Tourists thrilled, locals hopeful, though dry flows the Jhelum
Gulmarg: Finally it snowed, though a bit! Gulmarg and several upper reaches of Kashmir received light snowfall after a prolonged dry spell, spreading joy among tourists and locals alike. Though the accumulation is not yet ideal for Skiing, Gulmarg has finally started breathing afresh.
Hundreds of tourists, a good number of locals too, flocked to the skiing hotspot on Sunday and enjoyed the snowfall.
Kumar’s family was so thrilled that they extended their stay to relish the rare experience of witnessing delicate snowflakes descending from the sky.
“It was a rare chance for us to see the white flakes falling from the sky, so we did not want to miss it,” shared Anjali Kumar.
Gulmarg and its surroundings showcased an all-white spectacle with a white blanket enveloping the lofty mountains and pine trees. Tourists, like Seema Devi from Uttar Pradesh, said it was ultimate.
“We were desperately waiting for snow, finally prayers got answered. Snow has made our visit ultimate,” Seema Devi remarked.
“We have been praying and eagerly waiting for snow like anything this year,” said Ghulam Hassan, a tea seller.
Ranjit Singh from Haryana, on a “delayed honeymoon,” seized the opportunity to experience the Gulmarg snowfall. “I think it was a blessing as we were able to experience snowfall,” Singh said.
The fresh snowfall not only delighted tourists but also brought smiles to the faces of hoteliers, sledge ride operators, and other traders associated with the tourism industry. Masroor Ahmad, an employee at an upmarket hotel, expressed hope for more snowfall in the coming days, anticipating an early start to the skiing season and increased tourist arrivals.
Local shopkeepers, offering everything from daily use items to Kashmiri handicrafts, are optimistic about a bustling season. Abdul Aziz Wani, a shopkeeper, said, “This is the first snowfall of the season, and tourists have started pouring in. The word will spread around, and more tourists will come.”
The Tourism Department is gearing up for a series of events to attract more visitors over the next couple of months. Additionally, the promotion of ice hockey, ice skating events, and snowboarding is on the agenda to enhance the winter experience for both tourists and locals.
Undoubtedly, people in Valley are upbeat given the fresh snowfall, but the precipitation still is very low, experts say, adding, that the water levels in Valley rivers including was Jhelum all-time low.
People are hoping that in the coming days, Valley will receive more snow and rain thus increasing the water table.
Meanwhile, snowfall in the higher reaches and cloudy skies in the plains pushed the minimum temperatures above the freezing point in most parts of Kashmir on Sunday, officials said here.
They said snowfall was reported in Gulmarg, Tangmarg, Gurez, Sonamarg and many areas of Kupwara district.
According to the officials, the skies in the plains of Kashmir, including in Srinagar city, are overcast, indicating the possibility of significant rainfall or snow that has eluded the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir so far this winter.
The overcast conditions have significantly increased the night temperatures, with Srinagar city recording a low of 3.3 degrees Celsius, a rise of more than five degrees over the previous night.
Pahalgam recorded a minimum temperature of minus 0.8 degrees Celsius, Qazigund minus 0.6 degrees Celsius, Kokernag minus 0.1 degrees Celsius and Kupwara 2.1 degrees Celsius.
A dry and largely snowless winter in Kashmir has resulted in freezing nights and warmer-than-usual days in the valley. On some days, Srinagar was warmer than even Delhi, Chandigarh and Lucknow.
The weatherman has predicted that light snowfall was likely at most places in the Valley up to the first week of February.
