Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir): A ‘yellow alert’ avalanche warning has been issued for several higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir.

In a tweet, the Disaster Management Authority of Jammu and Kashmir Government said, “Medium level (yellow alert) avalanche warning has been issued for upper reaches of Poonch, Rajouri, Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Anantnag, Kulgam, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Ganderbal and Kargil districts.” Meanwhile, weather experts have forecasted more snow in Kashmir and hills of Jammu with rain in the Jammu plains.

Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a 40-day long period of harsh winter cold, the ‘Chillai Kalan,’ which will end on January 31. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday predicted that snowfall is very likely in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Fairly widespread to widespread rain/snow with a moderate thunderstorm, lightning and hail are very likely over Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan and Muzaffarabad and Himachal Pradesh on January 23 and isolated rain/snow over these regions on January 24, 2021,” the IMD tweeted.

Srinagar and Mandi area in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir received heavy snowfall on Saturday which affected road and air connectivity in the region.

Heavy snowfall made the roads slippery which affected traffic movement here. Bashir, a resident said, “After many years this region has received heavy snowfall.” “The Mandi area of Poonch has received at least six inches of snowfall. We wish people do not face electricity and food-related problems amidst this weather,” said another local from Poonch.

Around a week ago, as heavy snowfall occurred in Jammu and Kashmir, temperatures across the Union Territory plummeted to zero degrees Celsius, leading to the freezing of the Dal Lake in Srinagar.