Snowfall continues in higher reaches of Jammu & Kashmir

Heavy snowfall in high altitude areas and rain in plains continued for the fourth successive day today in Jammu and Kashmir.It has been snowing in higher reaches since Friday and three to five feet of snow accumulated in these areas, while the plains including Srinagar received intermittent snow and rains.The ski resort of Gulmarg witnessed a five-feet thick snow cover. Three to five feet of snow layer capped Sadna Top, Farkian Gali, Keran Top and Machil in Kupwara, and Gurez in Bandipora district, official sources said.The snowfall has brought smiles on the faces of fruit growers and farmers. "The unexpected hot temperature in January was extremely worrisome... Had the conditions persisted for another couple of days, it would have proven dangerous for the apple industry," Mohammad Sultan Lone, a fruit grower from Baramulla said. But with good snowfall at higher reaches, all worries are gone, he said.However, the snowfall has snapped all links to the areas close to the line of control in the two districts of Baramulla and Kupwara. The areas near Amarnath cave shrine were also under three feet of snow, sources said.Weathermen have forecast more snow and rains during next 24 hours. The night temperature in Srinagar rose to 1.0 degree as against 0.2 deg C yesterday.Kokernag, Qazigund and Pahalgam which reeled under sub-zero temperature during winter recorded a low of 2.4, 1.6 and 0.5 degree Celsius respectively. The night temperature also improved in Jammu region with the city recording 13.0 -- five degrees above normal for the first time this season. Katra recorded a low of 11.1 deg C, followed by Batote (4.0), Bhaderwah (3.6) and Banihal (2.8).Leh and Kargil also recorded improved night temperatures of minus 3.4 and minus 3.6 degree Celsius.