Photographs: Umar Ganie/Rediff.com Mukhtar Ahmad
The snowfall that began on Wednesday evening continued through the day on Thursday covering the region with a white blanket.
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Snowfall expected to boost tourism
Photographs: Umar Ganie/Rediff.com
The snowfall brought cheer to the people of Kashmir as it would now give boost to tourism, which has been slowly picking up after months of summer unrest that claimed 112 lives and left hundreds others wounded.
Gulmarg, the hub of winter tourism, recorded a snow depth of two feet readying its famous north Kashmir resort for tourists on New Year's eve and signalling an early start of winter sports.
Tourists, locals all have a reason to smile
Photographs: Umar Ganie/Rediff.com
The snowfall gave horticulturists a reason to smile as it can now expect bumper fruit crops in the coming year.
Travel chaos after national highway shuts down
Photographs: Umar Ganie/Rediff.com
The mercury touched minus 3.2 degree Celsius and many locals preferred to stay indoors. Traffic movement was restricted as snow accumulated on the streets even as authorities deployed machines to clear the roads.
Traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was suspended following its closure near the Jawahar tunnel connecting Kashmir Valley with Jammu region. Vehicles were stranded near the tunnel where nearly three-feet snow was recorded.
Students rejoice as schools shut down
Students were happy to get even a day off, especially after the winter vacations were cancelled to compensate for the loss in studies suffered by students during the summer unrest. Education authorities ordered closure of all institutions in Valley. An official spokesman said the schools would remain closed till further orders.
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