Flights Canceled and Roads Blocked as Kashmir Faces Heavy Snowfall and Traffic Woes
Flights Canceled and Roads Blocked as Kashmir Faces Heavy Snowfall and Traffic Woes
Significant routes including the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, Mughal Road, and the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri Road experienced disruptions.
Significant snowfall was observed across different regions of Kashmir, particularly in the southern and central plains where heavy accumulations were noted. Srinagar experienced approximately 8 inches of snow, while Ganderbal and Sonamarg reported snowfall amounts ranging from 7 to 8 inches.
The Zojila pass along the Srinagar-Leh highway experienced 15 inches of snowfall, whereas certain regions in Anantnag district recorded as much as 17 inches. Significant snowfall was also reported in Pahalgam, Pulwama, Shopian, and surrounding areas, leading to considerable disruptions.
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) has been shut down for traffic as a result of substantial snow buildup, with road clearance operations being obstructed by the conditions at the Navyug Tunnel.
Additionally, train services along the Banihal-Baramulla route have been halted, and air travel to and from Srinagar has been greatly disrupted.
Flight operations at Srinagar Airport faced significant disruptions on Saturday due to heavy snowfall, resulting in the cancellation of all flights scheduled for the day.
Airport authorities indicated that low visibility rendered landings unfeasible. Initially, 80 percent of flights were called off, while the remaining 10 percent were put on standby. However, as weather conditions deteriorated, all flights were ultimately cancelled.
Travelers are encouraged to maintain communication with their airlines regarding options for rescheduling or obtaining refunds.
Power supply was interrupted throughout the valley, affecting 41 feeders at the 33 KV level and 739 feeders at the 11 KV level. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah confirmed that restoration efforts are in progress, with over 90% of the feeders anticipated to be back online by evening. Efforts to clear blocked roads are continuing, particularly those that provide access to hospitals, although many internal roads are still unreachable. Drivers encountered challenges due to slippery road conditions.
Kashmir is now in the midst of ‘Chillai-Kalan,’ the most severe phase of winter that began on December 21. The Meteorological Department has noted a rise in minimum temperatures throughout the valley, with Srinagar’s low increasing to minus 1°C, a significant improvement from minus 7.3°C recorded the night before.
