From postcard snow hills to rain-soaked plains, dry spell ends in JK
Farmers, tourists rejoice as Kashmir reports heavy snowfall
Flights cancelled, train movement remained suspended
Srinagar/Jammu: Snow, rain and gusty winds brought the much awaited snowfall across the Pir Panchal range in Jammu and Kashmir with the snow painting the hills a picture postcard white while steady rain disrupted life across the plains in the region.
The Kashmir Valley and several other parts of Jammu were battered by an intense combination of fierce windstorms and heavy snowfall, triggering one of the most disruptive winter weather events the region has witnessed in recent years.
Over a short span, the powerful system, driven by successive western disturbances, brought life to a near standstill across urban centres, rural belts and mountainous terrain.
As the storm intensified late Thursday and continued through Friday, heavy to very heavy snowfall blanketed vast areas of the Valley, including parts of Srinagar, Budgam, Baramulla, Kupwara, Shopian, Anantnag, Pulwama, Bandipora and Kulgam.
Srinagar recorded its first major snowfall of the season, with around three to four inches accumulating city outskirts. Higher reaches such as Gulmarg, Shopian and parts of Kupwara were buried under two to five feet of snow, while isolated pockets in south Shopian and north Kashmir reported accumulations reaching five to six feet, much of it falling within a compressed 15-hour window.
Interestingly, an intense and short-lived snowstorm swept across large parts of Kashmir, dumping exceptionally heavy snowfall across the region.
Areas located closer to the Pir Panjal range bore the brunt of the storm. Plains of Shopian district recorded snowfall ranging between one and a half to three feet, while higher reaches of the district witnessed extraordinary accumulation of up to five feet, an unusually high amount for such a brief duration.
The impact of the snowstorm extended well beyond Shopian. Parts of Budgam, Pulwama, Kulgam, Kupwara and Baramulla districts were also affected by the intense spell. In higher elevations across these districts, snow accumulation ranged between two and five feet, all recorded within the same short time span, significantly disrupting normal life and connectivity.
In a rare meteorological event, the snowline dropped below 1000 metres in the Karnah Valley of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district. Unusual snowfall was recorded in the Seemari–Teetwal belt, an area that rarely witnesses snow even during peak winters due to its relatively warmer surroundings. This time, snow accumulation crossed two inches, making it the first such occurrence after 2005. Even a one-inch snowfall in this belt is considered rare by locals and weather observers.
The rarity of the event as reported by ‘Kashmir Weather’ was further underscored as snowfall was also reported in Muzaffarabad, located at an elevation of around 740 metres, after nearly a decade, highlighting the intensity and reach of the cold air mass associated with the storm.
Notably, temperatures plummeted as the prolonged dry spell finally ended in the region with the unseasonal snow and rainfall. It led to sighs of relief from farmers in many and whoops of delight from tourists preparing for a long holiday weekend.
Fresh snowfall in most parts of Jammu and Kashmir led to the closure of the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, suspension of Mata Vaishno Devi yatra and cancellation of over 20 flights in Kashmir.
The famous skiing resort of Gulmarg received over two feet of fresh snow, while the Sonamarg tourist resort in Ganderbal district recorded over six inches, and the Pahalgam resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district around three inches, they said.
Moderate to heavy snowfall was recorded in many areas in Budgam, Baramulla, Kupwara Shopian, Pulwama, and Bandipora districts, while Anantnag and Kulgam districts received light to moderate snow, they added.
The air traffic to and fro Kashmir was suspended on Friday after flight operations were cancelled at the Srinagar airport due to heavy snowfall in the valley, which has rendered the runway unsafe for aircraft operation, officials said.
“Due to adverse weather conditions and snowfall in Srinagar, the runway is currently not available for safe aircraft operations. In the interest of passenger safety, all flight operations to and from Srinagar have been cancelled for the day,” an official of Airport Authority of India (AAI) said here.
The Mughal Road, the alternate road connecting the valley with Jammu region, was also shut, while the Srinagar-Leh national highway was also closed for traffic due to snowfall in Sonamarg and Zojila Axis.
