Heavy snowfall at Mata Vaishno Devi

Jammu, Feb 3 (UNI) World-famous cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in Trikuta hills today experienced a heavy snowfall as intense cold wave gripped entire Jammu and Kashmir, plummeting mercury further.

''It was snowing heavily at the Bhawan around midnight. At Bhairon Ghati there was probably two feet snow,'' an NCC Cadet pilgrim, JUO Vandana Sharma told UNI. However, all the three routes reaching the cave shrine from Ardh Kuwari were open while the administration has also opened up the traditional cave for 'darshans' of the deity, she informed.

Snow covered trees and rooftops were adding to the picturesque track to the cave shrine, she added.

Similarly there was heavy snowfall in several places in the state. ''Normal life has been affected due to heavy snowfall and cold in Doda, Ramban and Kisthtwar district,'' a UNI correspondent said.

Besides intermittent rains in the planes, heavy snowfall was also reported from Pir Panjal range of Himalayas in Poonch, Rajouri, Reasi and Udhampur districts.

Summer capital city of Srinagar was also among several places in Kashmir valley that experienced fresh snowfall today.

Meanwhile, Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was closed for vehicular movement after heavy snow accumulation on road at Jawahar tunnel onwards, police said.

No vehicle was permitted on the national highway today as it is still snowing, police said.

UNI VJ SV HT1745