Cold wave grips J&K

A cold wave continues to engulf the entire Kashmir Valley and Ladakh, even as the state Meteorological Department has predicted rain and snowfall on Monday and Tuesday.

According to Met officials, the night temperatures will remain several notches below the freezing point in Kashmir and Ladakh for more days. Kashmir and Ladakh regions are undergoing the harshest winter phase of 40 days known locally as “Chille-e-Kalan” (big winter phase) which started on 21 December and will end on 31 January 2016.

The ski resort of Gulmarg is witnessing a lot of local rush after the New Year celebrations as this hilly meadow is covered with a thick blanket of snow. Government officials and stakeholders in the tourism sector are expecting an influx of tourists for heli-skiing to the resort. The government has closed the Sonamarg-Leh highway as well as the Mughal road from Shopian to Rajouri in Jammu due to snowfall.The passes will be reopened in March if weather permits.