Fresh snowfall breaks cold wave

Srinagar, Jan 2: Fresh snowfall lashed most parts of the Kashmir Valley on Wednesday as the minimum temperatures rose above the freezing point after nearly a month, weather officials said.

Severe cold wave sweeping the Valley was broken as mercury rose above the freezing point, an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said.

Except Srinagar, fresh snowfall occurred almost everywhere in the Valley.

Higher reaches including Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, Pir Panchal mountain range and other places received moderate snowfall.

The Srinagar-Jammu Highway was closed due to snowfall and slippery road conditions in Banihal sector.

Valley’s perennial water reservoirs get replenished by snowfall during the ongoing 40-day-long period of harsh winter cold called the ‘Chillai Kalan’. These water reservoirs sustain Kashmir’s rivers, streams, lakes and springs during the summer months.

The MeT Office said another spell of snowfall is likely in the valley beginning January 4.

Minimum temperature was 5.2 degrees Celsius in Srinagar while it was 4.9 degrees in Pahalgam and 2.6 degrees in Gulmarg.

Leh recorded minus 12.4 degree Celsius and Kargil minus 17 degree as the minimum temperatures.

Bandipora-Gurez road was closed for traffic on Wednesday after heavy snowfall in the area.