Kashmir upper reaches, Kargil and Drass experience fresh snowfall

Srinagar, Feb 27 (UNI) Kargil and Drass in Ladakh region and upper reaches in the Kashmir valley experienced fresh snowfall leading to closure of many far-flung routes, while plains had rains resulting in a further drop in the temperature.

A report from Kargil said Drass experienced about six inches of fresh snowfall since this morning.

Kargil, Sankhoo and Panikher also received fresh snowfall today, resulting in severe cold disrupting normal life.

The upper reaches witnessed heavy snowfall since early in the morning.

The Zojila Pass, Gumri, Zero Point and Shatan Nullah on the 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh national highway experienced heavy snowfall in the day. The highway was closed for six winter months from November 15 last year. However, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has started snow clearance operation from Drass on February 25.

A report from Baramulla said traffic on Sadhna Top was suspended following about three feet of fresh snowfall. An ambulance carrying the body of a villager, was among the vehicles stranded on the road.

Baramulla town and its adjoining areas also experienced rains disrupting normal life.

A weather office spokesman told UNI, Western Disturbances (WD) from north Kashmir are active in the region which could cause isolated heavy snow or rainfall during the next 48 hours.

''We are facing deficit rainfall as the disturbances from Pakistan were going astray without touching the region during January and February,'' he said adding now fresh Western Disturbances would help overcome the deficit in March and April.

He said against a normal 56.7 mm rainfall in January here, only 8.1 mm was recorded. Similarly, against 68.4 mm rainfall during February only 33.8 mm was experienced till this morning. It was still raining in the city and it adjoining areas.

However, Jammu received 104.9 mm rainfall against a normal of 60.6 mm in February, he added.

The holy Amarnath cave and its periphery, Sheshnag, Mahaguns and Pissu Top also experienced snowfall.

Gulmarg and Kongdori experienced fresh snowfall yesterday also while it was snowing at Affarwat and other upper reaches in the area.

UNI