SRINAGAR: After receiving its first snowfall of the year, people got respite from cold wave revalued by subzero temperatures from past two weeks. Mughal road closed for vehicular traffic. On Wednesday Kashmir received its first snowfall with mountains including famous hill stations like Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg and Pir Panchal receiving heavy snowfall while plains receiving light snow fall.
Except for summer capital Srinagar, widespread snowfall received in other districts particularly higher reaches. The snowfall resulted in the closure of Srinagar Jammu highway and later restored. Meanwhile, Jammu Mughal road has been closed for vehicular traffic between Chandimarh in Poonch district of Jammu region and Heerpora village in Shopian district of Kashmir region from January 01, 2019.
The decision has been taken due to the sharp dip in temperatures and frost action, which has set in slippery conditions on the road surface, official spokesman said VMS. Minimum temperature was 5.2 degrees Celsius in Srinagar while it was 4.9 degrees in Pahalgam and 2.6 degrees in Gulmarg. Leh recorded minus 12.4 degree Celsius and Kargil minus 17 degree as the minimum temperatures. Bandipora-Gurez road was closed for traffic on Wednesday after heavy snowfall in the area. Minimum temperature was 5.2 degrees in Srinagar. Earlier MeT officials told Valley Media Service that state will witness fresh snowfall from 4 Jan due to the new emerging system.