Chill intensifies in Kashmir as upper reaches receive fresh snowfall

Srinagar, Oct 16: The upper reaches, including border town of Gurez, received fresh snowfall while skies remained cloudy in the plain in Kashmir valley, resulting in dip in the maximum temperature.

However, the night temperature improved and settled above normal at majority of the places in the valley due to overcast conditions.

A MET department spokesperson told UNI that widespread rain and thundershower would occur during the next 48 hours in Kashmir valley.

The weather in Pahalgam, about 100 from here in south Kashmir, was overcast, resulting in dip in the maximum temperature though the mercury during the night improved due to cloudy skies.

However, the upper reaches in Pahalgam, including Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station for Amarnath cave shrine on traditional yatra route, received fresh light snowfall. Amarnath cave shine and its periphery besides Sheshnag, Mahagung, Pisso top and Panjterni also received fresh snowfall.

The mercury at Pahalgam improved and settled at 5.6 degree, against 2.3 degree recorded on Monday. The minimum temperature in the health resort was about 3 degree above normal.

Meanwhile, the border town of Gurez, surrounded by Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) from three sides, in north Kashmir district of Bandipora received fresh snowfall since early this morning. “The border town received about 3 to 4 inches of fresh snow since this morning. However, the road to Gurez is through for traffic,” a police official told UNI over the phone.

After witnessing an improvement of about 4 degree from Monday in the night temperature, people woke up to a chilly Tuesday morning in the summer capital, Srinagar. The night temperature in Srinagar was about 2 degree above normal. As the day progressed, sun played hide and seek though weather remained chilly as ice cold winds continued in the summer capital.

The world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, was the only place in the valley where the night temperature dipped and settled below freezing point. Against zero degree recorded on Tuesday, the night temperature in Gulmarg was minus 2.5 degree, which is about 7 degree below normal.

However, despite chilly weather conditions in the ski resort, tourist could be seen waiting in long queues to get their turn to ride Gandola cable car. “The chilly weather has no effect on tourists, who have come from different parts of the world. They are have a time of their life in Gulmarg, which is a major tourist attraction during winters due to its slops and quality of snow,” a hotelier told UNI.

Chilly weather conditions have also intensified in other parts of the valley, including Qazigund, gateway to the valley, Kupwara in north Kashmir and another tourist resort Kukernag. But, the night temperature in these places also improved and settled at 7 degree, 5.2 degree and 8.2 degree, respectively.