Kashmir’s higher reaches get fresh snowfall

Srinagar, Dec 14: Light snowfall was witnessed in several high-altitude areas of Kashmir on Sunday, even as a severe cold wave tightened its grip across the Valley, officials said.

Snowfall was recorded at Zojila Pass, Minamarg and Baltal in Ganderbal district, while parts of north Kashmir’s Tulail Valley also received about an inch of snow, they said.

The fresh snowfall was followed by a sharp drop in night temperatures across most parts of Kashmir, with several stations registering a fall of four to five degrees Celsius compared to the previous night.

Srinagar city recorded a minimum temperature of minus 2.9 degrees Celsius, down from 2.0 degrees a day earlier.

The mercury at Srinagar airport dipped to minus 4.0 degrees Celsius from 0.6 degrees, while Pulwama recorded a low of minus 4.2 degrees compared to minus 2.7 degrees the previous night.

Shopian and Budgam also witnessed a marked fall in temperatures, settling at minus 3.7 degrees Celsius and minus 3.1 degrees, respectively.

Other areas, including Baramulla, Pampore, Anantnag and Bandipora, remained below the freezing point.

Zojila Pass was among the coldest locations, recording a minimum temperature of minus 17.0 degrees Celsius, indicating severe cold conditions in the higher reaches.

In the Jammu region, the decline in night temperatures was comparatively mild. Jammu city recorded a minimum of 10.3 degrees Celsius against 11.4 degrees a day earlier, while Banihal and Bhaderwah logged lows of 3.8 degrees and 3.6 degrees, respectively.

Ladakh continued to reel under sub-zero temperatures, with Leh recording minus 5.6 degrees Celsius, Kargil minus 5.2 degrees and Nubra Valley minus 5.7 degrees, officials said.(KNS)