Srinagar, Feb 12: Moderate to heavy snowfall started in the valley as rain lashed the plains on Monday breaking the nearly two-month long dry spell in Jammu and Kashmir.
The snow and rain is likely to continue till Tuesday, the weather office said.
Heavy snowfall in Banihal area of Jammu-Srinagar highway closed the road for traffic as authorities said no vehicular movement will be allowed on Monday.
People throughout the Kashmir Valley greeted the snowfall that will replenish the perennial water reservoirs in the mountains. These reservoirs sustain various rivers, streams, springs and lakes during the summer months.
Authorities have set up helpline numbers for people to approach in case of emergencies in different districts of the valley.
The minimum temperatures have also appreciably improved throughout the state due to a cloud cover.
The minimum temperature was zero in Srinagar while it was minus 0.1 in Pahalgam and minus 4.6 in Gulmarg.
Kargil town at minus 14 was the coldest, followed by Leh at minus 11.3 degrees Celsius.
Jammu city recorded 10.5, Katra 7.6, Batote 1.3, Bannihal 0.2, Bhaderwah 0.4 and Udhampur 8.8 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperatures of the day.
Weather to improve from today: MeT
Srinagar, Feb 12: As the Valley including higher reaches as well as plains received a fresh snowfall, the weatherman on Monday predicted wet spell till next 12 hours in the Valley.
Director Meteorological (MeT) department, Sonum Lotus said that the snowfall or rainfall would continue till next 12 hours.
However, the MeT director further said that the weather conditions would improve from Tuesday morning. “The overall weather conditions would improve from Tuesday but light snowfall or rains would occur at isolated places on Tuesday,” he said.
The authorities have closed the Kupwara-Karnah and other vital roads in the district.
The roads including Karnah-Kupwara, Keran, Tharkiya, Machil road were closed after the fresh snowfall in the Valley, officials said.
Meanwhile, the residents of Keran and Tangdarh areas here have complained of erratic power supply. “We are being forced to face hardships in these harsh days. The authorities have failed to provide electricity to the areas from past two days,” they said.
The residents here have demanded immediate redressal of their genuine grievances.
