Srinagar: Heavy snowfall in high altitude
areas and rain in plains continued for the fourth successive
day on Monday in Jammu and Kashmir.
It has been snowing in higher reaches since Friday and
three to five feet of snow accumulated in these areas, while
the plains including Srinagar received intermittent snow and
rains.
The ski resort of Gulmarg witnessed a five-feet thick
snow cover. Three to five feet of snow layer capped Sadna Top,
Farkian Gali, Keran Top and Machil in Kupwara, and Gurez in
Bandipora district, official sources said.
The snowfall has brought smiles on the faces of fruit
growers and farmers. "The unexpected hot temperature in
January was extremely worrisome...Had the conditions persisted
for another couple of days, it would have proven dangerous for
the apple industry," Mohammad Sultan Lone, a fruit grower from
Baramulla said.
But with good snowfall at higher reaches, all worries are
gone, he said.
However, the snowfall has snapped all links to the areas
close to the line of control in the two districts of Baramulla
and Kupwara.
The areas near Amarnath cave shrine were also under three
feet of snow, sources said. Weathermen have forecast more snow
and rains during next 24 hours.
PTI
