Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR/JAMMU, Jan 13: The high altitude areas of Kashmir and parts of Jammu region including the famous ski resort of Gulmarg received snowfall while light rains occurred at Srinagar, Jammu and other areas of the State, breaking the prolonged dry spell while people got little relief from cold wave with the increase in temperature across the State.
Light to moderate snowfall occurred in Gulmarg, the main attraction for tourists visiting the Valley during winter season and other high altitude areas since this afternoon.
Due to 7 to 8 inch snowfall in Pir Ki Gali and other areas of Pir Panjal, the Mughal Road was today closed for traffic. The Traffic police authorities imposed restrictions on the movement of vehicular traffic after the snowfall and slippery road conditions in Jawahar Tunnel area this evening.
Gulmarg received four centimetres of snowfall till 5.30 PM, a good news for ski lovers who waited in anticipation for the white blanket to fully enjoy the sport.
The peripherial areas of Gulmarg including Aferwath, Khilanmarg and Kongdoori received moderate snowfall ranging between four inches to six inches, the official sources said.
Reports of snowfall were also received from Z-gali, Sadna and Razdan tops and Gurez near the Line of Control in north Kashmir, Sonamarg on Srinagar-Leh National Highway and higher reaches of Pir Panjal range including holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir.
Reports from Poonch said that due to 7-8 inch snowfall in Pir Ki Gali area, the Mughal Road has been closed for traffic. Today, no vehicle was allowed to move towards Kashmir valley from Surankote side from Bafliaz onwards, SDPO Surankote Ajay Sharma said.
He disclosed that vehicles were diverted via Reasi- Ramban- Banihal to Kashmir. He said the road condition is very slippery and from today onwards there are very bleak chances of opening this road within couple of days.
Meanwhile, Srinagar and other parts of the Valley received light rain giving a respite to the people from the dry spell.
Srinagar, Qazigund, Kupwara, Pahalgam and Kokernag received rainfall intermittently during the day. The chances of snowfall are maximum and most frequent during this period which leads to increase in the night temperatures bringing respite from the cold wave conditions, which otherwise intensify due to dry weather in winters.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Rohit Kansal today reviewed the availability of essentials and snow clearance preparedness in Kashmir. He stressed upon all the Deputy Commissioners of the Kashmir valley to keep their men and machinery in the ready state to meet any eventuality in case of snowfall. It was informed that as many as 109 snow cutters were available for the clearance of snow in various parts of Kashmir.
The Met Department official has predicted light to moderate rains or snowfall at most places across the State over the next 24 hours. However, there would be decrease in precipitation from tomorrow evening.
He further disclosed that Srinagar the summer capital recorded a minimum temperature of 0.2 degree Celsius, up by three notches from the previous night’s low of -3.1 degree C. Leh city in Ladakh region recorded a minimum temperature of -7.3 degree C, almost 7 degrees up from the previous night’s temp of14.2 deg C. Kargil also recorded a minimum temperature of -10 degree C, which was the lowest in the State.
Qazigund recorded a low of 0.3 degree C temperature, showing an increase of over 4 degree C from minus 4.4 degree C the previous night. The night temperature in Kupwara settled at a low of 0.9 degree C, up by four degrees from -3.2 deg C the previous night.
Pahalgam resort recorded an increase of over six degrees from -4.8 deg C and minimum temperature at settled in Gulmarg settled at -1.5 deg C compared to minimum -0.6 degree C of the previous night.
Jammu recorded a minimum temperature of 7 degree C compared to the previous night’s temperature of 5 degree C. The day temperature in Jammu was 15.2 degree C while it was 11 degree C on January 12.
Bhaderwah, hill resort in Doda recorded a minimum temperature of 4.5 degree C and maximum 12.0 degree C while Katra Mata Vaishnodevi a minimum temperature of 7.7 degree C and maximum 14.2 degree C. Banihal recorded a minim temperature of 2.1 degree C and maximum 12.0 degree C.
All the flights today were in time as foggy weather conditions and visibility improved today whereas, many trains including Pooja and Varanasi express arrived late.
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