Heavy snow disrupts life in Kashmir

Normal life was thrown out of gear in Kashmir on Saturday as most areas of the Valley received snowfall, disrupting flight and rail operations and also leading to the closure of the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, officials said.

- Mir Ehsan

SRINAGAR:

Moderate to heavy snowfall was recorded across Kashmir since Friday, including the season's first snowfall in Srinagar city and other plain areas of the Valley.

In south Kashmir, heavy to very heavy snowfall was recorded in the plains, while central Kashmir's plains received moderate snowfall. The plains of north Kashmir received light to moderate snowfall.

Snow ends prolonged dry spell This is the first major snowfall in Kashmir after three years. The timely snowfall has ended the ongoing dry spell in the Valley that was not only affecting the water table but also flow in rivers and streams.

"After many years, the Valley, especially south Kashmir, has witnessed timely snowfall. It will help recharge our water table. In the last season, the Valley witnessed snowfall only in the last week of January," said Abdul Gaffar Bhat, a Srinagar-based horticulture and water resources expert. "This snowfall will have a good impact on our horticulture, agriculture and tourism industry," he added.

Srinagar recorded about eight inches of snow, while neighboring Ganderbal recorded about seven inches. Sonamarg got around eight inches of snow.

The Zojila axis along the Srinagar-Leh highway received about 15 inches of snow. Budgam district got 7-10 inches of snow, while the plains in Anantnag district recorded 17 inches.

The upper areas of the south Kashmir district received over two feet of snow, the officials said. The tourist town of Pahalgam recorded 18 inches of fresh snowfall.

Snow-clearance efforts hampered Even though the snowfall was welcomed by locals and tourists, it threw normal life out of gear.