Snowfall in Srinagar on the first day of challai Kalan

Srinagar, Dec 21: The first day of the 40-day ''Challai Kalan'', coldest period in winter, witnes sed fresh snowfall in the Kashmir valley, including summer capital since early today, disrupting normal life.

After night-long rains, the city experienced fresh snowfall this morning, the first day of the Challai Kalan. However, snowfall was followed by rains disrupting normal life as almost all the roads in the city were submerged under water.

The 40-day coldest period of the winter started today which will be followed by 20-day ''challai Kharud '' and ten day '' Challai Bacha''.

During the Challai Kallan, the temperature goes down to minus five degree to seven degree. In 1986 the world famous Dal Lake got totally frozen for the second time when the minimum temperture dipped to minus 9 degree. People, mostly children, were playing on the frozen surface of the Lake.

During this period of the winter, the tap get frozen causing water shortage. The people dried vegetables and fish in the past when the 300-km-long Srinagar- Jammu national highway remained closed for months together.

The frequent closure of the highway this winter has again forced the people to store pulses and other essentials. The prices of essential commodities was up several fold when the highway remained closed for several days last week.

Traffic movement in the city, particuarly in the uptown, including Natipora, Chanapora, Rambagh, Meethan, Bemina, Banapora, Nowgam and Badshah Nagar was disrupted for several hours owing to damaged roads.

A report from Anantnag said fresh snowfall was experienced at tourist resort of Pahalgam, Deksum, Aahrabal and Shopian. About one to two feet of snowfall was also recorded at holy Amarnath cave and its periphery, Sheshnag, Mahaguns, Panjtherni and Pissu top.

The world famous ski resort of Gulmarg is also experiencing snowfall since early morning, much to the delight of tourists. The resort recently received about three feet of snowfall, forcing the Winter Games association to prepone the winter games.

The worlds highest down hill skiing point Affarwat, which is connected by cable car, also experienced about one feet of fresh snowfall. Light snowfall was also recorded at Baramulla in north Kashmir. However, upper reaches had heavy snowfall.

A report said Kargil and Drass, the second coldest place in the world were reeling under severe cold as the temperature there dipped to minus 17 degree.

Zojila, the highest point on the Srinagar-Leh national highway, which has been closed for six winter months on November 15, is also experiencing snowfall since last night.

The authorities had abandoned the operation to recover the body of a Kashmiri teacher who was buried alive under a snow avalanche at Zero point on the higway on November 25. The teacher was on way to Srinagar from Kargil.

About a dozen vehicles also remained stranded on the highway because of heavy snowfall.

UNI