Snowfall in higher reaches of J&K

Fresh snowfall occurred in the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday while heavy rains lashed the plains, the weather department said.

"Fresh snowfall has occurred in Zojila Pass, Drass, Kargil, Sonamarg, Pahalgam and Gulmarg during the last 12 hours," a department official said.

"Rains continued in the plains of the valley and the Jammu division during this period."

The weather is expected to improve from Saturday onwards.

Tourists in Gulmarg and Pahalgam hill stations were elated due to the snowfall.

"My visit to Gulmarg could just not have been better. I came to see the snowfall and here it is," said Sujit Kumar, a tourist.

Snowfall in the higher reaches has sent chilly winds into the plains of the valley leading to a dip in the night temperatures.

According to the Met Office, the minimum temperature in Srinagar was 1.8 degrees Celsius while it was 0.4 and minus 3.0 in Pahalgam and Gulmarg respectively.

Leh town recorded 0.4 while Kargil was at minus 4.8 , the coldest town in the state on Saturday.

Jammu city recorded 16.2 degrees Celsius, while in Katra 14.2, Batote 5.5, Bannihal 6.1 and Bhaderwah 6.0.

--IANS

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