Srinagar/Jammu Oct 23: Upper reaches of the Valley received moderate snowfall, while rains continued to lash plains for second consecutive day on Sunday.
 Most places along Line of Control received snowfall from the last night. This was second snowfall of the season as hilly areas had received slight snowfall in September this year. Officials said Machil, Razdan Pass, Z-Gali and Gurez respectively received 5, 5, 18 and 2 inches of snow. Meanwhile, plains including Srinagar City were lashed by intermittent rains for the second day today.
 According to the MeT office Qazigund, Pahalgam, Kupwara recorded 3.3, 3.6,8.8,9.5 and 5.0 millimeters of rainfall.
 Continuous showers brought down the mercury further with Srinagar recording maximum temperature of 11 degree Celsius and minimum 7.3 degree Celsius.
 Tourist resort of Gulmarg, where the night temperature plunged below zero degree, received 18.8 mm rainfall. The minimum temperature recorded in this famous skiing resort was minus one degree Celsius.
 Meanwhile, following the snowfall Kupwara-Machil, Bandipore- Gurez, Srinagar-Kargil roads and Mughal Road linking Shopian with Kashmir, were closed temporarily. However, Kargil–Srinagar road was reopened for vehicular movement this afternoon.
 The Coordinator of Disaster Management Cell Aamir Ali said these routes were closed due to snowfall. “But, Srinagar-Jammu Highway remained open for the traffic throughout the day,” he said.

JAMMU RECEIVES RAINFALL
 Light showers coupled with a steady breeze on Sunday pushed the day temperature in the state’s winter capital down by 5 degrees forcing people to look for the woolens.
 During the entire day dark thunder clouds hovered over the region with many areas experiencing heavy to moderate showers.
 The Jammu city residents, in anticipation of the rainfall, preferred to remain indoors, as the day temperature plummeted to 25 degrees Celsius. “There will be rainfall in the region during next 24 hours as the strong Western Disturbance is passing over the state”, said a MeT official. 
 Weatherman said that prevailing conditions will continue for next few days and there is possibility of more showers as strong cloud cover coming from the west has engulfed the state.
 He said that though the heavy rainfall could create problems for the farmers, but it is good in the long run as it has broken a long dry spell.
 The high hills of Kailash, Chatergali, Warwan and Ashapati in Doda and Kishtwar districts also experienced season's first snowfall.
 Kishtwar and  Bhaderwah  towns also  received showers, resulting  in fall in temperature.

SHEIKH NAZIR ADDS FROM KANGAN 
 Following a fresh snowfall, the 434-km Srinagar-Leh highway was closed for the vehicular traffic on Sunday, police said.
 “The highway was closed for traffic due to heavy snowfall near Zojila and adjoining areas,” said a police official
 “The road had become slippery due to snowfall. Traffic from both the sides was stopped as a precautionary measure,” he added.
 Pertinently, Srinagar-Leh highway remains closed for nearly six months from November onwards due to harsh winters.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 23 Oct 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 23 Oct 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:00:00 IST