Snowfall, rain, disrupts normal life in north India

Heavy rains and snowfall cut-off Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh from the rest of the country disrupting normal life, even as mercury rose marginally in some parts of north India today.
In Uttar Pradesh, light to moderate rain, thundershowers occurred at few places over eastern parts and most places over western parts of the state in the past 24 hours.
However, cold conditions eased in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan with minimum temperature rising by a few notches above normal.
Delhiites experienced a cold but clear day today with the minimum temperature recorded at 13.5 degrees Celsius and the during the day maximum was at 20 degree Celsius.

Kashmir remained cut-off from the rest of the country for the second day today with road and air links to the Valley snapped due to snowfall, the heaviest in a decade in the month of January.
The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was closed for traffic, while no flights operated from the airport here following heavy snowfall yesterday.

At least 10 residential houses were damaged while three persons were injured due to heavy snowfall in Kashmir, a police spokesman said.
Normal life was hit and vehicular traffic disrupted in several parts of Himachal Pradesh as mid and higher hills received moderate snowfall while lower hills had widespread heavy rains.

The high altitude tribal areas and mountain passes had another spell of heavy snowfall while mid and higher reaches had moderate snowfall, causing sharp fall in temperature.
The Hindustan-Tibet National Highway was blocked due to snow beyond Shimla and traffic to Theog, Narkanda, Jubbal, Chopal and Rohroo and Khara-Patthar remained suspended.