Srinagar, Dec 24 (NationPress) This Christmas, revellers in Kashmir will miss out on the customary snowfall as the Meteorological (MeT) Department has not provided any encouraging forecasts for them on Tuesday.

Mukhtar Ahmad, the Director of the local MeT department, stated to IANS, “The chances of snowfall in Kashmir this year are exceedingly low. The weather is predicted to remain cold and dry until December 28, when light rainfall is anticipated in the Jammu division, and cloudy conditions are expected in the Valley.”

During Christmas, revellers travel from various regions across the country to enjoy the festivities in the ski resort of Gulmarg and other hill stations like Sonamarg and Pahalgam, where abundant snow typically enhances the annual celebration.

Although snowfall is absent this Christmas, the mountain tops and even the ground in Gulmarg are adorned with fresh snow, where the Christmas and New Year festivities have already commenced.

All hotels and guest houses in Gulmarg are fully booked, as numerous revellers have flocked to the ski resort for the celebrations.

“Our hotel is completely booked and we are hosting a grand Christmas event today,” mentioned Altaf Ahmad, a hotel manager in Gulmarg.

Hotels and houseboats in the city of Srinagar are also mostly reserved for Christmas and New Year celebrations.

On Monday, Srinagar recorded its lowest maximum temperature at 2.8 degrees Celsius, intensifying the bone-chilling cold. On Tuesday, Srinagar experienced a minimum temperature of -6.6.

Other hill stations like Sonamarg in the north and Pahalgam in the south are also experiencing a significant influx of tourists during this Christmas season and the year-end.

Long icicles hanging from the rooftops of hotels in these hill stations have contributed to the enchanting winter atmosphere.

As the occasional sunlight filters through these icicles, the light refracts into a spectrum of colors, creating a breathtaking display reminiscent of hundreds of prisms hanging from the rooftops.