The winter season showed up in Kashmir on Thursday with its trademark chill and wetness as snowfall began in most parts of the Valley to end a hazardous dry spell spanning two months.
In capital Srinagar, the snowfall began in the afternoon following a gentle morning drizzle that set stage for the white flakes to descend. By the time, plains began wearing a white drape, a thick layer of now accumulated at Pahalgam and Kokernag in South and Gulmarg in north Kashmir.
For tour operators, the snowfall came at right time —three days ahead of Valentine’s Day when many newly-married couples have booked hotels in Srinagar and Gulmarg. The weatherman has predicted rain and snowfall for two days.
This year, the snowfall kept people waiting for a longer span. The harshest spell of winter, known as Chillai Kalan that begins on December 21 for 40 days till January 31, was bowled out for a duck by the “changes in weather system”. On the contrary, the Chillai Kalan, known for its ferocious chill, saw more sunny days and temperatures remained mostly above the freezing point. This was against the norm of bone-chilling wave that even freezes lakes and springs and blocks water-supply pipes.
Interestingly, the snowfall began in Chillai Khurd, the 20-day spell of less-intense winter between February 1 and 20. Reports said several areas in the higher reaches of Kashmir region received moderate to heavy snowfall. Beyond the periphery of Kashmir Valley, the snowfall has also been reported in the tourist resort of Patnitop, Nathatop, upper hills of Mata Vaishnodevi cave shrine, Kishtwar and Doda since last night.
The snowfall has come as a big relief for local population especially the farming community in villages. The delay in snowfall was causing worry to farmers who were foreseeing a drought-like situation in the absence of heavy snowfall.
“Though snowfall in Chillai Kalan lasts for a longer period because of crystallisation due to hard chill, the February snow is better than having no snowfall at all. I am hopeful the glaciers have received enough snowfall to sustain agriculture and suffice our domestic water requirement during the summer months”, said Muhammad Amin, a cleric from south Kashmir.
The authorities announced to stop vehicular movement on the vital 300-kilometer Srinagar-Jammu National Highway around 3 pm when continuous snowfall turned the road stretches slippery. Officials in at Police Control Room in Srinagar said that due to rain and snowfall in Qazigund and Ramban areas, the traffic movement on both sides was stopped. Earlier, vehicles were encouraged to slowly pass the treacherous area before the road was declared closed.
The historic Mughal Road connecting Kashmir Valley with Rajouri and Srinagar-leh National Highway have already been closed due to heavy snowfall. These roads including some inter-district roads remain buried under thick layers of snow until early spring.
The Governor administration has alerted men and machinery to avert any eventuality due to inclement weather. The people living in the upper reaches have been advised against venturing out in the wake of threats due to snow avalanches.