. They said most parts of Kashmir were hit by moderate rainfall overnight with Srinagar city receiving the highest amount of 26.1 mm, Qazigund 16.0 mm, Pahalgam 14.3 mm, Kupwara 16.2 mm, Kokernag 11.4 mm and Gulmarg 16.8 mm.
Jammu city also witnessed high speed winds overnight along with a spell of heavy rains during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday but there was no report of any damage, officials said. They said Poonch in Jammu region received highest rainfall of 53 mm, Ramban 24.8 mm, Rajouri 22 mm, Batote 17.9 mm, Katra 17 mm, Jammu 16.2 mm and Kathua 10.2 mm.
The downpour has resulted in a dip in night temperature across the Union Territory with Gulmarg recorded as coldest place in J&K at minus 3.6 degrees Celsius. Srinagar recorded a low of 5.2°C against 5.6°C the previous night. The temperature was 2.7°C above normal for this time of the year. Qazigund recorded a low of 5.5°C against 4.6°C the previous night. The temperature was 3.0°C above normal for the town.
In Pahalgam, the mercury settled at 2.1°C against 2.0°C the previous night and it was 2.3°C above normal for the resort. Kokernag recorded a low of 5.0°C against 6.3°C the previous night and it was 1.2°C above normal for the place. In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at 5.2°C against 4.5°C the previous night. It was 3.3°C above normal for the place.
The minimum temperature in Jammu was recorded at 15.4 degrees Celsius, Banihal 6.6, Batote 7.0, Bhaderwah 8.0 and Katra 13.7 degrees Celsius.
“Widespread light to moderate rain, snow and thundershowers are expected over Jammu and Kashmir in next 24 hours,” a Meteorological department official here said. He said that a Western Disturbance is expected to occur on November 9-10 and it may cause light to moderate rain/snow at many places, particularly on November 10.
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