Gulmarg receives first snowfall, border towns in Kupwara cut off

Tribune news service

Srinagar, December 11

The Gulmarg meadow resort of the Valley received the season’s first snowfall overnight while the border towns in Kupwara were blocked by heavy snow.

An official of the state Meteorological Department said Gulmarg received 1.5 millimetres of snowfall, covering the meadow resort with a thin layer of snow. The minimum temperature in Gulmarg had dropped to -2.0°Celsius overnight.

It is the first snowfall in the region as it heads into a long winter with night temperature already falling below the freezing point during the past weeks.

The official said several remote and mountainous parts of the region, including the Sonamarg-Drass road, received snowfall while rainfall was recorded in most parts of the region, including Srinagar city.

The season’s first snowfall also blocked roads leading to the Keran and Machil border towns in Kupwara district. “Around eight inches of snow has accumulated at the high altitude Z-Gali on the Kupwara-Machil road, which has been blocked for traffic movement on both sides. Around one-foot snow was also recorded on the high altitude Pherkiyan top on the Keran-Kupwara road,” said Hafiz Shah, Kupwara’s Additional Deputy Commissioner.

Shah said there was enough stock of essentials, including ration and kerosene oil, in the Machil and Keran areas. “People need not worry. The roads to the border towns would be cleared for traffic movement in a few days if the weather improves,” he said.

Around seven inches of snow had accumulated at Sadhna top on the Karnah-Kupwara road but the traffic movement continues on the road, officials said. The upper reaches of Kupwara district, including Nowgam, Hayhama, Lolab and several other areas, also received season’s first snowfall.

(Inputs from Amin Masoodi in Kupwara)