| Gulmarg,upper reaches get fresh snowfall, plains receive light rains | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Feb 26: World famous ski resort of Gulmarg and other upper reaches in the Kashmir valley received fresh snowfall early Friday morning while plains, including summer capital, Srinagar have experienced very light to moderate rain resulting in dip in the mercury.
A Met department spokesman has issued a warning of isolated heavy rain, snow and thundershowers in the Kashmir valley during the next 24 hours which could impact surface traffic. Weather will improve from March Ist.
Gulmarg, where second edition of the Khelo India Winter Games was e- inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, received fresh snowfall early Friday morning, much to the delight of more than 1200 athletes, officials and other guests. The participants had earlier expressed concern over the speedy melting of snow on the slopes due to sudden surge in the mercury during the past one week.
There was light snowfall early Thursday also, a hotel owner said over phone from Gulmarg.
However, this morning the Gulmarg received again light snowfall while in the higher reaches, including Seven Springs, Khilanmarg and Affarwat, the highest skiing point connected by Cable Car, experienced moderate snowfall. Mechanical Engineering Department (MED) had pressed into service a machine rescue a bus from snow on Babareshi road in Gulmarg yesterday.
The Met spokesman said the mercury remained above normal in Gulmarg, 55 km from here in north Kashmir. Against yesterday's minimum temperature of minus 0.6 at Gulmarg, it was minus 0.8 degree, still five notches above normal. The maximum temperature yesterday was 4.6 degree which was 2.5 degree above normal.
Mercury also remained above normal at famed health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, where the water level in water bodies, including river Lidder passing through Pahalgam, witnessed increase due to melting of snow on upper reaches. The maximum temperature yesterday at Pahalgam was 11.2 degree, 6.9 notches above normal while the minimum temperature today was 3.5 degree against yesterdays 3.2 degree which was 6.7 degree above normal.
The Holy Amarnath Cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas and its periphery, Panjterni, Mahaguns, Sheshnag, Pisso top and Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on traditional yatra route, received light to moderate snowfall.
The summer capital, Srinagar, received light rain though sun was playing hide and seek. The mercury remained above normal in the city, where people could be seen wearing less warm cloths. Against yesterday's minimum temperature of 7.4 degree it was 8 degree, which was 6.5 notches above normal today.
Met spokesman said there could be light to moderate rain, snow and thundershowers in Srinagar and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 10 degree and 4 degree respectively during the next 24 hours.
|
|
