Jammu and Kashmir: Gulmarg receives snowfall

The Met department had predicted rain, snowfall and thundershowers in the valley on Sunday which would follow dry weather from Monday till end of this month.

Much to the delight of tourists, mostly locals, the famed Gulmarg ski slopes experienced snowfall this afternoon, a hotel owner told UNI over phone. However, tree tops and fields had turned slightly white in the upper heights, including seven springs, Khilanmarg and Affarwat, the highest skiing point connected by Gandola Cable Car (CCC) which was made operational only recently after remaining closed since March this year due to COVID-19.

However, the met department had predicted dry weather from Monday till October 31, a big relief to people living in hilly areas who had yet to collect their apple crops and make preparation for winter.

Reports of very light snowfall was also received from other heights in the north Kashmir, including at Line of Control (LoC), where security forces remained on alert to foil any infiltration attempt by militants waiting at launch pads to sneak into this side before heavy snowfall.

The holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas and adjoining areas also received light snowfall. This year the annual pilgrimage was postponed due to COVID-19.