Srinagar: The world famous ski resort of Gulmarg and all upper heights across the Kashmir valley experienced fresh snowfall while rains lashed plains, including summer capital, Srinagar, resulting in dip in the maximum temperature, disrupting normal life on Wednesday.
However, the minimum temperature witnessed a surge due to overcast sky in the valley, where the amount of snowfall recorded earlier this month broke the record of 32 years.
It was snowing since early this morning, much to the delight of skiers, adventure lovers and traders associated with tourism who expect bumper winter season this time after low footfall of tourists in summer, a hotel told UNI over phone.
He said tree and roof tops, ski slopes and open field are under a blanket of snow as fresh snowfall was experienced since early this morning. The upper heights, including Khilanmarg, Kongdori and Khilanmarg, connected by Gandola Cable Car (GCC) from the base camp, recorded heavy snowfall and it was still snowing at the time of filing this report.
Border town of Keran, Karnah, Machil, Neeru, Gurez and other areas, including those near the Line of Control (LoC) also received moderate to heavy snowfall. Dozens of far-flung and remote areas in Kupwara and Bandipora district were cut off with their respective district and tehsil headquarters due to closure roads following snowfall.
The famed health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from herein south Kashmir, also received fresh snowfall today. Everything has turned white due to snowfall, a tourist official told UNI over phone. The upper heights, including holy Amarnath cave shrine and its periphery, Panjterni, Sheshnag, Mahaguns and Pisso top besides Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on traditional Pahalgam pilgrimage track also received moderate to heavy snowfall since last evening.
All upper heights in south Kashmir district of Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama also received fresh snowfall. The historic Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region, remained closed for the past three days due to snowfall. Fresh snowfall was also recorded at several places, including Pir-ki-Gali, reports reaching here said.
Tourist resort of Sonamarg on Srinagar-Leh national highway, which is closed for the past three days, also received fresh snowfall. Fresh snowfall was also received at Baltal, which serves as base camp for annual pilgrimage to holy Amarnath cave in summer.
Moderate to heavy snowfall was also experienced at upper reaches in Ganderbal, Kangan, Yusmarg in central Kashmir districts of Ganderbal and Badgam.
After cloudy weather during the night which resulted surge in minimum temperature, the summer capital, Srinagar, experienced rain, disrupting normal life.
Met spokesman said this afternoon that there could be light rain or thundershowers in Srinagar tomorrow when the maximum and temperatures will be around 7 degrees and 5 degrees respectively.