Srinagar, Aug. 27 -- Ladakh witnessed first major snowfall in August while moderate rains lashed Kashmir valley on Tuesday. Officials said that widespread snowfall was recorded in parts of Ladakh, including Leh, Kargil and Drass.

In a surprise, the Suru summer festival going on in Ladakh's Suru valley was also covered with snowfall.

Union minister Kuran Rijiju was also in Ladakh during the festival.

"For the first time in my life, I have witnessed such heavy snowfall in August here in Ladakh. Even the villagers said they had never seen snowfall of this magnitude during this month. The unusual weather, with rain and snow across North India, disrupted the festival we had gathered to celebrate," Rijiju told a local news agency.

"Despite ...