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Snowfall blocks highway in Kashmir
by Suhail Ahmed

       Srinagar: The Kashmir Valley received snowfall on Wednesday resulting in a sharp dip in temperatures across Northern parts of the country. Srinagar and neighbouring towns are also experiencing incessant rains for the past one day.

      In Gulmarg, which is located 55 km north of Srinagar, a foot of snow has accumulated while on the upper reaches of Kongdori, Affarwat and Khilanmarg, three to four feet of snow has been recorded so far. "It has been snowing from 5 a.m. in the morning, and one inch of snow has accumulated in the plains of Gulmarg. On the upper reaches, it is between two to three feet and it's still snowing," Gulmarg Tourist Officer, Rasheed Ahmed, said. Rasheed further said that the tourist arrival to Gulmarg is expected to increase with fresh snowfall in the area. Gulmarg had received the season's first snowfall on November 12, but the inch-deep snow cover vanished shortly due to heavy rains. According to official sources, 300 skiers from Canada, Australia and many European countries have booked in for long stay in Gulmarg, hosting a mega snow festival early next year. About six inches to one feet of fresh snowfall was also recorded at Pisso Top, Mahaguns, Panjtherni and Sheshnag in Islamabad district and in Keran, Karnah, Sadhna, upper areas in Kargil and Drass. "Western disturbances are causing rains and snow in the Valley. Though it is now leaving the Valley and heading towards north- east, weather conditions will remain same for the next 24 hours," said Srinagar Met department Director L C Rao. Meanwhile, the 300-km long Jammu-Srinagar National Highway has been closed for the vehicular traffic due to landslides near Panthal area of Ramban, where reportedly 200 light and heavy motor vehicles are stranded since today morning, official from the Highway Traffic Police told ANI over phone from Ramban. The efforts for clearing the road are on. Despite rains and icy winds blowing in the area, Border Roads Organisation (BRO) personnel are trying hard to clear the highway. There was 7 mm of rainfall in Srinagar so far, and the minimum temperature is 5.9 Celsius, in Kashmir.
-Nov 22,  2006

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