Srinagar- The second heavy snowfall of the season across Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday brought normal life to a standstill, disrupting road, rail and air services and causing widespread inconvenience to residents and travellers across the Valley.
Snowfall began late Monday night under the influence of a western disturbance, with most parts of Kashmir receiving fresh accumulation. While plains, including Srinagar, recorded light to moderate snowfall, higher reaches witnessed moderate to heavy snow.
South Kashmir areas, including the Shopian plains, received heavy snowfall with fresh accumulation of 14 to 15 inches, according to details available with Kashmir News Observer. In North Kashmir, areas such as Handwara, Gurez, Karnah and Uri also reported heavy snowfall, disrupting interior roads.
Official data showed that Zojila received nearly three feet of snowfall, while Sonamarg recorded around two feet. Gagangeer and Kulan Gund received about one and a half feet, while parts of Kangan in Ganderbal district saw nearly four inches of snow.
The snowfall led to the closure of several roads due to slippery conditions. The Srinagar Jammu National Highway was shut after heavy snow accumulation between the Qazigund and Banihal stretch, cutting off surface connectivity between the Valley and the rest of the country. Officials said snow clearance operations were underway, but no traffic was allowed on the highway.
Rail services were also affected, with several trains cancelled due to snow on the tracks. Officials said services were restored after a few hours once tracks were cleared, while train services between Srinagar and Katra continued as per schedule.
Air traffic was severely hit, with flight operations at Srinagar Airport suspended throughout the day. Nearly 50 flights were cancelled as snow accumulation on the runway and poor visibility made operations unsafe, leaving hundreds of passengers, including tourists, stranded.
Popular tourist destinations such as Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam witnessed heavy snowfall, transforming them into scenic winter landscapes. While the snowfall added to the Valley’s visual appeal, it also created travel difficulties for visitors.
In view of the situation, police and district administrations set up control rooms and issued helpline numbers to assist stranded passengers. Police personnel also helped people reach safer locations and provided assistance during medical emergencies in areas including Sopore, Handwara, Bandipora, Ganderbal and Kulgam.
The Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Authority issued avalanche warnings for several districts, cautioning people against venturing into higher and vulnerable areas. The India Meteorological Department warned of fresh snowfall and possible avalanches in higher reaches over the next 48 hours, particularly along the Pir Panjal range.
Meteorological officials said snowfall was expected to reduce by Tuesday evening, with weather conditions likely to improve from Wednesday morning. Dry weather has been forecast for the next 48 hours, though light to moderate rain or snow may occur at isolated places due to another western disturbance.
Another spell of precipitation is likely on February 1 and 2, the Meteorological Department said.
Authorities advised travellers and transporters to check road and highway conditions before starting their journey and urged residents to strictly follow official advisories. Farmers have been advised to suspend agricultural activities till January 28 as continued rain and snowfall could damage crops.
District administrations remain on high alert to deal with any emergency, while people have been advised to stay indoors unless necessary until weather conditions improve.
