Srinagar gets season’s first snowfall

Srinagar, Dec 12 (IANS) Srinagar city received season's first snowfall on Tuesday as higher reaches both in the Jammu region and the Kashmir Valley received moderate snowfall.

"Sonamarg, Gulmarg, Pahalgam also received moderate snowfall," the Met said. Plains in the Jammu region have been receiving rainfall since Monday morning.

"The present weather conditions are likely to continue during Wednesday and Thursday after which the western disturbance active over Jammu and Kashmir will start weakening," an official of the Met Department said.

Residents here were pleasantly surprised to see a thin blanket of snow covering the landscape in the morning.

"This is Kashmir. Without snow the landscape looks orphaned. If the government is able to provide basic amenities to the people, winter is undoubtedly the best season in Kashmir," said Nisar Hussain, a retired chief engineer who lives in Gogjibagh.

Snowfall in Gulmarg has brightened the prospects of winter sports at its ski resort.

The weather office said the minimum temperature was minus 0.2 in Srinagar and 0.1 in Pahalgam. While Gulmarg at minus 6.5 was the coldest place in the state on Tuesday, the Met said.

The minimum temperature was minus 1.4 in Leh and minus three degrees in Kargil towns of the Ladakh region.

Jammu city recorded 12.5, Katra town 9.2, Batote 0.2, Bannihal minus 0.1, Bhaderwah 0.2 and Udhampur 10.2 as the minimum temperatures.