Kashmir: Sunshine greets people after heavy snowfall, life limping back to normal

Srinagar, Jan 6: Sunshine greeted people on Sunday morning though the ice cold winds continued in the summer capital, Srinagar, and other parts of Kashmir valley, where life was limping back to normal after remaining affected for two days till Saturday due to heavy to very heavy snowfall.

The night temperature dipped at some places in Kashmir valley and settled several degrees below freezing point.

A Met department spokesperson told TNN that scattered very light snow would occur during the next 24 hours in Kashmir. “The weather will again turn dry on Monday,” he said.

However, he said a fresh Western Disturbance (WD), which originated from the Arabian Sea and is approaching the region though Afghanistan and Pakistan, will hit the region on Thursday. “Under the influence of this WD, snow is expected at some places in Kashmir valley,” he added.

The border town of Kargil was the coldest place in the region after the mercury dipped 2 degree from Saturday and settled at minus 18.6 degree, followed by Leh, where the night temperature also plunged over 2 degree and settled at minus 10.3 degree.

He said skies will be partly cloudy to generally cloudy during the next 24 hours in Leh, where the maximum and minimum temperatures will be around 1 degree and minus 11 degree, respectively.

Life was limping back to normal after remaining affected for two days in Srinagar, where snow has been cleared from majority of the roads and electricity has been restored. However, many roads are waterlogged due to melting of snow following sunshine.

After witnessing above normal night temperature, people in the summer capital woke up to a chilly Sunday morning. But as the day progressed, sun came out, bringing some relief from chilly weather conditions though the icy winds continued. Against minus 1.3 degree recorded on Saturday, the night temperature in Srinagar improved and settled at minus 1.2 degree, which is about 2 degree above normal.

The Met spokesperson said skies will be partly cloudy during the next 24 hours in Srinagar, where the maximum and minimum temperatures will be around 7 degree and minus 3 degree, respectively.

Gulmarg, where the ski slopes are under several feet of snow, was the coldest place in the valley. Against minus 7.3 degree recorded on Saturday, the night temperature in the ski resort, which is about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, was 9 degree, which is 2 degree below normal.

“After receiving moderate to heavy snow for two days till Saturday, the tourists are having a time of their lives in Gulmarg, where snow-related activities, including skiing, has been initiated,” a hotelier told TNN over the phone.

The night temperature in world famous health resort of Pahalgam, about 55 km from here in south Kashmir, dipped about 5 degree from Saturday and settled at minus 7.9 degree, which is over a degree below normal.

The mercury at Qazigund, gateway to the valley, Kupwara in north Kashmir, and tourist resort of Kokernag settled at minus 0.6 degree, 4.2 degree, and minus 2.2 degree, respectively.