Intense cold gripped Jammu and Kashmir as its upper reaches experienced heavy snowfall for the third consecutive day today, dipping temperatures by several notches. The snowfall, which began on Sunday continued till this morning, while the plains including Srinagar witnessed heavy rain and a brief spell of mild snow yesterday, ending a long dry spell in the valley.<br/><br/>The famous hill resort of Gulmarg, in North Kashmir, is all covered up with snow. While two-and-a-half feet of snow had accumulated on the ground of the hill station, its peripheral areas, including Aferwath,Kangdoori and Khilanmarg, recorded over three feet snow. An official spokesman said the Tangmag-Gulmarg road, which was closed last evening for vehicular traffic due to heavy snowfall, reopened today as authorities cleared accumulated snow.<br/><br/>However, chances of early opening of 434-km Srinagar-Leh National highway, Kupwara-Tangdhar and Bandipora-Gurez roads look bleak as snow ranging between one to three feet have accumulated on the roads at various places.<br/><br/>The traffic along 300-km Srinagar-Jammu national highway, linking Kashmir with rest of the country, is plying normally although Jawahar Tunnel, known as the gateway of Kashmir, recorded four inches of snow till last evening.<br/><br/> <br/>