Srinagar, Mar 16: Several higher altitude areas of Kashmir witnessed moderate to heavy snowfall, while rain lashed the plains, affecting road connectivity and disrupting traffic at multiple locations, officials said on Monday.
Authorities reported that heavy snow along Sinthan Top left a number of vehicles stranded on Sunday night. Rescue teams from police and the Indian Army carried out an operation and safely evacuated around 214 tourists and local residents.
Popular tourist destinations including Gulmarg in Baramulla district, Doodhpathri in Budgam district and Sonamarg in Ganderbal district experienced moderate snowfall.
Heavier accumulation was reported in several mountainous areas such as Pir Ki Gali along the Mughal Road, the Zojila Pass axis, Gurez in Bandipora district and Sadhna Top in Kupwara district.
Officials said Sadhna Top recorded more than 12 inches of fresh snow, while around six inches accumulated at Sinthan Top.
The snowfall forced the closure of several vital routes, including the Gurez–Bandipora road, the Sinthan–Kishtwar road and the Mughal Road, which serves as an alternative link between the Kashmir Valley and the Jammu region. Vehicular movement has also been suspended on the Srinagar–Leh Highway due to snow accumulation near Zojila Pass.
Meanwhile, intermittent rainfall was recorded across the plains, including Srinagar, over the past 24 hours. The city received 15.9 mm of precipitation, while Pahalgam recorded 15.7 mm.
The wet conditions led to a noticeable drop in temperatures across the valley. Srinagar registered a maximum temperature of 11.5 degrees Celsius on Sunday, nearly four degrees below the seasonal average.
According to the India Meteorological Department, unsettled weather is likely to persist until March 20. The forecast indicates generally cloudy skies with intermittent light to moderate rain in the plains and snowfall in higher elevations at many places.
The weather office has also warned of possible thunderstorms and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40–50 kmph at isolated locations. Farmers have been advised to temporarily suspend agricultural activities until conditions stabilise.