Snowfall in HP, J

Chandigarh, Nov 22 (UNI) Higher reaches in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir experienced fresh snowfall while lower areas in these states and parts of Punjab had rain during the past 24 hours, breaking a long dry spell in the region.

A windstorm lashed parts of Punjab, which blew off hoardings and signboards and uprooted trees, disrupting railway traffic on the Ferozepur-Bathinda section of the Northern Railways this morning.

Several trains, including the Mumbai-Ferozpur Punjab Mail, Jaipur-Amritsar express, Ferozpur-Mumbai Janta express, Ahmedabad-Jammu express, Fazilka-Bathinda express, Bathinda-Ferozpur passenger and Ferozpur-Bathinda express were delayed when an uprooted tree fell on the railway track near Goniana Mandi, a report from Jaito said.

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, a Srinagar report said.

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

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

Higher reaches in the tribal districts of Lahaul spiti and Kinnaur and Pangi and Bharmour areas in Himachal Pradesh had another spell of snowfall, bringing a considerable fall in the temperature in the state. The entire tribal belt reeled under cold wave conditions.

The famous tourist resorts of Narkanda and Kufri in Shimla district experienced the season's first snowfall.

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

Rains lashed parts of Punjab. The holy city of Amritsar recorded 9.0 mm downpour, followed by Ludhiana measuring 14.0 mm Patiala 12.3 mm till this morning. Nangal dam, Balachaur areas also had rainfall.

Most areas in Haryana experienced cloudy weather during the day.

Mid and lower hills in Himachal Pradesh also experienced rain.

Sundernagar, Pandoh, 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 12.2 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 7.0 mm and Jammu 0.6 mm rainfall till this morning.

Chandigarh and its adjoining areas were lashed by rain in the morning. The city recorded 7.2 mm rainfall.

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

Hailstorm or thundersquall with wind speed exceeding 45 km per hour is likely to occur at isolated places in the region during the period, the Met office said.

UNI VKJ MQA GC1852