Srinagar: After the upper reaches including Sonamarg and Gulmarg received seasons first snowfall on Thursday, it was the turn of the Chenab Valley and the higher reaches of Budgam district to experience seasons first snowfall.

The snowfall occurred after a long dry spell, locals said.

In picturesque Bhaderwah Valley heavy snowfall was witnessed in Kailash mountain range, Asha Pati, Seoj Dhar, Chattar Gali leading to sudden drop in temperature forcing people to wear warm clothes to seek protection from the bone chilling cold.

There was slight drizzle at some places in Doda, Ramban, Kishtwar and Bhadarwah towns, a MeT officil later said.

Reports said commuters faced tough time in driving on slippery roads while district administration pressed their men in service to clear roads from snow.

Notably, the upper areas of central Kashmir’s Budgam district also received season’s first snowfall while light to moderate rain was received in the plain areas including Srinagar.

Snowfall was witnessed in upper areas of Budgam district which include Dodhpathri, Gogaldara, Yousmarg, Tosa Maidan, Sutharan and upper reaches of Khan Sahab.

 Earlier, Director Meteorological department, Sonam Lotus had predicted a spell of light rain in plains and light snowfall in hills between November 14 and 15.

“A Western Disturbance is approaching that will subsequently results in rains in plains and snow at hills, he said.

 The MeT office said that Leh in frontier district of Ladakh experienced coldest night in this season so far as the minimum temperature there plunged to minus 6.9 degrees Celsius.

The neighboring Kargil town and famous ski resort of Gulmarg in North Kashmir also experienced intense cold as the mercury dipped to minus 5.6 each s rains hit most part of the Valley on Friday.

While Srinagar recorded a low of 2.9 degrees Celsius, Qazigund and Kokernag towns in south Kashmir registered minimum temperatures of 4.4 degrees Celsius and 2.6 degrees Celsius respectively.

The mercury at the famous Pahalgam resort, which serves as one of the base camps for the annual Amarnath Yatra, settled at a low of 1.4 degrees Celsius.

The north Kashmir town of Kupwara recorded a low of 1.7 degrees Celsius.

Several areas in the higher reaches of the state received snowfall on November 15, while the plains recorded light rainfall which ended nearly 45 days dry spell in the Valley.

The weathermen forecast light rains or snow at isolated places in the state till tomorrow, following which the weather is likely to remain largely dry for a few days.

Meanwhile, due to heavy snowfall in Drass and Manimarg, the Srinagar-Leh road was closed for traffic. Reports said that no vehicle was allowed to proceed towards Kargil and all the vehicles headed for Drass and onwards destinations were stopped at Sonmarg after the fresh snowfall.

 Traffic on the Gurez-Bandipora road was also suspended due to the slippery conditions of the road, a police official said.  

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