Srinagar, Dec 29: Snowfall and intermittent rains on Wednesday ended the 3-month long dry spell in Kashmir, much to the delight of the people. While the upper reaches received moderate snowfall, a sporadic downpour brought respite in plains, breaking the prolonged chill period. Weatherman meanwhile forecast more snowfall in coming days.
Light to heavy snowfall was reported from higher reaches including entire Pirpanchal range, said the weatherman. “There will be more snowfall this night and tomorrow,” said Director Meteorological Department, Srinagar, Sonam Lotus.
Light snowfall was reported from different districts especially in south Kashmir. Famous tourist resorts including Gulmarg and Yusmarg received two to three inches snowfall and the places are expected to receive more snowfall in coming days—likely to attract more tourists for winter sports.
Remote areas of Bandipora district including Gurez sector in north Kashmir and places falling on the Srinagar-Jammu highway, like Qazigund in South Kashmir, and hilly areas of Kangan in central Kashmir received light snowfall.
“It has started snowing in Gurez and Machil sector,” said Coordinator of the Natural Disaster Management Cell, Amir Ali. These areas near the Line of Control usually remain cut off from outside world for more than five months as roads leading to them remain blocked due to snowfall. Intermittent rains with light snowfall ended the dry spell in the summer capital Srinagar as people especially youth and children were seen enjoying the change in weather.
As skyline was covered by thick clouds since yesterday night, weatherman predicted improvement in temperature. “The chill factor will lessen,” Lotus said, adding the advancing Western Disturbances towards Jammu and Kashmir were reason for change in weather conditions.
To meet any weather related eventuality in case of heavy snowfall, the state Government asserted it has geared up the men and machinery.
“Heads of administration in every district have been instructed to activate the snow control-rooms to meet any eventuality,” said Ali.
The machinery including 75 snow clearance machines have been kept ready across the Valley to ensure that road links are not snapped in case of heavy snowfall, he said.
Meanwhile, Kashmir got some respite from the cold wave as the night temperature across the Valley improved. A Met official on duty said the minimum temperature recorded here was minus 3.2 degrees Celsius, which was 2.7 degrees higher compared to last night.
Kashmir Valley had received season’s first snowfall in upper reaches during October this year while light drizzle was received in plain areas. The pro-longed dry and chill weather spell had compounded problems for the Valleyites. While the dry spell had given rise to many cold-related diseases especially among children, the dip in the night temperature had resulted in freezing of water bodies including famous Dal Lake and often freezing of water taps in different parts of the Valley besides reducing the discharge in water bodies.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 29 Dec 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 29 Dec 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 30 Dec 2010 00:00:00 IST