Higher reaches in HP, J

Chandigarh, Nov 18 (UNI) High altitude areas in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir experienced fresh snowfall while lower areas in the twin states and parts of Punjab had rain during the past 24 hours.

The Kashmir valley was cut off from the rest of the country following the closure of the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway due to landslides and shooting of stones triggered by heavy rains since early morning.

Hundreds of vehicles, including trucks loaded with essential commodities are stranded at different places on the highway, a Srinagar report said.

Upper reaches in the Kashmir valley and Drass, the world's second coldest place, experienced snowfall. The world famous ski resort of Gulmarg and tourist places of Khilanmarg, Pahalgam, Yusmarg and Deksum also had fresh snowfall.

Higher reaches in the tribal districts of Lahaul spiti and Kinnaur and Pangi valley in Himachal Pradesh had another spell of snowfall.

The entire tribal belt reeled under cold wave conditions.

The 13050-foot Rohtang Pass, access to Lahaul Spiti district, and other high mountain passes received another spell of moderate snowfall.

In Punjab, rain lashed the holy city of Amritsar recording 2.9 mm downpour till this morning. Ludhiana and Jalandhar reported trace rainfall. However, the minimum temperature hovered above normal at Amritsar and Ludhiana recording 15.8 degrees and 15.0 degrees celsius respectively. Most areas in Haryana experienced cloudy weather during the day.

Mid and lower hills in Himachal Pradesh also experienced rain dipping the temeprature in the state. Sundernagar, Kalpa, Pandoh, Kasol, Barthin, Sujanpur Tira, Naudan, Guler Gamroor and Nagrota Surian areas in the hilly state also had rainfall.

Shimla and its adjoining areas also experienced rain. The capital town measured 1.6 mm rain till 0830 hours.

Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, and Jammu, the state's winter capital, were also lashed by moderate rainfall.

Srinagar recorded 15.2 mm and Jammu 13.6 mm rainfall till this morning.

Dark clouds hung over Chandigarh and its adjoining areas, turning the weather freakish. The city experienced drizzle during the day.

The Weather Office predicted light to moderate rain or snow at many places in Himachal Pradesh and light to moderate rain or thundershowers at few places in Punjab and isolated places in Haryana during the next 24 hours.

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