Srinagar, Jan 5 : Kashmir, which has been going through dry cold spell of weather, received its first snowfall on Saturday.

The sub-zero temperatures had frozen the city’s lakes, including the famous Dal Lake, but the dry spell had worried the state, as there was likelihood of shortage of water.

Tourism was also affected, as visitors to Srinagar and the Valley were disappointed because there was no snowfall.

The snowfall has brought cheer amongst locals who are glad that it will lend a boost to tourism in the region.

"It's good for us and we are enjoying the snowfall. Tourists are coming here to enjoy the snow and so this is the best time for us, " said Feroz Ahmed, a local.

The tourist resorts of Sonamarg, Phalgam and the ski resort of Gulmarg received one to two feet of snowfall. Residents and farmers in the state are buoyant about the revival of tourism after the recent setbacks to the industry.

Reports of moderate to heavy snowfall were also received from north Kashmir. The upper reaches also continued to receive heavy but intermittent snowfall from the last week of October.

"We were desperately awaiting snowfall. And the first snow is the harbinger of nature's bounty for plantations and growth of apples in the region," Ghulam Nabi, a resident.
(ANI)