Srinagar, Oct 8: With the Valley’s upper reaches getting season’s first snowfall coupled with moderate rainfall in the plains, cold wave gripped Kashmir Saturday.
 After days of hot weather, people switched over to woollen clothes and jackets to escape the biting breeze. On Friday night, the valley received 7.0 mm rainfall.
 Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has forecast slight to moderate snowfall in the higher reaches here.
 Officials at Meteorological department here stated the dip in mercury resulted due to the snowfall and rains.
 “Due to the western disturbances snowfall occurred in upper reaches of Pahalgam and Gulmarg with sharp dip in temperature. The western disturbances are now moving away from Jammu and Kashmir,” said Assistant Meteorologist GN Ganai.
 He said as per the forecast the upper reaches of Valley might be lashed with fresh snowfall and rainfall.
 “There will be dip in night temperatures. It will be generally cloudy sky with rain or thundershowers in the upper reaches,” he said. The continuous rains had inundated many low-lying areas and roads.
 Meanwhile, people preferred to stay indoors due to winter like chilly weather on Saturday.
 In rural areas, young and old immediately switched over to Pheran sensing the cool temperature.
 Meanwhile Consultant Medicine SMHS hospital Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan said that precautions should be taken to avoid viral infections due to sudden weather change. He said that due to abrupt weather change, there is every chance of viral infection.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 8 Oct 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 8 Oct 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 9 Oct 2011 00:00:00 IST