Temperature dips after fresh snowfall in upper reaches

SRINAGAR — Upper reaches of Kashmir Valley, mostly tourist spots, witnessed fresh snowfall on Saturday morning.

Intermittent rainfall occurred in plains, as a result there was a dip in day temperature.

MeT office has predicted snow and rainfall till November 16 in Jammu and Kashmir, prompting administration to gear up itself.

Sources said that there was snowfall in upper reaches including world famous ski resort Gulmarg in north Kashmir, Sonmarg in central Kashmir, and Pahalgam in south Kashmir.

Snowfall was also recorded in upper reaches of north Kashmir’s Bandipora including Gurez and Tulail. Drass, Sonmarg, Zojila and Gumri areas also witnessed snowfall, prompting authorities to suspend traffic on Srinagar-Leh Highway.

“We closed Srinagar-Leh road for traffic as the road has become slippery due to continuous snowfall,” DSP Traffic Ganderbal, Faheem Ali said.

He said Sonamarg, Zojila, Minimarg and Shaitani Nallah have recorded light to moderate snowfall since Saturday morning, resulting in slippery road conditions.

Traffic plied normally on Srinagar-Jammu Highway. Light Motor Vehicles were allowed to proceed towards Srinagar from Jammu.

Anantnag-Kishtwar road continues to remain closed while Kupwara-Karnah, Kupwara-Keran Kupwara-Machil and Bandipora-Gurez roads were open.