SRINAGAR, Oct 28: The Meteorological Department has forecasted rain and snow in the higher reaches of the Kashmir Valley over the next 24 hours.

Officials indicated that the weather will be generally cloudy on Monday, with light rain and snow anticipated in certain areas, especially in the higher elevations of north Kashmir towards the evening.

On October 29, the forecast continues to show cloudy conditions, with potential light rain and snow expected in the higher reaches of both north and central Kashmir.

Independent weather observer Faizan Arif noted that there could be snowfall in upper regions of popular ski destinations like Gulmarg and the picturesque Sonamarg in the Ganderbal district, as well as on the Zojila Pass, which connects Srinagar to the strategically important Ladakh highway. Other higher reaches of the Kashmir Valley may also see snowfall during this period.

Additionally, snowfall is possible in the early morning hours of October 30, after which dry weather is predicted to prevail until November 8. Notably, there is currently no forecast for snowfall in the plains of the Kashmir Valley.

The Meteorological Department has advised farmers to proceed with harvesting and safely storing their crops, as well as to continue with other agricultural operations. Starting November 1, the possibility of mist or shallow fog in the plains of Kashmir during morning hours is also expected.

Currently, the sky in Srinagar and surrounding areas is overcast, accompanied by a light cold breeze that has prompted residents and tourists to don warmer clothing. The minimum temperature recorded in Srinagar during the night between Sunday and Monday was 5.8 degrees Celsius, which is 2.8 degrees above normal for this time of year. The maximum temperature reached 21.0 degrees Celsius on Sunday, 4.3 degrees above the seasonal average, according to the Meteorological Department.

Jammu, Oct 28: A gunfight erupted between security forces and terrorists on Monday during a search operation in a village near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu’s Akhnoor sector, officials reported.

The search operation in Khour’s Bhattal area was initiated after three terrorists opened fire on an Army ambulance traveling along the main road near Assan Temple in Jogwan earlier this morning. No casualties have been reported so far.

Reinforcements have been deployed to neutralize the heavily armed terrorists, who reportedly crossed into Jammu from across the border during the night. According to officials, the terrorists briefly entered a temple, attempting to locate a mobile phone to make a call. Spotting the passing ambulance, they fired more than a dozen bullets at the vehicle.

The Army and local police promptly initiated a cordon and search operation to apprehend the terrorists, with efforts ongoing to secure the area and restore safety.

Srinagar, Oct 27: Lok Sabha MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, on Sunday urged Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to clarify if discussions during his recent meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah included the restoration of Article 370 and the release of political prisoners.

Rashid, the Awami Ittehad Party chief who defeated Abdullah in Baramulla in the Lok Sabha elections, questioned the specifics of Abdullah’s meetings with key national leaders. “What did Omar Abdullah discuss with the prime minister, the defence minister, and the home minister?” he asked reporters. Rashid pressed Abdullah to confirm whether the restoration of Article 370 and the release of political detainees were raised in these talks, and if so, what responses were received.

Officials reported that Abdullah met with Modi on Thursday, presenting a resolution urging the swift restoration of statehood to the Union Territory. He also met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, seeking support to enhance security and facilitate development in Jammu and Kashmir. On Wednesday, Abdullah apprised Shah of the region’s current situation and discussed restoring statehood.

Expressing conditional support, Rashid stated he would back Abdullah on any initiative that benefits the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He also reminded the chief minister of his pre-election promises, including the provision of 100,000 jobs in the region.