white sheets of snow covered several high-altitude areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh on Monday, while temperatures dipped in Delhi, Haryana and Punjab following rainfall.Many tourist destinations like Kufri, Manali and Auli received the season’s first snowfall. Heavy snowfall and landslides in the Union Territory forced closure of the important Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Ramban, and authorities in Kashmir have issued an avalanche warning for four districts — Kupwara, Bandipora, Baramulla and Ganderbal.
Meanwhile, the Himalayan shrines of Kedarnath and Yamunotri in Uttarakhand have closed for the winters amid heavy snowfall in the upper reaches of the state.
Lowest maximum temperature in Delhi
Meanwhile, Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 25.8 degrees Celsius on Monday, the lowest this season so far, following rains under the influence of a Western Disturbance. However, the minimum temperature rose to 16 degrees Celsius, the highest since October 22, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Security forces rescue trapped people
In Jammu and Kashmir, security forces have rescued 10 people, including two women and a child, after they were trapped in heavy snowfall at the high-altitude Sinthan pass, a defence spokesperson said. The rescue operation was carried out late Sunday night after information was received about a group of civilians stranded at Sinthan pass that connects Kishtwar district of Jammu region with Kashmir’s Anantnag, he said.The rescue team, comprising Army and police personnel, walked for five hours along the National Highway 244 in zero visibility conditions during the night and brought the stranded people to Sinthan ground where they were provided with food and shelter, the spokesperson said.
