Rains, snowfall end dry spell in Kashmir

SRINAGAR: The minimum temperature at most places in Kashmir stayed above freezing point for the second consecutive night following rains and snowfall which ended a prolonged dry spell in the valley.

Nearly three inches of snow accumulated in Gulmarg tourist resort in north Kashmir till 8.30 am while Pahalgam resort in south Kashmir witnessed accumulation of nearly one inch of snow during the corresponding period, a MeT office spokesperson said.

Kokernag in south Kashmir experienced light snowfall while rest of the valley witnessed light rainfall since yesterday evening, he said.

Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a low temperature of 2.7 degrees Celsius, up by 2.5 degrees from the previous night's low of 0.2 degrees Celsius, the spokesman said.

He said Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir Valley in south, recorded a low of 0.8 degree Celsius, a slight increase from 0.3 degrees Celsius of the previous night.

The mercury in Pahalgam, which serves as a base-camp for the annual Amarnath yatra, registered a slight drop to settle at 0.4 degrees Celsius compared to the previous night's low of 2.2 degrees Celsius, the spokesman said.

The minimum temperature in the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg slipped by over two degrees to settle at minus 3.6 degrees Celsius compared to minus 1.5 degree Celsius, he said.

The night temperatures in Kupwara in north Kashmir, settled at a low of 1.2 degrees Celsius compared to 0.9 degrees Celsius the previous night, he said.