ModerAte sNowfAll IN KAshMIr

Moderate snowfall has been witnessed in the hilly ranges of Kashmir in the past few days. Moderate snowfall was witnessed in the upper reaches of the central district of Budgham and southern Shopian district on Saturday morning. So far, six to eight inches of snow have accumulated at the tourist spots of Yousmarg, Toisamaidan and Doodhpathri meadows, an official said, adding that snowfall was continuing in the entire Pir Panchal range, including the upper reaches of southern Shopian district. There has been snowfall in the ski resort of Gulmarg and the tourist spot of Sonamarg. Due to intermittent snowfall at the Sonamarg Thajiwas Glacier and Zojilla pass, the 434 km long Srinagar-Leh highway remained closed for traffic on Saturday. According to traffic authorities in Srinagar, vehicular traffic on the 87-km long Shopian Rajori Road, popularly known as Mughal Road, was closed on Saturday. The state government has already closed the 73-km long Bandipora Gurez road in North-west Kashmir as the Razdhan top connecting Gurez valley with Kashmir witnessed moderate snowfall. Due to landslide at Ramso near Ramban on this highway, traffic was closed for hours and the Border Roads Organisation pressed men and machinery to keep this only surface link between Kashmir valley and the rest of the country open.

Noor-Ul-Qamrain Majid Khan, a 20-year-old promising footballer from Anantnag, who had joined the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba last week, has returned home, ending the ordeal of his parents.

Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti tweeted that “mother’s tears have won” and described Majid’s decision as “bold”. She said that most