Fresh snowfall in mountains surrounding Srinagar, upper reaches in Kashmir

Srinagar, Mar 15 : Hills surrounding summer capital, Srinagar, including Zabarwan and Mahadev, received fresh snowfall, while plains were lashed by rains and strong winds early Thursday morning resulting in drop in the minimum temperature though it was still above normal.

World famous ski resort of Gulmarg and other upper heights in the Kashmir valley continued to receive fresh snowfall for the second day today.

However, the border town of Kargil was the coldest in the region after the minimum temperature recorded a further dip and settled at minus 6.3 degree.

A Met department spokesman said here on Thursday afternoon that the weather will remain wet in the state during the next 24 hours.

Mahadev and Zabarwan hills, surrounding Srinagar had turned white following fresh snowfall early this morning. Trees and open fields had turned white, clearly visible from a distance, including famed Dal Lake.

Roof tops of several houses were damaged due to strong winds in the city outskirts. This resulted in drop in the minimum temperature though it was still above normal. Against yesterday's 6.5 degrees, it was 5.8 degrees, about 2.5 degree above normal. However, the maximum temperature yesterday was 11 degrees, about four notches below normal.

However, the Sun made an appearance in the afternoon providing the much needed respite from the cold. People could be seen in warm clothes again in the city, where life was disrupted due to rain water on several roads.

The famed ski slopes at Gulmarg, which experienced less snowfall as compared to previous years during winter, received fresh snowfall early this morning. However, due to cloudy sky, the minimum temperature recorded a degree improvement and settled at minus 1.5 degree against yesterday's minus 2.5 degree, which was about a notch above normal.

Famed health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir received rain, while upper heights had fresh snowfall with the result the minimum temperature witnessed considerable drop of about six notches.

Against yesterday's 6.4 degrees minimum temperature, it was 0.3 degree there. The holy Amarnath cave shrine and its periphery besides Panjterni, Sheshnag, Mahaguns and Pisso top received fresh snowfall since last night. Almost entire heights in south Kashmir, including Jawahar tunnel, Bafflayaz, Pir Panjal and Sinthan top on historic Mughal road also received fresh snowfall. The road is closed since December last year due to accumulation of snow and slippery road conditions.

The upper reaches in north Kashmir, including the areas near the Line of Control (LoC) also received fresh snowfall resulting in closure of Sadhna pass, Phirkiyan and Z-Gali for the second day today.