STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: The famous ski-resort of Gulmarg, in north Kashmir, received fresh snowfall on Monday, bringing smiles to the faces of people, especially those in tourism sector, as the Valley had witnessed a prolonged dry spell this year.
Officials said more than five inches of snow has accumulated in the main Gulmarg bowl so far. They said it was second snowfall of the season in the famous ski-resort which is usually thronged by tourists during winters. They said many other places in the higher reaches of the Valley also received fresh snowfall.
Kashmir had witnessed a prolonged dry season this year, which ended Saturday as many areas of the Valley received rains. The news of snowfall brought smiles on the faces of people especially those associated with tourism, as it would help in attracting tourists to the Valley, they said.
“Snowfall is a good sign. It will help attract tourists to the Valley especially to Gulmarg where many snow-related activities are organized during winters,” a Hotel owner said.
We can now expect tourist arrivals after months of tense situation here, said another Hotel owner at Gulmarg, in north Kashmirs Baramulla district.
Meanwhile, the temperature in Leh town, in Ladakh region, plummeted over 12 degrees from the previous night’s low of 1.3 degrees Celsius, to settle at minus 11.4 degrees Celsius, an official of the MET department said here. Leh was the coldest place in the state.
The official said the nearby Kargil town recorded a low of minus 9.1 degrees Celsius.
He said the city and the south Kashmir town of Kokernag were the only two places in the Valley where the night temperature settled above the freezing point
