Heavy snowfall in Kashmir; all flights cancelled

by Sanjay Jha | November 14, 2008 at 03:12 am

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The Kashmir valley has received this season's first snowfall. The famous ski-resort of Gulmarg experienced fresh snowfall resulting in mercury plunging by 7 degrees. Snowfall disrupted normal life.Treetops, rooftops, electric pools and roads had turned white as the people woke up this morning.

Local government in Kashmir valley postponed all the scheduled examinations today follwing the snowfall. Air traffic from Srinagar international airport operated remained cancelled.

Heavy snowfall and thunderstorms hit Kashmir Valley marking early onset of winter as normal life was paralysed and all flights, including
those scheduled to carry Haj pilgrims, cancelled on Friday.

A six-inch-thick blanket of snow covered Srinagar and other parts of the valley as the first snowfall of the season which is usually experienced in December continued overnight forcing closure of Srinagar-Leh National Highway for vehicular traffic for six months.

All nine flights, including two Air India flights scheduled to leave Srinagar for Jeddah, were cancelled due to inclement weather, leaving 300 pilgrims stranded.

Co-ordinator of the State's Disaster Management Cell Aamir Ali said that there was heavy snowfall in the entire Valley, including Gulmarg, which has witnessed two feet snow since Thursday.