Highway open one-way; snow and rain in Kashmir

Sriangar, Jan 27: The cold wave conditions intensified in the Kashmir Valley following fresh snowfall in the upper reaches coupled with rains in the plain, including Srinagar, ending about a month long dry weather.

The 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway, only road linking the Kashmir valley with the rest of the world remained open for one-way while 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh highway has remained closed since November last due to heavy snowfall.

With just three-days of the 40-day '' Chalai Kalan'', coldest period of the winter, left, the upper reaches in the Kashmir valley witnessed moderate to heavy snowfall while the plains had rains since last night after the Western Disturbances (WD) from north Pakistan entered the region.

The WD coming from Afghanistan were moving towards China without touching Pakistan and Kashmir valley, they said.

The weather in the valley remained dry for about a month resulting in severe cold during the night, freezing parts of world famous Dal Lake, while temperature during the day was above normal.

The coldest night in the valley was recorded last week when the minimum temprature dipped to minus six degree, four degree below normal. However, yesterday was warmest when the maximum reached 14 degree, which was about about nine degrees above normal.

The upper reaches in the world famous ski resort of Gulmarg wintessed about one feet of fresh snowfall since last evening.

The ski slopes at Gulmarg also had fresh snowfall, much to the delight of skiers and tourists who had gathered from different parts of the country.

A report from Baramulla said Sadhna top and Keran have also been witnessing light snowfall since early this morning.

Baramulla and Kupwara towns in north Kashmir had heavy rains since early this morning, resulting in drop in the day temperature.

The holy Amarnath cave and its periphery in south Kashmir also witnessed about one feet of fresh snowfall since last evening.

However, the Pisso top, Mahaguns, Sheshnag and Panjtherni experienced light snowfall.

UNI