Srinagar: The five-month long dry spell in Kashmir, the longest in four decades, ended Tuesday as high altitude areas, including Gulmarg, experienced snow while most of the plains were lashed by rains and light snow, providing much needed relief to people from the intense cold as the mercury rose by several degrees due to cloud cover.
According to a Met department official, light to moderate rain or snow would occur at many places over the state during the next 24 hours. However, this will be followed by moderate to heavy rain or snow during the next five days in the state.
It was raining in the morning in most parts of the valley as people woke up. This followed considerable increase in the night temperature during last few days, ending more than five month long dry spell.
The ski resort of Gulmarg, 55 km from here received fresh snowfall early this morning, much to the delight of the visitors who have flocked the area in good numbers on the eve of new year, officials said.
They said about 12 to 13 inches of snow was recorded in the peripheral areas of the resort, including Khilanmarg, Kongdoori and Aferwath.
Reports of snowfall were also received from upper reaches of Kupwara, Bandipora and Baramulla districts in north Kashmir, Anantnag, Shopian, Pulwama and Kulgam districts of south Kashmir, the officials said.
They said the areas which witnessed snowfall included Keran, Machil, Karnah, Gurez and Amarnath cave along with surrounding areas.
One to two inches of snow was recorded in Shopian town and nearby Herpora village, while the famous hill resort of Pahalgam along with other plains in south, north and central Kashmir received moderate to good rainfall.
Srinagar, which has been engulfed by heavy cloud cover since last night, recorded a drizzle in the wee hours.
The minimum temperature recorded in the city was muinus 0.6 degrees Celsius against the previous nights minus 4 degrees Celsius.
The minimum temperature also rose by several degrees across the valley with Kupwara town in north and Kokernag in south Kashmir settling above freezing point.
While Kupwara recorded a low of 1.4 degrees Celsius against yesterday’s minus 4.6 degrees, Kokernag recorded a minimum of 0.3 degrees Celsius against yesterday’s minus 0.7 degrees, a spokesman of the MET office said.
The spokesman said Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 3.6 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam minus 2 degrees Celsius, and Qazigund minus 2.6 degrees Celsius.
The three places had recorded a low of minus 4, minus 5 and minus 3.6 degrees Celsius, respectively, the previous night.
Leh in frontier region of Ladakh continued to remain the coldest place in the state with a low of minus 10.5 degrees Celsius, while the nearby Kargil town recorded a dip of almost two degrees in the night temperature which settled at minus 9.3 degrees Celsius, the spokesman said.
The spokesman has forecast wet weather during the next six days with widespread to fairly widespread snowfall or rains between Wednesday and Saturday.
The Amarnath cave and its periphery also recorded fresh snowfall since last evening. Reports of snowfall were also received from Sheshnag, Mahaguns, Panjterni and Pisso top on traditional Amarnath yatra route. However, it was cloudy at Pahalgam and snow or rain could occur any time, a hotel owner said over phone. There was however, more than three notch improvement in the night temperature. Against minus 5 degree recorded yesterday, the minimum temperature was minus 2 degree, four notches above normal.
The day in summer capital started with rain ending long dry spell, which had resulted in increase in the cold related ailments, including chest infection, common cold, headache and fever. Doctors have already directed elderly persons, children besides those having heart problem to avoid venturing out in the morning and evening.
The Met spokesman said there could be rain or snow and the maximum and minimum temperature would be around 7 degree and minus 1 degree respectively during the next 24 hours in the city.
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Historic Mughal Road Closed
Mughal road was closed due to snowfall at Pir-Ki-Gali and other areas on the historic road, linking Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region, a traffic police official said.
He said traffic from both sides has been closed as a precautionary measure. However, authorities from both sides have put into service sophisticated machines to clear the snow.
Decision to allow traffic on the road, which is seen as alternative to Srinagar-Jammu highway will be taken only after the traffic department gives a green.
Choppers Pressed Into Service For Ladakh
Indian Air Force (IAF) will operate Air Courier service from Srinagar to Kargil thrice in a week from January 10 to facilitate movement of people of border district of Kargil in Ladakh region during winter months.
The Highway, connecting Ladakh region with the Kashmir valley, has been closed due to snowfall and slippery road conditions till further orders.
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 on Srinagar-Leh highway.
The Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri road (Zojila Pass), which connects Kashmir valley with the Ladakh region, will remain closed from tomorrow for all types of vehicles till further notice, he said.
Normally the highway was being closed from November Ist every year due to snowfall for six winter months. However, for the past several years due to dry weather the highway remained open even during December months also.
According to the officials, IAF will commence AN-32 courier service to Kargil from January, 10 2017 and it will remain operational during the whole winter season after closure of the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National Highway.
The AN-32 courier service would operate from Srinagar to Kargil and back thrice in a week whereas it will be operated from Jammu to Kargil and back twice in a week.
However, in case of cancellation of any sortie due to bad weather or any other reason, necessary announcements would be made through electronic media so that the passengers may not face any inconvenience.
Officials said that it has been decided that insurance cover should also be provided to the passengers on meagre charges included in the air ticket. The decision has been taken for the larger benefits of the passengers.
They further said that facilities during stay in Srinagar and Jammu, including additional security personnel and transportation to airport, would be provided by the local administration.
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