The Kashmir hills, including entire Amarnath route, have received another spell of fresh snowfall whereas the plains, including summer capital Srinagar, were hit by rains overnight after witnessing a pleasant spring daybreak on Tuesday. This has lowered temperatures further and wintry conditions prevail.
Though thousands of tourists from across the country and abroad are enjoying the spectacular environs in somewhat incredible weather, the continuous rains with brief intervals in the valleys and occasional snowfall in the higher reaches of Kashmir and its neighbourhood in May, the final spell of spring has only worried the farmers’ community and average residents alike.
Also, several Valley areas, including Tangmarg and Kulgam, were hit by hailstorms in the past couple of days, damaging apple, cherry, peach, pear, apricot and other seasonal fruit crops. Two persons, identified as Abdur Rahim Dar and Bashir Ahmed Butt were killed in cloudbursts at Nisso Khag and Pohuro in central district of Budgam on Monday, the police said.
Over the past few days, special prayer meetings are being organised by people, mainly in the countryside apart from those visiting Sufi shrines in groups to pay obeisance and seek blessings to follow tradition in such situations. Religious organisations and clerics are contemplating to call for offering congregational Nafl salah or salat (supererogatory prayers) at Idgahs and other open spaces to seek forgiveness from God.
For Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, which is in the thick of things as the annual pilgrimage to Amarnath is approaching fast, it is “unusual bad weather” which might delay the opening of tracks to the 12,927-feet-high revered place of worship in the Himalayas.