Snowfall in Gulmarg, tourism sector upbeat

The popular ski resort of Gulmarg on Friday received snowfall raising the hopes of those associated with the tourism industry who suffered double whammy due to a terror attack in April and heavy rain in August.

The higher reaches of Gulmarg in Baramulla district received snowfall after which photos of the same went viral on social media. The snowfall in the region caused a dip in temperature.

The Meteorological Department had already issued an advisory stating that a western disturbance was approaching J&K and Ladakh and would result in heavy rain and snowfall. While the advisory had stated that the weather activity would start from October 4 and continue till October 7, the snowfall on Gulmarg was a surprise for many.

J&K is witnessing a lull in tourism industry especially after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam in which 26 people were killed and the August rains and landslides that claimed over 100 lives. Kashmir is not witnessing the rush of tourists that it used to earlier. Those associated with the tourism sector have already raised concern stating they suffered severe losses this year due to different reasons.

The MeT stated the western disturbance would cause moderate to heavy snowfall over higher reaches and light snow over middle reaches while moderate to heavy rain over the plains of Kashmir and Jammu region.