Spring rain in Kashmir, farmers elated

Srinagar, April 11 (IANS) Incessant rain has brought down temperatures across the Kashmir valley Wednesday.

"There has been 9.2 mm rain in Srinagar city up to 8 a.m. Wednesday while 28.3 mm was recorded in Qazigund town, 31.2 mm in Pahalgam and 13.2 mm in Gulmarg ski resort," said Sonam Lotus, director of the local weather office.

This led to minimum temperatures falling to 8.2 degrees Celsius in Srinagar, 0.5 degrees in Gulmarg, 4 degrees in Pahalgam, 0.4 degrees in Kargil and 1.4 degrees in Leh Wednesday, Lotus told IANS.

Lotus said more rain was expected across the Kashmir Valley during the next 24 hours and light snowfall was likely to occur in the higher reaches.

Kashmiri farmers say the spring rain will be beneficial for their rabi crops of oilseeds and fodder grass.

"These rains are a godsend for us. They will help better oilseed crop and good fodder growth in the fields this season," said Ghulam Muhammad Rather, 46, a farmer in north Kashmir's Ganderbal district.

For scores of tourists presently visiting the Valley, cool and pleasant temperatures here are simply unbelievable.

"Can't imagine a minimum of eight degrees and a maximum of 13 degrees after having been through a sweltering 38 degrees in Delhi a few days back," said Sunil Agarwal, 34, a tourist who is here with his wife.