Fresh snowfall blankets several parts of IIOJK, including Srinagar plains
Srinagar: Several regions of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir witnessed fresh snowfall today, including the season’s first in many areas, including the plains of Srinagar.
According to Kashmir Media Service, snow blanketed the famous ski resort of Gulmarg, tourist hotspots like Sonamarg and Pahalgam, as well as Gurez, Zojila, Sadhna Top, Mughal Road, and various areas in Bandipora, Baramulla, and Kupwara districts. The season’s first snowfall was also recorded in the plains of Srinagar, Ganderbal, Islamabad, Kulgam, Shopian, and Pulwama districts, along with fresh snowfall in other higher reaches of the Kashmir valley.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted light rain in Jammu’s plains and light snowfall in the higher reaches of the Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal range. It also predicted snowfall over the middle and higher reaches, especially in south and central Kashmir, during the night.
The fresh snow prompted the closure of the Srinagar-Leh Highway and the Mughal Road, which connects Bufliaz in Poonch to Shopian in the valley.
Meanwhile, intense cold wave conditions gripped Kashmir as temperatures plummeted well below freezing. This cold snap led to frozen water supply lines, while a thin layer of ice covered several water bodies, including Dal Lake. Srinagar recorded a low of minus 7.3°C last night.
Kashmir is currently experiencing “Chillai-Kalan”, the harshest phase of winter, which began on December 21. During these 40 days, the chances of snowfall are highest, and temperatures drop drastically.
