Srinagar- Snowfall across Kashmir on Friday disrupted normal life, affecting air and surface connectivity as large parts of the Valley received fresh accumulation, officials said.

While the plains recorded light to moderate snowfall, upper areas and higher reaches witnessed moderate to heavy accumulation. Officials said uptown areas of Srinagar received around 2 inches of snow, though most parts of the city received only light snowfall. Areas around the Srinagar airport recorded 3 to 4 inches.

In central Kashmir, Budgam district recorded some of the season’s heaviest snowfall. Pakherpora received between 1.5 and 2 feet of snow, while Charar-i-Sharief saw around 1.5 feet.

South Kashmir bore the brunt of the intense spell. Shopian district reported 1.5 to 2.5 feet of snow in the plains, while higher reaches accumulated between 2.5 and 4 feet.

Pulwama district also saw heavy snowfall, with areas such as Drabgam and Rajpora recording around 1.5 feet.

In north Kashmir, Gulmarg recorded about 2 feet of snowfall. Kupwara district received heavy accumulation, with Hachmarg getting around 2.5 feet, while Dedikote and Tangdhar recorded nearly 2 feet each.

Higher reaches of the Karnah Valley above 2,000 metres saw snowfall ranging from 2.5 to 4 feet.

Snowfall also extended to the Jammu region and Ladakh. Loran Mandi in Poonch received 7 to 8 inches of snow, while Banihal recorded over 5 inches.

In Ladakh, the Suru Valley in Kargil district received 3 to 4 inches.

Weather officials said the snowfall followed a sharp pressure drop on Thursday, triggering strong gusty winds across the region.
Shopian recorded wind speeds of up to 150 kmph, while parts of Poonch, Reasi, south Kashmir, and Srinagar also experienced strong winds, leading to uprooted trees and precautionary power cuts in several areas.

Trees Uprooted, Rooftops Damaged

Strong winds accompanying the snowfall lashed several areas, uprooting trees, damaging rooftops, and snapping power lines in parts of the Valley. Officials said electricity supply was disrupted in several areas, though restoration work was underway.

Flight operations at the Srinagar airport were suspended as snow accumulation rendered the runway unavailable. Airport officials said all flights were cancelled due to bad weather.

Surface connectivity was also hit, with the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway closed due to snowfall and rain at several stretches. The Mughal Road, which serves as an alternate link between Kashmir and Jammu, was also shut. The Srinagar–Leh highway remained closed due to snowfall along the Sonamarg and Zojila axis.Rail services were affected, while district administrations and police established control rooms and helplines to assist the public. Authorities pressed men and machinery into service to clear snow from priority roads, officials said.

The India Meteorological Department said the current weather system is likely to persist till Friday evening, with the possibility of heavy rain or snow accompanied by gusty winds or hailstorm over parts of the Pir Panjal range, Chenab Valley, and south Kashmir.

Authorities advised people to avoid unnecessary travel, particularly towards higher reaches, and to follow official traffic and weather advisories.

Roads Shut, Flights Cancelled

Fresh snowfall across large parts of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday brought road, rail, and air connectivity to a near halt, with authorities enforcing closures and issuing advisories amid worsening weather conditions.

Officials said several key routes linking the Kashmir Valley with other regions were shut as a precautionary measure following snow accumulation and slippery road conditions. The Sinthan–Kishtwar road, Mughal Road, and the Srinagar–Sonamarg–Gumri axis were closed to traffic, while movement on several interior roads in hilly areas was severely affected.

Traffic officials said around 35 heavy motor vehicles remained stranded along the highway, while light motor vehicles were turned back from the Qazigund side to avoid congestion and risk. In view of forecasts predicting continued snowfall and rain, police advised commuters to strictly adhere to cut-off timings and travel advisories, particularly on hilly routes.

Authorities urged travellers heading towards Jammu, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Ladakh, Pahalgam, Gurez, Karnah, Machil, and other vulnerable areas to confirm road status before starting their journey. Vehicles without anti-skid chains were barred from hilly roads, and only registered vendors were allowed to fit chains at designated points to prevent traffic jams.

The Traffic Department later announced that the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway would remain closed for vehicular movement on Saturday. Movement between Nagrota, Chenani, Patnitop, Ramban, Banihal, and Srinagar was suspended in both directions. Commuters from Katra, Reasi, and Udhampur were advised to carry photo identity cards to facilitate regulated movement where permitted.

Rail connectivity was also hit. Train services on the Banihal–Budgam section were largely suspended after snowfall at multiple locations along the track. However, railway officials said a limited number of services, including the Vande Bharat train from Katra to Srinagar, continued to operate despite adverse conditions. The Baramulla section remained completely suspended, while a few services were operated cautiously on other stretches.

Air travel faced the sharpest disruption. Flight operations at Srinagar Airport were suspended after continuous snowfall led to snow accumulation on runways and poor visibility. Officials said more than 26 flights were cancelled, with some earlier services diverted to Jammu before air traffic was fully halted in the interest of passenger safety. Operations at Jammu airport continued, though delays were reported.

In a post on X, Srinagar Airport authorities confirmed the suspension of all flights, citing ongoing snowfall and adverse weather conditions en route. Passengers were advised to contact airlines for updates and re-accommodation.

Authorities said the situation was being monitored closely and urged residents and travellers to avoid unnecessary movement until weather conditions improve.