Srinagar, Oct 23: Several Kashmir highlands and mountains all around the valley received the season’s first major snowfall. Kashmir valley plains and most parts of Jammu received medium to heavy rainfall.
Reports reaching Ziraat Times suggest varied damage has occurred to apple fruit orchards in Shopian, Kulgam, Upper Anantnag, and Upper Budgam areas, especially in the orchards where fruits were yet to be harvested.
Here is the Ziraat Times weather forecast which was issued three days ago:
How much will it snow this weekend? Detailed ZT Outlook is here
Officials said that inclement weather conditions resulted in closure of Srinagar-Jammu highway, Mughal Road and Sonamarg-Zojila road.
When the reports last came in, snow clearance operations were underway on the Mughal Road and in and around Sonamarg leading to the Zoji La Pass.
Most of the popular hill resorts like Gulmarg, Yusmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam have received snowfall. Srinagar, the summer capital of J&K received 31.6 mm of rainfall till 0830 hours.
Pahalgam in south Kashmir, had 43.2 mm of rain and 5.6cm snowfall while Qazigund received 58.4 mm of rainfall, the officials said, adding that Kokernag received 50.2 mm of rain while Kupwara had 9.6 mm of rain.
Jammu-Srinagar highway has been closed due to heavy rainfall at Cafeteria Morh, near Ramban, while higher reaches of Pirpanjal mountain range received heavy snowfall, resulting in the closure of Mughal road, said officials Saturday.
The Mughal road, connecting Shopian and Poonch districts, has also been closed due to fresh snowfall near Peer Ki Gali while men and machinery have been pressed into the service to clear the road.
Sonamarg-Zojjila Road was also closed after the upper reaches of Zojila in Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir received moderate snowfall.
Snowfall in Drass and Sonamarg areas of Ganderbal district has led to the closure of Sonamarg-Drass road, the officials informed.
An official said that keeping in view slippery conditions and fresh snowfall, the Sonamarg-Zojjila road has been closed as a precautionary measure.
The district administration Ganderbal has also issued an advisory, asking people to avoid venturing out in landslide prone areas.
