Fresh snowfall, rains bring back winter chill
Srinagar: Several areas in the higher reaches of Kashmir received fresh snowfall on Thursday while the plains were lashed by rains, officials said.
The wet spell has brought down the temperature in the valley.
The world-famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district also received fresh snowfall on Thursday, the officials said.
It was snowing in Sonamarg resort in Ganderbal and Machil area in Kupwara till last reports came in, they said.
There are reports of light snowfall in some other areas in the higher reaches of the valley as well while the plains of the Kashmir Valley were lashed by rains since early morning, the officials added.
The Meteorological (MeT) office forecast widespread light to moderate rains and snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday and said there is a possibility of rains at isolated places on Friday as well.
The current wet spell is likely to continue till Friday after which the weather is expected to improve, the MeT office said, adding that it is likely to stay mainly dry till the month-end.
Meanwhile, a meteorological department official said that Srinagar received 27mm of rain from 0830 hours to 1730 hours while it recorded a low of 8.6°C and day temperature of 9.4°C which was below 12.9°C than the normal in the summer capital of J&K for this time of the season.
Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, received 8.2mm of rain during the time and recorded a low of 4.6°C and maximum of 9.8°C against normal of 21.1°C, the official said.
Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, received 12mm of rain and recorded a low of 3.3°C and maximum of 6.9°C, he said.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, received 6.8mm of rain during the time and recorded a low of 3.7°C and day temperature of 11.4°C, the official said.
Kupwara had 9.8mm of rain during the time and recorded a low of 5.0°C and maximum of 7.5°C, the official said. Reports said Sadnatop received 5 inch of fresh snow along with Karnah, Keran and Z Gali in Machil in the north Kashmir district.
Gulmarg, the world famous skiing resort in Baramulla district of north Kashmir, received 21.1mm of rain and snow while it recorded a low of minus 0.5°C against 1.4°C on the previous night and maximum of 0.0°C, the official said. Reports of snowfall have been also received from Kulan, Gund and Sonamarg areas of Ganderbal district in central Kashmir besides Drass and Leh in Ladakh.
Director Meteorological department Sonam Lotus said that from April 23, weather is most likely to remain dry in Jammu and Kashmir besides Ladakh till the end of the month.
Security guard injured as gunmen loot bank in Pattan
Srinagar: A security guard was injured on Thursday as armed militants looted a bank branch in Baramulla district of north Kashmir, police said.
The militants armed with pistol looted the Jammu and Kashmir Bank at Khore Sherabad in Pattan area of North Kashmir, a police official said.
“They fled in a vehicle which was parked outside the bank branch,” he said.
The official said the militants also injured a security guard posted at the branch.
Preliminary investigation has revealed that the car used by the militants to flee belonged to a policeman. (PTI)
Press Trust of India
