Srinagar: The summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar and its adjoining areas, experienced fresh light snowfall while upper reaches in the Kashmir valley had moderate to heavy snowfall.
Interestingly, the world famous ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir had no snowfall and the weather was pleasant today.
Roof and tree tops and open spaces had turned white this morning as people woke up in Srinagar, where the night temperature was above normal, first time after about a week-long below freezing minimum temperature.
However, the snow started melting as the day progressed because of above normal temperature.
A met department spokesman said Srinagar received 0.4 cm of fresh snowfall early this morning.
But, he said, it provided major respite from the cold to people as the minimum temperature was more than a notch above normal this morning.
Against minus 2.6 degree yesterday, which was 0.6 degree below normal, It was minus 0.8 degree this morning. However, the coldest recorded in Srinagar was minus 7.8 degree on January 14 when major parts of the Dal Lake, other water bodies and taps were frozen. Due to improvement in the weather, the frozen parts of the Dal and other water bodies had melted and water supply was also normal.
However, Gulmarg, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, a major attraction for tourist and skiers from different parts of the country and abroad, had no fresh snowfall, a hotel owner told over phone.
He said the sun was out and tourists and skiers were out on slopes since early this morning. He said the number of locals was relatively very high since yesterday as compared to previous days. This, he was that people wanted to celebrate the Republic Day here, away from cities and towns. (KMW News)
