Snow, rains across valley

Srinagar, Nov 2: The higher reaches of Valley including Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and other tourist destinations Friday experienced first snowfall of the season, while as the plains witnessed rains thus ending the ongoing dry spell in Kashmir.
The snowfall resulted in the blockade of Bandipora-Gurez road in north Kashmir.
Due to the rains since Thursday evening, most of the roads in Srinagar got inundated in Srinagar thereby leaving the pedestrians to suffer.
Soon after the rains accompanied by strong winds lashed Valley, power supply in most parts of the Valley was immediately snapped even in Srinagar plunging city centre areas into darkness for hours.
As already reported, Director Meteorological (MeT) department, Sonam Lotus had said that weather in the Valley will remain dry till November 03.
He had predicted heavy rains in plains and snowfall in upper reaches.
Following the incessant rains in plains and fresh snowfall in the high altitude areas including Pir Ki Gali, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Drass and Pahalgam, the traffic authorities Friday closed the Mughal Road for vehicular traffic, while as the Srinagar Jammu highway was kept open for one way traffic.
The Mughal road- connecting the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu region with south Kashmir’s Shopian district was closed on Thursday afternoon following the inclement weather.
An official earlier said, “We have closed the road for vehicular traffic due to slippery road conditions in view of the rains and snowfall.” The road will be re-opened once the weather conditions improve, the officer said.
The upper reaches of Ganderbal district, including health resort of Sonamarg, Gumri Zojila Pass, Shaitani Nallah, Panch Tarni, Zero Point, Minimarg also received snowfall on Friday.
Reports said two-inch snow had accumulated at Zojila and Zero Point area.
The 434-km long Srinagar-Leh highway, which connects Ladakh with Kashmir, has been temporarily closed for vehicular traffic due to fresh spell of snowfall and slippery road conditions at Zojila Pass.
Hundreds of vehicles were stranded on both sides of highway.
Official sources said Sonamarg-Zojila-Drass portion of Srinagar-Leh highway, including Zojila, Minimarg and Shaitani Nallah recorded light to moderate snowfall since this morning resulting in slippery road conditions.
No vehicle was allowed on the highway as a precautionary measure, they added.
The plains in the Valley including Srinagar experienced light to moderate rainfall. It’s resulting in considerable drop to the temperature.