Flights, Rail Services Canceled; Jmu-Sgr Highway Closed
Weather to Improve from Sunday, More Snow Expected from Jan 3-6: MeT
Suhail Khan
SRINAGAR, Dec 28: Normal life was severely disrupted across Kashmir on Saturday as heavy snowfall continued to impact the region.
Reports reaching Kashmir Despatch said that the heavy snowfall, marking the season’s first significant accumulation in Srinagar and other low-lying areas of the valley, paralysed normal life, with air and road connectivity severely affected.
An official informed Kashmir Despatch that heavy snowfall in both Kashmir and Jammu has disrupted surface and air traffic, leaving thousands stranded and halting transport services.
He stated that over 2,000 vehicles remain stuck in Qazigund, train operations on the Banihal-Baramulla route have been suspended, and flights to and from Srinagar Airport were cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.
The official noted that train services on the Banihal-Baramulla route were halted on Saturday because of heavy snow accumulation on the tracks.
Officials mentioned that a WDM locomotive with a snow cutter was deployed on the track; however, it would be operational tomorrow.
The heavy snowfall in Kashmir has brought air travel to a standstill, with all flights at Srinagar Airport cancelled on Saturday due to low visibility and difficult runway conditions.
“Due to bad weather conditions, all flights at Srinagar Airport have been cancelled. Passengers are advised to contact their airlines for updates. We regret the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding,” said a spokesman from Srinagar Airport to Kashmir Despatch.
The airport director urged passengers to stay in touch with their airlines for updates and follow official notifications from the airport.
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) was closed for traffic due to snow, according to officials from the Traffic Department who spoke to Kashmir Despatch.
They indicated that clearance work was hampered by heavy snowfall at the Navyug Tunnel. Men and machinery are currently on the job, and commuters are advised to avoid travel until the weather improves and the roads are cleared.
Meanwhile, hundreds of vehicles remained stranded on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway between the Pir Panjal tunnel and Srinagar city.
Senior civil and police officials moved out with snow clearance machines in Kulgam and Anantnag districts to clear the stranded vehicles on the national highway.
Till Saturday evening, traffic movement on the National Highway could not be fully restored.
Authorities have also set up helplines in every district of the Valley so that people facing problems due to the unexpected heavy snowfall can seek assistance.
Ramban Deputy Commissioner Baseer-ul-Haq Chaudhary along with Senior Superintendent of Police Kulbir Singh visited Banihal to take stock of the situation.
The heavy snowfall not only paralysed life in the Kashmir Valley on Saturday but also forced authorities to postpone exams and disrupt power supplies.
The Kashmir Despatch team reported from South to North and Central Kashmir, assessing the ground situation and examining the post-snowfall conditions.
Scores of villages across the valley have been cut off after link roads became blocked by snow. Remote areas like Gurez and Tangdhar, along with other border regions, have remained disconnected.
However, while the snow on the roads has almost cleared, vehicle movement has been severely hampered, resulting in very little traffic throughout the day.
The slippery conditions on the roads have restricted movement for people, especially the elderly and children, confining them to their homes.
Access to healthcare has become difficult for the public due to road closures and limited traffic movement.
The already-fragile power supply system has been significantly affected. Power supply to most districts has been interrupted, leading to a significant crisis in the area; however, the administration has claimed that electricity will be fully restored across Kashmir by evening.
In the summer capital city of Srinagar, Dr. Owais Ahmed, the Commissioner of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), accompanied by senior officials, conducted thorough inspections across several areas on Saturday to assess ongoing snow clearance and dewatering operations.
He engaged with on-site officers and supervisors to evaluate the progress of these operations and identify any challenges faced.
The Commissioner also interacted with local residents to gather valuable insights into the effectiveness of the snow clearance and dewatering efforts.
Dr. Owais provided on-the-spot directions for prompt snow removal and effective dewatering to ensure public safety, facilitate transportation, and minimize disruptions to essential services.
Indian Army Evacuates Civilians
The Chinar Warriors Corps of the Indian Army has stepped in to assist tourists stranded in Gulmarg following the heavy snowfall. Responding to a distress call from the civil administration, the Chinar Corps evacuated 68 civilians, including 30 women, 30 men, and 8 children.
In a post on X, the Indian Army shared details of their efforts, which included providing hot meals, shelter, and medical aid to a total of 137 stranded tourists after the road to Tanmarg was closed due to the unprecedented snowfall.
“Chinar Warriors responded to a distress call from the civil administration to evacuate tourists stranded due to the unprecedented heavy snowfall in the tourist destination of Gulmarg, along with the subsequent closure of the road to Tanmarg. They assisted in the evacuation of 68 civilians, including 30 ladies, 30 gentlemen, and 8 children, along with providing hot meals, shelter, and medication for a total of 137 tourists.”
Exams Cancelled on Saturday
The University of Kashmir has announced the postponement of all exams scheduled for Saturday.
According to the notification, “It is notified for the information of all concerned candidates that all examinations of the University of Kashmir, scheduled to be held on 28th December 2024, stand postponed.”
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department of Kashmir has stated that the weather is likely to improve from Sunday onward, while moderate to heavy snow is expected in the higher reaches of Jammu & Kashmir from January 3 to 6.
An official informed Kashmir Despatch that improvements in weather conditions are expected from Sunday.
He indicated that the weather would likely be dry from December 29 to 30, while from January 1 to 2, there is a possibility of cloudy skies with light snow in isolated places across Jammu and Kashmir.
The official further stated that from January 3 to 6, the weather conditions are expected to be cloudy, with light to moderate snow in many areas of the Kashmir division and scattered places in the Jammu division.
He also noted that the cold wave at isolated places during December 30 and 31 is expected to persist.
He advised tourists, travelers, and transporters to follow traffic advisories issued by the administration and the traffic department, considering the snowfall, sub-freezing temperatures, and icy road conditions.
Suhail Khan is a filmmaker, content writer, and freelance journalist.
