Kashmir witnesses first snowfall of the season

Places situated on high altitude including world famous ski resort Gulmarg, Kupwara, Hundwara, higher reaches in Baramulla, and Bandipora in North Kashmir's received the first snowfall of the season while Srinagar and Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama in South Kashmir, Ganderbal in North-east and central Kashmir Budgam district received snowfall

Srinagar, Nov 13: Mercury witnessed a sudden dip as upper reaches of Kashmir valley received first snow fall while incessant rains lashed plain areas on Thursday.

Official sources said that number of places situated on high altitude including world famous ski resort Gulmarg, Kupwara, Hundwara, higher reaches in Baramulla, and Bandipora in North Kashmir's received the first snowfall of the season while Srinagar and Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama in South Kashmir, Ganderbal in North-east and central Kashmir Budgam district received snowfall, while the plains lashed by intermittent rains since early this morning.

"About nine to ten inches of snow has accumulated on the road link to Gulmarg and one and half feet snow as recorded on ground in the Gulmarg hill resort till this afternoon", Chief Executive Engineer Mechanical Engineering Department Baramulla Mohmmed Maqbool Bhat told News Agency of Kashmir adding that snow fall continued much to the delight of the tourists and winter sports lovers.

He added that snow clearance machines were immediately pressed into the service and road including inner links to Gulmarg has been cleared.

"Three snow clearance machines are on work to clear the accumulating snow on GT road and inner links of Gulmarg tourist destination. The main road link to Gulmarg is restored while snow acclimating on inner links is being cleared simultaneously," added Bhat.

The snowfall in the hill resort along with high altitude areas of Kashmir started around 3am and was still continuing when reports were last received, the official sources said.

 However, air traffic and vehicular movement on Srinagar-Jammu National highway, the only road linking Kashmir with rest of the country, remained unaffected. (NAK)