Winter back as upper reaches have fresh snowfall, rain in plains

Srinagar, Apr 15 (UNI) Winter is back in Kashmir with of icy cold winds following fresh snowfall in the upper reaches and reinfall in plains, resulting in a considerable drop in temperature forcing people to wear woolen.

The summer capital, Srinagar, and its adjoining areas were lashed by heavy rains since last night, resulting in cold.

Normal life in many areas in the city, including Badshah Nagar, Natipora, Mehjoor Nagar, Azad Basti, Banapora Nowgam and Bemina was affected because of water-lodgged roads due to poor drainage system, despite spending crores of rupees.

The road, constructed by the Roads and Buildings (R&B) department last year when Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad visited the area, near main office of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) at Exchange road near here was under water. Thousands of students of Kothi Bagh girls higher secondary school find it difficult to walk on the road because of water as no drain was constructed in the area.

A report from Gulmarg said it was raining for the past 12 hours in the area. Tourists who had come from different parts of the country where the temperatures have soared, were seen wearing woollen and other warm clothes, including overcoats.

However, they remained confined in their hotels because of rain.

A UNI correspondent who visited Zojila today on the Srinagar-Leh national highway said it was snowing in the area.

The area from Zojila to Zero points recorded one to two feet of snowfall during the past one week.

However, tourist resort of Sonamarg experienced rains, resulting in considerable drop in temperature.

The holy Amarnath cave and its periphery and Sheshnag, Mahaguns, Pisso top and Panjtherni also experienced fresh snowfall since last evening.

UNI BAS YSS AM RN1528