For the second consecutive day, normal life was affected in Kashmir as plains received fresh spell of rains while as light snowfall was recorded in the higher reaches as well as some of the important tourist destinations of the Valley.
Due to snowfall and incessant rains, Srinagar-Leh highway and Mughal road linking Kashmir valley with Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu province have been closed for traffic.
As the cold wave intensified in Kashmir valley, people could be seen looking for means to keep themselves warm. As people were greeted by rains and icy winds, very few people ventured out of their homes today.
The movement of traffic was also thin and everybody seemed to be in a hurry to reach to their respective destinations. The cold wave conditions forced the common masses to switch over to different forms of heating.
A Meteorological (Met) Department official said that the day temperature in Srinagar was recorded at 11 degrees Celsius while as the minimum temperature was recorded at 7.3 degrees Celsius. He said that Jammu recorded day temperature of 22.9 degrees Celsius while as the night temperature was recorded at 17.4 degrees Celsius.
The Met official said that rains or thundershowers are likely to occur at most of the places in Kashmir valley over the next 24 hours. He said both the Kashmir and Jammu divisions received light to moderate rains today.
"On Sunday from 8.30 AM to 5.30 PM, Srinagar received rainfall measuring 3.3 millimetres while as Jammu received rainfall measuring 4 millimetres. Maximum rainfall in the State was recorded at Bhaderwah where 17 millimetres of rainfall was measured," said the Met official.
He said that Qazigund received a rainfall of 3.6 millimetres while as 8.8 mm, 9.5 mm, 5 mm, 6.8 mm, 7.6 mm, and 5.4 mm rainfall was measured at Pahalgam, Kupwara, Kokernag, Banihal, Batote and Katra areas of the State respectively.
He said that 1.5 inches of snowfall was recorded at Gulmarg near the world famous Gandola adding that higher reaches of Pahalgam also received light snowfall. "The forecast for widespread rains and light snowfall is over for now. Most of the areas of Kashmir valley are likely to witness rain or thundershowers during the next 24 hours," said the Met official.
Due to rains and snowfall, the 434 kilometres long Srinagar-Leh highway was closed. A Government official said that the highway is closed since Saturday evening following snowfall at Zojila, Meenamarg and other places.
However, the 294 kilometres long Srinagar-Jammu national highway remained open for vehicular traffic despite light to moderate rains all along the route from Srinagar to Jammu.
Due to bad snowfall and incessant rains, Mughal road linking Kashmir with Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu division has been closed. The Deputy Commissioner Shopian has ordered that the Mughal road would remain closed between Dubjan and Peer Ki Gali and only the vehicle of the Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) building the road will be allowed to ply on the road.
Meanwhile, in Kashmir valley some of the people have started using Kangri (firepot) since Saturday, there are others who are using blowers and other electric appliances in order to keep themselves warm. The woolens are also out of the cupboards and people have started wearing Pheran (long gown) as the cold wave conditions have intensified.
The inclement weather played a spoilsport with the Sunday market here. While most of the roadside vendors decided to sit back at their homes the others braved the rains and set up their merchandise. But as very few people ventured out, the sale was at a dismal low.
"Sunday is an all important day for us since it is a day for earning for us. However, the rains coupled by icy weather conditions dampened our business for the day. I could not move out of the house and as such could not sell my merchandise on the Maulana Azad Road today," said Mohammad Maqbool, a roadside vendor.
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