Avalanche warning issued for four districts in Kashmir

Authorities in Kashmir issued an avalanche warning in four districts of the valley on Monday as the upper reaches of the Union Territory acquired average to heavy snowfall, whereas the plains had been lashed by rains.

The avalanche warning has been issued in Kupwara, Bandipora and Baramulla districts of north Kashmir, and Ganderbal district in central Kashmir, officers stated.

While a medium hazard avalanche warning has been issued for the upper reaches of Kupwara and Bandipora districts, a low hazard avalanche warning has been issued for the upper reaches of Ganderbal and Baramulla districts, they stated.

The warning was issued in view of snowfall which began on Saturday and continued until Monday morning, they added.

According to the officers, that is the season’s first main snowfall in the well-known ski resort of Gulmarg in Baramulla and the vacationer resort of Sonamarg in Ganderbal.

Gulmarg acquired 19 cm of snow in the final 24 hours, whereas Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district acquired gentle snowfall, the officers stated.

Gurez in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, Zojilla Pass on the Srinagar-Leh freeway, and Drass in Ladakh additionally acquired snowfall, they stated.

Due to the snowfall, the authorities closed the Srinagar-Leh highway, which connects Jammu and Kashmir with Ladakh, for visitors on Saturday, they added.

The officers stated many of the areas in the plains of the Kashmir valley acquired rains, bringing down the temperature.

The meteorological division stated whereas the climate improved considerably in each the UTs on Monday, gentle rain or snow at scattered locations is probably going in the course of the subsequent 24 hours.