Jammu & Kashmir: Higher reaches receive snowfall, rains lash plains

Fresh snowfall in the higher reaches of Kashmir and rains in plains pushed the night temperature above the freezing point across the valley barring Pahalgam and Gulmarg officials said on WednesdaySonmarg Gulmarg Tangdhar in Kupwara and other higher reaches of Kashmir received fresh snowfall the officials saidThey said the plains of north and central Kashmir received light rainAlso read Three soldiers die after slipping into deep gorge along LoC in KashmirThe MeT Office has said there would be a gradual increase in intensity and distribution of snow or rains as the day progresses with the main activity towards evening or nightSome places mainly the higher reaches may receive heavy snowfall the MeT Office saidIt said there is a possibility of widespread light to moderate snow or rain in the plains of Jammu on ThursdayOn Friday light snow or rain at a few places in Jammu and Kashmir is likely to take place while the weather will remain mainly dry after that till January 17The night temperature increased and settled above the freezing point across the valley except in Pahalgam and Gulmarg providing relief from the intense cold conditionsSrinagar recorded a low of 35 degrees Celsius Tuesday night up from 18 degrees the night before the officials saidQazigund the gateway to the Valley registered a minimum of 16 degrees Celsius while Kokernag in south Kashmir recorded a low of 07 degrees the officials said The minimum in Kupwara a frontier district settled above the freezing point at a low of 15 degreesThe tourist resort town of Pahalgam in Anantnag district which also serves as a base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra registered a low of minus 03 degrees Celsius up from minus 32 degreesThe minimum temperature in Gulmarg in Baramulla district was at minus 3 degrees Celsius they saidKashmir is currently under the grip of Chillai Kalan the 40day harshest weather period when the chances of snowfall are maximum and most frequentChillai Kalan begins on December 21 and ends on January 30 The cold wave continues even after that with a 20daylong Chillai Khurd small cold and a 10daylong Chillai Bachha baby cold following itThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever