The upper reaches of Kashmir valley witnessed the first snowfall of the season.
Snowfall at hill stations like Gulmarg and Pahalgam also brings the hope of revival of tourism in the area which has been severely hit for most of the year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
All photographs: Umar Ganie/Rediff.com
Snow blanketed many areas in the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir, including the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg, north Kashmir's Baramulla district, and the tourist resort of Sonamarg in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district.
Due to the snowfall, authorities closed the Srinagar-Leh road, which passes through Zojila pass and connects Jammu and Kashmir with Ladakh union territory, for traffic.
Gulmarg is covered with a white blanket of snow and is already attracting visitors.
The minimum temperature in the valley has plummeted 4 degrees below normal due to snowfall in the region.
The locals were also ecstatic over the changing weather and tourism picking up pace.
The weather will ease out Monday onwards but drop in temperature will increase the chill factor in the region.
The weather department has predicted bad weather for a few days.
