Higher reaches in Kashmir received fresh snowfall while rains lashed plains in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Monday. The snowfall has led to closure of Bandipora-Gurez as well as Srinagar-Leh roads besides Machil, Keran and Karnah.
Mughal road, connecting shopian with Poonch and Rajouri districts as well as Kishtwar-Sinthan road are closed. According to news agency GNS, 3 inches of fresh snowfall had accumulated this morning around Razdan top and other adjoining areas, leading to the closure of the Bandipora-Gurez highway.
Reports of 2 inches snowfall was recorded in Kishtwar—Machial (2 inches), Ishtayari (3 inches) Marwah (3 inches) and Warwan (6 inches).
Reports from Kupwara said that Machil re-corded 5 inches, Z Gali (7 inches) Firkantop (6 inches) and Sadna top (7 inches) while it was still snowing.
“As expected, light snow/rain occurred at many places in both J&K and Ladakh,” a meteorological department official said. Regarding forecast, he said, weather will remain generally cloudy in both J&K and Ladakh with chances of light snow at some places, mainly over higher reaches during the next 24 hours. “There’s no forecast of any major snowfall till ending Decem-ber.”
Meanwhile Srinagar, the summer capital of J&K recorded a low of 2.2°C against last night’s minus 1.8°C.
Kashmir is presently under the grip of 40-day long harshest period of winter, known locally as ‘Chillai Kalan, which started from December 21. It is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ and a 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’.
The mercury settled at minus 6.0°C against minus 7.5°C on the previous night at the world fa-mous resort of Gulmarg.Reports said Gulmarg re-cieved around 5-6 inches of fresh snowfall while Tangmarg had 2 inches of fresh snowfall in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, the official said. It is normal for the famous resort.—GK
