SRINAGAR : All hilly areas surrounding the summer capital, Srinagar, have turned white while, elsewhere in the Kashmir valley moderate to heavy snowfall was experienced on heights, resulting in considerable drop in the maximum temperature.
After witnessing above normal minimum temperature during the night, people woke up to a chilly morning in the plains due cloudy weather followed by rains in the plains, including Srinagar and its adjoining areas.
A Met department spokespersons said there could be rain or thundershowers at isolated places in Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours.
All hills, particularly Mahadev, experienced fresh snowfall. Tree tops and open fields had turned white, clearly visible from a
distance including Harwan and Dal Lake area. Srinagar and its adjoining areas experienced rain after cloudy morning. However, the minimum temperature was nine degree, four degree above normal in the city.
Due to snow on hills and rain, the maximum temperature dropped considerably, affecting normal life. However, people continued to wear woollen and warm clothes.
The cost of coal, which is being used in the “Kangri” ( a fire pot) has gone up after the recent floods. A quintal costs Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500, five to six hundred more now. Similarly, the cost of Kangri has gone up several times. The world famous ski resort of Gulmarg had rains while upper reaches, including Affarwat and Khilanmarg experience fresh snowfall since last night resulting in drop in the night temperature, a hotel owner told UNI over phone. The minimum temperature was 2.4 degree, a notch below normal, Met spokesman said.
Reports of snowfall were also received from other heights in the north Kashmir.
The holy Amarnath cave shrine and its periphery also experienced moderate to heavy snowfall since last evening. Light to moderate snowfall was recorded at Sheshnag, Mahaguns, Pisso top and Panjtarni, a report from Pahalgam said. However, Pahalgam and Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on traditional yatra route experienced rain this morning. Leh in Ladakh region continued to be the coldest area egion with minus 1.5 degree minimum temperature while it was 0.8 degree at Kargil, a border town on Srinagar-Leh national highway, which was still open for both way traffic.
(UNI)
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