The Kashmir Valley continues to be blanketed in heavy snowfall for the second day, significantly affecting daily life and transportation across the region. Srinagar and the surrounding areas have witnessed substantial snow accumulation, leading to widespread disruptions.
The ongoing weather conditions have resulted in the closure of major roads, including the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NHW), Srinagar-Leh NHW, Mughal Road, and Sinthan Road, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded on the Srinagar-Jammu route. Commuters are urged to avoid travel until conditions improve.
All flights scheduled for today at Srinagar Airport have also been cancelled due to adverse weather conditions, causing disruptions for passengers, officials said. The Director of Srinagar Airport, Javed Anjum, stated that due to bad weather and poor visibility, all flights at the airport have been cancelled. He advised passengers to stay in touch with their respective airlines for updates on rescheduling.
Train services along the Banihal-Baramulla section have also been suspended due to heavy snow accumulation on the tracks. Railway officials are working diligently to clear the tracks, with a WDM locomotive and snow cutter being deployed to facilitate the resumption of services by this afternoon.
In light of the inclement weather, academic schedules have also been disrupted. The University of Kashmir and Cluster University Srinagar have postponed all examinations scheduled for today, with fresh dates to be announced later.
The snowfall has not only affected transportation but has also led to power outages and disrupted water supply in many areas across the valley. Residents are facing challenges as essential services remain impacted.
According to officials from the meteorological department, snowfall is expected to continue until Saturday afternoon, with reports indicating significant accumulation in South Kashmir. Areas such as Herpora Shopian, DH Pora Kulgam reported up to 2.5 feet of snow, while Anantnag and Kulgam towns recorded between 1.5 and 2 feet.
As the valley grapples with these adverse weather conditions, authorities are working tirelessly to restore normalcy. People have been advised to stay indoors and monitor updates on weather and travel advisories.
With hopes pinned on improving weather conditions later today, the valley awaits a return to normalcy after this winter storm.
The suspension of train services, a precautionary measure, is expected to last at least until Sunday. To address the situation, a WDM3 locomotive fitted with a snow cutter will be deployed to clear the tracks under the guidance of the permanent way (P-way) department. Train operations will resume only after assessing track conditions.
Snow clearance operations are currently in full swing across Srinagar and other parts of the valley, with authorities stating they are working to ensure that towns remain accessible, prioritizing roads leading to hospitals.
Dr. Owais Ahmad, the Commissioner of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and CEO of Smart City Srinagar, told News24 that priority roads leading to essential services like hospitals have been cleared first.
He noted that mechanical clearance using snow removal machines has been completed across the city, while manual clearance of narrower lanes and bylanes is still ongoing.
However, most roads in Srinagar and other parts of the valley remain covered in snow, hampering public movement. Traffic is almost 80% disrupted, and most vehicles remain grounded. Apart from the Srinagar-Jammu and Srinagar-Leh highways, other roads like Mughal Road, Sinthan Road, Gurez, Machil, and Karnah roads are also closed to traffic due to heavy snow accumulation.
