Srinagar, April 17 (IANS) The second phase of polling for the multi-phase Jammu and Kashmir panchayat elections began Sunday morning as many people braved the inclement weather to reach polling booths.

 
 Five blocks in the valley -- Uri (Baramulla), Nagam (Badgam), Pahloo (Kulgam), Lar (Ganderbal) and Wavoora (Kupwara) and three blocks of Jammu region -- Chenani (Udhampur), Vijaypur (Samba) and R.S. Pura (Jammu) -- went to polls.
 
 “Polling started at 8 a.m. at all the five blocks in the valley and would conclude at 2 p.m.," said a senior poll official here.
 
 “Those voters who reach the polling stations before 2 p.m. would be allowed to cast their votes even after the scheduled time," he added.
 
 Incessant nightlong rains and the chill accompanying winds from snow-clad mountains brought down the morning temperatures in the Kashmir Valley.
 
 Dozens of enthusiastic voters had come to various polling stations in Lar block of north Kashmir's Ganderbal district in the morning.
 
 At Benhama polling station of Lar block, women voters outnumbered the men.
 
 “I have to go home and prepare food for the family. That is why I have come so early to cast my vote," said Hafeeza, 31, one of the first to cast her vote.
 
 Asked who she voted for, the lady smiled and said: “Wait till 2 p.m., and you will come to know."
 
 Reports of a good voter turnout have come in from the border town of Uri in north Kashmir's Baramulla district.
 
 Voting, however, started on a dull note in Nagam block of central Badgam district and no voter had turned up till 9.30 a.m. to exercise franchise at four polling stations there.
 
 “We are hopeful the turnout would increase as the weather improves during the day," said a presiding officer at one of the polling stations in Nagam block.
 
 A woman candidate was killed by suspected separatist guerrillas in Pakharpora area of Badgam district Friday night.
 
 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Saturday said that although the murder was still being investigated, there were indications the crime could be unrelated to the polls.
 
 In Wavoora block of Kupwara district and Pahloo block of south Kashmir's Kulgam district, voting started normally as people poured out of their homes to reach the polling stations.