Srinagar, Feb 3: Snow and rains lashed Kashmir valley since Sunday evening causing sharp dip in temperature while as Metrological Department forecasted heavy snow and rainfall till February 6.
 Traffic Department said subject to fair weather conditions and good condition of road all kinds of vehicles will be allowed to travel from Kashmir to towards Jammu on Monday.
 Director MeT Department, Sonam Lotus told Greater Kashmir Sunday evening that parts of Kashmir valley started receiving snow and rains with minimum temperature dipping below freezing point at famous ski resort of Gulmarg. He said rains lashed Srinagar, and other major towns of north and south Kashmir.
 “In Gulmarg snowfall started at 3 pm,” Lotus said adding there were also reports of snowfall at higher reaches of Valley. “Reports of fresh snowfall have also come from Jawahar tunnel area,” he said.
 “Gulmarg ski resort recorded a low of minus 7.0 degrees Celsius, while Pahalgam health resort in south recorded a low of minus 3.2 degrees Celsius,” he said. Lotus added that there were chances of heavy rain and snowfall till February 6. However, Ladakh region will receive moderate snowfall.
 The officials at MeT office here said that rain and snow has resulted in sharp decline in temperature. Giving the break up of the temperature, the officials said that there was 5 degree Celsius dip in temperature and the night temperatures are showing an upward trend.
 The officials said that the minimum temperature in Srinagar recorded during the intervening was 4.1 degrees Celsius, while as the previous recorded 3.1 degrees Celsius. They added that Qazigund area in south Kashmir also recorded an upward trend as night temperature settled at 2.6 degrees Celsius, up from 0.8 degree Celsius last night.
 The MeT office said Kokernag area in Anantnag (Islamabad) also witnessed slight increase in night temperature. There was also increase in night temperature in most parts of north Kashmir, they said.
 About Leh and Kargil towns in Ladakh division, MeT official said that the region continued to reel under severe cold. “Kargil recorded a low of minus 10.4 degrees Celsius, the mercury settled at minus 6.4 degrees Celsius in Leh town,” they said.

TRAFFIC TO PLY FROM KASHMIR TO JAMMU TOMORROW:
 Inspector General of Police (IGP), Traffic in a communiqué stated that on Monday (tomorrow) subject to fair weather conditions and good condition of road all kinds of vehicles will be allowed to travel from Kashmir side towards Jammu on Monday in a regulated manner.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 3 Feb 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 3 Feb 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 4 Feb 2013 00:00:00 IST