Snowfall in Kashmir brings back smiles

The two-month-long dry spell in Jammu and Kashmir came to an end on Sunday after most parts of the Valley experienced the season's second snowfall.

Though the snowfall was mild in capital Srinagar, towns in south Kashmir received good snowfall since early Sunday morning.

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Jawahar tunnel, connecting Kashmir Valley with the Jammu region, received heavy snow forcing the authorities to suspend vehicular traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway.

Domestic tourists, who arrived in the Valley in thousands on the New Year's Eve, were overjoyed at seeing the swirling snowflakes fall.

"I was here for ten days and was dying to see the snow fall. Today, finally, God has heard my voice and fulfilled my request. I am seeing snow fall for the first time," said Shahid Gul, a tourist from Mumbai.

Gulmarg, the famous north Kashmir tourist resort, also experienced good snowfall, bringing cheer to the visiting tourists and providing better conditions for winter sports activities.

Gulmarg is known for its ski slopes, which attracts expert skiers and amateurs during the peak winter season. A three-day snow carnival was held in the resort last week, which attracted winter sports lovers.

The event also saw introduction of a new sport -- snow baseball -- into the spectrum of event, which includes skiing, snow cycling, snow rugby, ice skating, alpine skiing and cross-country skiing.

The locals, looking to escape the preceding dry spell and severe cold conditions, welcomed Sunday's snowfall.

Night temperatures touched a low of minus 4.6 degree Celsius.

Shabir Ahmad, a local resident, said that the snowfall would lead to decrease in the cases of diseases caused due to dry winters.

"Thank God, there was a snowfall after a long time in our Kashmir Valley and as you know due to the dry weather there were a lot of diseases spreading here and due to this snowfall, the number of cases will also drop," he said.

Locals are also hopeful that the snowfall will increase the winter tourism in the state.