World famous Gulmarg turned white as Kashmir receives fresh snowfall

Srinagar, Nov 15 (UNI) The world famous ski resort of Gulmarg and other upper reaches in the Kashmir valley experienced fresh snowfall while plains had rains, resulting in further drop in the temperature disrupting normal life.

However, the Srinagar-Jammu national highway was through for traffic despite rains.

The authorities have already closed the Srinagar-Drass-Kargil-Leh national highway for six winter months from November 15 following heavy snowfall at Zojila.

A tourist official told UNI over phone from Gulmarg that it was snowing heavily since early this morning.

The ski slopes had turned white ready to receive skiers from the different parts of the country and within state, he said.

He said about six inches of snow had accumulated on the slopes in proper Gulmarg while about one feet was experienced at Affarwat and Kongdori. Khilanmarg was under one and a half feet of snow, he said.

He said the tourism department has geared up to meet the rush of tourists, skiers and other adventure lovers this winter.

Last winter saw a record number of tourists and skiers from different parts of the country and abroad, he said.

The holy Amarnath cave shrine, housing the self made Icelingam, in south Kashmir and its periphery also recorded about one feet of snowfall since last evening. It was heavily snowing in the area, official sources said adding fresh snowfall was also experienced at Pissu top, Mahaguns, Sheshnag and Panjtherni on Pahalgam- Amarnath route.

The Sonamarg, Gomri, Baltal, Sangam top and Zojila on the Sriangar- Leh highway also experienced snowfall since early this morning.

Interestingly the Drass, second coldest place in the world after Siberia, had yet to receive the seasons first snowfall.

A report from Kargil said that upper reaches in the belt had light snowfall since this morning resulting in severe cold in the plains.

The upper reaches in the Kashmir valley, including Sadhna top, Machil, Keran, Karnah and other areas also experienced snowfall. A number of roads to far flung areas were blocked due to snowfall.

Meanwhile, the Divisional Administration has put three dozen snow clearance machines ready in all the six districts of the Kashmir valley to meet any challenge in the event of snowfall.

UNI BAS SHB DS1631