Heavy snowfall makes people shiver in Kashmir

Srinagar, Dec 4 (UNI) People in the Kashmir valley and Ladakh region continued to shiver under severe cold because of a heavy snowfall resulting in a considerable drop in temperature.

A weather office spokesman said the maximum temperature today was recorded 3.3 degrees Celsius, which was seven degrees below normal.

However, the minimum temperature was 0.5 degrees Celsius, one degree above normal.

The upper reaches in the Kashmir valley experienced about one feet to three feet fresh snowfall since yesterday while the summer capital, Srinagar, too had seasons first snowfall disrupting normal life.

The ski slopes at world famous Gulmarg had turned white under about two feet of fresh snowfall, much to delight of skiers and tourists.

About two and a half feet of snowfall was recorded at Affarwat, Kongdori and Khilanmarg.

Reports of heavy snowfall were also received from holy Amarnath cave and its periphery, Pissu top, Mahaguns, Sheshnag and Panjtherni.

About two feet of snowfall was experienced at tourist resort of Pahalgam.

A report from Baramulla said heavy snowfall was experienced at Sadhna top, Keran, Karnah, Machil and other high altitude areas of north Kashmir.

A number of roads to far flung and remote areas have been closed due to snowfall. However, efforts are being made to reopen them, it said.

The snowfall has closed the routes being used by the Pakistan trained militants to infiltrate into this side from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK).

However, authorities have decided not to lower the guards as more than 1500 militants are waiting across the border to sneak into the Kashmir valley, sources said.

Meanwhile, the state authorities have decided to allow only one-way traffic on the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway after snowfall and landslides.

Also, the body of a Kashmiri teacher, who was buried under a snow avalanche at Zero point on Srinagar-Leh national highway on November 25, could not be recovered because of more than one feet of snowfall and continued bad weather.

MORE UNI BAS SK KN1450