Upper reaches receive fresh snowfall, plain lashed by heavy rain in Kashmir

Srinagar, Jun 12 : Upper reaches received unseasonal fresh snowfall on Wednesday while plains, including summer capital, Srinagar, were lashed by heavy rain inundating many areas, damaging bridges and disrupting traffic and pedestrian movement.
Due to snowfall, landslides and uprooting of trees, the Srinagar-Leh national highway and historic Mughal road were closed for traffic.
Base camp of holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir, Baltal in the central Kashmir district of Ganderbal also received fresh snowfall this morning.
However, the snow clearance operation on Baltal and Pahalgam tracks to holy cave was going on war footing to make them ready before the commencement of the annual pilgrimage from July 1.
The upper heights of world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, including Affarwat, the highest skiing point connected by Gandola Cable Car (GCC), received fresh snowfall early this morning.
However, Gulmarg was lashed by heavy rain during the past 24 hours resulting in drop in the minimum temperature which was 5 degree, about four notches below normal, a Met department spokesman said this afternoon. He said 61 mm rainfall was recorded during the past 24 hours in Gulmarg, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir.
A number of villages in Tangmarg were flooded after major increase in the water level in Ferozpora Nallah. A vital bridge was also damaged due to flood water, disconnecting dozens of villages with main road.
Border town of Gurez, which is surrounded by Pakistan occupied Kashmir (POK) from three sides also received unseasonal snowfall this morning. Snow will badly affect fruit, vegetable and other crops, the locals said. However, snowfall has not affected road connectivity between Gurez and district headquarter Bandipora, they said. Roof tops, electric poles and trees besides open fields had turned white when people work up in the border town this morning.
The other upper reaches in north Kashmir, including those near the Line of Control (LoC) also received fresh snowfall resulting in cold. However, security forces guarding the LoC remain on high alert to foil any attempt by militants to infiltrate into this side from PoK.
There was fresh snowfall at tourist resort of Sonamarg in central Kashmir district of Ganderbal, forcing authorities to suspend traffic on Srinagar-Leh highway. However, large number of tourists besides locals enjoyed the snowfall in the month of June. Fresh snowfall was also received at Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia. Roads, roof and tree tops besides open field were under white carpet when people work up this morning the border town, which hit the headlines in 1999 during Kargil war.
Baltal, base camp of holy Amarnath cave and other upper reaches in the area received fresh snowfall. However, snow clearance operation and repair of track to holy cave from the base camp was going on war footing.
However, plains in central Kashmir also received heavy rain resulting in increase in the water level of river and other water bodies.
Shopian heights besides Pir-ki-Gali on historic Mughal road also experienced fresh snowfall. The road connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch was also closed for traffic movement due to uprooting of tree and landslides. People living near river and Nallah bunds were advised to remain on high alert due to increase in water level following heavy rains. Rain water has also affected traffic and pedestrian movement in Shopian.
The upper heights near the holy Amarnath cave shrine and its periphery besides Sheshnag, Panjterni, Mahaguns and Pisso top on traditional Pahalgam track also received fresh snowfall. However, it had not impact on snow clearance operation which is going war footing. However, Pahalgam and Chandanwari received heavy rain during the past 24 hours which has resulted in increase in the water level of river Lidder.
Summer capital, Srinagar, also witnessed about three degree drop in the minimum temperature due to about 40 mm rainfall during the night. A number of main road, including in the civil lines, were flooded with rain water due to poor drainage system. However, situation improved after several hours. Water level in river Jehlum though witness some increase was still flowing at normal level.
Met spokesman said this afternoon that sky would be partly cloudy and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be 24 degree and 12 degree respectively during the next 24 hours in Srinagar.

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