Another spell of snowfall likely in Kashmir

Kashmir Valley is expected to witness another spell of snowfall after Sunday afternoon owing to the western disturbances and the temperature may fall again.According to the Met department another system of western disturbances is building and it may start to effect from Sunday afternoon for nearly two days.“We have system building up, which is likely to cause light to moderate snowfall from January 22. Its effect will remain for January 23,” the director Meteorology, Sonum Lotus, told Jk news.

Kashmir has been witnessing harsh winter after a long time. The intermittent heavy snowfall has been affecting the normal life since January 7 while the temperature has also fallen unexpectedly to minus 7.8 degree Celsius after 16 years.

While the snow, snapping all road and air links, left the valley cut-off from the outside world, the people have been facing the worse due to shortage of essential supplies.According to Lotus, the day temperatures are likely to fall again in the coming days.“When the system starts taking effect, the day temperature may fall and the nights may also get colder,” he said.

Meanwhile, much to the relief of the people, the day temperature today was around 5.2 degree Celsius and the minimum temperature of the night was minus 3.5 degree Celsius.

“We are seeing pleasant sunshine after a long time. Even yesterday started with a moderate snowfall in the summer capital. Hope it stays like this for sometime now,” hoped middle Nasir Ahmad of Lal Chowk.With the halt in precipitation, people have begun to move around. The traffic movement on the roads has also improved.

The major relief has, however, come to the vendors who were not able to set stalls during snow.“I did no business for almost a week because it was impossible to move out in that heavy snow,” Shakir, a teenage vendor selling used warm clothes shared, “Now as the snow has stopped I have also started to move out. The snow gave me a tough time.”

The air links to the valley have also been restored completely.According to officials at the Srinagar international airport, flights have been operating on time.“With improvement in weather, the flight operations have normalised. Thousands of passengers fly from here everyday,” the officials said.