The Meteorological Department has forecast the current weather system to continue till Friday evening. There is a possibility of heavy rain or snow with gusty winds or hailstorm over a few districts of Pir-Panjal range, Chenab valley and south Kashmir.
High-speed winds swept many places in the valley, including Srinagar, last night, uprooting trees, electricity poles, and rooftops in few areas, while also snapping power lines, the officials said. Electricity was snapped in several areas of the valley, but restoration works are underway.
In Jammu, schools in Rajouri, Poonch and Kathua districts were closed after snowfall was experienced in the high altitude areas. Moderate rains lashed the plains, including Jammu city, bringing an end to a dry spell that had lasted for over two months.
The Mata Vaishno Devi shrine also witnessed the first snowfall of the season, forcing the authorities to suspend the yatra.
Snowfall was still continuing in the upper reaches of Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, Rajouri, Reasi, Udhampur and Kathua districts, officials said, adding that five inches to over one foot of snow had accumulated in the snow-bound areas.
Moderate to heavy snowfall was experienced in high-altitude areas, including the famous Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in the Jammu region, leading to the suspension of traffic on key roads and disruption of air and rail services.
More than 100 stranded persons were rescued from snowbound areas in Poonch and Udhampur districts, while moderate rains lashed the plains, including Jammu city, bringing an end to a dry spell that had lasted for over two months.
As predicted by the meteorological department, it started snowing in most high-altitude areas late Thursday evening, preceded by gusty winds, while intermittent rains lashed the plains, including Jammu city, throughout the night, officials said.
Intermittent snowfall continued in the upper reaches of Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, Rajouri, Reasi, Udhampur and Kathua districts, officials said.
Snowfall ranging from a few inches to over two feet accumulated in some areas.
The higher reaches had recorded snowfall in the last week of December. The fresh precipitation brought relief to the people, especially farmers and tourism stakeholders, ending the dry-spell in the region.
A police official said that 70 people, stranded at Totagali in Mendhar area of Poonch district, were rescued despite adverse weather conditions, ensuring their safety and comfort. Another 30 passengers who were stranded due to heavy snowfall in the Krishna Ghati area were also safely evacuated, he said.
Amid inclement weather conditions, police conducted another rescue operation and saved 12 persons, including women and children, who were stranded in a heavy snowstorm at Chochru Galla in the Basantgarh area of Udhampur district, the official said.
Meanwhile, in a post on X, Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board said, “Season’s first snowfall at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan (atop Trikuta hills in Reasi district). Devotees were blessed to witness breathtaking weather as fresh snow gently adorned the holy surroundings of Maa Vaishno Devi Bhawan and Bhairon Temple, filling the atmosphere with serenity, devotion, and divine bliss”.
The yatra was temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure from both the Tarakote and Banganga tracks, but it has now been restored.
Notably, the traffic on the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, was suspended following fresh snowfall. Thousands of vehicles have been stranded.
“Traffic movement has been stopped in both directions — from Jammu towards Srinagar and vice versa on Jammu Srinagar national highway (NH-44) due to fresh snowfall in and around the Navyug Tunnel (in Banihal-Qazigund stretch),” a traffic department official said.
“In addition, the Mughal Road, Srinagar-Leh national highway, and Sinthan Roads have also been closed owing to fresh snow accumulation,” the official said.
The official advised commuters to avoid travel until these roads are fully restored and declared safe for traffic.
Officials said the rail service between Jammu and Kashmir was also partially affected by heavy snowfall.
“Due to heavy snowfall, only one train each was operated from Sangaldan and Banihal towards Srinagar, while no train could be run from Kashmir towards Banihal as large portions of the railway track remained covered with snow,” Station Master Banihal, Abdul Baseer Bali, told PTI.
Railway authorities are closely monitoring weather conditions and tracking clearance operations. Services will be restored once conditions improve, he said.
Five flights were suspended this morning while several others got delayed at Jammu airport due to inclement weather, the officials said. A total of 32 flights are scheduled to operate to and from the airport during the day.
The officials said the authorities have ordered the closure of all schools in the hilly districts of Rajouri, Poonch and Kathua districts as a precautionary measure in view of the snowfall.
Police have also established dedicated helpline numbers at all district headquarters, they said. (with inputs from PTI, KNT)
