Moderate to heavy snowfall started in the valley as rain lashed the plains on Monday breaking the nearly two-month long dry spell in Jammu and Kashmir.

The snow and rain is likely to continue till Tuesday, the weather office said.

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Heavy snowfall in Banihal sector of Jammu-Srinagar Highway closed the road for traffic as authorities said no vehicular movement will be allowed on Monday.

People throughout the Kashmir Valley greeted the snowfall that will replenish the perennial water reservoirs in the mountains. These reservoirs sustain various rivers, streams, springs and lakes during the summer months.

Authorities have set up helpline numbers for people to approach in case of emergencies in different districts of the valley.

The minimum temperatures have also appreciably improved throughout the state due to a cloud cover.

The minimum temperature was zero in Srinagar while it was minus 0.1 in Pahalgam and minus 4.6 in Gulmarg.

Kargil town at minus 14 was the coldest, followed by Leh at minus 11.3 degrees Celsius.

Jammu city recorded 10.5, Katra 7.6, Batote 1.3, Bannihal 0.2, Bhaderwah 0.4 and Udhampur 8.8 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperatures of the day.