Snowfall on upper reaches, rain in plains, one killed in Kashmir

Srinagar, July 8 (UNI) Light snowfall on the upper reaches and rains in plains bring some relief in the Kashmir valley where night become a bit cold and day temperature was near normal.

People at Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, were forced to wear warm cloths today after heavy rains and icy cold winds sweep the area.

A strong storm, accompanied by heavy rains and hail, killed a woman, wounded three others and damaged standing crops, fruit and vegetables and more than two dozen houses in the Kashmir valley overnight.

Officials said a light snowfall was experienced at holy Amarnath cave and Panjtherni where more than 2000 pilgrims are stranded since last evening.

They said the weather become suddenly cold after the snowfall.

Several upper reaches in Zojila and Baltal areas also experienced light snowfall, resulting in drop in the temperature.

A weather office spokesman told UNI that night was bit cold after the minimum temperature was recorded 14.4 degree Celsius, four degree below normal.

The day temperature 24.7 degree Celsius was near normal despite rains since early this morning. However, 14.4 mm rain brings some relief to the people of Kashmir who were facing unprecedented warm weather during the past two weeks.

A police spokesman said very strong winds accompanied by heavy rains and hail lashed Kukroosa, Lelam, Dolipora, Mawar and Harkarpora in the frontier district of Kupwara.

Roofs of about two dozen houses were blown away, causing injuries to four persons.

The injured were admitted to hospital where one woman Naseema Begum died.

Standing crops, vegetables, fruit trees were also damaged causing extensive loss to farmers.

UNI