Srinagar, Feb 5: Upper reaches of the Kashmir Valley received heavy snowfall while rains lashed plains on Friday. Weatherman has predicted widespread snowfall across the state in next three days as western disturbances continue to persist over Jammu and Kashmir.
“Western disturbances have just reached Kashmir and are showing its effect. It will continue till February 9. This snowfall will be the best of the season.  Srinagar will get snowfall on February 6 and 7,” the Officer on Special Duty in Divisional Commissioner’s office said in a statement. He advised people of Gurez and Drass to take adequate precautions against avalanches.
 The minimum temperature in Srinagar was recorded as 1.6 degree Celsius, which is 4 degrees above the normal temperature, an official of the Meteorological department said.
 He said Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Kupwara, Shopian, Khag, Yusmarg, Gurez, Sadhan Top, Z Galli, Tangmarg, and Jawahar Tunnel in Kashmir division received moderate to heavy snowfall today. “Snowfall is likely to continue in the upper reaches for next 3-days,” he added.
 Gulmarg received 11 inches snow while Heerpor, Shopian received 1 ft, Yusmarg 3 inches, Shopian 3 inches and Khag in Budgam 2 inches on Friday. He said, “Heavy snowfall is expected on February 6 in Gulmarg and Kupwara.” Reports of fresh snowfall were also received from Lolab, Machil, Kalaroos, Hayhama, Chowkibal, Rajwar, Nowgam and Mawar in frontier district of Kupwara.
 Accumulation of thick blanket of fresh snow forced the authorities to close the Chowkibal - Tangdhar road which crosses from Sadhana pass located on a height of around 1200 ft above the see level. The road was only two days back opened for vehicular movement.
 Meanwhile remote areas  Machil and Keran are cut of from the rest of areas due to heavy snowfall on Farkayan top and Z-Gali.
 Reports reaching here revealed that upper reaches of Banihal witnessed fresh snowfall on Friday while it was raining in Ramban and its adjoining areas. Though the vehicular movement remained uninterrupted today, official sources said that if the situation prevailed the highway may be closed on Saturday.
 “It was already snowing around Jawahar tunnel upto Lower Munda in Qazigund towards Kashmir side and upper reaches of Banihal tehsil towards Jammu side”, “Ghulam Muhammad Wadoo Superintendent of Police Traffic (Rural) told Greater Kashmir.
 He said that if the situation remained unchanged we may be forced to close the highway for vehicular movement.
 Meanwhile, a police spokesman said that keeping in view the weather forecast about snowfall on Srinagar- Jammu highway, people should confirm about the road condition before travelling on Srinagar-Jammu highway, on Traffic Control Unit phone numbers 01942450022 and 01912451192.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 5 Feb 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 5 Feb 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 6 Feb 2010 00:00:00 IST