Kashmir turns white after fresh snowfall

A blanket of snow covered Kashmir on Saturday as most areas received fresh snowfall, cutting the valley's surface as well as air connection with the rest of the country.

The valley had received snowfall for four consecutive days earlier in the week, draping everything in white.

The famous Dal Lake in Kashmir's Srinagar has frozen owing to bitter cold wave that has gripped the valley.

The fresh snowfall affected the air traffic to and fro the Kashmir valley as no flight operations took place at the Srinagar airport, the officials said.

The Srinagar-Jammu national highway remained closed for traffic on the seventh day on Saturday, the officials said.

The officials said Srinagar recorded four inches of snow till 8.30 am.

In south Kashmir, Kulgam recorded five inches of snow, Anantnag three, Shopian three and Pulwama four. Bandipora, in the north, received two inches of snow and central Kashmir's Budgam and Ganderbal districts recorded three inches each, the officials said.

Kashmir is currently under the grip of 'Chillai-Kalan' -- the 40-day harshest winter period when a cold wave grips the region and the temperature drops considerably leading to the freezing of water bodies including the famous Dal Lake here as well as the water supply lines in several parts of the valley.

'Chillai-Kalan' began on December 21 and ends on January 31, but the cold wave continues even after that in Kashmir.

The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day-long 'Chillai-Khurd' (small cold) and a 10-day 'Chillai-Bachha' (baby cold).