ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

In Photos: Fresh Snowfall Brings Relief to J&K After a Dry January

The month of January was the driest in terms of rainfall in Kashmir in the past 38 years, according to the MeT.

Updated
India
3 min read
story-hero-img
i
Aa
Aa
Small
Aa
Medium
Aa
Large
Hindi Female

The much awaited snowfall finally came after the dry spell of Chali-Kalan, the harshest winter period in Kashmir. The dry spell this year worried farmers and people associated with tourism and horticulture. Kashmir also saw a decline in tourists this season. The water bodies also depend on the quantity of snowfall.

ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

“The snowfall will delay the blossoms in spring which in turn will increase the quantity and quality of fruits,” Ghulam Nabi, a fruit grower from a village in Anantnag said.

The Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the only link to the rest of the country, was closed on Monday. However people in the Valley are feeling blessed. They believe that the water crisis will end in the coming days and the weather will be fruitful for crop yields.

0
The highway has been closed due to slippery road conditions caused by fresh snowfall at the Jawahar tunnel and other areas.
A Traffic Department Official
ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

The snowfall also led to poor visibility at the Srinagar airport, disrupting air traffic as well.

"Current visibility is 600 metres and the runway is not available up to 10:30 am due to snowfall. The situation will be reviewed after that," an official of the Airport Authority of India (AAI) said.

ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

There was some snowfall in early December last year and since then the weather has been mostly dry.

According to Meteorological (MeT) Department officials, the month of January was the driest in terms of rainfall in Kashmir in the past 38 years.

ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

Meanwhile, the minimum temperature across the Valley stayed around the freezing point, except for Gulmarg, the skiing resort in north Kashmir where the mercury settled at minus 4.6 degrees Celsius.

ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

Kargil in the Ladakh region continued to be the coldest place in the state at minus 14 degrees Celsius, while nearby Leh town was also freezing at minus 11.3 degrees Celsius last night, the MeT officials said.

(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)

Read Latest News and Breaking News at The Quint, browse for more from news and india

Published: 
Speaking truth to power requires allies like you.
Become a Member
3 months
12 months
12 months
Check Member Benefits
Read More