Snowfall, rain in Kashmir, more likely in next few days

SRINAGAR: Most of the higher reaches of Kashmir, including the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg, received fresh snowfall overnight, while the plains in the Valley were lashed by rains.

Widespread rains in the plains and snowfall in the higher reaches of the Valley are likely to continue today and tomorrow, according to the Meteorological Department.

While the higher reaches of Gulmarg had experienced snowfall earlier as well, it was the first snowfall of this season for the lower areas, officials said here today.

Around one-and-a-half inches of snow was recorded in the ski resort, they said, adding it also received 10.9 mm of rainfall.

The higher reaches of Shopian including Mughal Road, Sonamarg, Amarnath Cave, Z-Gali, Sadhna Top and Razdan Pass also received fresh snowfall.

It led to the closure of the Mughal Road-the alternate highway connecting the Valley with the rest of the country - and Srinagar-Leh highway.

The Srinagar-Jammu national highway was open for traffic, they said.

Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, received 8.8 mm of rainfall during the night.

Kupwara, in north, recorded 23.3 mm of rain, while Pahalgam in south received 3.6 mm of rainfall, they said.

Qazigund -the gateway town to Kashmir Valley in south - received 5.6 mm of rainfall, while the neighbouring Kokernag recorded 2.8 mm of downpour.

The Met department has predicted that the weather may remain wet for next two days.

"There is a possibility of widespread rains in the plains and snowfall in the higher reaches of the Valley today and tomorrow," the MET Office said.