Rise in temperature brings respite to cloud-covered Valley

SRINAGAR: With minimum temperature increasing by several degrees at most places in Kashmir division, including Ladakh region, there was some respite from cold here even as dark clouds engulfed the Valley with MeT department predicting rains or snow over the next three days.

"A fresh western disturbance has become active and there are chances of fairly widespread to widespread rains or snow for three days from today," a spokesman of the Meteorological department said.

Due to the cloud cover overnight, minimum temperatures in the Valley and Ladakh appreciated while the mercury in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, stayed above freezing point for the first time in the last six days.

The city recorded a low of 1.7 degrees Celsius, four notches above from minus 2.4 degrees Celsius of the previous night, the spokesman said.

The famous south Kashmir hill resort of Pahalgam, which also serves as the base camp for the annual Amarnath yatra, registered a low of minus 1.4 degrees Celsius, again an increase of four degrees from the previous night's minus 5.4 degrees Celsius, he said.

Gulmarg, the star attraction for tourists especially skiers from across the country and abroad, recorded the minimum temperature of minus 3.0 degrees Celsius against minus 3.6 degrees Celsius yesterday, the spokesman added.