The higher regions of Kashmir Valley finally witnessed a gentle snowfall on Sunday, putting an end to the almost two-month-long dry spell. This brought immense joy to residents and tourists alike. Tourists at the Gulmarg ski resort embraced the snowfall, capturing memorable moments and expressing their delight by playing in the snow.
Popular tourist destinations such as Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Doodhpathri, Tangmarg, Gurez Valley, Tragbal in Bandipora, and Kernah in Kupwara experienced varying degrees of light to moderate snowfall. Srinagar and its adjacent areas also received light rain.
Light rainfall reports emerged from various parts of the Kashmir Valley. The Meteorological Centre in Srinagar predicts light to moderate rain and snowfall across Jammu and Kashmir in the next 24 hours.
Relief to Gulmarg tourism
In Gulmarg, the recent blanket of fresh snowfall has injected new life into the hopes of the winter tourism industry in Kashmir. The pristine white cover has become a symbol of hope for tourism stakeholders, hoteliers, and travel agents who now eagerly anticipate a resurgence of joy after an extended dry spell.
The absence of snow significantly impacted winter tourism in Gulmarg and other places. This lack of snow disrupted major skiing events and affected seasonal courses offered by various educational institutions in the region. Hotel occupancy saw a significant decrease, with numerous cancellations reported. However, the fresh snowfall has rekindled hope among tourism players.
People involved in the tourism industry express expectations of 100% hotel occupancy, especially in Gulmarg, in the coming weeks. On Friday, the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir, including Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Zojila Pass, Sinthan Pass, and Pir ki Gali on Mughal Road, received snowfall, ending a two-month-long dry spell in Kashmir.
The Meteorological Department’s forecast for January 27 suggests partly to generally cloudy weather, with the possibility of light snow at isolated higher reaches late in the evening. As per the forecast, cloudy weather was seen on January 28-29. For the next few days, the forecast for January 30-31 indicates a potential for light to moderate rain/snow at various places, followed by a continued possibility of such precipitation from February 1-3 at numerous locations, as stated by the Meteorological Department.