Snow likely in Kashmir Valley, avalanche alert sounded

SRINAGAR - Widespread rain and snowfall were forecast across the Kashmir Valley while an avalanche alert was sounded Sunday in the higher reaches like Machil and Tangdhar.

The weather office said rain and snow was likely across the Valley Kashmir during the next two days while the provincial administration issued an avalanche warning in the higher reaches, advising people to remain indoors or move about very cautiously.

“Due to the possibility of avalanches being triggered, people living in Gurez, Keran, Machil, Tangdhar and Chowkibal areas of the Valley have been advised not to move out of their homes during the next two days or do so with extreme caution,” Amir Ali, in charge of the disaster management cell at the office of the divisional commissioner (Kashmir), told IANS.

The minimum temperature in summer capital Srinagar continued to remain above the freezing point.

“The minimum temperature was 3.6 degrees Celsius in Srinagar and 15.1 degrees Celsius in Jammu. Pahalgam hill station recorded a minimum of 0.8 degrees while Qazigund town on the Srinagar-Jammu highway saw a minimum of 2.6 degrees today (Sunday),” said Sonam Lotus, director of the weather office here.

The Kashmir Valley and the Ladakh region of the state have been in the throes of an extreme winter this season after many years.