Fresh snowfall throws life out of gear in Kashmir

Suhail Khan

Srinagar, Jan 27: Life in Kashmir was thrown out of gear on Tuesday as a fresh bout of moderate to heavy snowfall blanketed the Valley, snapping road, rail, and air links with the outside world.
The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway—the Kashmir’s crucial lifeline—was shut, while all flights at Srinagar airport were cancelled, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.
A traffic official told Kashmir Convener that the highway was shut due to snowfall in and around the Navyug Tunnel, with no vehicular movement was permitted from either Srinagar or Jammu.
He said other key routes like the Mughal Road, the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri Road, and the Sinthan Top road also remained closed.
Air connectivity was severely affected, with all flights at Srinagar’s Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport cancelled for the day.
An official of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) told Kashmir Convener the persistent snowfall and adverse weather rendered the runway unfit for safe operations.
“All arrivals and departures stand cancelled in the interest of passenger safety. Operations will resume only after weather improvement and runway clearance,” the official said.
A total of 58 flights (29 arrivals and 29 departures) were cancelled. Passengers have been advised to contact their airlines for updates he added.
Rail services were also partially affected, with officials announcing the cancellation of two passenger trains. The train service between Banihal and Budgam was also cancelled for the day.
Independent weather forecaster Faizan Arif told Kashmir Convener the snowfall, which began on Monday night, was “as predicted.” Upper reaches, including Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Shopian, Kulgam, and Gurez, received heavy snow, while plains like Srinagar recorded 3–4 inches. “Many rural areas are facing power outages due to snapped lines,” he said.
Arif warned of another Western Disturbance likely to affect the region on February 1 and 2, which could bring fresh spells of rain and snow. “This may again impact air and road traffic, particularly on the Srinagar-Jammu highway and in higher reaches,” he said, advising people to stay updated with advisories.
The J&K Disaster Management Authority issued a ‘HIGH DANGER’ avalanche warning for areas above 2,000 metres in Bandipora, Baramulla, Ganderbal, and Kupwara districts over the next 24 hours. The public has been advised to avoid avalanche-prone slopes and dial 112 in emergencies.
The snowfall led to public inconvenience also in several areas. Reports from various parts of the valley indicated that scores of link roads to villages, particularly in remote areas like Gurez and Tangdhar, were blocked, cutting off these communities. Commuters faced difficulties due to snow accumulation on roads, and many areas reported disruptions in electricity supply.
Residents in some areas complained about the administration’s failure to reach them and alleged that snow had not been cleared from roads.