The higher reaches of the Kashmir Valley, including the ski resort of Gulmarg experienced a fresh spell of snowfall, causing temperatures to dip further, officials said on Saturday.
The tourist resort of Gulmarg recorded the first sub-zero temperatures of the season. Gulmarg recorded a minimum temperature of -0.5°C, making it one of the coldest spots in the valley.
Besides Gulmarg, light snowfall was reported from Sadhna Top in Kupwara district, Razdan Top and Gurez in Bandipora district, Machil in Kupwara, Zojila Pass in Ganderbal district, and Pir Ki Gali in Shopian district.
The snowfall at Peer Ki Gali has forced the closure of the historic Mughal Road that connects Shopian district in the Kashmir Valley to Bufliaz town in the Poonch district, officials said.
Rain lashed most parts of the valley from early morning.
Officials at the local meteorological (MeT) centre said the Kupwara town in north Kashmir received 10.2 mm of rain in the last 24 hours.
According to the Meteorological Department, nighttime temperatures have dropped sharply across Kashmir following fresh snowfall at higher altitudes.
Srinagar, the summer capital, experienced a minimum temperature of 4.6°C.
In Pahalgam, another popular tourist destination in south Kashmir, the mercury dropped to 0.3°C.
Kupwara saw temperatures fall to a low of 5°C, while Kokernag recorded 3°C.
The MeT predicted scattered light rain and snow for the next 24 hours, particularly over Kashmir. However, the outlook for the subsequent two days indicates a return to mainly dry conditions across both Kashmir and Jammu divisions. The weather forecast remains clear for most areas in the coming week.
After heavy snowfall blanketed the region, recording over one foot at Sadhna Top, the Karnah-Kupwara road was closed to vehicular movement, causing significant disruption. However, swift action by the Border Roads Organization (BRO) under Beacon 109 RCC led to the clearance of the road, restoring traffic flow and enabling emergency evacuations.
Two patients in critical need of medical attention were successfully transported to Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Kupwara, thanks to the combined efforts of the administration, Beacon, and the Army. Local residents have expressed their gratitude to these agencies for their prompt and coordinated response in this challenging situation.
Despite the progress, the administration has issued a travel advisory urging commuters to exercise caution. Vehicles are required to carry antiskid chains, and those without them will not be allowed to proceed beyond the Traffic Control Points (TCP) at Baghballa and Chowkibal.