Rains lash plains, snowfall in upper reaches of Kashmir

Srinagar: The higher reaches of Kashmir Valley received fresh snowfall on Saturday while plains were lashed by rains leading to a drop of eight degrees Celsius in the day temperature here.

Many places in upper reaches in Kashmir received fresh snowfall, while the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north experienced season's first snowfall, officials said here.

Snowfall was recorded in higher reaches of Shopian including Mughal Road, Sonamarg, Amarnath Cave, Z-Gali, Sadhna Top and Razdan Pass, the MeT department said.

Many tourists were seen enjoying the snowfall in Gulmarg, the officials said.

Most of the plains in Kashmir, including summer capital Srinagar, received rains since the afternoon.

While Srinagar recorded a rainfall of 1.9 mm, Kupwara, in north Kashmir, received 10 mm of rains, they said. 

Pahalgam resort in south Kashmir received 1.4 mm of rains, while Gulmarg recorded 15.8 mm of rainfall.

In Srinagar, the maximum temperature dropped eight degrees Celsius from the normal due to the chill because of the snowfall.

The maximum temperature recorded in the city was 13 degrees Celsius while the normal for this time of the season is 21 degrees Celsius, the officials said.

The weather department had yesterday warned of moderate to heavy rains with fresh snowfall over higher reaches in most parts of the Valley.

The MeT department said a western disturbance hit the state in the afternoon and is likely to affect the state till October 27.

"Under the influence of this weather system, moderate to heavy rain or thundershower and snowfall over higher reaches will occur at widespread places in Kashmir and Jammu regions and at many places in Ladakh particularly Kargil district," the officials said.

They warned that the weather conditions may trigger landslide and blockage of road in vulnerable areas of the state particularly along Srinagar-Jammu, Srinagar-Leh and Leh-Manali highways.

The weather system may also disrupt surface and air transport, they said.