Dry spell ends after fresh snow fall in Kashmir

Due to snowfall, authorities closed Mughal Road and Sonamarg-Gumri road for vehicles.

The prediction of MeT department turned right after Valley’s upper reaches witnessed snowfall since wee hours of Tuesday while intermittent rains occurred in plains.

The highest snowfall was recorded from Pir Panchal mountain range and this forced authorities to shutdown Mughal Road for traffic for second consecutive day.

Reports said more than two-feet snowfall has accumulated on the Mughal Road highway from Pir Ki Gali to Poshana in southern Kashmir and in Poonch district. Moderate snowfall was also witnessed in Shopian upper reaches as well as on the mountains of Banihal in Pir Panchal range.

The snowfall also occurred at Sonamarg, Zojila, Gumri, Amarnath Cave and Pahalgam upper reaches.

According to the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan, Sonamarg-Gumri road shall remain closed for vehicular traffic in view of the snowfall in higher reaches and slippery road condition on either side of Zojila Pass.

The world famous Gulmarg tourist resort in north Kashmir witnessed nearly two-foot snow on Tuesday and brought smiles on the faces of tourist stakeholders who were for long waiting for the snow. The upper ranges of Kupwara and Bandipora also witnessed snowfall.

The plains of Kashmir including summer capital Srinagar witnessed intermittent rainfall throughout the day. According to MeT office, there is forecast of rain/snow in Srinagar for next 24 hours. The day temperature in Srinagar today was 5.5 degree Celsius.

(Reporting Saleem Iqbal Qadri)