On Monday, snowfall draped the higher reaches of Kashmir, encompassing the famed Gulmarg skiing resort, while rains lashed the plains, heralding a prolonged spell of precipitation in the valley, officials confirmed.

Gulmarg, nestled in Baramulla district and poised to host the fourth Khelo India Winter Games from Wednesday, welcomed approximately 1.5 feet of fresh snowfall within the last 24 hours, authorities reported.

Snowfall wasn’t confined to Gulmarg alone; reports of snowfall also emerged from Kupwara, Handwara, and Sonamarg areas, adding to the wintry charm of the valley.

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Meanwhile, the rest of the valley, including the capital city of Srinagar, experienced moderate to heavy rains since Sunday, with Srinagar recording 12.4 mm of rainfall within the last 24 hours. Other areas such as Qazigund (12.8 mm), Pahalgam (18.6 mm), Kupwara (42.7 mm), and Kokernag (8.0 mm) also witnessed substantial rainfall during the same period.

In the Jammu region, rains also made their presence felt, leading to the closure of the vital Srinagar-Jammu national highway. Mudslides at two locations in Ramban district prompted the highway’s shutdown, underlining the challenges posed by inclement weather conditions.

As precipitation continues to grace the Kashmir valley, residents brace themselves for further snowfall in the higher reaches and rains in the plains, urging caution and preparedness amidst the wintry weather onslaught.