The first winter snowfall and intermittent rains ended the three month long dry spell in the valley on Friday, paving the way for better supply of water and power.

Gulmarg in northern Kashmir also received moderate snowfall, triggering hopes that more tourists will be drawn towards the town.

A sudden snowfall on Friday afternoon caught the tourists by surprise in Gulmarg. It was an unforgettable moment for many of them, as they had never experienced snowfall before.

Most tourists grabbed the opportunity to indulge in a snowball fight, adding to the festive mood in the township.

Other tourist resorts, including Pahalgam in southern Kashmir, also received moderate snowfall. The Zojila pass near Sonamarg, which connects the valley to Ladakh, received the heaviest snowfall.

The nearly three month long dry spell had created an acute water and power crisis in the state, as the levels of Jhelum and all other water bodies had been reduced drastically.

The power and water supply departments had started cutting down on supplies and were preparing for the worst, in case rains or snowfall failed to break the dry spell.

The spell of rains in Srinagar [Images] also improved the visibility at the airport, allowing the resumption of flight operations to and from the valley.