Intermittent snowfall across the Kashmir valley today brought back wintry cold conditions to the region and the Srinagar-Jammu highway remained closed for the third consecutive day.
The snowfall was recorded in most parts of the Valley and continued intermittently since Thursday evening. Srinagar city, the state’s summer capital, was also covered by a thin blanket of snow today.
It was a rare snowfall which took place as the region is in the midst of early spring and harsh winter has already ended. Moderate to heavy rainfall was also recorded at several places in the Valley.
The snowfall led to a significant fall in the day temperature with mercury hovering around the freezing point. The state Meteorological Department said there were chances of light to moderate snowfall and rainfall across the region on Saturday also.
This year has recorded exceptional precipitation with at least five back-to-back major snow spells in the Kashmir valley.
The snowfall in recent days has also forced the closure of Srinagar-Jammu highway, a major supply and passenger route to the Valley. The highway has remained shut for past two days due to landslides triggered at its several mountainous stretches.
Officials of the Traffic Department said about two feet snow had accumulated near the Jawahar Tunnel, the gateway to the Valley, one feet at the Zig area and four inches in Qazigund town of south Kashmir by midday today. They said shooting stones were being triggered along the Srinagar-Jammu highway at Panthyal, Anokhi Fall, Battery Cheshma and Mehar.
Spring Snow freezes Valley, Highwayshut for third day
